I think that if someone has chosen a spot and set up there, it's their spot until they're done with it, period. Go set up someplace else out of earshot. And out of earshot is important. I play guitar and harp and a couple of times I've had saxaphone players set up across the street from me and make it impossible for me to play. That's rude, but you can't do anything about it but leave. Another time I had a guy with an acoustic guitar and a battery amp set up ten feet away from me. Again, all I could do was leave Good etiquette cannot be enforced.

As far as audience etiquette goes, please don't come up to me and start talking to me about Neil Young, your guitar, my guitar, the band you used to be in or whatever. Supportive comments are appreciated, but if I have my guitar on it means I'm there to play, not to stand around having conversations with people. And don't ask me if I "know any John Denver." I'm not a juke box, I'm an artist and I'm here to do my art.

Tips for buskers: Don't demean youself by begging for money or berating people for not throwing money at you. Everybody knows what an open guitar case is for and they will tip you if they are moved to. Be humble and play good music. Don't block the flow of traffic. Don't let too much money accumulate in your case. Smile at people, be friendly and use self depracating humor to deal with rude people. Make your show special by choosing songs that relate to the event, the season, the weather or current events. Give out business cards or home made cds with your website and email on them. And finally, sometimes you've got to know when it's time to pack up and get out of there....