Busker Du
Saturday, July 30, 2011 at 9:44PM | by Otter 
Otter in 1984, playing for a singer and making some Deutschmarks near HamburgWhen I was a kid I would sometimes take my guitar out to the French Quarter in the afternoon after school, ride the streetcar out there and hang out on the streets or near Jackson Square. The regular musicians usually didn't like it if you set up and played... but back then you didn't have to be so rigorous about having your badges and permits. Sometimes you'd find a quiet spot and start playing, and people would just come by and say thanks.
Later when I was hitchhiking around the British Isles with my girlfriend, I'd kick open the guitar case and play in the Tube or in a train station for stray cash when things got tight.
I still feel like it's the best way to make money: you do what you really love. People say thank you with a handful of coins.
That's a lot like writing for the love of writing.
If it's worth it to you, chuck a dollar in the hat, or "Like" a post for Facebook, or tweet it to your friends.
Reader Comments (2)
imagining myself putting a handful of coins into your virtual hat
Thank you for this blog. I'm rarely feeling confident enough to comment anything worthy - and even THEN it's not worthy - but I do enjoy this beautiful little corner of the blogosphere.
Thank you, Robin. That's verra kind of you. Imaginary coins purchase dreams.