The famous quotation "It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission" is often attributed to Grace Hopper, USN

I think Mike picked a good method for breaking into busking. As someone else mentioned, busking doesn't require a street, sidewalk or any other particular venue. Basically, you are peforming "on spec."

The hat tells a lot of the story.

It worked for Mike. He gave a good show. He got paid.

Thank you Bill. Back then starting off at the park was a great start off point for me. I would not be where I am today with busking if I did not use the park as my practice and first learning spot.

You don't have to be over 50 to show some consideration.

Ed, Busking is NOT about "showing some consideration!!" Busking is about making money. You know that I don't think much of Dynamike, but he had the "whatever" to go do this and that puts him up a couple of notches for me.

Now before anyone butts in and gripes about how I am picking on Ed. I am not saying that you should go full time into busking, just that full time buskers see things different than part timers, both ways are right, just different for each of us.

*sigh* Fine. I understand your point of view. I just know if I were holding some celebration in a public area and someone wanted to come in and work my crowd for tips, I'd be a little annoyed.

Ed, you are right, and that's the risk a busker takes. the partiers could ignore him, call the cops on him, ask him to get the h^&& out of there, or even "forcibly remove him. Any time you busk you take those risks.

Before you be great, you gotta be good. Before you be good, you gotta be bad. Before you be bad, you gotta try.

I'm acceptable with that. Go out and perform, perform in the street, perform in the park, I just don't think you should focus on someone else's event without their permission. Maybe that's why I'll never be great... I'm acceptable with that too!

I would not crash a party. If you're being harassed by cops for busking, you need to talk with the ACLU, and deprive the local government of money via a lawsuit.

When I was harassed by a cop, I went to City Hall, told he was wrong and his Lieutenant would be notified. I haven't been back yet to see the results.