I'm joining this topic late, but having taken time to read every thread am really grateful nonetheless for the information contained.

Having been laid off I put every penny of my severance into building my artistry, recording an album, setting up a webstore (www.rebelzpromoter.com), registering a trademark, coming up with merchandise and now faced with taking my art to the people.

I carry my guitar with me everywhere I go. Whenever the opportunity arises I take it out and play, simply to get as much practice as I possibly can and because I simply love what I do. Music breaks down barriers and I always get smiles and positive gestures from passing folk.

Coming from a conservative background and taking account of peoples perceptions (prejudices), not to mention my earnings in my previous career I have never opened my guitar case to invite donations.

The closest I have come was in The Netherlands where I played outside a music store where my album is stocked (I justified this as legitimate promotion). Still people were happy to pay me for the songs I sang. I found this embarassing and offered a copy of my EP in exchange.

Reading this thread I can feel a changing in my personal perception of street performing.

Perhaps governments instead of frowning and licensing street performers should view the art more in the terms of social workers and should pay for the service, for surely brightening up the day of commuters and the public at large is a public service.

The benefit would be two fold

a) removing the stigma from the point of view of musicians like myself who when I do take out my guitar and play my self penned songs in public bring joy to the lives of passersby and

b) change the perception taken by some on this forum and society in gerneral who look down on and see street performers as beggers.

Regardless, having read this I will take a different view of myself and the next time I feel the urge to take my guitar in public will do so with pride!