The clash of two buskers over a prime performance spot has gone viral on social media.
A TikTok video by singer Widya Tjong showing the confrontation between her and violinist Vasiliy Shapkin over a performance spot on Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall has been viewed a staggering 2.4million times despite being posted only one day ago.
In the video Mr Shapkin insists Ms Tjong pack up and give him the prime performance space because he had it reserved for 2pm, according to ‘rules’ she was unaware of.
Busker Widya Tjong has shared a TikTok video of her row with another performer over a spot on a busy Sydney shopping strip
‘I think you should start packing up, I’m starting at 2pm,’ he can be heard saying in the video.
‘My stuff was there I was just queuing for 2pm, do you want to start packing up?’
‘I literally just started,’ she argues.
As the row continues voices can be heard from onlookers protesting that Mr Shapkin is bullying Ms Tjong and at one point a well-wisher even hands her $10.
Mr Shapkin said that because he left his stuff on a nearby seat and only left briefly he had put his claim on the spot.
‘Buskers we negotiate with ourselves, we manage ourselves as you can imagine you can’t just leave your stuff here, you can’t sit here for three hours,’ he said.
Ms Tjong said there was no one there when she started.
Violinist Vasiliy Shapkin insists he had reserved the performance spot for 2pm, according to a system Ms Tjong was unaware of
‘There was somebody already there,’ Mr Shapkin continues.
‘The rules are it’s a first come first served basis.’
‘There’s no such thing as written rules,’ Ms Tjong fires back.
‘Not all rules are written down,’ Mr Shapkin replies.
‘This is so frustrating. New buskers come they think there is nobody there. We don’t want to start before 2.’
When asked why he was waiting for that start time, Mr Shapkin says its the time of best shading from the sun.
Eventually Ms Tjong concedes and Mr Shapkin can be heard starting his performance.
‘I broke down, I was filled up with anger for not knowing how to stand up for myself anymore so I gave in and let him be,’ Ms Tjong wrote.
Another onlooker takes her side telling her she has been bullied but is ‘absolutely amazing’.
In the TikTok caption Ms Tjong said she usually wouldn’t post something like this but today was ‘a tipping point’.
‘This came from a busker to a busker, as a musician it’s hard enough to make it out there and to see a fellow busker not only not supporting but trying to take you down, it’s the biggest disappointment and it’s the gaslighting and threat,’ she wrote.
She explained that she normally busked at the back of a H&M store but when she arrived it was occupied.
‘I decided to move to other place, turned out the one near Zara was empty, no one was there, no speaker or bags to be seen, and I didn’t see the busker who’s in this video,’ she wrote.
‘Time was around 1.30pm, I started my set up and managed to sing around 6 songs then around 1.55pm that’s when the video started.’
Those commenting were very much on her side.
‘As an ex busker who’s performed in that spot, you are in the right!’ one person wrote.
‘He’s clearly trying to bully you into leaving, good on you and the people who stepped in,’ another said.
‘Girl, drop us the times when you busk,’ another said.
‘We will pop in and support you.’
Meanwhile a number of people wanted to express their displeasure to Mr Shapkin.
The backlash was so severe he took down his various social media accounts.
On Saturday morning Ms Tjong posted to say she had been overwhelmed by the amount of support.
‘I just want to take my time right here right now to thank every single one of you for sending out love, kindness and support. I really, really don’t know what to say. You guys are so powerful and I really appreciate all the gestures you guys did,’ she wrote.
‘I will keep doing what I love to do. I’m not giving up, something like this can’t make me give up a dream. I have had for 25 years so don’t worry I will still busk and perform just maybe not today, not just yet.’