These Subway Drummers are More Than Meets the Eye
Busking for a Buck
Entertaining, Educating and Earning.
By Ronnel Grant
In New York City, there is no absence of entertainment for subway commuters "ITS SHOWTIME!" dancers and sometimes barbershop quartets roam through carts, you can get three full acts before you get to midtown. A group of young subway buskers who call themselves MNFST, not only entertain on the platform, but also educate.
Members of MNFST
talking and laughing together after a successful night, while waiting for the Brooklyn bound 4 train at grand central.
Original photo by Ronnel Grant
Who are MNFST?
MNFST, an abbreviation for manifest, is the name of a group of young music instructors. Based in New York City MNSFT was created with the idea of “manifesting your dreams.” These musicians use their talents to teach kids various aspects of music. The crew consist of four people; Cornelio Joseph, 26, Ralph Rookwood, 26, Anastasiya Kostromina 22 and Alan Zavodsky 29.
Joseph and Rockwood have been life long friends, growing up they simultaneously developed a passion for music. Together they founded MNFST. Each member of the group either teaches music privately and in schools, their specialty, drums.
MNFST
in line drumming on the mezzanine level of the Grand Central 4,5,6 train station. A mix of snare drums bass drums and drum pads are used.
Photo by Ronnel Grant
When they are not spending time with their students they are out attempting to inspire potential future students. MNFST find their clients in a very unique way, busking.
What Is Busking?
Busking is a form of street or public performance. The performer(s) sets up a “stage” typically in the subway or other high traffic volume areas. Performances could be puppet shows, mimes, magic, and of corse musical acts. Buskers don’t orally ask for money but some kind of tip ‘jar’ is placed on the floor. “Busking is giving without expecting to receive,” as Joseph would describe.
NYC has a long history of busking, deeply tied into the subway culture. While there is no permit required for busking in New York, there are certain guidelines and expectations. The MTA even works with buskers. The MTA has a subdivision that is in-charge of arts and that includes MTA MUSIC. MTA music holds annual auditions to select musicians that will grace the subway 'stage' with their art.
When speaking to Kevin Williams, a passing student who stopped to enjoy the music, he stated that "I never knew they had a name, i mean i always knew that people got their stuff and came down here to hustle but i never stopped to think they had a name for what they do." Williams reaction to learning about the name of the activity shows just how much the average New Yorker is informed about the busking process.
MNFST are apart of a community of buskers who opt out from auditioning and getting a designated spot and schedule in the subway. Instead they create their own schedule and search for their own locations. There are cons busking this way, for example having to vacate areas where someone with a permit preforms. Regardless MNFST continue to preform where ever they go. Even traveling as far as San Fransisco.
Why Drums?
"I play drums every where I can, I play drums in the school, I play drums in the club. I play drums in my house I play drums in the bathroom, I play drums in the shower, your playing drums with your heart right now, you don't even know it, you're a drummer," says Joseph as he explains how often he plays drums. For MNFST the drums are most important part of any musical piece. Keeping the pace and setting the rhythm, MNFST aim to share this passion with everyone.
“These guys are great, I seen them here like last week, and let me tell you, I don’t stop for any kinda show, but I will listen to these guys,” says Elliot Tuskie, after he shook hands with the MNFST crew after happily enjoying their performance. Compliments fill the subway platform as the apples dies down after every set. People approach the group with smiles from ear to ear and a bounce in their step as if the rhythm is still flowing through their feet.
Their preformance is not your typical drumline. The act is filled with dances, comical sketches and plenty of tricks. In high traffic stations like Grand Central and Union Square, where MNFST like to busk, there is a very narrow window for grabbing someones attention. The team constantly thing of ways to bring more attention grabbing stunts into their performances.
While the team enjoys entertaining spectators, Jospeh states, “the ultimate goal to inspire kids… Kids come back just to play drums just for that five to ten minutes, they know that when they are going to be there waiting for their train, they can come back with their parents to learn quick lesson because they know that we are gonna play.”
Students over 18 have been given the opportunity with busk with MNFST. Performing in the subway is an easy way to get allot of practice preforming in a crowd, plus you may even get tipped doing it. Rockwood explains MNFST goals as musicians as “bringing positive vibes, love and building a community with a positive work flow."
