The group Playing For Change is the international stew stirred by Mark Johnson, a recording engineer/ producer who had a vision in a New York City subway station 10 years ago. He's travelled the world seeking out indigenous musicians all over the world to compile a series of songs performed by buskers. Johnson brought together, on tape, musicians from Israel, India, Ireland, the U.S. and several African nations to back the vocals of Marley and U2's Bono.

Playing for change

The past few years saw the release of several interesting busker documentaries. Online video sharing and social networking websites are now flooding the internet with street performers from around the world shot by amateurs on holiday.

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(LONDON) The humble street performer is no longer a victim of a cashless society. A new digital method called a contactless payment terminal can accept a tip to the busker with the wave of a card.In a test of the new method, patrons were seen waving their credit/debit cards in front of the reader. The project was launched last weekend by the Busk in London organization as a trial. A few performers were seen testing the new transactional device.

Charlotte Campbell, a full-time street performer who was part of the trial, told BBC News that the new tech "had a significant impact on contributions." Said Campbell, "More people than ever tap-to-donate whilst I sing, and often, when one person does, another follows."

The reader needs to be attached to a smartphone or tablet. It is then...

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(SAN JOSE) The Tico Times - Costa Rica's national newspaper - reports that skaters will no longer be legal in public transit in and around San José. Neither will walking between cars be tolerated. In an effort to refine the law, street-performers reacted with a large protest by marching down 2nd Street to Parque Nacional located near the Legislative Assembly building in the nation's capital. Why? Because some of the best busker acts at the parques involve skating and skateboards. The new law would thusly deprive them from making a living.

Zoobie, an editor at Busker Central, has actually busked Parque Central in downtown San José. Back in the day, it was a nice sunny venue aside from the vendors mostly selling fruits, vegetables, and artwork. People were appreciative and generous on market days. But segregating s...

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(PARIS) Some 1,000 people are expected to compete for 300 prized permits to busk the Paris métro. The auditions, which started Tuesday, are organised by the Paris transport network, the RATP. The 300 successful candidates will be given permission to perform in the underground passages of Paris's underground stations for the next six months, although many more do so illegally.

Interested musicians can apply at 102, rue de Charonne or by emailing RATP at musiciensdumetro@ratp.fr.

Métro busking has sometimes marked the beginning of distinguished musical careers. Keziah Jones, Manu Dibango, Ben Harper all started as buskers.

The auditions continue until the end of October.

www.rfi.fr ...

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I'm a comedian, juggler, one man band and stilt walker out of Seattle. Early on I did some busking, and while I occasionally busk, most of my bookings these days are paid events.

I still hold busking in high regard, and consider it one of the most elemental, difficult and rewarding types of performance to do.

My website: http://comedyrocket.com

May your pitch be full of happy customers, and your bottle be full!