I play on the street in Spokane Washington. I paid $20 for a state master business licence and another $60 for a City license. There is a flute player here named Clarence who does the same thing. I am not a beggar. I pay taxes on the little profit I make. When someone tells me to get a job I tell them this is my job and don't they wish they could be their own boss. My business license also allows me to sell my cd's. I also play at Renaissance Festivals for tips and don't see much difference between the two. I admit I don't like when people just set down a hat and mumble into a pan pipe without paying to do it legal but if they're good it's forgiveable. Most of the greatest blues artists in history started off playing in downtown Chicago for tips, and they were not beggars. We work hard to learn a trade, it just happens to be one we love, and that is not begging.