If I see someone playing I give them $2 no matter what. Unless they are clearly terrible or borderline terrible and just making noise and clearly don't actually practice or learn the instrument, then I'll give $1.
If everyone did this they would make quite well and the place would be a much better place.
I always find it weird people think of people playing on the street as "beggars". Beggars don't have time, motivation or money to learn an instrument. And they definitely don't have time to pay for an expensive instrument. People playing on the street are well off enough to do it for the joy of it.
If it was half profitable though, there would be an actual industry for top notch street musicians. And it would only take $1 - $2 by even 30% of the passerbyers.
I just go out and play and noodle like I would at home. Eventually I'm doing some epic songs.
I'll literally go out and start with "doot". "DOOT DOOT". "high doot". "Low doot". "random spinny bluesly lick just going up down the blues scale". Pick a song. Doot through it in parts and pieces in wonky lengths etc. Then when I've got the audience / scene fully inundated and all the bugs of the song kinked out while wonking, epic attempt at the song.
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