I thought I’d be back at the pier right away, but I need a few days to recover. I return with a combination of joy and anxiety. The experience feels momentous, so I keep recording the process.
On the Way
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General transcript: Holy shit. It’s one week later, and I’m back at the bus stop. I’m trying stars [on my cheeks] which is better because it matches the stars on my costume. My mom’s idea is to create a stencil.
I don’t want to fill the stars in [with color]. I want them to be blank because it’ll be easier to take off. I think it looks darn cute. I need a mirror – a little mirror – so I can put the star on my face in the bathroom at the pier instead of at home. I’m ready.
My Report
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General transcript: I just did my shift, and there are the things I want to remember. First of all, I use baby oil to get the blue stars off my face. I think it’s seamless. I don’t even use a mirror, but I think it’s really off.
Free Hugs Are Fun
I hold up a free hugs sign this time. I know about giving free hugs [so it’s familiar].
I’m tipped less. I think people take it for what it says. [Free!]
Nobody wants to interact with me afterward. They come in for a hug and off they go. I enjoy it.
Making Friends
Here’s another thing I like. Before my shift, I tip this talented entertainer. We take a photo. His name is Lenny.
Later, Lenny and I perform near each other. He sings to good music and so I dance to whatever he’s singing. He’s delightful. On his microphone, he comments about me, and I wave.
Unicorns Unite
I feel kind of bored after so long doing free hugs. So I put that sign away and instead hold up my sign that says, “Photo with Magical Unicorn.”
Right away somebody comes up to me, gives me ten bucks, and tells me that her publishing business is related to unicorns. So she gives me her card, and we have a nice hello. Then we take an adorable photo. That’s a unique change of pace.
I Wear This Sign On My Back
A very little little girl says “Hi” as she walks by with her family. That’s how I know she can read. So cute. A few grown ups say “Hi” as well. And a gaggle of teenage girls.
Sound Overload
There’s a disharmonious patch of time where Lenny’s music is on my right and the break dancer show is on my left. Music is blasting from two directions. I take out my hearing aids.
A very still, stuffed animal
I think about buskers who act like a statue. I want to try that. I hold up my sign right in front of the tips basket. I make a cute pose and hold still as long as I can.
Sometimes I shift my pose. I notice people giving me double takes. One child comes up and hugs me. (I guess stranger danger disappears if you act like a very still, stuffed animal.)
Nobody tips, but I don’t do the statue thing all that long. I enjoy it. I’m wearing sunglasses. Once I become very still, it feels like people-watching. [With the sunglasses covering my eyes, my peeping is incognito.] In some cases, I’m looking at them while they’re looking at me.
I’ve seen other statue buskers stand really still and then all of a sudden move or scare people. I try that a few times. [It doesn’t spark joy.]
Wrapping It Up
[In the future] if I can have the experience of staying totally still, and then people take photos with me totally still, and afterwards tip me totally still. That would be an interesting experience.
I’m glad when I innovate. It makes me feel [successful and] happy. I’ve decided that I’m gonna do this again; I’m allowing myself to be experimental. So far, it’s compelling and fun.