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CarliÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Corner: Kelowna Busker gives insight on music scene

CarliÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Corner is a video project which features Kelowna musicians through a Q&A format
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Carli Berry/Capital News Michael S.E. Elliot, also known as the Kelowna Busker, is a full time musician in Kelowna and is the first musician to be featured on CarliÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Corner.

Michael S.E. Elliott has made a living as a full-time musician in Kelowna.

He moved to the city last year and earned a majority of his money from busking, developing his persona as the Kelowna Busker.

But, the busking scene changed for Elliott after , which altered his perspective.

The Capital News caught up with Elliott to discuss the decision behind leaving his full-time job and why he decided to take it up in the first place.

Q:Why did you decide to busk in Kelowna?

A: IÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ve never performed that way before coming to Kelowna. I was making more money busking than any job I could secure here. I got way too comfortable though. I would be turning down gigs to busk.

Q: Comfortable meaning you didnÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t need to challenge yourself?

One of the overall life lessons IÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ve learned is being comfortable is no good for me and I need to seek opportunities that make me uncomfortable. As it pertains to busking, I was turning opportunities down for myself because I love the idea of it. ThereÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s no agenda, itÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s volunteering your time as you wish.

Q: How was the ticket a turning point for you in your career?

A: The city rescinded the ticket but thereÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s still a warning on me for busking. If I continue busking the way I was previously, then IÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™m liable to get another fine. ThatÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s effectively stopped me from making a living the same way as I was before because I canÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t go to the same spots. But, itÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s a good thing in the end. It made me grow and challenge myself and IÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™m much better off for it.

Q: But youÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™re still known as the Kelowna Busker?

A: I use that to market myself by. I still busk, but the difference is last year it was a full time job and this year itÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s a once or twice every week. ItÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s definitely changed for me.

Q: Will people look at you weirdly while youÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™re performing on the sidewalks?

A: Sometimes.

Q: What music do you like to play?

A: Everything. I like the challenge of song writing. I battle with this concept with people in my band all the time. ThereÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s two schools of thought which are both correct. The one school says music is creative expression so you open your mouth and whatever comes out, pours out. ThatÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s the art and I love improvising with people for that. The other side of it is I want to build a career in entertainment and that means people are paying money at that point. So that means if you go into a venue and thereÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s a $10 cover thereÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s an expectation. ItÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s not just all about creative expression, thereÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s other people in the equation now.

Q: How do you meet in the middle of the two theories?

A: Sometimes violently. TheyÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™re separate schools of thought and IÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ve had arguments with musicians in town. When you want to make it your job it becomes something else, I think. ThereÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s a responsibility for the people who pay money to see a live show to perform and entertain them well, but I also want to progress in a career so I have to make sure everything I put out is beyond my artistic expression.

Q: Why did you decide to live in Kelowna to become a musician?

A: ItÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s kind of a microcosm of society at large. You have news organizations that are local and focused locally. Also, the dichotomy and closeness (of rich and poor) is a recipe for something to come out of the creative scene. ItÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s beautiful, and thereÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s money here. Being an entertainer thatÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s what you need; the people with a disposable income to spend on entertainment.

Elliott performs for weddings, at vineyards and does solo performances as well as with his rock band, .

You may find him casually busking around Kelowna or at Doc WilloughbyÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Public House.

Elliott is a part of the Capital NewÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s latest video project called CarliÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Corner. Every two weeks throughout the summer, reporter Carli Berry will interview local musicians in a quick Q&A on kelownacapnews.com. Email Carli at carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com to get involved.





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