While traveling with my family in the west of Ireland a few years ago, we saw buskers in nearly every town, from guiter players to pennywhistlers to fiddlers. I stopped and listened to every single one, and threw in a few bills each time as well. My mother, who is herself an amateur pianist, asked me why I was encouraging "those beggars." I gave her an earful.

Isn't it obvious that perfoming music is a great art, an exhilerating means of human interaction and expression? Here in the states, too many people look down their noses at buskers. Anybody who loves the arts should be grateful for a chance to see live, experimental performances up close ...