Lauren Bateman recounts busking in subways and explains how she developed an emphasis on musical dynamics to keep performances engaging. She describes changing strumming patterns and adding small embellishments so songs feel less boring for passersby, and notes that when playing for friends (campfires, cookouts) sounding like the original recording is less important than creating a compelling live experience.
I used to busk a lot in the subways, so I got really big into creating dynamics. So I might do a song, and people like, well, that's not how the song's played. And I'm like, yeah, but if I'm just sitting here strumming chords, it's gonna sound boring. And, yes, it doesn't sound like the song. But if we add in dynamics, we change up the strumming patterns. I show people little spices, and I'm like, if you're playing for a group of your friends, you're gonna sound really cool. Maybe it doesn't sound like the song, but your friends don't care. They're happy that you're playing the Beatles for them at the campfire or the cookout.
