Article: Use a container that's large enough to hold your money throughout the night so it doesn't overflow. Make sure the tray is deep enough where money won't blow away in the wind. Place the tray in front of the area where you're performing and label it "Tips" or something similar so people know where to put their money. Put a bit of cash in your container before you play to make it look like others have already seen you perform so more people are likely to tip you. Remove any large bills or big wads of cash as soon as you can so it's less likely to get stolen. Stand up straight so you're visible while you're performing. Turn up the volume or play the instrument as loud as possible to cut through the noise of the crowd and make your music more prominent. Check that you stay in tune and sound good from a distance so people are more likely to be drawn toward you. Singing or playing loudly may put stress on your voice and instrument, so take frequent breaks and stay hydrated. If you know a lot of popular songs, interact with your crowd to see what they want to hear next. Listen to their suggestions and songs that you're able to play and haven't done recently in your set. Be enthusiastic about the song while you're playing it and involve the crowd while you sing to get them excited and more likely to leave a tip. Don't ask for suggestions from the audience if you do not know a lot of songs. Once you finish a song, thank the crowd for listening to your music and let you know that you appreciate them spending time listening to you. Let the crowd know that you have a container for tips if they enjoyed your performance. Tell them that you're going to be playing for a little longer if they want to stay and listen. Always say thank you when a person gives you a tip to show that you're grateful.
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Place a large tray or bucket in front of you for tips. Play your music loudly so people are drawn to your performance. Take popular song requests if you know a lot of songs. Thank your audience no matter how the performance went.