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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2018 18:31:18 GMT
Contactless payments for buskers! I know where I sit with this. I'm not a fan. Maybe ok for buying petrol or a coffee...but not for busking. I do realise that a 'payment' of any kind to anyone who is busking will be gratefully accepted.....but I like the feeling of sticking my hand in my pocket and chucking my dosh into a cap or, better still, a guitar case.
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Post by andyhowell on May 29, 2018 14:43:58 GMT
Contactless payments for buskers! I know where I sit with this. I'm not a fan. Maybe ok for buying petrol or a coffee...but not for busking. I do realise that a 'payment' of any kind to anyone who is busking will be gratefully accepted.....but I like the feeling of sticking my hand in my pocket and chucking my dosh into a cap or, better still, a guitar case. Dosh is dosh ... ... get down and get with it :-)
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Wild Violet
Artist / Performer
Posts: 3,562
My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
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Post by Wild Violet on May 29, 2018 21:02:12 GMT
It seems the general public (or at least the Daily Mail readers) are not keen - scroll down for the comments. I think younger people will be happier to use this than older folks, as they tend to embrace new technology rather than spurn it: Card readers for buskers
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2018 21:33:49 GMT
It seems the general public (or at least the Daily Mail readers) are not keen - scroll down for the comments. I think younger people will be happier to use this than older folks, as they tend to embrace new technology rather than spurn it: Card readers for buskersI'm an older folk.......I won't embrace new technology. Surely the point of giving money to a busker involves some form of social positive regard and a feeling (of the person giving the payment) that they appreciate the buskers musical skills and that they have gone to the 'trouble' of getting to their busking place....setting up and having the willpower to play to the ( often fickle ) public. Cash thrown into a cap/guitar case and a nod of respect from me every time.
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Wild Violet
Artist / Performer
Posts: 3,562
My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
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Post by Wild Violet on May 31, 2018 23:51:33 GMT
Times are getting tougher for buskers as more and more people don't carry coins and the cashless society is pushed further forward. I have a paypal/me link on a sign in my case as it seems less dodgy than a card reader, but it's not been very successful. My takings have gone down considerably over the last 10 years and most noticeably since the Brexit vote. Having a card reader may not improve the hat from the older crowd, but according to friends who use them, the contactless payment tips tend to be £5 or more at a time from younger people. I enjoy counting up coins and feeling the weight of them in my pocket. If card readers become the only way to take a decent hat, I will jump on the bandwagon.
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Post by malcolm on Jun 1, 2018 20:21:12 GMT
At least with card payments no one can run off with your hat full of money, which happened to me several times long ago when I was young and busking!
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Post by scorpiodog on Jun 2, 2018 8:00:30 GMT
Probably quite a good idea for CD sales. And anything that improves takings must be a good thing. But the passing non-stopper who chucks a few coins in the bag won't be affected.
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Post by bobcarter on Jun 3, 2018 13:39:13 GMT
scorpiodog Hmm...could be a whole new sideline for you, Paul, providing accountancy services to the busking community. As I guess accepting payments like that makes it official earnings!
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Post by scorpiodog on Jun 4, 2018 8:33:25 GMT
It’s always official earnings, Bob. Any activity carried out “with a view to profit” is taxable in the uk. The important word for those of us who use paid gigs as a means of subsidising our hobby is “profit”. You can deduct all costs which are wholly and exclusively used in the pursuit of the source of income. That’s strings, repairs, some travelling, advertising etc, but there’s also an allowance for the cost of instruments. That has complications when you give it up, but as long as you keep acquiring instruments, you will get an allowance for it.
There are also implications for utilising losses against other taxable income, and please nobody use this short post to justify your position with HMRC, but the area is phenomenally complicated. So if you think you need some clarification, pm me and I will tell you whether you need to retain your own accountant or whether I can help you informally if the query is simple.
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