Buskers

A busker playing the saxaphone in Grand Theft Auto IV

A busker is someone who performs in public places for money. Such pedestrians were introduced late in the series, with Grand Theft Auto IV being the only game to feature them to date.

Description

Design

Buskers debuted in Grand Theft Auto IV in the form of saxophone-playing street musicians commonly spotted in specific parts of Liberty City, most notably in affluent portions of Broker, Dukes and Algonquin, as well as various parks, subway stations and waterfronts. Evidently having only a saxophone as a music instrument, the Busker will only play songs that may also be heard on the Jazz Nation Radio 108.5 radio station. In most of his appearances, the busker is depicted with a buttoned up brown trench coat, and his music can easily be heard within hearing distance, a hint he is near the player.

The busker is voiced by Walter Houser.

Behavior

When standing close to a busker, the player has the option of giving him $10, restoring the player's health and receiving an expression of gratitude from the busker, in the form of a simple "thank you". However, should be player push the busker, he may stop playing, drop his music instrument and respond unfavorably to the player. Running pass a busker in close proximity will also force him to drop his saxophone and walk away. Unlike many minor items dropped by pedestrians, the player cannot pick up a busker's dropped saxophone.