RE: [Harp-L] BUSKING

["Bill Hines" <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'd hate to think I was taking money from some other street performer
who was doing it to really survive, just for the challenge. So I'd look
for an environment where there are no such persons, or maybe if I was
doing this "for the challenge", at the end of the day I'd turn over my
take (or some portion) to them if I felt comfortable they weren't going
to just blow it on booze or junk. 

PS I know, I've seen the "60 Minutes" spot about how some of these
"street performers" are pulling in six figures! But some are really
doing it as a means to live/survive. 

You're going to have to check with the local police I would say. Some
spots that come to mind are New Orleans, Key West, the Wharf in San
Fran, Baltimore's Inner Harbor, etc. You are also going to have to be
able to deal with the inevitable "turf" issues as a newcomer on any
scene. These folks have well defined and well-staked out spots. Often,
they pay for them and "protection" from illicit sources. Sounds like
fun, but be careful out there.

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of David R. Fertig
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 3:27 PM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] BUSKING


Around 1970-76, while I was mostly on - or nearly on - the street, I
would 
often make money on the street by playing some pretty poor harp,  I
guess 
it was a step up from panhandling.  I would also at times do simple
street 
theater, again, a step up from panhandling.   Okay, I'll admit I did
some 
panhandling too.  Hey, I was 14, what were my choices?

Now, 30 years later, I am contemplating taking a hat and some harps to
the 
street, mostly for the challenge (certainly not for the money, thank 
goodness!) and to maybe learn something about me, my playing, and what
the 
"street" is like, thirty years later.

Many of you know about busking in today's climate, it's been so long for

me, but I am becoming tempted to go try my hand at it.  I sure play
better 
now, anyway.

So, what about it, anybody got advice, warnings, location ideas, legal
info 
(for Pasadena California, Paris France, and anywhere else?), styling
hints 
and spare hats?    OK, forget the styling hints, I'm beyond saving. . .


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