Living out of my car, I was 26 on Rivera Beach in Florida. I was already hot in more ways than one. The police had already noticed me hanging out with my guitar and knew I was meeting girls and getting laid. Once, a cop came up on us knowing something was going on but found no evidence. It was inside my closed guitar case. Then, a jamming buddy made a sign and we crossed the street to an alcove between 2 restaurants. The sign read "Donations gladly accepted for munchies and strings". We made $12 and took off for much greener pastures down in the French Quarter.

Busking as a musician means being vulnerable. You're standing on the pitch putting yourself out there in front of strangers exposing your personal life. Rarely do you hear any encouraging words.Although singing lifts your spirits, not all buskers sing. We perform songs that inspired us without getting any feedback on a deeper level. To get through hard times, we need to occasionally hear positive words. Mere money in the hat doesn't actually say much except that it's a reflection of appreciation.

The following are 9 things every musician loves to hear from fans, family, friends, and the public. Believe it or not, you're actually making an impact on society regardless of where you are performing.

Follow the link below for a tongue-in-cheek revelation.
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(AUSTRALIA) Two inexperienced street performers attempt a world tour with no shows, no money, and no contacts. Along the winding way, they are compiling helpful information for fellow buskers who want to travel predominately through music. This includes permit information, busker-friendly hostels, and cheap eats.The Buskers Guide to the Galaxy also includes a link to their facebook page featuring busker jobs - a space where people can advertise and apply for all kinds of buskers and musicians.

Interested in a busker's guide to Malaysia, Brisbane, Adelaide, or Wales? How about some video on the Rundle Mall or sleeping in a car? Busker interviews include Olayo Reynaud, Chris Gun, and Kung Fu Jesus among...

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Holland, MI — The Downtown Holland Principal Shopping District received a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Holland Area Arts Council to support its Street Performer Series.

The grant, which was awarded through the Regional Regranting Program, totaled $2,880 and will help fund the 2009 Street Performer Series.

The Street Performance Series is a 12-week series featuring regional artists who perform throughout downtown each Thursday evening in the summer.

In 2009, the Street Performer Series is June 11 through Aug. 27.

For more information, visit www.downtownholland.com or contact info@downtownholland.com

HOLLAND SENTINAL

(MINNESOTA) The fair city of Minneapolis is now paying buskers and street performers to add culture to the downtown area.Thanks to the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (DID), streets will be more vibrant as the city encourages entertainers rather than shooing them away.

The DID Street Show pays performers $50 an hour (more if you have a duo or trio act) in addition to whatever they make in tips.

The downtown organization felt that the busking scene could get a boost by offering entertainers a guaranteed payment.

In Minneapolis, busking is legal as long as performers are on public property, don’t obstruct traffic and don’t violate noise ordinances.

But even a great artist can be met with indifference when trying to coax hurried pedestrians to stop, listen and open their wallets.

For more information on ...

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