Travel Journal

I'm deciding what to take to New York and packing my bag, ready to hit the streets. I'm taking a 7am Thursday flight from Oklahoma to Islip Long Island where I'll meet Leps, and the cameraman, David Dye, at the airport. We'll take LI RR into the City, open the case and start playing.....will we make enough for eating and sleeping? We'll know by late Thursday night if Baldwin and Leps can support themselves with street music.

So . . . Richard, Dave and I made it into the hostel at 103rd and Amsterdam Ave. in NYC. We are sleeping in a dorm with 12 other people, but no one comes in early. We hit the streets and played at Washington Square , 11th and Bleeker, along 8th Street, and in front of a falafel place at 104th and Broadway. The Egyptian owner there likes us and our music; when people stop to listen, they often enter his shop. Will the street support us? Depends on what you mean by support. It will feed us and cover the hostel, but as expected, we'll be playing on the street, not shopping. Excellent resonse from everyone, and we work out harmonies and new material in the hostel garden with an audience of fifty or so international students. More later, and please send in any questions. Later,
Mick

Oct. 4 and warm in NY. Yesterday and last night played at Columbus Circle (59th ST.) and then went to the village. The beautiful Miyumi and the guitar player (Hiro?) went with us. Miyumi helped construct a new sign (pic on the site), and carried it under her poncho. She looked pregnant and laughed, "Maybe it's name is Michael." which of course delighted me. The streets were mad with people and various vendors. We made some money playing and handed out cards for the website and I bargained with a vendor for some trinkets to bring back to Joy. Good food and good people, and when I get used to posting this, I'll include more, and try to be a bit more clear. Send a question, and I'll try......
mick


Hey! The pic that is added (fringe shirt, and Richard looking like a model) is from the 70's. There'll be more new pics as time goes on. NEW YORK is better than ever. In the "old days" the cops would often tell us to move along; they weren't sure about the rules on street music. Now they are very cool, even helpful. I asked a cop in the subway about playing there, and he said, "technically, you need a permit, but if you don't use an amp, it's ok." So, even in the subway it's cool, and New Yorkers in general seem less in a hurry and less uptight, which is different than I heard. Very nice town: cleaner, more polite, more helpful, but with the same funky feel in the West Village and Washington Square Park. Lots of falafel stands and street stalls selling everything from caricatures to jewelry. They even sell Scientology on the street with a new, tricked out e meter. We're headed out to edit the video....rained all weekend in NY. You'll see shots from the video soon.
Mick

Gotta add this: We set up on 8th Street after playing in Washington Square Park, and people were depositing money in our guitar case as we played "You're So Right," and "Backwater Blues," mostly dollar bills. An elderly African American lady walked slowly by, listening "Backwater Blues." She walked way down the block toward the park, then turned, listened, and hobbled all the way back and smiling, deposited a quarter in our guitar case. Often, nice feelings from the street.
Mick