Are Violinists At Safeway Really Playing?

 

Who are the violinists that are suddenly sprouting up at neighborhood grocery stores? One has been seen regularly at Safeway next to the University Village and Metropolitan Market. The same male and female, sometimes with a young child, with a nearby parked mini-van were also seen in Renton and Mukilteo according to several neighbors.

The Laurelhurst Blog has heard from many neighbors inquiring about this.  The internet is full of information about these violinists that appear to be actually pretending to play the violin, according to one account in, and asking for money.  This appears to be happening across the nation.

A news report from East Texas says;

What some people are calling talented musicians is just a ring of scam artists, traveling across the state, playing their instrument to already orchestrated music.

“I didn’t want my home to be taken advantage of,” said Jewel Kirkendoll, a talented violinist in Tyler.

These performers are setting up in parking lots and pretending to play music as customers walk by and drop music in their cases.

“People who aren’t familiar with music they hear it and say oh my gosh, it’s beautiful,” said Kirkendoll, “In reality, the track he was playing was doing all the work, he wasn’t even playing.”

Kirkendoll confronted a violinist located in the Broadway Market Center and asked to turn off the music then perform with her.

“I got my violin out and I asked him if I could play with him, and he was like yeah sure,” said Kirkendoll, “He didn’t play, so I said is it because you don’t really know how to play, and he was like yeah, I’m so sorry.”

Several local comments on Reddit say:

I've seem them on different occasions. Saw the same guy in Mercer Island last week, now in Bothell this week. They have signs saying things like, "Help me feed my 3 kids" or "Help me pay the rent. God bless you"

They set up in grocery store parking lots and "play" a violin connected to a speaker with a backing track to try to trick you into thinking they're playing. If you see one, DO NOT give them money. They are going around scamming people. It's becoming a popular scam to take advantage of good natured people.

 Those robot guys are not trying to trick people into thinking they’re real, these violinists are emotionally blackmailing people with a fake talent.

Here are more eyewitness accounts and additional accounts on Reddit from sightings across the nation.

Several neighbors told the Laurelhurst Blog:

I am happy to donate money to those in need, however it is a shame that these folks are misrepresenting themselves to get donations. 

It is disturbing to see a child as part of this seeming scam. Can we give donations to this family in another way?