Backstage Banter

Pushed the piano down to Western Avenue & Petaluma Blvd. last Saturday and donned the traditional Santa hat for the annual arrival of the Clause by boat at the river turn around. Tens of hundreds of parents and kids swarmed the downtown area while Petalume Pete wailed on ragtime versions of Jingle Bells, Rudolph and, yes, even Silent Night with a swing beat. The tip jar overfloweth. Later discovered the event was captured and blogged by a Petaluma Citizen, who provided the reader with the attached photo.

I also discovered something all buskers can use. It’s the employment of a “remote” tip jar, because some people are reluctant to approach you with money, but are happy to pop their bucks in a jar that is at a safe distance about 20 feet away. I made a very secure remote tip jar that I will share with you soon. Do you have any tip garnering ideas you can share with our fellow buskers?