Yes, I’ve done it quite a bit in years past but not so much lately.
Mine wasn’t musical. I did either balloon sculpture or face painting. I’ve also done it at fairs and festivals. Philly was a great town for lots of different street fairs.
One can earn a pretty decent amount of money and it’s really a lot of fun.
But many places have very inconsistent policies or laws on the subject, especially here in the US. Many times they don’t make a clear distinction between vending and busking (and many are totally unfamiliar with the word busking at all)
But when the cops or L&I aren’t rousting you, it’s definitely a lot of fun.
I would highly recommend it for teenagers looking to make some extra money. It sure beats slinging burgers and fries at Mickey Ds.
:D
PS For anyone without musical talent who likes the idea of busking, I was doing balloons on the street for practice and spare change within days of getting my first how-to book.
Granted, it does take quite a bit of skill and practice to be a GOOD balloon artist.
But doing it on the street is really good practice in developing that skill and most customers aren’t all that discerning. Most kids ask for a dog and they’re just happy to be walking away with something big, shiny and colorful.
I’ve lost count of how much money I made simply by adding a small heart balloon on top of a tall three color rainbow braid. Easy to do and looks great. People of all ages love it. And as soon as one goes walking down the street in someone’s hand, you get an instant line of people waiting for one also. Fun fun fun. Money in your pocket and everybody has a smile on their face. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.