Singing for my Supper

Someone approached me yesterday suggesting that I sing on street corners. First insulted, then intruiged, this person mentioned vacationing in Indiana where he met a street musician who played all day long for tips. This was how the artist survived. I have to admit that my frustrations have motivated me to coffee shops and open mics when I didn't have a contract booking in high hopes of gaining a fan or two and selling some cds, but I've never wanted to prostitute myself on a street corner. I'm almost positive that there is merit in such a career, but not in Minnesota! The winter is hard enough on my precious guitars when they're inside locked up tight being humidified, I cannot even imagine torturing the poor babies by taking them outside for hours on end, day after day after day. This music thing is harder than it looks....and singing songs isn't even the half of it.