HOMEGROWN MUSIC... AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: MAKIN' MONEY WITH HOMEGROWN MUSIC

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And don't feel that your unsolicited performance constitutes begging! The world can always use another song, and music on the streets adds a little culture to the otherwise bland and sterile urban environment.

SING FOR YOUR SUPPER

For a variation on the above theme, you could try to "sign up" with a small restaurant, sandwich shop, salad kitchen, or some such ... in exchange for a salary or even just tips and lunch. If you see a likely place that doesn't have a resident minstrel, approach the management with your idea. It would probably be best to begin by offering your services for lunch and a small fee. Then, if the store owner won't agree to that plan, he or she may at least be willing to guarantee a certain figure (again, $10 to $20 is probably as much as you can expect), and promise to make up the difference if your tips don't equal that amount.

OR, "BAND"TOGETHER!

Better yet, if you get real tight with a bunch of your homegrown musical friends (and I don't mean after passing the bottle of homebrew around a few times), you might consider looking for work at a local craft carnival or other similar affair. My group has just finished an extended period of playing these festivals, and we closed off the "season" with our annual performance at the Western Washington State Fair. This year, our pay ranged from $7.00 (in tips) and three T-shirts, to $250 for two 45-minute sets.

In order to tackle this type of performance, you should have a good, solid repertoire of at least 20 or 30 songs. The average set, you see, will contain between 10 and 15 numbers (unless you get into long jams with several extended solo breaks). Most craft or county fairs are good for one or two shows, and they usually have enough money to pay you pretty well for your services.

Watch out, though, for the old "we don't have much money left in our budget but the exposure will do you good" routine. That kind of arrangement can only go on for so long before you realize that you're providing a valuable service to the fair's management and receiving nothing (or next to it) in return. Furthermore, if your only goal is to get up and entertain people, there are plenty of more pleasant ways to do it ... If you simply spread the word around.

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