STANDING YOUR GROUND AND ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT FOR A BUSKER

When you ask for permission from the establishment’s management, be as brief as possible. Say you would like to entertain guests/visitors with caricatures for tips only. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES LET THEM TALK YOU INTO GIVING THEM A CUT OF YOUR EARNINGS OR MAKING AN EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT TO ONLY BUSK IN THEIR BUSIINESS (EVEN IF THEY OFFER TO PAY YOU). You are performing an entertaining service to their customers/guests/visitors. Free free for you, free for the bar and you’re free to roam if you want to. They don’t need to pay you and you don’t need to pay them.

Sometimes they will be concerned that you might take money from their earnings or those of the staff, but if they have an ATM machine you might point it out if they suggest that you might be cutting into their profits. Customers will simply use the ATM or a credit card at their establishment if they run out of cash. Cash is necessary for you to accept tips, though it is possible for you to accept credit cards.

Square Up, PayPal and there are many other smart phone apps that are much easier to use in public than you would suspect and the fees are minimal as long as you don’t use them excessively. They have done an excellent job marketing them so that even the crustiest old southern bikers have heard of it and know that it’s legit. Just remember to keep a record of it so A. You will remember how much you actually made that day and B. the Tax Man will need to know. This is certainly another advantage that the one-on-one busker has over the street performer entertaining large groups of people and passing around a hat at the end.

Oh, that reminds me! IF YOU LIKE THE BUSKING BLOG, HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING THAT YOU CONSIDER VALUABLE AND WOULD LIKE TO ‘TIP’ ME, YOU CAN DO THAT BY GOING TO http://www.adampate.com/connect and clicking on the pay pal link. 😉

Adam Pate 2013 All rights reserved.