Seamus, re: "I always give money to street performers": I think I like you too. But how can you tell a real Vietnam vet from a fake one?

Larry, apparently a B.Sc. is a terrible thing to waste too - my mom hints as such every day!

Hesperis, I guess the most important busking tip to be gleaned from this thread would be: stay out of Orillia! $17 for four people for six hours! I've got to hand it to you for perseverance though.

Ollaimh, thanks for the insight on the Ottawa market. Have you busked there this summer, or do you expect to? The other day I was approached by a representative of the "Byward Market Business Improvement Association"; she wanted me to come and play at a street festival (not a busking festival, a heritage thing). They're not going to pay me, but they're going to dress me up in period costume, so hopefully I'll make more money than usual. Anyway, this invitation suggests to me that the Market administration is pro-busker, even if some of the vendors aren't.

All, another piece of advice for getting tips is: when you stop playing, don't be in too much of a hurry to leave your spot. I've been surprised by the number of people who have paid me to clean off my fiddle or have my snack.

And advice wanted: I've been considering adding a sign to my case saying that I would welcome tips in the form of bus tickets or Canadian Tire money, and salting the case with those as well as coins. Either are just as good as money as far as I'm concerned, and my feeling is that some people who don't want to tip in cash might me more willing to give me bus tickets. But I have some reservations too, based on the advice I've seen here to avoid coming across as a panhandler. Any thoughts?

Having said that, the other day somebody dropped a loaf of bread into my case... maybe I've already got image problems to think about :).

Marion