I had a really nice gig at the Cerrillos Station Farmers Market on Thursday evening, and it reminded me why I enjoy playing farmers markets so much.
There’s something very grassroots about them. Maybe it’s because people aren’t there specifically to see me perform. They’re there to buy vegetables, grab some food, visit with friends—and hopefully listen to a little music along the way. That takes some of the pressure off.
And because people are constantly coming and going, it doesn’t feel quite as much like a traditional performance. Very few people hear the entire set. Someone might stop for a couple of songs, listen while they shop, and then move on. That makes it a little more relaxed and, frankly, more fun.
It also gives me a chance to experiment.
Farmers markets are a great place to try out new songs, revisit songs I haven’t played in a while, or take an old song in a different direction. I can experiment without feeling like I’m risking an entire evening in front of a paying audience. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, I learn something.
Then there’s the gear.
At Cerrillos Station, I don’t even bring an amplifier or microphone. My guitar and voice are loud enough to be heard without drowning out the vendors who are trying to sell their goods and talk with customers. There’s something satisfying about showing up with a guitar and just playing.
Most importantly, I think farmers markets really do support independent music.
There’s no big production. No ticket sales. No corporate sponsor. It’s just a musician, a guitar, and people who happen to enjoy the music enough to throw a few dollars in the tip jar. And surprisingly, I can make as much in tips at a farmers market as I do at many bars.
That makes it a pretty good day.
And maybe that’s what I like most about farmers markets. They’re simple. They’re local. They’re a little rough around the edges.
Kind of like independent music.