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If you are a good performer and not too loud- if the police are bothering you-here's what I have done:
I closed my violin case and put up a sign that read:
"The police have told me I would be arrested for playing my violin on the public sidewalk for tips.
Do you have or do you know of anyone who has private property in this area where I can play my violin for tips- since the police have told me that they will not bother me on PRIVATE property?!"
THANK YOU."
The word of your plight will get around fast and before you know it- people will tell local store owners or the store owners will see you and offer you a venue.
You might be able to play on PUBLIC sidewalks if your case is not open. Ask the cop if it is all right to do that. If they say, "yes" then you can display your sign while you play with your case closed.
Most policemen like my playing (especially when I play THE GODFATHER THEME or THE intro theme to DRAGNET )when I see cops approaching. Sometimes they will say that they have ordered other musicians who were "playing out of tune or too loud"- to leave so to be fair they have to tell me to leave also.
The police will do nothing to you for carrying such a sign- except maybe give you a dirty look if they odered you off the sidewalk,previously. You can hide the sign if you see the same cop approaching who ordered you away before.
p.s. The police hardly ever hassle me because I play in tune and not overly amplified. The only places I've been ordered to leave is next to BART in Oakland , Ca. and in the old town area of Bay City, Mi.
I ended up playing in a store front on private property with no further problems.
I've played most big cities and college towns across the USA.
Mike Corman
Strollivarius@yahoo.com
I closed my violin case and put up a sign that read:
"The police have told me I would be arrested for playing my violin on the public sidewalk for tips.
Do you have or do you know of anyone who has private property in this area where I can play my violin for tips- since the police have told me that they will not bother me on PRIVATE property?!"
THANK YOU."
The word of your plight will get around fast and before you know it- people will tell local store owners or the store owners will see you and offer you a venue.
You might be able to play on PUBLIC sidewalks if your case is not open. Ask the cop if it is all right to do that. If they say, "yes" then you can display your sign while you play with your case closed.
Most policemen like my playing (especially when I play THE GODFATHER THEME or THE intro theme to DRAGNET )when I see cops approaching. Sometimes they will say that they have ordered other musicians who were "playing out of tune or too loud"- to leave so to be fair they have to tell me to leave also.
The police will do nothing to you for carrying such a sign- except maybe give you a dirty look if they odered you off the sidewalk,previously. You can hide the sign if you see the same cop approaching who ordered you away before.
p.s. The police hardly ever hassle me because I play in tune and not overly amplified. The only places I've been ordered to leave is next to BART in Oakland , Ca. and in the old town area of Bay City, Mi.
I ended up playing in a store front on private property with no further problems.
I've played most big cities and college towns across the USA.
Mike Corman
Strollivarius@yahoo.com