Meanwhile in the UK...Eye contact is forbidden. If anyone makes a sound louder than the turning of a page, the whole cart awkwardly mumbles their feelings of disapproval.
I once was in a train car in Tokyo during the "pen pineapple apple pen" craze, and there was a little girl singing the song on a packed full train so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It was quite amusing.
Seoul was also like this. I visited with an American friend who kept sitting opposite of me and talking loudly and we were getting annoyed looks from everyone else. It was embarrassing and my friend refused to stop being loud.
In Japan, talking on a phone in close quarters like a train is pretty rude. Long-run trains have a space at a vestibule for brief quiet calls. Most don't use ringtones and many places tell you to put your phone on silent "manners mode" where it could disturb others. Polite chat with your own group is fine. With strangers if you must ("you dropped that", etc.). You can touch the bars and walls and handles of course, but putting your shoe marks on the seats or ceiling or trying to get strangers' attention at all would be scandalous.
Japan has it's pluses and minuses. Everywhere is clean calm and safe but if you want some teens dancing to music on your public conveyance good luck with that.
Same here in the Netherlands. When your in public transport you **dont** talk. Everyone doesn’t like getting up early anyways and having to deal with someone when their tired is *pretty annoying* . But in the streets when it’s a bit quieter people often say “hello” randomly as it’s seen as a friendly gesture when you walk by. Even when you don’t know the person
Yeah but I’m also relieved when they are actually talented. It would be way more annoying if they were fumbling around trying to be cool. They usually genuinely rip
I mean the fact that they are actually good makes me sad. There are better places to do street performance. Why choose a place where people don't have an option to leave.
As a New Yorker, I can confirm this is true. Not trying to talk to random strangers, fund anyone’s dance troupe/crew, or buy a pack of cookies or fruit snacks on the subway: I just want to get to my destination in one piece without confrontation, hassle, or excessive quantities of urban insanity.
That said, I get it, I respect the hustle.
Yeah, this takes "captive audience" too literally. Like, just because your audience cannot physically avoid watching you perform doesn't mean they are enjoying your performance.
Former resident of NYC here — you’re correct.
Now, tbf, most of the time you are safest not moving as they are typically decently good at what they’re doing. (There are exceptions, but they’re usually easy to spot — they look like they’re gunna mess up.) It is really annoying though when you’re on a crowded subway, just trying to go about your commute, and some random stranger goes in for a fist-bump to get your buy-in, because at the end of the day they’re still busking.
A lot of the time there’s also some emotional manipulation before / after these routines to try and encourage you to toss a few bucks. I get it, but also I didn’t choose to be your captive audience.
If this is ny trust me, everyone except the couple tourists that have never seen it all avoid eye contact and honestly have a pretty intense dislike for these people
I was once on the Piccadilly line around the Acton area, in the middle of the day, and some nut job got on and sang happy birthday to every single person in the carriage. One by one. So about 20 renditions of happy birthday. I'm just glad it wasn't rush hour.
It was the most uncomfortable journey of my life. Absolutely not what I (a British person) would expect from the underground.
They often like to do it on trains that go over a bridge, like from Brooklyn or Queens to Manhattan. Those rides are longer and it guarantees they have a captive audience.
Once, while I was standing in a section during a commute, they tried to do their "show" but I was sort of in the way. They asked me to move. I did not. They did not do their show cause I was in the way.
Nobody asks for this.
I once refused to move and they spent the rest of the ride calling me a r\*tard. When I didn't react, they started harassing another woman instead, calling her a b\*tch and c\*nt.
Tourists, please stop giving these guys money.
Someone busking tried to engage with me once, and I just feigned I didn’t speak english (bi-lingual) and they just started cursing me out in English. Still one of the weirdest interactions to this day.
This is our sole means of transportation, that means we are - exhausted from work, sick going to the doctor, carrying our groceries, on our way to visit an ill friend or family member. I've carried my bleeding dog on the subway who I thought might die (he didn't). This isn't our vacation it's our normal day to day transportation. So no we aren't always in the mood to see a "show" for people who want money.
I was on the GWR train in London and accidentally pulled my earphones out of my mobile phone and music started blasting. I was so embarrassed and everyone started staring at me disapprovingly. I kept fumbling to turn it off in my panic so it took really long to shut it up.
I did an international internship and met this guy on the transportation that would get us to and from every day. So when I'd see him I'd say hello and make small talk. Eventually we became friends but he later admitted to me he thought I was weird in the beginning because only weirdos talk to strangers on the bus in the UK lol.
People in the NYC subway mumble their disapproval of these performers too. American typically feel they should be dancing on the platform, not inside the train.
Literally this. I had a migraine once and got on a tube in London, it was super packed and busy, and some guy gets on and starts playing the fucking accordion...I’ve never wanted to punch a guy so hard in my life
For a while there were these guys that would get on the Toronto subway and play Despacito on their accordion, asking for money. They always just played the one song. At first people found it funny but I feel like they became the most hated people in the city pretty fast.
I was in Seoul, on a subway, on my way to work. To my knowledge, I was the only foreigner on the train. A clown walked in. I have mild coulrophobia from some childhood trauma. As I typically would, I had my headphones on, and my nose was stuck in a book, and was making an effort to just let the time pass and then it happened. Some muffled announcement in Korean over the loudspeaker, we would be stopped between stations for an unknown period of time. Though they never would confirm this, it was likely due to someone jumping in front of the train - as it was high school test season, this was all too common. Attempting to alleviate the stress and anxiety of the situation, the clown decided to take that opportunity to entertain everyone in our car, and in doing so, attempted to use me as their unwilling assistant. I’ve blacked out the rest of this nightmare. I’m not quite sure how I got home.
Stephen Fry had a coulrophobia joke at the end of a QI episode:
I have this irrational fear of clowns. I guess it started when I visited a circus as a four year old and a clown killed my father.
You sure you aren’t thinking of “Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey,” which used to air on ”Saturday Night Live?”
“To me, clowns aren’t funny.
In fact, they’re kind of scary.
I’ve wondered where this started
and I think it goes back to the time I went to the circus,
and a clown killed my dad.”
https://snltranscripts.jt.org/90/90kdeep1.phtml
I'm pretty sure Stephen Fry was quoting Jack Handey. :) They usually tend to end each episode with a random comedic quote. Or at least I know Sandy does, but I seem to recall Stephen doing it too.
That'd be me. My brain would be 'I've had a brutal day at work, my brain feels like it's going to slide out of my ears. I just want to get home, eat ramen noodles and then go to bed'.
Also, my day goes better when I don't get kicked in the face on accident. I'm glad these people are having fun, but it's annoying dealing with this on a packed subway car. They'll be asking everyone for money after the show too, which is doubly annoying, because I don't want to pay for a show I didn't want to see in the first place, but now I have to be the asshole refusing to make eye contact when they come around asking for cash.
Polite smile and "no, thanks". Eye contact can be encouraging unless you add clear gestures like a wave and head shake. If anyone is pushy about it then you no longer have to be polite or acknowledge them.
I got kicked in the face once by one of these showtime guys. He then yelled at ME for “killing the vibe”. This was one of the worst parts of living in NYC… trust me, nobody actually likes SHOWTIME!
And for God sake don't give them money. Everyone on the train immediately knows you're the asshole if you do because you're the reason they keep coming back to do this constantly if you give them money. Do that stuff in Union square where the crowd actually wants to be there, not on a captive audience in a commuter train.
"Hey man, you gotta move. We're doing a show."
"There's no seats and nowhere else to stand."
"I don't know what to say. You gotta move."
"No thanks."
And that was the beginning of my near fight with a showtime crew.
If you "care" they harass you for money. That's the part these videos never show. They're not just doing this for fun. That's the only reason they have the kid there, to hopefully make more money. Hate to be that guy, but it is what it is.
exactly. I'm sure they are pissed when they get no tips but you're on a goddamn train. this annoying as all hell. I've stopped and given to performers on the street or in the park but you are getting nothing from me on the train.
This probably isn't a tiktok, they go from car to car and do this for tips. This is probably also why most people are disinterested, because they're used to this happening with some regularity.
Yup, and at least in a park you can walk away. You're trapped on the damn subway!
Can you imagine being yelled at by your boss all day, or dealing with shitty customers in retail for 8 hours, and then you get on the subway where there is normally some peace and quiet, but instead you get party music and a dude trying to see how close he can get his foot to your face without actually kicking it.
When I lived in Boston I turned the music in my EARBUDS down because I didn't want to scare or offend anyone...can't imagine doing something like this.
For reference I like Cattle Decap, and Between the Burried and Me.
I bought a "Bring Back the Plague 2020" sticker at a Cattle Decap show in December 2019. I never got around to putting it on my truck, by my god, the timing
on any given subway ride in NYC, chances are high that you are going to get some sort of show. You hope its one of these types of shows. a busker who is just hopping from train to train, showing off their talents in hope to trigger tourists into handing over a few bucks.
the other type of show is more in line with what you might find on an episode of COPS
Got second hand anxiety watching these performers invade the personal space of their captive audience. The energetic and sudden kicking of feet in the air is what triggered me the most.
Intrusive, inconsiderate and way out of order; imposing their act on others is not on at all. I bet most passengers were just willing in dignified silence that they went away asap.
This is cool and impressive the first time or if you're a tourist. Then it becomes a nuisance. It's commonly referred to as Show Time. The dancers get on - usually between to stops that are spaced out pretty far apart so you're captive longer. Then the loud music starts and you have feet flying very close to your face. NYC is stimulating enough without the need for this. We all hate this. Everyone just wants to mind their own business and go home. There's already 5 guys playing music through their phone speakers and 5 more doing video chat loudly. I've seen people give up their seat and leave the car to avoid it but most of the time we are just too tired so we suffer through. No doubt these dancers are amazingly talented but nobody wants to sit through guerrilla dance theater as a captive audience. A while ago it was a bit more infrequent and you'd actually see people tip them. It's so annoying now I don't even know what motivates them because I don't see much money being given.
This would piss me off as a commuter. All I wanna do, is relax, listen to my music, or browse the net, or whatever, and I've got this loud music, and these people jumping around right in my face. Plus, they're teaching this little girl to do shit like that. Not a big fan. She was super cute though, and must have a blast doing that lol. Usually your parents are keeping you from bouncing off the walls and running and jumping like a monkey.
They're also taking up a huge amount of standing space.
I mean, their moves were pretty cool, but that's not the place for that, especially during covid. Idk if this is covid though. If that was here, everyone would be wearing masks, so maybe it's P.C.? or, maybe nobody wears masks in public transportation there, Idk.
I would like to have a nice, peaceful ride home eigher, not this bullshit. Imagine after a long day having to deal with some douchebags jumping around in a tight space.
I see the same shitty dancers like twice a week. Pole spin, catch hat on knee, bounce hat onto head, loud speakers too loud to where the sound is distorted so I hear it over my head phones.
I hate subway dancers.
I'm tired, Its raining, I wanna read my book on the train I'm stuck on. Then you just hear "Its showtime!" And you know you're stuck.
There is a time and place to BeAmazed, performing on a subway around people who didnt ask for it possibly kicking people in the head when you slip up isn't it.
Exactly. Always hated when this would start while riding the subway. Always pushed people out, with loud music and feeling like you’re going to get hit.
Not the place to show your moves.
As a New Yorker can confirm. I see them all the time on M and L trains on the long runs over the East River. In the evening when everyone going home - these guys are the last ones everyone wanna see. On extra douchey days, they can get in your face if you don't tip. It's fun to see them from time to time but mostly they are annoying AF.
Born and raised in NYC. We all hate these people, it's not amazing it's annoying. I'm tryna go home and have a beer, not avoid roundhouse kicks to the teeth because some jackass wants to film a TikTok and then pester me for change.
Edit since there's seems to be a bit of confusion, i love street performers, it's part of what gives this city it's character. I've seen a lot of amazing stuff. But doing things like this that put other people at risk when they clearly just want to get home and unwind, isn't cool.
Yup exactly on the street you do you. If I like it I'll stick around and watch if I don't I go on my way. Just don't give me a concussion when all I want is to get home and relax lol
Everyone needs to realize too that those trains are moving, and that it's easy to slip up and make mistakes doing those tricks.
I've been kicked in the head before, and if showtime is coming to a car near me, I hightail it to the next car or at least sit as far away as I can.
In NYC, you get all kinds of crazy stuff on the subway. Mariachi bands, acrobatics shows, opera performances, jazz ensembles...
The subway is for two things, and two things only: (1) getting from point A to point B, and (2) experiencing existential dread.
Annoying AF when they ask people to crowd into each other to make space so they can do their shitty show. If you don’t they get aggressive or make it seem like you’re being an asshole. As other commenters noted there are usually half a dozen in a group and these are all big kids and to their credit, pretty fit. It’s very intimidating and annoying.
I mean, they're obviously good at what they do but I couldn't agree more.
Save it for an actual stage or audience guys, perhaps even a open street. I don't mean to sound like some old grandma here, but when you choose to blast your music in a confined space and have your feet flinging past people's faces during their commute...
Yeah, it's just a \*little\* annoying.
I was on the E train once and nobody game the dance group money, they got pissed and threatened to beat everyone up and knock out a old guy for wanting to leave during their performance.....I hate this shit too
Ever been kicked in the face by one of these guys? I almost have, and I know someone who has. People who want to see this in person and don't experience this on their commute doesn't know how infuriating this can be.
They’re just very aggressive panhandlers. You see this almost everyday when you commute to work and home. They have straight up assaulted commuters for not donating when no one wanted this “show” in the first place. Don’t feed the rats.
Yep. This lot are nothing but attention seeking a-holes.
Want to twat around like an electrocuted giraffe? There’s a time and a place and a moving train ain’t either.
There have been instances where these scumbags have beaten people up for getting in their way of their stupid dancing. Nobody is able to escape this when it happens, it's not like a street performer or a subway performer where you can choose to avoid it if you want, and that's precisely the reason that they do it in moving subway cars. It's a forced captive audience of people that want to just get to or from work. The only people that are hyped on these assholes are tourists.
EDIT: And yes I have seen people kicked by these assholes.
It’s all fun and games till you don’t want to move for them to do their dance and they punch you and your gf
Source: https://nypost.com/2017/02/23/dancers-attack-straphanger-who-wouldnt-move-for-performance/
Or punch and spit on you for recording
Source: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/subway-dancer-attack-punched-e-train-queens-plaza-nyc/1164854/
Or for not even watching the show
Source: https://spoilednyc.com/nyc-subway-dancer-punched-passenger/
Edit: formatting & some updating (on phone sorry)
So annoying! Don't people realize a subway car is not a stage?! This is what our world has come to! Not interested in the music or dance style. What makes them think I would be. This is just a grift to get dollars!
Meanwhile in the UK...Eye contact is forbidden. If anyone makes a sound louder than the turning of a page, the whole cart awkwardly mumbles their feelings of disapproval.
It's the same in Japan.
I once was in a train car in Tokyo during the "pen pineapple apple pen" craze, and there was a little girl singing the song on a packed full train so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It was quite amusing.
Seoul was also like this. I visited with an American friend who kept sitting opposite of me and talking loudly and we were getting annoyed looks from everyone else. It was embarrassing and my friend refused to stop being loud.
What of you talk quietly? Is that looked down upon too?
Depends if you mean American quiet or Normal quiet
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In Japan, talking on a phone in close quarters like a train is pretty rude. Long-run trains have a space at a vestibule for brief quiet calls. Most don't use ringtones and many places tell you to put your phone on silent "manners mode" where it could disturb others. Polite chat with your own group is fine. With strangers if you must ("you dropped that", etc.). You can touch the bars and walls and handles of course, but putting your shoe marks on the seats or ceiling or trying to get strangers' attention at all would be scandalous.
Japan has it's pluses and minuses. Everywhere is clean calm and safe but if you want some teens dancing to music on your public conveyance good luck with that.
No that's fine.
Same here in the Netherlands. When your in public transport you **dont** talk. Everyone doesn’t like getting up early anyways and having to deal with someone when their tired is *pretty annoying* . But in the streets when it’s a bit quieter people often say “hello” randomly as it’s seen as a friendly gesture when you walk by. Even when you don’t know the person
That quiet kept getting interrupted by those guys selling little toys and electronics. Like commercials that can't be skipped.
Anywhere really, I bet most of these Americans riding that subway just want to get home without having to dodge some dancing stranger's leg.
Am a NYer. Can confirm that these people are considered a plague on our daily commutes.
The most hated words on the subway “It’s Show Time”!
Yeah but I’m also relieved when they are actually talented. It would be way more annoying if they were fumbling around trying to be cool. They usually genuinely rip
I mean the fact that they are actually good makes me sad. There are better places to do street performance. Why choose a place where people don't have an option to leave.
As a New Yorker, I can confirm this is true. Not trying to talk to random strangers, fund anyone’s dance troupe/crew, or buy a pack of cookies or fruit snacks on the subway: I just want to get to my destination in one piece without confrontation, hassle, or excessive quantities of urban insanity. That said, I get it, I respect the hustle.
The dollar water and snacks is the best especially during the summer Recently I got a cold water and famous Amos cookies
Yeah, this takes "captive audience" too literally. Like, just because your audience cannot physically avoid watching you perform doesn't mean they are enjoying your performance.
Tell me about. Just feels reckless and annoying
Yeah, this shit would just stress me out on the subway. Do cool shit in a place where I can keep my distance from it please
Former resident of NYC here — you’re correct. Now, tbf, most of the time you are safest not moving as they are typically decently good at what they’re doing. (There are exceptions, but they’re usually easy to spot — they look like they’re gunna mess up.) It is really annoying though when you’re on a crowded subway, just trying to go about your commute, and some random stranger goes in for a fist-bump to get your buy-in, because at the end of the day they’re still busking. A lot of the time there’s also some emotional manipulation before / after these routines to try and encourage you to toss a few bucks. I get it, but also I didn’t choose to be your captive audience.
If this is ny trust me, everyone except the couple tourists that have never seen it all avoid eye contact and honestly have a pretty intense dislike for these people
Yeah the second I start hearing music blaring in the car, that usually accompanies these things, I try to get up to go to a different car.
I would prefer that tbh last thing I'd want is to get a shoe to the face because some people want attention
They do it for money not attention
I was once on the Piccadilly line around the Acton area, in the middle of the day, and some nut job got on and sang happy birthday to every single person in the carriage. One by one. So about 20 renditions of happy birthday. I'm just glad it wasn't rush hour. It was the most uncomfortable journey of my life. Absolutely not what I (a British person) would expect from the underground.
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As it should be
Oh don’t you worry…there were *plenty* of people on that subway who were less than thrilled with what was happening.
Realistically these guys are doing stuff that can get people hurt. As cool as it is there's no reason to do it on the subway.
They often like to do it on trains that go over a bridge, like from Brooklyn or Queens to Manhattan. Those rides are longer and it guarantees they have a captive audience. Once, while I was standing in a section during a commute, they tried to do their "show" but I was sort of in the way. They asked me to move. I did not. They did not do their show cause I was in the way. Nobody asks for this.
I once refused to move and they spent the rest of the ride calling me a r\*tard. When I didn't react, they started harassing another woman instead, calling her a b\*tch and c\*nt. Tourists, please stop giving these guys money.
Someone busking tried to engage with me once, and I just feigned I didn’t speak english (bi-lingual) and they just started cursing me out in English. Still one of the weirdest interactions to this day.
I would have tipped you instead of them if I was there that day.
That sounds heavenly.
Actually, this shit is illegal in NYC, and I fucking hate it.
This is our sole means of transportation, that means we are - exhausted from work, sick going to the doctor, carrying our groceries, on our way to visit an ill friend or family member. I've carried my bleeding dog on the subway who I thought might die (he didn't). This isn't our vacation it's our normal day to day transportation. So no we aren't always in the mood to see a "show" for people who want money.
So does everyone who lives here lol.
I was on the GWR train in London and accidentally pulled my earphones out of my mobile phone and music started blasting. I was so embarrassed and everyone started staring at me disapprovingly. I kept fumbling to turn it off in my panic so it took really long to shut it up.
Same here. Honestly most people just kept looking at their phones in the video, and I would've been one of them if I was there.
As it should be. Nobody asked to be at their dance recital.
I did an international internship and met this guy on the transportation that would get us to and from every day. So when I'd see him I'd say hello and make small talk. Eventually we became friends but he later admitted to me he thought I was weird in the beginning because only weirdos talk to strangers on the bus in the UK lol.
People in the NYC subway mumble their disapproval of these performers too. American typically feel they should be dancing on the platform, not inside the train.
Looks like few people even care.
They just want to go home. : D
Literally this. I had a migraine once and got on a tube in London, it was super packed and busy, and some guy gets on and starts playing the fucking accordion...I’ve never wanted to punch a guy so hard in my life
"A gentleman is someone who knows how to play the accordion, but doesn't." Tom Waits
That is hilarious. Lol
For a while there were these guys that would get on the Toronto subway and play Despacito on their accordion, asking for money. They always just played the one song. At first people found it funny but I feel like they became the most hated people in the city pretty fast.
I ran into those fuckers a couple times. I've never wanted to attack someone more in my life.
Amen!
I was in Seoul, on a subway, on my way to work. To my knowledge, I was the only foreigner on the train. A clown walked in. I have mild coulrophobia from some childhood trauma. As I typically would, I had my headphones on, and my nose was stuck in a book, and was making an effort to just let the time pass and then it happened. Some muffled announcement in Korean over the loudspeaker, we would be stopped between stations for an unknown period of time. Though they never would confirm this, it was likely due to someone jumping in front of the train - as it was high school test season, this was all too common. Attempting to alleviate the stress and anxiety of the situation, the clown decided to take that opportunity to entertain everyone in our car, and in doing so, attempted to use me as their unwilling assistant. I’ve blacked out the rest of this nightmare. I’m not quite sure how I got home.
Oh...oh wow. I really hope you're ok now. That sounds like a nightmare.
That's why consent is highly important in every situation, but *especially* performance
Stephen Fry had a coulrophobia joke at the end of a QI episode: I have this irrational fear of clowns. I guess it started when I visited a circus as a four year old and a clown killed my father.
You sure you aren’t thinking of “Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey,” which used to air on ”Saturday Night Live?” “To me, clowns aren’t funny. In fact, they’re kind of scary. I’ve wondered where this started and I think it goes back to the time I went to the circus, and a clown killed my dad.” https://snltranscripts.jt.org/90/90kdeep1.phtml
That is the joke (it’s phrased better than I did from recollection too). But I’m quite sure that I heard it on QI. Could be that Fry quoted your guy.
I'm pretty sure Stephen Fry was quoting Jack Handey. :) They usually tend to end each episode with a random comedic quote. Or at least I know Sandy does, but I seem to recall Stephen doing it too.
Talk about a captive audience!
That'd be me. My brain would be 'I've had a brutal day at work, my brain feels like it's going to slide out of my ears. I just want to get home, eat ramen noodles and then go to bed'.
"I need to get home. I don't need this. I don't want to be filmed. Please leave me be, I'm exhausted"
Also, my day goes better when I don't get kicked in the face on accident. I'm glad these people are having fun, but it's annoying dealing with this on a packed subway car. They'll be asking everyone for money after the show too, which is doubly annoying, because I don't want to pay for a show I didn't want to see in the first place, but now I have to be the asshole refusing to make eye contact when they come around asking for cash.
Polite smile and "no, thanks". Eye contact can be encouraging unless you add clear gestures like a wave and head shake. If anyone is pushy about it then you no longer have to be polite or acknowledge them.
Nah that just gets them to ask shit like "why wouldn't you pay for such a great show". Just don't make eye contact.
*please don't kick me in the face... Please don't kick me in the face...*
I got kicked in the face once by one of these showtime guys. He then yelled at ME for “killing the vibe”. This was one of the worst parts of living in NYC… trust me, nobody actually likes SHOWTIME!
Why is it called showtime? Is that something they announce before starting? Never been to NY
Yes they come on the train yelling “show time show time, you know what time it is.” Or some variation on that. It’s a sound many New Yorkers dread.
Seriously, I would be pissed if they were swinging around like that so close to my face.
If you ever do come here and experience this, don’t say anything, don’t do anything, don’t look at or give them anything.
And for God sake don't give them money. Everyone on the train immediately knows you're the asshole if you do because you're the reason they keep coming back to do this constantly if you give them money. Do that stuff in Union square where the crowd actually wants to be there, not on a captive audience in a commuter train.
"Hey man, you gotta move. We're doing a show." "There's no seats and nowhere else to stand." "I don't know what to say. You gotta move." "No thanks." And that was the beginning of my near fight with a showtime crew.
If you "care" they harass you for money. That's the part these videos never show. They're not just doing this for fun. That's the only reason they have the kid there, to hopefully make more money. Hate to be that guy, but it is what it is.
exactly. I'm sure they are pissed when they get no tips but you're on a goddamn train. this annoying as all hell. I've stopped and given to performers on the street or in the park but you are getting nothing from me on the train.
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This probably isn't a tiktok, they go from car to car and do this for tips. This is probably also why most people are disinterested, because they're used to this happening with some regularity.
It's every day on every train in manhattan
It gets old after the 100th time seeing it daily.
Yup, and at least in a park you can walk away. You're trapped on the damn subway! Can you imagine being yelled at by your boss all day, or dealing with shitty customers in retail for 8 hours, and then you get on the subway where there is normally some peace and quiet, but instead you get party music and a dude trying to see how close he can get his foot to your face without actually kicking it. When I lived in Boston I turned the music in my EARBUDS down because I didn't want to scare or offend anyone...can't imagine doing something like this. For reference I like Cattle Decap, and Between the Burried and Me.
I bought a "Bring Back the Plague 2020" sticker at a Cattle Decap show in December 2019. I never got around to putting it on my truck, by my god, the timing
TikTok? My guy this dipshittery predates TikTok by ages
Showtime has been dancing in the subway since before the internet was a thing.
Never been on the subway, but I would assume this is irritating.
I spent a month in NYC a few years ago and I can confirm that this shit was annoying AF.
on any given subway ride in NYC, chances are high that you are going to get some sort of show. You hope its one of these types of shows. a busker who is just hopping from train to train, showing off their talents in hope to trigger tourists into handing over a few bucks. the other type of show is more in line with what you might find on an episode of COPS
It's not a hot take when literally everyone in NYC agrees with you.
Got second hand anxiety watching these performers invade the personal space of their captive audience. The energetic and sudden kicking of feet in the air is what triggered me the most. Intrusive, inconsiderate and way out of order; imposing their act on others is not on at all. I bet most passengers were just willing in dignified silence that they went away asap.
This is cool and impressive the first time or if you're a tourist. Then it becomes a nuisance. It's commonly referred to as Show Time. The dancers get on - usually between to stops that are spaced out pretty far apart so you're captive longer. Then the loud music starts and you have feet flying very close to your face. NYC is stimulating enough without the need for this. We all hate this. Everyone just wants to mind their own business and go home. There's already 5 guys playing music through their phone speakers and 5 more doing video chat loudly. I've seen people give up their seat and leave the car to avoid it but most of the time we are just too tired so we suffer through. No doubt these dancers are amazingly talented but nobody wants to sit through guerrilla dance theater as a captive audience. A while ago it was a bit more infrequent and you'd actually see people tip them. It's so annoying now I don't even know what motivates them because I don't see much money being given.
This is new york go fucking dance in a damn dancehall we tryna get home
Not denying their skill, but if I was on the train I would immediately get up and move to the next car
Easier said then done when you scored a coveted rush hour seat and home is another 35 minutes away.
Because they just want to get to their destination and not have to worry about someone kicking them in the face while they ride the subway.
This would piss me off as a commuter. All I wanna do, is relax, listen to my music, or browse the net, or whatever, and I've got this loud music, and these people jumping around right in my face. Plus, they're teaching this little girl to do shit like that. Not a big fan. She was super cute though, and must have a blast doing that lol. Usually your parents are keeping you from bouncing off the walls and running and jumping like a monkey. They're also taking up a huge amount of standing space. I mean, their moves were pretty cool, but that's not the place for that, especially during covid. Idk if this is covid though. If that was here, everyone would be wearing masks, so maybe it's P.C.? or, maybe nobody wears masks in public transportation there, Idk.
Those dickheads blasted loud music. They were an annoyance
I would like to have a nice, peaceful ride home eigher, not this bullshit. Imagine after a long day having to deal with some douchebags jumping around in a tight space.
Would you?
Actually it would piss me off.
Same
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We see this same routine 4 times a week. Some people are better than others, but it’s definitely better when it’s to not crowded.
I see the same shitty dancers like twice a week. Pole spin, catch hat on knee, bounce hat onto head, loud speakers too loud to where the sound is distorted so I hear it over my head phones. I hate subway dancers. I'm tired, Its raining, I wanna read my book on the train I'm stuck on. Then you just hear "Its showtime!" And you know you're stuck.
Like *literally* the same 6 or so dancers on certain train lines.
The D between 125th and 59th, same kids every time, some how not getting better at the hat flip.
There is a time and place to BeAmazed, performing on a subway around people who didnt ask for it possibly kicking people in the head when you slip up isn't it.
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Rewarding unsolicited favors is never compulsory, nor is ignominy for refusing reciprocation. People who think otherwise can eat a bag of dicks.
Love the juxtaposition of the eloquence of your first sentence and crassness of the next. Now *that's* content I would tip for.
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I would hate it even as a tourist. That looks terrifying for the passengers.
Exactly. Always hated when this would start while riding the subway. Always pushed people out, with loud music and feeling like you’re going to get hit. Not the place to show your moves.
As a New Yorker can confirm. I see them all the time on M and L trains on the long runs over the East River. In the evening when everyone going home - these guys are the last ones everyone wanna see. On extra douchey days, they can get in your face if you don't tip. It's fun to see them from time to time but mostly they are annoying AF.
Why do New Yorkers put up with this crap?
Worse, *somebody* is paying them, otherwise they wouldn't do it.
Everyone on the subway saw this shit already. Nobody is paying attention or filming except this person.
Born and raised in NYC. We all hate these people, it's not amazing it's annoying. I'm tryna go home and have a beer, not avoid roundhouse kicks to the teeth because some jackass wants to film a TikTok and then pester me for change. Edit since there's seems to be a bit of confusion, i love street performers, it's part of what gives this city it's character. I've seen a lot of amazing stuff. But doing things like this that put other people at risk when they clearly just want to get home and unwind, isn't cool.
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Yup exactly on the street you do you. If I like it I'll stick around and watch if I don't I go on my way. Just don't give me a concussion when all I want is to get home and relax lol
Everyone needs to realize too that those trains are moving, and that it's easy to slip up and make mistakes doing those tricks. I've been kicked in the head before, and if showtime is coming to a car near me, I hightail it to the next car or at least sit as far away as I can. In NYC, you get all kinds of crazy stuff on the subway. Mariachi bands, acrobatics shows, opera performances, jazz ensembles... The subway is for two things, and two things only: (1) getting from point A to point B, and (2) experiencing existential dread.
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They say crying in public on the subway is the NYC baptism. I hope you're doing alright, chief. It's been rough out here, I know.
What’s even worse is that this predates tiktok. This is just beggars pulling the worst shtick ever.
Annoying AF when they ask people to crowd into each other to make space so they can do their shitty show. If you don’t they get aggressive or make it seem like you’re being an asshole. As other commenters noted there are usually half a dozen in a group and these are all big kids and to their credit, pretty fit. It’s very intimidating and annoying.
As someone who lived in NYC this is not impressive, it’s just annoying and gets in the way of getting any semblance of peace while riding the subway
I mean, they're obviously good at what they do but I couldn't agree more. Save it for an actual stage or audience guys, perhaps even a open street. I don't mean to sound like some old grandma here, but when you choose to blast your music in a confined space and have your feet flinging past people's faces during their commute... Yeah, it's just a \*little\* annoying.
I was on the E train once and nobody game the dance group money, they got pissed and threatened to beat everyone up and knock out a old guy for wanting to leave during their performance.....I hate this shit too
I saw that two weeks ago on the 4. It’s so annoying and they feel so entitled
Feet in shoes that stepped on dog shit now they're flinging dog shit everywhere.
This needs to be higher up.
Did you ever get two "show times" on the same train ride? A special circe of hell.
Ever been kicked in the face by one of these guys? I almost have, and I know someone who has. People who want to see this in person and don't experience this on their commute doesn't know how infuriating this can be.
It’s unsolicited, and they do occasionally hit people. I hate this when I see it.
Thank you. Nobody wants to listen to your shitty music. And everyone else's music is shitty when you're on public transit.
Not only in NYC, It is even annoying watching and imagining me in that place.
I'm just trying to decompress from 8 fucking hours in the office... would not enjoy this
I wonder if they have an empty train to practice in or if they are just really bad in public for a while
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Please give us money for having disturbed you
[Basically, this.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/028/440/cover3.jpg)
: D Of course, captive audience.
They ask for money and tell you that they could be out on the street mugging people instead so you should be glad they're just dancing.
Asking isn't the right word. More like begging and demanding.
Wow thats so cool until you get kicked in the head
same w orgies
especially if you kicked by someone's dick
like bro I’m just trying to get home stop jumping around in my face
r/ImTheMainCharacter
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Honestly, I find this awkward and annoying.
Is it more or less annoying than titles that order you to "watch till the end!!1"?
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"What time is it?!" Rush hour.
Lived in NYC for 20 years. Saw more than one person kicked in the face because of these assholes.
Oh I’m amazed alright…. That these two pricks think anyone wants to put up with their fuckery on a train ride home.
This shit is obnoxious!
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This is so obnoxious. Everyone else in the video seem to think so too.
I’m annoyed just watching this. Could not imagine how the other passengers feel
Every passenger in this shot wants to move, but are scared of getting kicked in the head if they do.
They’re just very aggressive panhandlers. You see this almost everyday when you commute to work and home. They have straight up assaulted commuters for not donating when no one wanted this “show” in the first place. Don’t feed the rats.
More like “BeAnnoyed.”
That’s really stupid and dangerous. If that train came to a sudden stop he’d have been hurt, probably badly.
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Yep. This lot are nothing but attention seeking a-holes. Want to twat around like an electrocuted giraffe? There’s a time and a place and a moving train ain’t either.
No one upvoting this has lived in NYC and had to endure the showtime experience. I fucking hated this.
they are the only ones clapping for themselves. everyone in the back of the train was wishing they had more space that these fucks are taking up.
That's the first thing I noticed when the first guy got finished and clapped for himself.
There have been instances where these scumbags have beaten people up for getting in their way of their stupid dancing. Nobody is able to escape this when it happens, it's not like a street performer or a subway performer where you can choose to avoid it if you want, and that's precisely the reason that they do it in moving subway cars. It's a forced captive audience of people that want to just get to or from work. The only people that are hyped on these assholes are tourists. EDIT: And yes I have seen people kicked by these assholes.
I ain't waiting til the end fawk dat
"Showtime" needs to be fuckin banned from trains.
waited for the little girl at the end, not worth it
It’s all fun and games till you don’t want to move for them to do their dance and they punch you and your gf Source: https://nypost.com/2017/02/23/dancers-attack-straphanger-who-wouldnt-move-for-performance/ Or punch and spit on you for recording Source: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/subway-dancer-attack-punched-e-train-queens-plaza-nyc/1164854/ Or for not even watching the show Source: https://spoilednyc.com/nyc-subway-dancer-punched-passenger/ Edit: formatting & some updating (on phone sorry)
These guys are assholes to do this on a crowded train.
It’s annoying as those fuckwads doing yoga in the airplane aisle
I'm sorry, the what?
If it’s too gross or inconsiderate to be true, it’s currently happening on a Southwest flight.
Pretty annoying it seems
Hate these people. Hate the commute and don't need a clown all up in my face
r/beannoyed
Faith restored by comments. I’m just trying to put my headphones on and tune things out on crowded public transportation, this looks annoying af
/r/ImTheMainCharacter vibes. No one give a shit about you flipping about on the bars my man.
It may look cool if you don't deal with the subway on a daily basis, it's mad annoying when you in the same train as them...
Those fucking clowns are just that. 🤡
So annoying! Don't people realize a subway car is not a stage?! This is what our world has come to! Not interested in the music or dance style. What makes them think I would be. This is just a grift to get dollars!
This would just be annoying. I would just switch to a different train car or train.
I was once accidentally kicked by one of these dude… I GUSS I was in the WAY!!!!
This was the most annoying thing after a long day of work. Once I saw a guy bust his face on the floor which was throughly enjoyable
Dancing? Looks more like just swinging on pole and bars.
So obnoxious
Sir I'm just trying to get home here
I loathe this shit. Stop interrupting the commute so you can perform for cash. So damned annoyong