Playing guitar on the street

it was quite easy for me... i was bummin' around st augustine. i got tired of havin' to hustle tourists and guilt-ridden yuppies for cash, so i took my money and bought a cheap cheap pawn shop guitar... since it seems to be customary to give street musicians money, i raked in some decent funds... enough to go to the bar for a few hours before hittin' the mission grounds for a nap

 

^^^Boo, you're nothing but a simple fucking pan handler giving real street musicians a bad name, you drunken fucking bum!

 

I used to do it before I joined the army. I met this old sax man and we'd jam from 8 pm til 2 in the morning most weekends. Those were some of the best times I ever had.

I get the feeling its illegal in Austin. The city calls itself the live music capital, but I've never seen a single guy play on the street. I should find out, see what happens if I just start playing.... bet I make a lot more money down here than I did in wisconsin.

 

yeah, because doing something honorable to feed myself and make my situation suck a little less was a fucked up thing to do. can you be a little more self righteous, please? :\

 

Yeah, you was hungry...

Honestly dude, you might be the best guitarist in the world, I don't know, but If you were as needy as you say, then it's likely someone gave you a donation because they thought you looked wretched enough to need it and not because of your musical prowess.

Think about it. That same kind of generous person reading this thread might take your frivolous statement as a reason to not donate to the next wretched guitar holding pan-handler because you have confirmed for them that their donation is only helping buy more booze. Do you see what I'm getting at?

Check it out man, I don't hate ya or nuthin'...
Just try to be more genuine in your motive's when soliciting donations from nice folks, hmm?

ZW eace:

 

no sweat, man. i can see how you could glean what you did from my post, so let me clear it up just a bit. i had just left this crazy cult-like rehab place after 6 months. initially i was trying to hustle up enough money for bus fare back to tennessee, but i had a few new moral reservations about flat-out lying to people for money, so i bought a junk guitar and decided to do the whole street musician bag for a minute. i might add that i am, indeed, fairly proficient with instruments of the stringed variety. i never accosted folks for 'tips', or anything closely resembling panhandling. i didn't even have a receptacle for 'tips' initially. despite my pic in my sig, at the time i was fairly clean shaven with a nice presentable haircut. anyway... i was fortunate enough to encounter a rainbow kid with a banjo, and we played quite a few times. despite the situation, it was a very rewarding experience.

 

:cheers2:

Cool..


ZW

 

In Paris I met some guys who played guitar and I joined them with my fiddle and spent a few weeks doing that.

It was fantastic - the perfect people and the most perfect place!

 

Interesting site. I had busking in mind way before coming across this thread.

 

I think if I had some sort of talent to sell on the street (besides my body, I mean like singing or music), I'd totally do it for the extra money. Most people I know who do it make good money since this is a tourist town where I live.

 

I did it one time a long time ago...but I only got about $5. xD haha

 

If you play well, they will listen

Keep it in mind, If your able to produce quality music it can be a potentially convenient way to come up with 15-20 bucks.

 

Once i was with my mom and dad at there workplace. I had my father's guitar with me. While they were working i sat on the ground, put my hat down and started playing some chords. A few people threw some coins, maybe 2-3 bucks.
It was kinda funny. But the lesson was that you must do the things you like.

 

You'll make a lot more money playing on the streets of progressive cities like San Fransisco. Won't get much playing on Wall Street. Probably get robbed or assaulted on the streets of Chicago. Location, location, location.