Interacting With Street Performers The behavior of the public is bizarre as seen through the eyes of a street performer (aka "busker"). For instance, today I was busking a street fair in Seattle, and these yuppie women leaned down and nicely placed their hot pink yoga studio ad upright in my guitar case, as if I am a billboard for them. I said, "Could you please take your advertising out of my case?" and they acted offended! So let's just start right here with Rule #1. Do not throw your trash, or your personal advertisements, in street performers' cases.
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Rule #2 is street performers are not a free babysitting service. I cannot tell you how many times people have plopped their little children down in front of me and literally walked away to shop at nearby crafts booths. Today, a guy let his toddler, she was maybe 2, go right up into my case and start pulling dollar bills out! Did the parent stop this child? No, I did. And for years, I hired a babysitter to watch MY child while I busked and it made me extra mad that I ended up watching someone ELSE'S kid while I tried to work when I just paid someone to watch my kid to work! So, you are still responsible for your kid when near buskers and do not leave them alone, and do not let them do things like run on stage or take money out of hats or guitar cases. Don't make the PERFORMER do your parenting. That is disgusting. And by the way, men are the worst offenders re Rule #2, so if you are male, maybe you better pay *extra* attention to watching your kid while watching buskers perform. Read more in my new book, 21st Century Essays on Street Performing aka Busking, on
Kindle!
