Mostly love, I'd say.

Long ago when I played guitar, we had the occassional gig for which we made tiny fees.

Since I started playing strictly Irish music a few years back, I've only been a session musician. The locals are that nice that I haven't bought myself a beer in a long time, but I don't see any money--only on the occassions when I go sit in with friends' bands, or something of that nature.

This St. Paddy's Day, though, I have a paying gig for myself. I look at it as the law of supply and demand--when demand is high, as it especially is for my kind of music on this day, they have to take what they can get (me!).

My daughter and I are going out a-busking earlier in the day; we'll feel fine if we make our lunch money. We'll be just as happy if we don't, though.

Jenny