My brother and I were busking at the Seattle Folklife festival today when this hippie-bro started chatting with us, and when I asked where he was from, he said, “Planet Earth!”

So we played him the Sparks Nevada theme.

I just published a handmade chapbook of one of my short stories, and it's now available for sale on my Bandcamp store! "The Wedding Band" is a modern folk tale set in Seattle's busking community, and has never been published anywhere UNTIL NOW.

I did a small run of nine copies, mostly to test it out, and all but three of them are already spoken for! I'll be printing more, which will look slightly different, but if you want to get one of the super exclusive first printing, hop to!

Today I learned a harsh lesson on the relative efficacy of different busking pitches.

Last Sunday, I busked at my local farmers market and managed to snag a really good pitch (location, for you muggles). I busked about an hour and a half, and made $18. Also a honey stick, assorted change, a free hot dog, and the business card of a magician who wanted to maybe have me open for her sometime.

Today I got a different pitch I thought would still be good, but in an hour of busking I made $1. Period.

It's hard out here for a working musician.

Today I went busking at my local farmer's market, and after an hour of originals and "fun" pop covers, I decided to go Nerd Fishing.

First, I played "Song About An Anglerfish." Nothing. Then I played the "Sparks Nevada" theme song. Still no bites. Then I played "The Ballad of Jayne Cobb," and the awkward dude who was canvassing for signatures near me said, "Hey, uh, isn't that from Firefly?" DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER!

frogchildren replied to your post:Busked solo at ECCC Friday, when it was cold and...

YOU'D LIKE TO THINK THAT, WOULDN'T YOU?! But seriously, this only works if people are already paying attention. You play a show and do a song about someone's fandom, NEW BIGGEST FAN. You're busking and try songs about or from Doctor Who, Clone High, Thrilling Adventure Hour, Firefly, Buffy....nothing. Are my fandoms too dated? I need to get on that Adventure Time train.

I'm actually writing a song about this phenomenon right now.

"Tip for photos!"

This started as an added note to this post, but I found I had a lot to say on the subject. The original post was just about not taking photos of people without their permission, in any situation, but particularly if they look "funny" or "weird" to you. Strangely then added to it that this goes double for street performers, with which I wholeheartedly agree. People frequently feel comfortable taking photos or video of street performers, without affording those performers even the slim courtesy of a smile. This, I wish I needn't add, sucks.

One of the most frustrating aspects of being a street performer is being treated like an object. People take photos and video of you without tipping, without asking, without so much as smiling at you or staying to enjoy the show. They take your picture and walk away, and if feels like they've just stolen something.

I've even heard stories of professional camera crews setting up in front of a busker, blocking the view to others, and then leaving without so much as a dollar in the ol' guitar case. That's not just rude, that's defeating both purposes of the performance: to entertain others and make a little scratch for the performer.

If you absolutely MUST take a picture of a performer and feel like you can't ask without interrupting them, the absolute BARE MINIMUM courtesy you can extend them is to tip them. Doesn't matter if it's a dollar or the change you have in your pocket; the gesture counts as much. And if they have a sign with their name, take a picture of that too, so you can look them up later and offer them a copy of the photo if it turns out nice. The preferred method (by myself and most performers I know), is to ask permission (before or after), tip, and offer to provide a copy of the photo or video later.

Performing for free in the out of doors is fun, rewarding, and liberating. It allows people to experience art they never would have sought out on their own, or would not have access to for monetary reasons. It is an opportunity for performers to share their art, and for the public to show their appreciation with smiles, donations, or approbation. You're not required to watch, listen, or donate; you are required to treat us with the same courtesy you'd afford to anyone else.

Went busking today outside of PAX with my bandmate Annie and my new friend Leah, and the sign worked: in under two hours we made enough to buy lunch, and got Saturday badges! Annie and I wandered around in awe and terror for about an hour, bought Story War, saw me in the Legend of Dungeon trailer, and then gave up. We ended up meeting a guy and his teenage son up the street who were going in hopes of finding a badge for the kid on the street, so we gave them ours. Paying it forward! This was my first PAX since 2005 (spoiler alert: I'm not really much of a gamer), and I was blown away by how massive it is. Felt almost on par with SDCC...or at least the last SDCC I went to, which I'm just realizing was also 2005. Man, I am out of touch.

"PLEASE HELP ME BUY A BEE SUIT." It was all I could do not to give this kid all the cash I had on me.

Joshan Petrojvic of The Petrojvic Blasting Co., when asked in an interview if they wanted to move on from busking to play "more traditional venues."

Emery Carl, youth pastor turned full-time street performer, the Busker King of Seattle.

A list of songs my brother and I are working on for busking at Sundance. We'll be stationed outside the Main Street Mall January 27-29. Come and give us your pocket change!