Gotta start somewhere: First Friday street musicians
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Nowadays it is extremely rare to hear about or come across a famous musician that made it big overnight. In the entertainment industry, being discovered is akin to that of catching lightning in a bottle or purchasing a winning lottery ticket. Networking, touring, practicing, hard work — these all are steps that absolutely need to be taken in order to hit the ground running, and even then, there are no promises that success is in your future. The First Friday street musicians in Flagstaff have accepted that reality and put new meaning to the phrase “you gotta start somewhere.”
Sometimes called busking, street performing is no easy feat, especially in the dead of autumn in Flagstaff. Whether they happen to be by themselves, or with a group, musicians must prepare themselves to stand or sit outside for several hours with no promise of any profit or recognition. Street performing is not begging or loitering, for many, it is a way of life. It is how food is put on the table, how student loans are paid off, or how gloves are bought so no fingers fall off once Wonderwall gets requested. The amount of willpower street performance requires is exponential.
“We’re just trying to make some money to eat,” said member of local band No Parking Mary Motzing.
Food is not the only commodity desired by street artists either.
“(Food) and some performing experience,” said No Parking bandmate Dylan Chapman, “It doesn’t matter, even if it is just in front of whoever is walking by.”
Despite the frigid air and multiple layers, it is that kind of attitude that leaves them with cash and spare change at the bottom of their guitar cases every night. When perusing a career where discouragement is inevitable, it is vital to keep your eye on the prize.
“Just practice, even if you hate it. And never underestimate your armpits when it comes to keeping your hands warm,” said No Parking member Marley Wall.
Street performing is not as simple as picking a location, showing up and playing. There is strategy involved, especially if the goal is to head home that night with some dough in your pockets. First Friday is the quintessential event when it comes to street performance. With the hordes of people, various attractions and free live music, it has become a monthly destination for nearly every freelance musician in Arizona.
“I love playing, and I feel like First Friday attracts a lot of people,” said guitarist Chad Breen, member of local band Velovalo. “It’s a good way to get to know people and see the pulse of downtown. I mean, I come out here every First Friday and this is what the old jazz musicians would do, so I feel like it’s both a tradition and a statement.”
Support is always appreciated when it comes to street performers. Whether it be coming from the change jingling in your pocket, or the smile on your face as you stand listening; it is still a reaction and that is what musicians thrive on.
In Haley Gold and Spencer Bryant’s case, their dynamic duo titled 76th Street has gotten quite the positive response. Previously making it to the third round of The Voice, and now with a recorded and studio-produced EP available on iTunes, Gold and Bryant landed a slot in downtown Flagstaff’s square.
“We started singing when we were 10 years old,” Gold said. “We both went to the same elementary school, middle school, high school and now we’re roommates at ASU. Once we started performing together, we realized how amazing the response was and decided to make it a duo.”
However, despite the range in stories and inspirations, one underlying, driving factor remained across the board: a love for music. On those nights when fingers are too cold to pick at the strings, voices are too raspy to hit those higher notes and reactions are dull and disheartening, Flagstaff street performers rely on their tenacious love for making music to keep them going.
Ranging from high school students, to the members of No Parking, to the veterans of the street performing community that refuse to let a dream die, the amount of people out on the street corners and inside the coffee shops singing and playing their hearts out as if they were on stage at Wembley was, and will continue to be, inspiring.
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