For most observers, it seems an odd profession and a hard one at that. I don't want to give the best hours of my life to some big, huge, fat employer, smoking a cigar while he creams off all the money. They don't have to worry about the weather, just the crime and the cops. That's why a fire-eater in New York says it pays to have a second job.
Some musicians use their street performances to promote their cassettes and compact discs.
Street performing is something some cities embrace and others try their best to stamp out. Most cities require performers to carry a permit. But in recent years, city officials have begun to view it as a way to add lively culture to the streets. They allow street artists to perform as long as they follow the rules. You can ask for money, but you can't badger somebody.