# Giving to street entertainers in an increasingly cashless society **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 7, 2026, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277 "2026-03-07T05:58:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/21 "2026-03-07T13:11:36Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That leaves a QR code posted in plain sight. Do you know how easy it is to make a big deal of pointing at that code, make like you are contributing then walking away with the performer and other passersby thinking good thoughts about you. Only the performer finds out later that you were full of shit. Even easier to just stand there and not contribute or to just keep walking on by. Yes, some percentage of people are going to pretend to contribute but perhaps the ease of contributing using Venmo and other apps makes others more likely to contribute? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/22 "2026-03-07T13:20:58Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Even easier to just stand there and not contribute or to just keep walking on by. Yes, as someone who usually walks by without paying, I’m puzzled by the impulse to pretend to pay. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/23 "2026-03-07T13:23:48Z")
Neither of those articles seemed to mention the “pretend to pay” phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/24 "2026-03-07T13:46:44Z")
I’ll also point out that notions of convenience are generational. For a young phone-centric person, aiming their phone at a QR code from 20 feet away, tapping a couple icons, & walking away _is_ convenient. Conversely, to them, digging into a pocket or purse for cash, picking out the right bills from the wad, and walking over to wherever the tip jar is to drop them in? Now _that’s_ inconvenient. And assumes they actually have some small bill cash in their pocket / purse. which they probably don’t. I’m not young, but I routinely carry a couple 20s & a Benjamin as emergency get-home money. Nothing else. If I wanna tip some random person, it’s QR or nothing. When I’m traveling I have a money clip with a bunch of smaller bills just for tipping hotel folks & such. But out around town? Nope. Lotta non-young people operate about like I do, and even more young people do. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/25 "2026-03-07T14:01:18Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Before, there might be a tip jar, and more often than not the customer would put in the coins that came in change. See, that’s something that might change if we go completely or mostly cashless. I’m sure many people threw their change in the tip jar mostly to avoid carrying change around, not because they really wanted to tip people who work behind the counter at a Starbucks or or Baskin Robbins. . Those people are not going to tip 18 % at a takeout place. If the machines had a round-up feature like they often have for charities at retail stores, that might be different. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Do you know how easy it is to make a big deal of pointing at that code, make like you are contributing then walking away with the performer and other passersby thinking good thoughts about you. Why would someone do that , just so strangers think well of someone they don’t even know? If they think about it at all? I’m sure some people do, but I can’t imagine it’s all that many. Why bother? And I’m sure there are also people who would tip a dollar or two via a QR code but aren’t going to tip $10 or $20 bucks and don’t have anything smaller. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/26 "2026-03-07T14:29:41Z")
I’ve seen buskers with stacks of business cards that have the QR code on them (and a pitch for hiring for an event). Taking a card and deciding later seems less disruptive than a sign people have to take a picture of or even a tip jar/hat/instrument case. The performance should be the focus and not the voluntary compensation. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/27 "2026-03-07T14:31:34Z")
Not having to walk up the busker strikes me an convenient, though. I can aim my phone at the sign from where i am. And having one doesn’t preclude having the other. I imagine buskers try to do whatever works. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/28 "2026-03-07T15:39:47Z")
I don’t get the great mystery here. If people want to donate, they will. If they don’t, they keep walking. Maybe a few strange individuals will pretend-donate, but what an oddly specific worry. I don’t think that’s the majority at all. And maybe even they might still inspire others to donate in turn? The QR code payments have been around forever and are everywhere now, especially after they were normalized during covid. Friend of mine is a gigging restaurant and lounge musician who puts QR code signs on every table that leads to both his Venmo tip jar and his setlist. He makes a solid living and supports his wife doing this. Every KJ, trivia host, craft fair vendor, etc. around here does the same sort of setup and people do tip. And yet no one’s going to judge you if you don’t, so no need to make a scene of yourself just to pretend. In an average year, I might carry cash two or three days out of the year. The other 362 days I don’t, so it’s Venmo, PayPal, or nothing. But I habitually tip street musicians I actually like, especially if I stand and listen for a few minutes. And repeat performers (usually giggers rather than buskers) will always get tips. Ten years ago some of them might not have had QR codes, and I’ve asked a few to add some (and they did, and I and others began tipping more after that). These days, though, I haven’t seen a performer without one in forever. I think it’s even bled over to many non-performers, such as Girl Scout tables, a few umhoused panhandlers, small nonprofits, etc. Everyone has a smartphone, but I guess not everyone is banked or can otherwise access Venmo etc. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/29 "2026-03-07T15:58:38Z")
Nearly all food trucks have QR codes too. Also the parking lots around here. They read your license plate and you get a little ticket which has a QR on it. You can also pay at the kiosk with a credit card but they stopped taking cash years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/30 "2026-03-07T16:00:50Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I can aim my phone at the sign from where i am. This resonates with me. The last tip I gave to a performer was outside at a brewery in January (it was warm enough in NM for this.) I was in no mood to interact with anyone and it was nice not to even need to get up. I almost exclusively use cash for taxis home from the airport, which works out to $30, so it’s only tens and twenties in my wallet, nothing smaller. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/31 "2026-03-09T17:38:57Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > If the machines had a round-up feature I know a couple of pubs in London where the contactless payment terminal takes you through a screen with a range of optional tip amounts (one of which is “no tip”, and I’ve seen a barman choose “no tip” after one look at me). They’re part of a chain, too, so there must be a fair few others ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/32 "2026-03-09T18:27:34Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > I think it’s even bled over to many non-performers, such as Girl Scout tables, a few umhoused panhandlers, small nonprofits, etc. Everyone has a smartphone, but I guess not everyone is banked or can otherwise access Venmo etc. In my neighborhood, there are QR codes on the lemonade stands that enterprising 6-year olds set up in front of their house (going to a parent’s Venmo). Like you say, it’s ubiquitous. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/33 "2026-03-09T18:30:42Z")
I see posts that QR codes are readily available, and I never said they weren’t. What I have said is that, according to the performers I have spoken to, they aren’t getting as much money that way. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/34 "2026-03-09T18:37:20Z")
I don’t know how you make that comparison, though. When they say they aren’t getting as much money through cash apps, what are they comparing it to? Is that compared to their busking income from 5 years ago? 10 years? 20? A lot has changed in terms of foot traffic in downtown areas, extra income to give away, generosity toward people in general and street performers specifically, etc. How much of the decrease (if there is even a decrease) is due to people with less cash in their pockets? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/35 "2026-03-09T18:44:36Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > I know a couple of pubs in London where the contactless payment terminal takes you through a screen with a range of optional tip amounts I think you’re talking about something different than I am - when I go to the supermarket and other stores , there will fairly often be an option on the screen that says something like “Round up for (charity)” and it will round your purchase up to the next dollar with a donation , so that if my purchase comes to $22.78 , it will be rounded up to $23.00 and the $0.22 goes to the charity. If the cash register at Dunkin Donuts said “Round up for a tip” , I might do that even though I wouldn’t tip _any_ percentage of the bill that’s likely to be an option. It’s the equivalent of throwing spare change into the tip jar. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/36 "2026-03-10T03:47:05Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > when I go to the supermarket and other stores , there will fairly often be an option on the screen that says something like “Round up for (charity)” and it will round your purchase up to the next dollar with a donation , so that if my purchase comes to $22.78 , it will be rounded up to $23.00 and the $0.22 goes to the charity I recently had the scenario where my supermarket bill came out to $\_\_. 00 & it asked me if I wanted to round up $1.00 to whatever was the charity. I thought the original purpose was so that one didn’t have change jingle-jangling in their pocket; instead having it go to some ‘good’ cause, which would already be the case of no change to deal with if it ended in 00¢ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/37 "2026-03-10T22:09:34Z")
There’s a scam making the rounds in which “small contributions” are solicited in big-store parking lots on the basis of some sob story, with the storyteller using one of those portable credit/debit card readers. The storyteller picks on someone who is vulnerable to distraction such as a mom with young kids. The contribution turns out to be large. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/38 "2026-03-10T23:09:21Z")
How would that work? Wouldn’t that just result in a bunch of chargebacks and the closing of those accounts? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277/39 "2026-03-11T22:57:11Z")
I’m not sure. Here’s a link to one of the news stories: [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/seguin-police-warn-of-parking-lot-donation-scam-targeting-shoppers/ar-AA1XmNN5](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/seguin-police-warn-of-parking-lot-donation-scam-targeting-shoppers/ar-AA1XmNN5) This story says “electronic donation”. The one I read yesterday specified the portable card readers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-street-entertainers-in-an-increasingly-cashless-society/1028277.md?page=1)