Buskers: Tip container type and security

Subject: Buskers: Tip container type and security
From: GUEST,Just a-passin' thru
Date: 23 May 15 - 05:09 PM

What do buskers who post here use for collecting tips?

Where do you locate it? On the ground in front of you? In an open instrument case?

How do you secure your container? is it chained or tied to something, or out loose in the open?

I use a metal bucket shaped like a milk can. It was originally designed to be decorative, maybe a small planter or some such. So far I've never had anyone bother it out on the ground in front of me, but today in a busy city downtown, I noticed a couple of people eyeing it.

Wondering if anyone has recommendations.

Subject: RE: Buskers: Tip container type and security
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 May 15 - 05:18 PM

The best I've seen was in Krakow. The busker had a plush, stuffed monkey, holding a tin cup and riding atop a radio-control car. Not very good as security, but it sure was good at attracting tips.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Buskers: Tip container type and security
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 May 15 - 07:02 PM

My friends and I are official buskers in our local Farmers' Market. We have one of those charity buckets with a slot that people post money through - we hope! We know that we are not allowed to shake the bucket (constitutes "aggressive begging") but found that the income went up substantially when we put the bucket up on a chair and a wee bit further out front - so that people couldn't quite so easily miss it. At ground level it was easily ignored. We supplement this with flyers and leaflets for the music registered charity we are supporting. We have not, as yet, had any security problems.