Bushwalk Australia

What is the largest musical instrument you have taken on a multi day hike? Want to convince my brother to take a ukelele on the overland in late summer and do some busking in the huts to earn back the cost of the entrance fee. Feasible? Or wouldit destroy the Serenity?

Im not sure how much spare change the general bushwalker caries....

beardless wrote: Or wouldit destroy the Serenity?

Yes

I personally wouldn't like it. People pay good money to walk the Overland and probably wouldn't want their experience to be ruined by the music. If you were busking in the streets I would be happy to throw a few $ your way but not in the huts on the Overland.

When I go hiking I don't even take my ipod with me to listen to while I hike or for the end of the day. I would prefer to either talk to my hiking mate/s or just listen to the sounds of the bush.

Better than a banjo I suppose...I reckon you'd get some weird, nervous looks picking one of those bad boys in the middle of nowhere.

puredingo wrote:Better than a banjo I suppose...I reckon you'd get some weird, nervous looks picking one of those bad boys in the middle of nowhere.

Harmonica maybe

For me the ambience of an acoutic guitar would be great, but it's kind of bulky.....

frenchy_84 wrote:

beardless wrote: Or wouldit destroy the Serenity?

Yes

Agree. Pretty inconsiderate if you ask me.

Actually, bagpipes would be awesome

beardless wrote:What is the largest musical instrument you have taken on a multi day hike? Want to convince my brother to take a ukelele on the overland in late summer and do some busking in the huts to earn back the cost of the entrance fee. Feasible? Or wouldit destroy the Serenity?

It sounds like a bit of a naive idea really. You're likely to pi$$ off more people than you entertain.
Have you done much walking? Ask yourself why you are making the effort to go out there.
I've had nights around a campfire with a guitar as well and they can be great but my friends wanted to be there and there was no-one around to annoy. Context is important.
Tassie isn't one of those places like parts of Europe or USA where the influence of humans is so pervasive and entrenched over centuries (apologies to indigenous folk here) that the modern human experience is always an inherent part of the natural experience; where folksy sing-alongs in the woods are seen as getting back to nature.

There are so few accessible places in the world these days where you can go and not be assaulted by some sort of commercial exploitation or just an anthropogenic-centered experience of the world. Tassie is a rare gem for that reason alone.
So go outside, accept the fairly trivial cost (compared to many tourist experiences) and make sure you take time to STOP in a place where you are alone, and listen and look and experience the world that the vast majority of living creatures on this planet experience. The rare experience (as a human) of NOT being the most important thing that the universe has ever created. A world still filled with the diversity of life, rather than merely differing levels of human intervention.
A good wilderness experience can be humbling and revelatory, but you have to work at it.

And of course as ILUVSWTAS pointed out; who goes hiking with a pocket full of heavy change?

Cheers
Steve

Onestepmore wrote:Actually, bagpipes would be awesome

Och aye!

We had a really good BWT Xmas in July at Scott Kilvert Hut a few years back when a member carried in a full sized Guitar and others simple clap sticks and a Kazoo ,there may still be a youtube video of it out there somewhere
corvus

Onestepmore wrote:For me the ambience of an acoutic guitar would be great, but it's kind of bulky.....

Met a chap carrying his acoustic guitar at Junction Creek once - he was heading for Port Davey. We hoped his guitar didn't mind getting... damp. I don't expect there were enough people around to be bothered by it at the time, and as OSMore says, some people would enjoy it.

Want to convince my brother to take a ukelele on the overland in late summer and do some busking in the huts to earn back the cost of the entrance fee. Feasible? Or would it destroy the Serenity?

A ukelele on the Overland track on the other hand Your brother may find it has mysteriously disappeared by morning.

With a smile on my face for my good wee drummer, lighting by Lady McGuyver and a remembrance of a massive blister on my thumb, this is it if you are interested ,plenty of "the demon fizz " was enjoyed by most
Good party.
corvus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1JB_M8WRaY

The suggestion of busking was made in jest. If we did bring the uke it would be for the common good and to play on too mount ossa. If we do meet any of you feel free to tell us to stop making music.

beardless wrote:The suggestion of busking was made in jest. If we did bring the uke it would be for the common good and to play on too mount ossa. If we do meet any of you feel free to tell us to stop making music.

The common good would be to leave it at home.

Just sing! (Weightweenies style)

beardless wrote:If we do meet any of you feel free to tell us to stop making music.

Most people would be too polite to say anything and suffer your intrusion silently.

musical instruments in crowded huts, how selfish can you get imposing your music on others you dont know who are more often than not after peace and quiet.

Passed some knob playing music on ipod external speakers a month ago. Same trip I passed another lady happily chatting on the phone (near berowra waters)

i hate loud noise in parks, even at the local city park i walked past a couple of chinese guys arguing loudly, i told them to shut it,
i'm even over staying in big huts, the noise from all the talking just kills the atmosphere, its ok in reasonable weather you can get out of the hut but when the weather packs in everyone jams into the hut

For a while I got in the habit of taking a harmonica on my walks. I had a vision of sitting in front of a cozy fire, banging out some sweet blues in the moonlight. However, the only song I've ever learned to play is "When the saints come marching home", which, while somewhat stirring, just doesn't quite cut the mustard in fulfilling the vision. Mostly now, i just listen to my iPhone, while looking guiltily at my neglected instrument when it occasionally comes into view as I ferret around in my pack's top pocket.

A

Ipod!

iPhone multitasking!

Lol andrew I must admit I considered bringing my harmonica along for some practice but in the end I also prefer to just sit in silence and take it all in, plus out of respect for anyone that might or might not be nearby

corvus wrote:We had a really good BWT Xmas in July at Scott Kilvert Hut a few years back when a member carried in a full sized Guitar and others simple clap sticks and a Kazoo ,there may still be a youtube video of it out there somewhere

How right. This is similar to how well the various street buskers are received. Some are surrounded by a crowd while others are avoided like a plague.

I think that bringing a musical instrument can work and compliment if it's done properly. A number of criteria,
- Objectively good with your instrument.
- Sensitive to the mood of the group and surrounding.
- A wide repertoire and know what's middle of the road.
- Know when to stop.

Few will appreciate a full on KISS performance while few will object to Slim Dusty in a snowy hut.

As for basking/extracting money. Well, a bush hut is not the right social environment for that. You'll get slammed.

perfectlydark wrote:Lol andrew I must admit I considered bringing my harmonica along for some practice...

If you need practice, don't!