# Are buskers better than panhandlers?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-buskers-better-than-panhandlers/415236>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 11, 2007, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-buskers-better-than-panhandlers/415236 "2007-08-11T08:28:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-buskers-better-than-panhandlers/415236/41 "2007-08-13T14:25:11Z")

</div>

I busked for a year when I was studying abroad and couldn’t work legally. I play the flute and would go out there and play little Bach pieces, that sort of thing. For some extra spending money, it was great; it certainly wouldn’t have been an ideal way to earn a living. (This was now years and years ago, but I’ve never told my mom and dad about it. They’d worry retroactively.) I had lots of interesting conversations with tourists and locals while I was busking, and received many compliments.

So anyway, yes, I do think busking is better than panhandling! Done well, it requires actual skill, unlike panhandling. If I have an appropriate amount of change (or a small bill) in my wallet, I almost always give to buskers, if they’re any good. Hearing beautiful violin music as I’m walking around town is a treat.

I do occasionally give to panhandlers, too, but much less frequently.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-buskers-better-than-panhandlers/415236/42 "2007-08-13T17:22:42Z")

</div>

Last Wednesday we were on the little train that takes you to the top of the mountain where the [Christ statue](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_Redeemer_%28statue%29) is in Rio de Janeiro.

[These guys came onboard and played samba music for us.](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/minor7flat5/IMG_1833.jpg)

When they walked the length of the car with an extended tambourine, I happily deposited some cash. Good show 🆒

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-buskers-better-than-panhandlers/415236.md?page=2)