I have busked a lot internationally for 27 years.

I met an extraordinary busker named Danny many years ago. He was musically poor but his busking tactics were superb and effective. I have used them ever since.

He also introduced me to some old time busker jargon.

He talked of "working an edge" manipulating the crowd. Some pitches -Town Squares- allow you to encourage people to stand or sit around and listen to you. An edge could be "worked out" - they have all payed their money. The best tactic here is to stop playing for a while and hopefully get a new crowd. If you get large edges regularly use a bottler to collect the money. (females are more effective.) Other pitches - Subways etc can be blocked by your edge. On such a pitch some buskers stop playing as soon as they've got an audience. You should be playing for passers-by.

Put a few coins in your bag to start it off. (Bait, Salt) Don't leave to much money in the bag. Pretty obvious. Take small denominations out regularly. I have seen some buskers ostentatiously RETURN small donations and thus shame their remaining crowd.

Keep money and belongings in front of you.

Dogs make money.

Dogs in hats make even more money. My old lurcher loved busking.

Babies in prams (Danny's tactic) make loads of money.

Hide amplifiers if you can.

Always carry ID and business cards.

Market Days are an interesting days busking and it is easy enough to get a list of markets in any country in Europe.

Remember police and council attitudes to busking vary enormously from town to town. There ARE places which actively encourage buskers. Talk to other buskers to get local knowledge. Don't steal their pitches.

One last tip - Eye contact.

Every body knows that people will avert there gaze when approaching a busker, or a charity collector, if they don't want to give money. But they only avert their gaze when they are about 7 or 8 yards away from you. The trick is to catch your punters eye BEFORE they avert their gaze. Engage them this way, play your music to that person and smile.... and hope.

Try Torquay - The police are wonderful. This town is full of good pitches some of them can be worked until 10.00 p.m. in the summertime.