is busking begging?

[gorjuswrex]

The recent post re busking prompted me the ask this. What do you think, is it a form of begging or is it a form of entertainment?

I’ve rarely busked. The first time I did was with a friend who makes his living as what I’d call a small time entertainer! While his gigs are often very well paid I guess his income would be modest like mine. At times some people who gave money, e.g. youngsters or old folk, made me want to stop. Did they think I was in poverty I wonder. I guess the easy answer is to busk for a charity.

On the other hand if footballers get paid obscene money for their skills is it wrong for a busker to get much more modest money. Should we put up a sign saying I’m not begging, I have a day job.

Some people who knew me at from work made snidey comments.

[Sliabh Luachra]

No, it's not begging. It's a job. It's an equal exchange, entertainment for money. I know several people who do better busking than I do with my regular day job. One of them does far better than most people with day jobs, driving a Porsche and living in one of the better parts of town, but then he travels to the crowded places (all over the world) rather than waits for a crowd to come to him.

[benhall.1]

Of course it's begging ... but ...

... so what? I've busked. I might even do it again. It's only a couple of bad experiences many years ago have put me off.

If your friend is rich enough to drive a Porsche (though why anyone would want to is beyond me) on his busking gains, Sliabh Luachra, then good luck to him. I presume he pays taxes on his earnings, right?

Nobody has to give, just like they don't have to give to any other beggar. But it ain't a job.

[Guinness]

You expect beggars to report income? Take comfort in that he probably paid taxes on the Porsche.

[Flutered]

What's wrong with begging anyway? Isn't it a tradition as old as humankind in it's own right?

I guess you often play for other peoples enjoyment, say in a session environment, with punters listening in. But you don't expect to get paid here - just maybe the odd free drink (same thing?). Suppose it's the context - when you busk on the street, you're saying 'Pay Me' whereas in the pub, there's not the same expectation.

[benhall.1]

If he earns enough busking (or other sort of begging) to by a Porsche, then yes, I expect him to pay taxes. Otherwise, it's not begging, it's theft.

[gorjuswrex]

What's wrong with begging anyway? Isn't it a tradition as old as humankind in it's own right?

I wouldn't like anyone to give money if they thought I was busking because I needed to beg. My take of begging is that you do it when you have no other way to survive or are in very hard times. If that's what they thought I would be being morally fraudulent. I guess my worry is due to not knowing what motivates the people to give. I'm hoping it's to show apprication of the music and something that adds to the atmosphere of a place.

I think some of the very talented street entertainers we have would probably not like to be called beggers.

[jim stone]

I posted this in 2002.

"In the latest chiffandfipple bulletin,
Norman Dannatt (apologies for
spelling, if mispelled) gives an apt
description of a fellow playing
a Clarke whistle quite well in
the place where the legendary
Whistling Billy (also a Clarke fan)
once played. Norman calls this fellow
a 'musical beggar.' But why?

Street musicians, real street musicians,
aren't begging. They are brightening
people's day by performing music;
people are welcome, if the spirit moves
them, to show their appreciation by
putting money in the jar. In effect,
the musician is playing for tips.
A piano player in a restaurant, playing
for tips, isn't begging. Moving the
piano to the sidewalk doesn't make
him a beggar; nor does substituting
a whistle for the piano.

There may be beggars who pretend to
be street musicians, but the defining
feature of the street muscian is that
he or she is really a musician, that
is, she plays well. So if this musical
beggar was playing well, well, he
wasn't a beggar, I submit.

The ambience of playing on the street
doesn't feel at all like begging.
People really are delighted,
especially children. Putting money
in the jar (or hat, or whatever) is
something they enjoy--often they
have their child do it. It's about
as free and upbeat an economic
transaction as there is on this planet.
The music is given freely; the money
is given freely. No quid pro quo,
no contract. The gratuity flows from
gratitude for the music.

Forgive the huffing and puffing!
Occasionally on the street in
St. Louis we are taken for beggars,
and I've always been surprised--
not feeling at all like one--but
it's happened only when we were
packing up, never when we were playing."

I add that I have a renewable street musician's license.
Costs 25 dollars a year.

[Bothrops]

I'm not a beggar. If someone would think that I'm a beggar, I'd feel sorry for him.
I like to play music, I enjoy doing it, and what's better than receiving money doing what you love the most?

[celticmodes]

I got off the BART in San Francisco once and a homeless man approached me asking where I was thinking of going. I told him and he took out a map showing me how to get there and gave me the map. He also suggested several other places I might like to visit. Afterwards, he asked for spare change, which I gladly gave him. I was impressed with his ingenuity and the fact that he was offering a service for a tip.

When I see good street musicians, I stop and watch and tip. They make my heart feel good. I think I'm secretly jealous that they can just play all they want to whoever will listen. So I guess my vote is busking != begging.

[s1m0n]

I don't think so; different social rules seem to apply.

In begging, the public rewards pathos: the more desperate you look, the better you do. If they think you're making too much money, the public will stop giving.

For buskers, the opposite applies: people give to the busters that are good, and one of the ways they judge how good you are is by how much money is in the hat. Instead of looking sad and desperate, you do better by smiling and making eye contact.

[jim stone]

Well said, although I've learned to take out money as it comes in, leaving a dollar and some
change in my jar. People are less likely to run off with it.

[Sillydill]

I think street performers can be Artists in their purest form!

I was surprised on my first visit to Sweden (under Socialist Government) busking can be considered an occupation. But "begging" is strictly forbidden!

[ancientfifer]

This thread is speaking directly to my "Inner Busker". Having long been intrigued by the buskers, and some are darn good musicians, in the sub/train stations in Philly, I just did a web search on getting a "street musicain's license" and found this how-to article in WikiPedia, and low and behold the photo is of an Irish fluter with accompaniment in quite a professional looking setup. http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Street-Musician Perhaps the fluter is an esteemed C&F member?

[benhall.1]

I think street performers can be Artists in their purest form!

I was surprised on my first visit to Sweden (under Socialist Government) busking can be considered an occupation. But "begging" is strictly forbidden!

Sweden's government isn't socialist! Quite the reverse. The Swedes embrace capitalism like no nation on earth. I know. I've done business with them.

Having a so-called "Social Democratic" party holding the dominant influence hardly makes for socialism.

I'd be fascinated to know if Swedes themselves would claim to be "socialist". I very much doubt it, but perhaps Swedish C&F'ers can put me right ...