Fake busker in front of Trader Joe’s

[CameronM]

For the last several months there has been an accordion player set up in front of Trader Joe’s, often on weekend afternoons.

These people are scammers. They are not actually playing, it is just a recording. I often see people giving money to them, and I cringe.

I live in a nearby building and I can hear it clearly in my living room. I have tried to call the police non emergency line to file a noise complaint, but it is completely unattended. I tried calling management at the Trader Joe’s, but since they are on the sidewalk they are technically not trespassing so nothing can be done.

Please do not give money to these people. Do not encourage this scam.

[kroberts]

How are you certain this is a recording? Are you sure they don’t need help? Have you approached them and asked them to turn the volume down? If people choose to give them money, I’m not sure how that impacts you.

• This reply was modified 4 years ago by kroberts.

[CameronM]

It doesn’t take much to realize they are faking. Their movements don’t match the music. They randomly mash the keys. They play the same songs exactly the same way on repeat for hours at a time, week after week. When they “stop” to collect money from a car the music is obviously paused and then started again. I feel for them if they are struggling, but lying and scamming is predatory and should not be encouraged.

It impacts me because, like I said, I can hear it clearly in my apartment. Even if I put something on TV to drown it out. This makes it near impossible to enjoy my only full day off during the week.

[aa]

I can understand that it’s frustrating. And I’m not sure of the specific hours but I think the police will not issue a citation unless its after 10pm and before 7am? Something like that. If you google Seattle police noise ordinance there is a lot of info on what is considered a disturbance.
Are they faking? would you be less bothered by the noise if you found out they were actually playing? Seems like a side issue to me. Maybe a bone you can stop chewing on so to speak.

[22blades]

Accordion Syncing: It’s “thing” like Milli Vanilli with an accordion. I’ve seen them everywhere in my travels. Any half decent musician can tell they’re faking it. A bit of an insult to those who play. A nuisance anything above “1” on the volume.

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