Busking was recently the subject of an entry in "The Ethicist" column in the New York Times Magazine.
Someone wrote in to say that an acquaintance, who was financially quite comfortable, also played violin and would frequently play in a public space with a tip jar in front of him to collect tips from passers-by. He questioned the ethics of this.
Chuck Klosterman, the ethicist, replied that the questioner was having a problem with this because of his view of what the violinist was doing. He was seeing the violinist as collecting tips from people who may be far less wealthy that he is, whereas the violinist see his actions as a performance of possible value to the passers-by.
He concludes: "He's creating art for public consumption; he is, by the strictest definition of the term, a professional musician. While not charging for his work, he's still saying, 'I believe my music has value - and if you agree, pay me whatever amount you think is justified.' "
That less wealthy people choose to give him money is irrelevant.
Citation: KLOSTERMAN, CHUCK. New York Times Magazine, 10/21/2012, p19
