Tondeleo: Doc, I have seen you and Marilyn doing your shows many, many times now, and you two get a good crowd and seem to do better financially with being street musicians than a lot of them I have seen. Earlier you talked a bit about how to make more money as a street performer. Can you tell me some more?
Doc: OK, I was talking about making money if you're gonna be out there playing music. For me an' Marilyn, if we are out playing in the streets, whether it is in Washington, DC or anywhere else we happen to be and get a little strapped for cash, we are out there for ONE reason. That is to make money.
MONEY. You make money on the streets by playing music in two ways. One way is the money that people give you right then and there for your playing. The other way is using your street playin' as a free sample of what people would get if they paid you to do a gig. I always am thinking when we play, "how can we get a gig outta this?"
SHOWMANSHIP. You need to GIVE THEM A SHOW, not just play music or sing. If they want good music, they can put on their headphones and listen to their MTV's on those mtv players they all got.
They can get good music on the radio but they cain't get Doc and Marilyn on the radio. THAT is what they pay for. Anyone can play the songs we play but aint no one but us is Doc and Marilyn. You gotta do a show and not be there like a statue what is playing music or a robot. Most the people I see what is doing music is out there ignoring the people passing by and not making eye contact or expecting money.
We make eye contact. We talk, we tease, we flirt, we joke, we laugh and yeah, we ask for money. You aint gonna make no money if you are just sitting there playing with a little box or bowl in front of you where you put in some seed money to help people figure out how to give.
GETTING THE MONEY. Here is how you make the money. Like I said, you have a show. You get people dancing, have a dance contest, get someone to sing along and have a good time. Then about every third or fourth song, you get someone to pass the collection and look people in the eye and say something about chipping in to cover production costs or something.
I might say, "OK, Marilyn, it's time for church! Take up the collection! And I want all you all good people to dig deep and give your best gift! - There's a blessing on the giver!"
I got that one from a TV preacher. And like the TV preacher, I EXPECT a miracle harvest! Out on the streets, ten or twenty dollars at a time IS a miracle harvest, but we do get it. That is why we take up that collection every fifteen minutes or so. I keep playing and singing and Marilyn passes the hat, we use a wool hat, like a ski mask hat but without the eyes cut out. She holds it and goes from person to person and asks for a contribution, while I play my heart out and make up a song that has to do with giving to poor old Doc!
MAKING MONEY WHERE PANHANDLING IS PROHIBITED. Some places you aint allowed to do that. So you have to get around that. Now we ALWAYS have a cardboard sign with our cell phone and email on it so we can get other places to play.
If they aint no pan handling allowed, I make a sign what says they aint no panhandling allowed so if anyone needs to dispose of money while we are playing, they can put it in the container, which I will gesture at.
I will read that sign every three or four songs, and remind people that we are law abiding American citizens and any money that they was considering given us is now dirty money and needs to be gotten rid of!
COPS. Cops is usually pretty good about that, if you are funny enough and aint drunk. If a cop is there getting ready to run you off, you need someone to deal with him til you finish your song. I get Marilyn to tell him that her Uncle will be done in one more verse an that we will be leaving then. Most of the time they will let you finish, and I ask the people to give the cop a great big hand for being a good cop and for serving our country. And we get our stuff and move a couple blocks.
We can usually go a half hour at a time before they make us move. You need to be able to break up and set up in a minute or less. We aint use no mikes, no drums. Just my guitar, a small amp, my stomp box and Marilyn's harps and our signs. Everything fits in my duffle bag and we move along.
But if your show is good enough and you ask the people to thank the "policeman" and clap for him, while you're packing, the cops will be good to you. They is people, too, and got to make a living just like you do.
