Been on the Road Living off My own Art for 6 Months now

Yes, Hi you guys...I guess I'd better report in once in a while. I've been on the Road Living of My Art for 6 Months. Yes, it really works! I should be more regular & report in since I started this gig back in Texas in August & laid down my original tracks here on the forums.

Since then I've been over 6000 miles. I ran out of my original lump sum of money a hell of a long time ago. I am wintering over in Southern CA still in my van. I paint outdoors & sell & often I draw. Guitar playing is much too common & you don't make a lot here, but maybe other places. I just wanted to do it before I told anybody else to go do it. This is not another manic mode of running for president but I just want to say that if the president or king sends a bunch of people into war, then he should ride out in front like those old Lord of the Rings guys. That would weed out all the whoosy leaders.

Also, nobody seemed to want to come along very seriously. Oh, yeah, a guy & his chick almost came along in Austin & another dude wrote. Later some chick on the East Coast wrote. That is all fine, but none of you showed up. Seriously though, you do meet rockin people on the way, so who cares if most people want to stay home. You can meet eccentrics on the road.

Anyway, I forgive you if you are not the missionary type. I had 20 years of wandering around from country to country before this, so rural or urban camping is pretty much second nature to me.

I could write a book about this, but the best thing is to get out & try it yourself. Consult the Buskers Advocates website for starters.

Anyway sometimes success not only comes from a strong WILL but a strong WON'T. I just refused to quit. After a while the people at home are writing you & asking you if you are ever coming back & hoping you will...

Later-- they are closing this college computer room. You can email me here & I promise to try to write more details & helpful hints. Except I may not post exact locations because it's better if everyone does it in a different place. I don't think it's limited to Chicago or Pearl Street or Savanna GA. I think if there are enough of us practicing their own form of creative license, then they don't have time to round us all up. There are real crimes going on beside the one the Band called, the one of having no place to live. I prefer "houseless" to "homeless" --the latter of which is a sucky, classist pejorative slur. Anyway, I have a family & place to go back to so that is just a few people. And my major occupation each day is to make & sell art, not to get drunk & beg.

Till then, this is skycanvas, living above & beyond his means with exactly 25 cents in his pocket. But sometimes I have $35 in it. It depends. One day I needed money & prayed & the next day I found $400 on the street by a convenience store. That was 4 -100 dollar bills! And no I don't panhandle. I've never starved. But yeah you do lose several pants sizes. Later & stay crazy!

 

but I just want to say that if the president or king sends a bunch of people into war, then he should ride out in front like those old Lord of the Rings guys. That would weed out all the whoosy leaders.

I hear ya there brother, happy trails to you.

 

yeaaaaaaaaahhh right

 

Wow, That's Incredible. Do You Keep Any Type Of Journal Or Anything On this Voyage, To Remember What You Were Thinking At Any Peticular Moment? I Think That's What I Would Do
Peace, And Good Luck =)

 

I have kind of sucked at writing down a log, but I use film, DVD & paint. Now I found a place where I can spend more time writing than I got at most libraries, so that's why I'm writing.

I guess maybe I can answer questions or give a few suggestions:

One thing you gotta remember is that if you are an American citizen & I suppose this sounds stupid, but, they can't kick you out of the country. I've been in 33 countries & yes, they can kick you out of theirs if they want to.

Here, they can drive you out of the city. They can't deal with the 'problem' so they like to make sweeps. Up & down the coast they have clamped down on several places. It is funny because all those people just migrate somewhere else.

There's also the seasonal issue. It sucks being cold. So most travel with the birds.

One thing for sure is that they are clamping down on big vehicles: Motor homes, trailers (nightmares to pull) etc. They don't want you spending the night in the city limits in them, so you have to be low-key. Try to get a car that looks like normal & not too hippy. I mean, some poeple like to wave their freak flags, but usually they are from that town & the cops know they are not going to leave no matter what.

They are trying to make Seattle 'carless'...eventually, no one knows how. Of course, you need a car if you are traveling & selling or performing.

Just ain't cool to sleep on a peice of cardboard like some of these old hippies and drunks do. Of course that is one reason why a lot of homeless drink. Because it is freaking cold at night laying on the pavement. I think that's stupid. You can avoid having to pay expensive bills & rents by camping out, but not having a metal shield around you when your guard is down is just plain dumb. Maybe a lot of these guys have too many DUI's anyway. How do you stay safe, warm & keep your possessions in order...

I happen to have a very common truck. Someone told me that they are the most common ones on the street & that they are almost invisible. I'd strongly suggest VW vans as both a good investment for resale & being respected & fairly low key. Other common non-hippy type vans are pretty good.

I've been stopped several times by nosey cops who just want to know what you are up to, but never ticketed. I did get one warning when they knocked about 1 am right while me & this chick were fucking. She claimed it was her noisy orgasm, but I think it was the light that may have been somewhat visible. Anyway, they gave out a half dozen tickets that same night so we were lucky.

All I can say is you have to keep moving. Don't park where all the white people have their expensive homes. They are usually the most intolerant people in the world & will drop the dime on you in a heartbeat.

If you have to keep moving, you have to keep your car in working order & have money for gas. You can also get around on foot & bike, but bikes are also a dead giveaway to the cops of what you are up to. Most cities have ordinances against camping out, but then again with the job situation what it is & inflated real estate prices the cops here are fairly sympathetic. You can also plead with the judge & sometimes they reduce the fines. I think it's a matter of injustice because if there was affordable housing, I'd rent a place too.

 

And the Timex is still ticking.



But unfortunately so is Dick Cheny's pacemaker! And hey --do you suppose he really just wanted a REAL HEART & that's why he shot his hunting buddy? So he could be first in line for a transplant? It's possible--kind of like a macabre version of the Tin Man?!