Article Ottawa Citizen - "Buskers Ungrateful"

[Brian R Wilson]

Here's an article that popped into the Ottawa Citizen two days after the Busker Festival. It might make you reconsider your hat pitch.

"Buskers Ungrateful"
As a great fan of street performers, I recently took my two teenagers and my nine-year-old daughter to the Sparks Street Busker Festival. We raided the change jar, so each of the children had $1 for each performer and I took enough to give each busker $4. I was shocked when two buskers announced that they "did not want my change." They were looking for bills. My family was willing to give $7 to the performers and yet change was unacceptable. My nine-year-old had trouble understanding why she couldn't put her money in the hat when she had enjoyed the show. My child was taught a poor lesson about people that day.

Yet there were buskers who would take whatever we could afford - thank you. With great joy, my child ran up to them to throw the jingling coins into their hats. I hope it is their message that will stay with her.

In the future, all the performers should realize that change is money and whatever a family is able to give is better than nothing at all. We did enjoy the performances, but the attitude of some left a bad taste in everyone's mouth and in the end, the buskers' actions cost them some income.

Ann Noonan, Kars
Ottawa Citizen - Wednesday August 6th, section B2 - editorials.

[Charles - Corporate Entertainer]

I sometimes play around with adults who give small amounts of change, but NEVER with the kids.

Young children are the easiest members of an audience to provoke reactions by other, harder to please, members. Make the child laugh and smile and even the staunchest old bugger at the back will soften his outlook a little.

If an adult offers me a tiny amount of change, AFTER lots of others have put money in the hat, I sometimes take a larger amount, say a dollar or two, or a note, and give it him from the hat.

I tell him he obviously needs it more than I do.

That's it. I don't say how I don't want his change, or anything else, just focus on the fact that he may need financial help.

Of course, he ALWAYS puts the money back in the hat, and often drops a bit more in afterwards too.

If, for any reason, he does need the money, I would be happy for him to keep it too.

[grOmmet]

"Yet there were buskers who would take whatever we could afford - thank you. With great joy, my child ran up to them to throw the jingling coins into their hats. I hope it is their message that will stay with her.

In the future, all the performers should realize that change is money and whatever a family is able to give is better than nothing at all. We did enjoy the performances, but the attitude of some left a bad taste in everyone's mouth and in the end, the buskers' actions cost them some income".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brian..What CAN Isay??!!
Coming from a family background where [lack of] money was always an issue, and my parents INSISTED that if ONE child had an icecream / whatever.. we ALL had one... I recall how we would have EACH be given a small proportion of what would go into a performer's hat.. in order that we could ALL participate in the process of THANKING / APPRECIATING / ACKNOWLEDGING their efforts..

I can't speak for other parts of the world, but I DO know that here, in the UK, everytime that MY hat contains coinage which add up to 100 pennies, that's ANOTHER Pound Stirling towards my income!!

I ALWAYS smile and express my thanks, because from a young age I was taught that having done the work.. I am ENTITLED to hold out my hand and accept the payment for it.. with a smile..

When it all comes down to money, alone, and I lose my perspective... I shall simply STOP performing, rather than putting out such negativity!!.. Though I trust that day will never come!!

Have FUN out there!!

[and REMEMBER.. INTELLIGENCE IS A POOR COUSIN TO UNDERSTANDING ]

[Dr. Harmonica]

American Money sucks

One of the reasons American Buskers might complain about their tips is the fact that American coins are vertually worthless. In Europe where I perform there are coins that are worth close to $3.00. People throw them as an American might throw a quarter. At the end of a working day these coins can add up to a respectable sum. Paper currency is not gives so readly except if one is selling cd's. In the days before the Euro however things were different especially in countries like Italy, Belgium, Spain and a few others. Italy was always amusing because it took about 2000 lire to equal one dollar and the coins were valueless. Italians many times gave a few 1000 Lire bills as a tip so at the end of the day it would be possible to have many, many, many of these small and usually beat to shit bits of paper money. Bag fulls of the stuff. Going to the bank to try to get rid of it was always a joke too and sometimes a problem. Generally I find that people prefer to give buskers pocket change so it is an advantage to work in a country where the change has a high value...................if possible. See you all in Europe
Keep the faith...Dr. Harmonica
Oh yeah I forgot to mention...STAY OFF MY PITCH!!!!

[Evan Young]

I've never said anything about not wanting change. I do drop the "hint, hint $20" jokes and then sugjest a few dollars as a reasonable tip. then I tell them in all seriousness that a simple complement will do if that's all they can give. I've always done this (hat lines have been fairly consistang for the last three years). In my early days I made a lot of change, and now I don't. so... I think people just respond more to a strong show than guilt trip hat lines.

I heard that peter panic collects his money in a fishing net to prevent coins. now that's funy.

[faloshow]

hey,
I have a funny story to tell about. I have been in Holland (Amsterdam). Every performer talk about bills of 10 in his money line. So after a view time, I try, and it works. So, then I went to Germany (Cologne). In my first show, I used by accident, the same money line. Half of my crowd was pissed of and they just walked away. So, I used my old money line in the next show's. And the funny thing was, I maked the same money, but everybody goes home happy. This is how life goes.

Falo

[Glenn Orange]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Evan Young
[B]I've never said anything about not wanting change. I do drop the "hint, hint $20" jokes and then sugjest a few dollars as a reasonable tip. then I tell them in all seriousness that a simple complement will do if that's all they can give. I've always done this (hat lines have been fairly consistang for the last three years). In my early days I made a lot of change, and now I don't. so... I think people just respond more to a strong show than guilt trip hat lines.

Personally, I avoid any mention of money in my act. People tend to give more and more often when they don't feel like they're being hustled. We've had some busker's come through here begging like junkies...

Glenn

[Evan Young]

Originally posted by Glenn Orange
[Personally, I avoid any mention of money in my act. People tend to give more and more often when they don't feel like they're being hustled. [/B]

I've never heard anybody say that before. I guess that could work for a more passive act (not a circle show).

[Doctor Eric]

"Personally, I avoid any mention of money in my act. People tend to give more and more often when they don't feel like they're being hustled."

Mentioning money doesn't make people feel like they are being hustled. Hustling them does.

[Evan Young]

Make people want to give you money. It might be a bad aproach to try and make them feel like they owe you money.

[Dr. Harmonica]

Is your show worth the price of a cup of coffee

I'm a musician playing in Europe and I've been sharing pitches with jugglers for years. Just about all the ones I've ever heard have long and strong hat lines. The amusing ones are the most successful. Of course here in Europe you can ask the audiance if your worth the price of a cup of coffee or a beer. That works well because coffee and beer sometimes cost up th five dollars in local money.
Cheers Ya'll Dr. Harmonica

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

I try never to mention money more than just the fifteen or siixteen times within the opening five minutes, because more than that just puts 'em off. (Not counting the chanting.)

[Doctor Eric]

I've used this one for a while now (it only works if you say it with a shit-eating grin, though)
"Hey Kids! If your parents give you change, go ahead and keep it!"

[Dr. Harmonica]

Hay Mr. taxi....Is that all...Your just a light weight. I know some folks who only talk about money. In fact their whole show is based on a money rap. Performing would only get in the way. Maybe we should start a new subject....something more interesting then money like getting laid...

[Glenn Orange]

money

Originally posted by Evan Young
I've never heard anybody say that before. I guess that could work for a more passive act (not a circle show).

Never done a circle show; I'm just a solo guitar player and, admittedly, only been busking for about 6 months. I just feel it's undignified to ask for money. I make them want to give me money by giving my absolute best performance, which in the end is all I can do. I play my best, and they either WILL or WILL NOT tip me. Begging just lowers me from performing musician to something else.
Glenners