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Post by londonstuff on Sept 14, 2008 20:27:40 GMT
I had the misfortune of being stuck with a busker today from Turnham Green to Hammersmith. I've seen him maybe 10+ times in the last couple of years, singing only one song - 'Ashes to Ashes' by David Bowie - and annoying the hell out of me. He always gets off at Hammersmith, presumably to go back the other way. Unfortunately, people were giving him money as well - making him more likely to carry on. a. I'm pretty sure busking on the tube is illegal - is it? b. Do any of the District Line drivers know this bloke - I presume he's a semi well-known figure as he's also quite distinctive:  (full-sized link here: farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/2856586793_4cbda88351_o.jpg) c. Is busking on other tube lines still a problem or has it decreased in popularity over the years? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2008 21:13:46 GMT
I thought busking on trains was illegal and buskers at stations have to be licensed.
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Colin
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Post by Colin on Sept 15, 2008 0:14:51 GMT
a. I'm pretty sure busking on the tube is illegal - is it? Yes - however there are 'pitches' at selected stations where licensed busker's are allowed. b. Do any of the District Line drivers know this bloke - I presume he's a semi well-known figure as he's also quite distinctive: I have never seen him before, but now I've seen you're image, I'll keep an eye out  ;D c. Is busking on other tube lines still a problem or has it decreased in popularity over the years? In my personal experience, it has decreased; I would imagine all lines share the problem equally though  |
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Ben
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Post by Ben on Sept 15, 2008 0:48:22 GMT
Saw a eastern european kid on a district near Temple once. Was playing christmas carols on an accordian missing a few keys, in May, mind...
Was gut wrenching stuff.
In response though, he seems familiar. Might have seen him get off at Richmond a few years back.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 2:35:59 GMT
a. I'm pretty sure busking on the tube is illegal - is it? b. Do any of the District Line drivers know this bloke - I presume he's a semi well-known figure as he's also quite distinctive: a. Yes busking on trains is illegal. The only busking allowed is at designated points on certain stations with a licence. b. Never seen or heard of this person, fortunatly! |
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Colin
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Post by Colin on Sept 15, 2008 6:25:10 GMT
Saw a eastern european kid on a district near Temple once. Was playing christmas carols on an accordian missing a few keys, in May, mind... Was gut wrenching stuff. In response though, he seems familiar. Might have seen him get off at Richmond a few years back. Now this kid is familiar to me - he was removed several times from trains when I was station staff at Earls Court (and his Accordion was processed as lost property and sent via the Baker street lost property office! ;D ;D).......mind you, I haven't come across him since I became a driver |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 9:10:27 GMT
I have had this bloke come round on a District before
From the top of my head it was a WB service at the start of the peak (16.30 ish) between Earls Court and Barons Court
No one gave him money accept a school kid
He made a comment along the lines of 'what's that say about the world, that the only person in a train full of business suits to give him money was a school kid'
I replied ' It tells me school kids get far too much pocket money in this day and age '
He didn't know what to say to that and wandered off mumbling to himself
This was a good 9 months ago, however I clocked him again at Hammersmith on the EB, on the Aug Bank holiday Sunday just gone
He was being very indecisive and literally got on and off my train three times in a minute, before staying behind at Hammersmith!
He is a bit too in your face IMHO and you could see that some folks were uncomfortable with it
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 10:59:59 GMT
Saw a eastern european kid on a district near Temple once. Was playing christmas carols on an accordian missing a few keys, in May, mind... Was gut wrenching stuff. In response though, he seems familiar. Might have seen him get off at Richmond a few years back. Possibly one of gang of Dickensian waifs who's own personal Faginski is rumoured to drop them off somewhere on the eastern end of the District line each morning. Allegedly. |
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Post by londonstuff on Sept 15, 2008 12:00:45 GMT
Yes, the bloke in the pic does mutter to himself a lot - the people that gave him money really p'ed me off as they were just encouraging him to continue (with his one song). Bet he doesn't have a ticket either!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 18:56:34 GMT
I don't recognise him either, but I'll keep an eye out.
mjw4849 - have you tried giving the British Transport Police a call on their non-emergency number 0800 405040? They might find that photo useful.
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Post by londonstuff on Sept 15, 2008 20:39:52 GMT
I'd be happy to - the busker knows I can't stand him as I've always got my head in my hands when I see him. I did actually point him out to a Platform Assistant at Gloucester Road once (busker bloke made it this far), who was just at the door as the train stopped. Obviously the PA couldn't be bothered with the hassle or didn't want to hold the train up at rush hour as he took a look at him and held his baton up to signal the train was ready to proceed! If he gets £3 per journey, that's not a bad hourly rate just for annoying people - tax free of course. Probably more than what I'm on as a teacher if I could be bothered to work it out!  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 20:46:18 GMT
A great deal many of them earn quite considerably more than the 'average wage'. There was a group of four or five that used to cruise the Northern, Vic and Pic ines... one was a mother with a small child wrapped in a maroon shoal/blanket... the others were kids with various instruments, notably a squeezebox... It wasn't until one of the kids nearly shoved a cup up my nostril that I got up and showed them my badge/shirt... They made a hasty exit at Russel Square... for that, I got a mouthful of abuse in some unknown language, and a finger waved at me from some old bag, who told me they need help.
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Post by Tubeboy on Sept 15, 2008 20:51:48 GMT
If only the Met rammed a taser into his nether regions. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 21:34:35 GMT
a. Yes busking on trains is illegal. The only busking allowed is at designated points on certain stations with a licence. I thought they stopped this because thelondonpaper stopped sponsoring them? They've got rid of the pitches but you can still book places, v. strange interim thing. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 21:53:50 GMT
I have met a particularly aggressive gentleman (if you can say that) with an accordian and a young kid on the Northern Line. The episode happened last year. I asked them to leave the train at Oval and said person tried to force the doors open to fight me and was shouting at me from the platform. Also spat across the car at me, but missed. I won't forget him in a hurry and if I see him again he'll be very sorry........such a shame we have to share the world with such people.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2008 2:22:53 GMT
The problem doesn't seem to be so bad at the moment near me. Half the time any of these people are on the transport system I'm tempted to flash my wallet and pretend to be staff/police just to give them a fright! The legal busking is a good idea though they should keep it despite no sponsorship.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2008 14:44:31 GMT
A little off the District line map - but full of the joys of Paris in Springtime one year, I breezed out of the Gare de Nord on a long-weekend to be enveloped by a swarm of Armenian (apparently) beggars. All women and all in 'traditional' dress. Saw a suspicious looking pile of Nike trainers and Marlboro packs behind a raised flower bed though. Professional beggars and a right Parisien pain in the ****.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2008 17:10:09 GMT
Ive seen a kid with an accordian quite a few times on the jubilee mainly going between swiss cottage and kilburn
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Post by thc on Sept 18, 2008 8:17:20 GMT
I had the misfortune of being stuck with a busker today from Turnham Green to Hammersmith. I've seen him maybe 10+ times in the last couple of years, singing only one song - 'Ashes to Ashes' by David Bowie - and annoying the hell out of me I saw the same "musician" board a District line train at Hammersmith yesterday evening. Guess what he played? "This one's a David Bowie number..." Aaaaarrrggghhh! Soft get that I am, I still gave him the little change I had (less in encouragement and more in the hope that he'd go away). ;D THC |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2008 0:54:26 GMT
Not seen this individual, but he and any such scroungers engaging in this activity will be slung off my train if I spot them ! The other option is to make a PA, we also have a dedicated, DVA announcement for the purpose, which seems to help passengers confirm in their mind that they should not encourage these idiots, and it also delays their scrounging efforts for a bit whilst they are trapped in a train with no one giving !
However, having observed some whilst I'm a passenger, they tend not to go in the leading car, so don't really come to the driver's attention, unless someone complains.
I've seen the eastern europeans with their drugged babies counting out in the region of £300 in £1 coins on the platforms at Warren Street after just an hour or so on the Victoria Line !
Anyone giving to these scoundrels should be aware that by giving they are usually encouraging other unlawful activity in their communities, such as drug taking and illegal immigration. If you wish to give to a charity you are encouraged to give to a registered worthy cause ! (or to me ;D )
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2008 5:35:08 GMT
Charity begins at home!!  DOC |
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;D
