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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To report this busker?

46 replies

Bean89 · 05/12/2015 19:30

For the past couple of weeks there has been a busker on my train. Halfway through my journey I hear a boom box start then I have to listen to his shitty, unbelievably loud trumpet playing for the rest of my commute.

I'm a busy mum. I really treasure that time on the train as my quiet time, when I can listen to music that doesn't make me want to pull my own ears off. His presence thoroughly fucks me off. If you're going to busk, do it where people have the choice to walk away and not have to hear you.

I'm fairly sure it's illegal and I know I'm being a grumpy cow, but I also know the parents of the babies he's waking up and the people who tell him to get lost as he walks up and down the carriage asking for money don't appreciate it either.

WIBU to report him? And who to?

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 05/12/2015 20:39

You could borrow a trumpet and have a trumpet-off.

Toohardtofindaproperusername · 05/12/2015 20:41

If I'm on a train there's lots of things I don't expect or like, but they still happen.... Got to learn to embrace it Wink .. Or maybe not. I guess I'd err on reporting a busker as a tad unreasonable...

Toohardtofindaproperusername · 05/12/2015 20:43

Give him money for lessons to improve or play atune you particularly like ? Xmas Smile

MadeMan · 05/12/2015 20:44

"You could borrow a trumpet and have a trumpet-off."

Like the duelling banjos? Smile

ChilliAndBint · 05/12/2015 20:44

YANBU.

This happens a lot in France, really pisses me off.

Where I live the authorities are shit hot on clamping down on illegal performers.

I love to hear decent ones; we have an amazing violinist in our high street; he's Roma ,and he really is a joy to listen to.

There are a few bad 'uns too; thing is you can move on ( unless you work in nearby shops and offices.

We have a lot of "charity" canvassers on my estate; now that really does rile me!

hiddenhome2 · 05/12/2015 21:01

Perhaps everyone could club together and pay him to stop playing.

celtictoast · 05/12/2015 21:03

YANBU. Fine to listen to buskers in an open space, but trumpets are loud, and even played well would be too much in such a confined space.

sodabreadjam · 05/12/2015 21:21

Similar happened when were were on train in Italy a few years ago. A trio got on - young couple (woman very pregnant) and an older man. They had a boom box and a double bass held together with sellotape. She pretended to sing and the older man pretended to play the double bass while the boom box deafened us all. The younger man came round the carriage collecting money in quite an aggressive manner. They were also blocking the doors.

Hope it doesn't become common in the UK

Original poster
Bean89 · 05/12/2015 21:45

Toohard- again, buskers in open spaces don't bother me, but having to listen to ear splitting noise on a packed train for quite a while, then to be expected to pay for the pleasure seems somewhat off. Not only that, but it IS against the law from what I gather.

I felt the most sorry for the poor woman behind me whose baby started screaming as soon as he started up, when she said, "I've been trying to get him to sleep ALL day."

OP posts:
mimishimmi · 05/12/2015 22:52

I've been told to go back to where I came from and my family have been here many generations. Unfortunately I look Middle Eastern.

Original poster
Bean89 · 05/12/2015 22:55

Mimi- a customer once told me over the phone that he was sick of people like me calling from foreign call centres and he just wanted to speak to a British person.

I am from Leeds. I have the most English name you've ever heard. Apparently my Yorkshire accent was too difficult for him to understand.

OP posts:
Damselindestress · 05/12/2015 23:09

There is a busker in our city centre who just hits a tambourine tunelessly, sometimes shouting a few song words on repeat. Even the other buskers, beggars and big issue sellers can't stand him as he scares people away from the area. I feel sorry for him but if I was stuck in a confined space with him for any length of time I think I would snap. YANBU, just because it's music doesn't mean it's good and it's the last thing you need when you're trying to get some peace on your commute. I don't want buskers to be "disappeared" but there are limits and I think busking to a captive audience on a train crosses them.

MadeMan · 06/12/2015 00:18

" just because it's music doesn't mean it's good "

This is true; I wouldn't pay 50p to listen to Coldplay.

Original poster
Bean89 · 06/12/2015 00:20

Exactly Damsel. As someone previously mentioned, a trumpet is a very loud instrument and in such close quarters it is very uncomfortable to listen to. I don't appreciate being forced into that, which is exactly what busking on a train is doing.

OP posts:
ExploraDora · 06/12/2015 07:08

Don't people tell him to shut up? Maybe I live in a rough area, but he wouldn't have time to play more than a few notes before people would start yelling at him to bloody stop it and sod off Grin

wowfudge · 06/12/2015 07:34

Definitely one for BTP. A trumpet played in an enclosed space is extremely loud and totally inappropriate. Busking on trains is illegal anyway. Where's the train manager?

MadeMan · 07/12/2015 13:50

Years ago when I went to America, they had policemen with handguns patrolling on the trains and they wouldn't even let people put their feet up on the seats; let alone blow a trumpet in the carriage.

pictish · 07/12/2015 13:53

Yanbu - a fucking trumpet on a train?!

multivac · 07/12/2015 13:56

You have your own train?

Original poster
Bean89 · 07/12/2015 17:24

Multivac- I am in fact, Richard Branson.

OP posts:
multivac · 07/12/2015 18:51

Aha! I claim my prize!

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