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Information for Performers
If you have been forwarded here from a card attached to a donation received while performing, I have filmed you and may use your sound and image as part of BUSK SF.
BUSK SF is an upcoming not-for-profit audio-visual artwork which examines the re-contextualisation of sound through an improvised performance composed solely of sounds and images sourced from various San Francisco street musicians and performers. The project also aims to celebrate and alert the public to the diversity of street performers that can be found in San Francisco.
For more information on what BUSK SF please see the background section below.
If you do not wish for you image and sound to be used as part of BUSK SF please either send me an e-mail at info@kalou.co.uk or call the number printed on the card. I am committed to respecting the rights of the original performer(s) and will remove an unwilling participants content immediately. You can also contact me through these means if you would like more information on the project.
Any money received from potential performances on the street or other settings will be donated to San Francisco-based charities.
Background
BUSK SF is the continuation of a project started in 2009 in London, England which was initially undertaken as the major work for the final year of a bachelors degree in 'Sound Art and Design' at the London College of Communication (part of University of the Arts, London).
The original intent of the project was to explore the recontextualisation of sound. I wanted to explore to how and to what extent the physical and sonic locations in which sounds are heard effected the listener's attention, perception and emotional attachment to sound. I was also interested in 'Busking', defined as "(to) play music or otherwise perform for voluntary donations in the street or in subways".
When I observed buskers I noted that the performer(s) seem literally and figuratively exposed, the performance was often located in a open environment, in addition to being traditionally unsolicited performer imposing their performance on their audience rather than voluntarily offering it, as is the case of planned concert performances. It appears as if the performer's instrument and/or their act itself creates the thin veil between the artist and audience.
In the case of musical busking performance, there is not necessarily a set duration for the musician(s) to play, or indeed a running order one sticks to. At least a portion of what busker's perform seem to improvised in accordance with the audience's enthusiasm, their location and their own will. I aimed to explore these compositional strategies in my work and in particular the link between improvisation and indefinite durations.
Examples
1. Documentary detailing the development and improvised performances of 2010's BUSK (London).
2. Film composed using footage collected for BUSK (London).
1. 2.
San Francisco Busking
Buskers in San Francisco seem to not be as consistently concentrated in specific areas as in London. There is no equivalent to either the Sound Bank or Convent Garden, where busking can almost certainly been seen on any given day. As a result the San Francisco version of the project will be less focused on creating the illusion that when performed BUSK is just another act performing amongst his peers. The idea of putting the re-contextualied sounds into the original geographical location will not be fundamental to the success of BUSK SF.
BUSK SF will instead focus more on celebrating the diversity of performers in the city from which sound and visuals can be extracted. Performances will not necessarily be set in the locations where the original footage was collected, although I do plan on performing in Fisherman's Wharf, one area that consistently hosts buskers. There will be more of an emphasis on the original work I can create with the sounds collected and ultalising them to their full potential.
Performances
Once BUSK SF is ready to be performed I plan on doing so in various locations around San Francisco, including Fisherman's Wharf, one of few areas in the city that I believe many would associate with street performing. I am also hoping to perform BUSK SF in galleries and events in order to broaden it's exposure.
Details of upcoming performances will appear on this web page in addition to the home page.