Buskgirl Begins: No Tax on Tips?
Disclaimer: Everything below is a mix of what I observed and heard during the event. The goal isn’t to pinpoint "who exactly said what," but to share (usually) an outsider's view and overall perspective on these industries. I’m not here to act as a definitive firsthand source—readers should do their own research. I hope this inspires you to attend events, explore new industries, and hear what leaders are presenting. These notes combine my observations with thoughts on how things could run smoother and how ideas connect (IMO). I’m not an expert, you know? Just hanging out in the room with them. Enjoy!Topics: Income, Singing, Healing, Melodies, Lyrics, Sounds, Audiences, Transit, Commute, Bravery, Busking, Singing, Fun
“Hyped” is what you can call me. Or real-time K. Or chaotic-on-purpose/not/Buskgirl. Why? Cause I am in a new era. The era of creative/spiritual awakening. Ahhh ahhaha. I’m just in a great mood right now after singing in the subway station for over an hour - and making money from it. The funny part(s)? (1) People like it better when I simply sing sounds instead of words… (2) someone tipped me a banana and wrote their number on the peel. A girl! So. (and btw - this is another blog I’m writing mostly for myself… so, the tone/style is, like, not for the people who want me to be writing clearly).
Why Attend: While I was in the mental hospital last week, a number of people were describing my guitar/singing as “gorgeous”. This surprised me, since last time I sang, years ago, it was on a fake-titanic boat in Shanghai - for a month, singing while being an actress playing “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” and… well, behind my back, people were just making fun of me a lot for being, like ‘not amazing’ at guitar - though it was part of my role in the play. I had a different way about me back then, but also, idk. It just wasn’t the right fit, but it left me thinking I was below-average at singing + guitar combined. But, after this recent self-esteem boost (at, yes, the mental hospital), I decided to test if my singing is truly “gorgeous” to others (and, I mean, I think it sounds alright) by buying a guitar and legally busking downtown. Cause, I bet it can make me some money. (Turns out it’s like extremely easy to do—- busk legally). And, I just thought I’d see if I could make some money singing (plus, it makes me super happy to sing). Also… I realized I can totally work hard to learn all the songs I’ve been writing lately on GUITAR - including my STOCK MARKET SONG… work hard to make it WOLRD FAMOUSahahhahaha and then maybe THATS how we kick off MOASS. Yep! And or find true love 🤪 😁. Right? duh/nuh. Okay? :D So. (but also i’m fine being anonymous and in love too) you know. Wahtever. Let’s see how it goes.
Overall Event Reviews: Venue (4/5), Food (5/5), Speaker Content (3/5), Networking (3/5), Likeliness to Return (5/5)
I even wore the necklace that another patient made me (from the mental hospital). She was an amazing woman from Tehran, but she hadn’t been able to sleep for months. :( That is all so common and such a theme. But… I slept better in that hospital that I have (turns out) for a long time, too. So, I think “sleep” is broken right now. Officially, I think its broken - at least for me, and probably a lot of society. Wifi routers maybe? Not helping hahaaahah.
Okay anyway.
I don’t have much to say - cause… I’m just kinda in this funny mood here in my “come down from being in a mental hospital for over a week, thinking i’d only be in there for a day or so but then got trapped in the system” so now i’m like - hm. wow. life. sunshine. air. hahah. sanity again.
And, sure, the writing style I’m going for lately is, like, EXTRA ‘flamboyant’ and ‘on edge’ or whatever. But, its even on purpose. Just, idk. I feel this funny way after all of this. Like, it was just crazy to go into a mental hospital for so many days. It was actually a really great experience, and I truly enjoyed most of it and got a million great things out of it - butthere are for SURE some huge huge huge huge huge flaws with the system as well.
But it all goes back to some of my huge life goals, too - and even the way I’m living lately. I’m just like 100% understanding poverty life, figuring out how food stamps and tax things work. Even the mental hospital I truly didn’t intend to go to……. eyeroollll. but, I mean, I also learned A LOT from it (and turns out some of my close friends/partners even have extrensive experience in this industry and are super understanding of the pros/cons I’m picking up from it as well). My point is, experience is spuer helpful. And of course my own mental health is worth spending time on - AS IS YOURS, LOVELY AUDINECE READER - but also, the system itself is existing and chugging along nonstop in its way, so… its good for more people to be understanding - myself included - so… idk, just if that knowledge is useful in the future (especially as I keep pulling up seat after seat at all these metaphorical tables of systems thinking and world-influencing - like my aiedu4youth. blah blah blah….)
my point is:
1. this blog is written for a very niche audinece, lol. (recently i got feedback that it’s really hard to read… but i’m like, okay. then just don’t read it)
2. its so good to learn these things, if by chance, in the future, I can help influence/lead/change/improve things for the better. You know? I just believe my life is made for great, great things and maybe/probably I will be able to help with making lots of pieces of our society more efficient, fair, useful… (i need to learn the right verbs to say here). But, my heart knows what I’m saying, my future knows what I’m implying, and now - let’s just see what happens inbetween :)
And… busking was fun. Though in that video, everyone learns (mostly me) that I need to find my hairbrush. (okay ‘larry the cucumber’) geeze
But tomorrow i’ll likely try again - and in my freetime I need to learn the chords for the songs I wrote. Cause I wrote ALL of the lyrics, but AI helped write the melodies for a lot of these songs. So, now I get to take the songs back and make them 100% me! With the guitar. hahah
And btw. What’s my short-term goal for how to spend the money I make busking, “era a” so they say?
1. I want to make enough money to get a new laptop - that way I can trade in my old/current laptop for an event coming up.
2. there’s an incredible acoustic/electric guitar that I want to get after that. It’s super pretty and like a pale pink/purple. So… first I’ll try to make enough money to pay off this guitar I just bought (just like as the first step), then the new computer, then the LEGIT guitar I really like. But… that 2nd guitar is twice as expensive, so I went for the cheapest/cool guitar they had. lemme just make a #3 below and talk about that there.
3. The guitar i got today was about $350. The other guitars they had that were cheaper were like $200 at the least, but this one felt best for busking. They did have a light blue one I would have maybe gotten, but it was kinda dorky/cheesy. This one just was awesome. Plus, I like my american flag guitar strap. Lately I’m super patriotic - but also, just globally. I’m patriotic about america and the world. You know? I’m just so excited about the future and the world we’re building and restoring, so- i’m happy to show my pride in my work. And, I don’t mind that it’s a bit devisive, because the people who do love wahtwe’re building will be extra excited I’m there. And for those who are pissed off with America and the American flag right now, well, at least they get to hear waht some people say is a “gorgeous” voice alongside it. You konw? May help them get a bit more open minded and maybe end up seeing waht I see, too.
but no worries if not, you know? Time will tell and I’m not here to make anyone do anything - EXCEPT FOR HEDGIES. I AM HERE TO BRING YOU YOUR LONG OVERDUE WEDGIES!!!! MOASS IS TOMORROW UNTIL IT IS TODAY :)
Oh yeah… and whats up with this “no tax on tips” thing? Cause I think it’s that you pay no taxes on your first 25k in tips? So… if that’s the case, brotha!!! We’re $30 into that tax-free living, baby! Right? hahaha I’m telling you. I’m loving learning about taxes, income… having super low expenses… and just making life simple and learning it all.
No joke I just am not spending much money AT ALL. Even going to food banks, using EBT… I’m figuring it all out first hand. No shortcuts for my career. I’m building my own original content and making money from it. Learning first hand.
AND BTW - my plan for busking 2.0/extraordinairre? I’ll have my books, workbooks, stories… I want to sell everything all there. So, I am thinking I’ll make, like, a binder with everything you can look through - all my books? And then you can scan QR codes and download/buy them there? Idk. I need to think it through and let it happen organically/intentionally. But, I feel like some extremely cool things are coming. Just gotta keep going day by day. Okay? Okay. Whatcha say? Yay. Horray.
Byeeeeeeeeee.
Until next time, I wish you the motivation and success to search for opportunities around your area. Search and explore: Who is out there giving talks? There are new things happening all of the time.
Find relatable or interesting topics you like and check them out! Maybe even something hosted at a cool venue, if there’s no other reason to go. Let’s see what you can learn and discover not too far from home. 😊
