Busking is described by Wikipedia:

Busking is a British term used in many areas of the English-speaking world. The place where a busker performs is called their pitch.

Thanks Laura for broadening this guy's horizon!

As to the downtown Cleveland streets being "largely empty" - looking at your 5 or 6 images I don't see anyone - maybe "completely empty 'cept for buskers" would be accurate?

 He's a talented guitarist.  Mostly folks are good to him, but he has been hassled and called a bum.. (?!).  He came to Cleveland with his parents, but after his mom died and his father rejoined family in Alabama (?), he decided to stay and make a go of it.  Let's hope that NEO is a place for musicians, writers and artists to flourish.  It's cheap enough, but is it friendly enough?  I have his contact information and hopefully we will have a new member soon :)

Here's another busker in NYC--enjoy the music:

Busking in the Big Apple

Maybe he could venture over to Tremont and play in one of these swanky restaurants - I'm sure he could make some good tips.  According to Sammy's survey, even bus boys make about $50,000 a year.   At least he'd be out of the cold and I bet they'd provide a meal.  

That would be a way of them giving something back to the neighborhood and providing some great entertainment for thier patrons, as well as helping this young artist get started.  You can't go wrong with a deal like that.

Why don't you help introduce this young man to the area and to the establishments.  They are always having people play and he really could get a start in one of these places.

Laura, you have given me a great idea. 

Tell your friend that he can apply to Sparx and get paid to busk plus tips. Info here: http://www.cleveland.com/sparx/

Although I hope that no one will hassle this guy making music. We need all the vibrancy downtown we can get!

Thanks Jenita--I also called the City of Cleveland Permits department and found that a vendor's license (which also applies to buskers) costs $20.00/month and you do have to get approval for the location/site.  So, roving is not an option. It's much like the hot dog vendor set-up. 

 I think that our City could benefit from more, not less, opportunities for street performance.  I hope that Brad checks out Sparx--it sounds like the organization probably circumvents the licensing issue.

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See if you can decode it, were is it and the clue is on the wall.  

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