You know that I am performing with minimal equipment. I flew here with what I could carry on my back, both normal luggage, costumes, and props. I worked hard to build a "packs small, plays big" show. And you want a big show, because in street performing for tips, it's basic that a larger audience means more money. Generally, buskers do not accept the limitations I've imposed. They have a lot of equipment for larger shows. A PA system and an MP3 player make a huge difference in attracting a large crowd, and if you have a large crowd, you want what you're doing to be large. Jugglers and acrobats do the best at large shows, graduating from juggling balls to flaming torches and machetes while riding a giraffe unicycle on a tight rope, or whatever.

Well, if you're going to do a show like that, you have a lot of stuff, and you have to put it somewhere. Shows like that violate the general rule of limiting yourself to what you can easily transport in one trip. So how do they do it?

Here's a quick 360 of the buskers' storage room under Covent Garden, London. This is a secure space, with keypad entry etc. There's a place to recharge batteries, the whole deal. I took this 360 at eye level, so the vast sea of high wattage PA systems on the floor isn't shown here.

CG gives the buskers this space at no charge, but the buskers charge each other £10/week. It goes into a buskers' benevolent fund, for medical emergencies, legal defense, etc, and it is substantial.

Some very high level cooperation going on in London among these guys. They have a professional association, and they endorse, punish, and expel members. They police themselves to avoid being policed externally, and they have created a strong mutually supportive culture. Very impressive.