Ten Little Chances to be Free (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tenlittlebullets) wrote2006-06-10 04:30 pm
tenlittlebullets) wrote2006-06-10 04:30 pm
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You know what beats the shit out of minimum wage? Busking on the Metro. Seriously, I have a running "I'm a vocal performance major, which means I'm going to end up singing for change on the subway for a living" gag, but if I hit rush hour I can easily make $15-20 an hour.
The downsides are that it tires my voice out enough that I can only do a few hours at a time, I occasionally get harassed by security and I'm still not sure if it's allowed under protected speech, and I lack the motivation to kick myself into doing it on a regular basis. But if I can overcome the last bit, earning enough money for the road trip will be a piece of cake. And it's loads more fun than being a cashier, and I found a station with amazing acoustics.
Am royally pissed about being told off by the security guard though. Apparently "soliciting and panhandling" aren't allowed on the Metro, but they can't stop people from randomly bursting into song due to First Amendment free-speech protection. The question is whether standing around singing and holding out a hat, but not asking anyone for money, counts as soliciting. I'm inclined to say it doesn't, because busking on the Metro is fairly widespread and I've seen crotchety jerks online complaining about the fact that there's no way to stop it, not to mention the few cities who do try to ban it are in legal hassles right now... but I didn't argue when I was told to go away. Was ready to throw in the towel anyway, and too tired to cause a stink. Will probably go into a giant freedom of speech snit if they try it on me again.
The downsides are that it tires my voice out enough that I can only do a few hours at a time, I occasionally get harassed by security and I'm still not sure if it's allowed under protected speech, and I lack the motivation to kick myself into doing it on a regular basis. But if I can overcome the last bit, earning enough money for the road trip will be a piece of cake. And it's loads more fun than being a cashier, and I found a station with amazing acoustics.
Am royally pissed about being told off by the security guard though. Apparently "soliciting and panhandling" aren't allowed on the Metro, but they can't stop people from randomly bursting into song due to First Amendment free-speech protection. The question is whether standing around singing and holding out a hat, but not asking anyone for money, counts as soliciting. I'm inclined to say it doesn't, because busking on the Metro is fairly widespread and I've seen crotchety jerks online complaining about the fact that there's no way to stop it, not to mention the few cities who do try to ban it are in legal hassles right now... but I didn't argue when I was told to go away. Was ready to throw in the towel anyway, and too tired to cause a stink. Will probably go into a giant freedom of speech snit if they try it on me again.