I beg to differ, GUEST!

As I have pointed out, artists are entitled to be compensated (Paid, if you will) for their many years of training. But beyond that...

...there is an unspoken contract involved in busking that both tne artist and the listener understand. Buskers don't actively appraoch the listener as do beggers but set up in areas where the listener makes the active decsion to take the time to atop, listen and appreciate. It is the listener who is actively decides wheteher or not to become involved in the appreciation of the art that the busker, much less actively is offering. It almost like a gallery or museum, but with less overhead, that is open to the public and has a donation box. And, as a museum or gallery, no one is going to arrest you or confront you should you choose to enjoy the art and not pay but most people do have a feeling that, as they have enjoyed the work that has gone into the art, they will make a small donation.

Busking is very much the same. Unlike begging, there is no unlying "guilt" that is being used to extort money from folks. Buskers don't put up sign that say, "Starving Vet" 'er "Homeless" 'er anything like that. If they did, then, yes, that would be begging, inspite of the music. But they don't.

I'm stickin with, "NO"!!!....

BObert