Jesus Fucking Christ | Squat the Planet

Jesus Fucking Christ

J

James Huxley

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Hey you guys. I'm in a world of shit. I'll be forced to ship out in a month. No money. No direction. Minimal supplies. No companion. I'm just a wide-eyed youth with no fucking clue what he's barreling into. Nobody's gonna want to hold my hand through all this but I'll wager that a few of you might be willing to throw some pieces of advice my way. If there's one thing you might find it important to tell someone in my situation, what would it be?

ALSO: is it possible to subsist on panhandling alone? There's no way. Is there?
 

ev wood

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ummm, I'm certainly no seasoned vet but my two things would be to start learning an instrument now if you don't already play - busking is more fun than panhandling and it'll keep you occupied on those long lonely nights.
Two is to be polite, always to everyone unless they give you substantial reason not to be. This includes m'ams, sirs, and picking up your trash even if no one is around to see you - when travelers act like assholes it makes the rest of us look bad. Also, from my experience going around in the southern regions good manners can make the difference between getting your ass kicked / the cops called, or being offered supper & a warm bed for the night.
Good luck! You'll do fine ^_^
 
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landpirate

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I lived for 2 years solely on money I begged for and food I dumpster dived. I am sure others have managed far longer. It's all possible, but dependent on your skills and your charm, Where you choose to beg and if you've got a raging beer or drug habit things will be harder as you'll want more money. You have youth on your side which can really help with peoples generosity. Have you any skills? circus skills? music skills? magic skills? because as ev wood said above busking is a far happier way to make money in my experience. Begging can quickly become soul destroying when it isn't going well.

be lucky in whatever you do!
 
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J

James Huxley

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I lived for 2 years solely on money I begged for and food I dumpster dived. I am sure others have managed far longer. It's all possible, but dependent on your skills and your charm, Where you choose to beg and if you've got a raging beer or drug habit things will be harder as you'll want more money. You have youth on your side which can really help with peoples generosity. Have you any skills? circus skills? music skills? magic skills? because as ev wood said above busking is a far happier way to make money in my experience. Begging can quickly become soul destroying when it isn't going well.

be lucky in whatever you do!


I do make lovely lovely music. I'll be mobile, though. I can't bring my guitar with me. As for panhandling, I'm charming, physically. Enough so that I'll likely have to fend off a forced bumming or two. I'll maim that bridge when I come to it, though.

I'll note that I'm a male. That can't incite as much generosity from the public as if I were female, can it?
 

landpirate

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being a 'lady' can be helpful on the spanging front but people can also treat you like you're overly vulnerable. Being young and of either gender is a blessing when begging. I'm 31 and I have to say it's becoming more difficult to work the angle of 'I could be your child' you know, acting the victim and making them feel like if I was their kid they'd want someone to help them out. Do you get me? it's a fine line between acting the victim and actually being one.

Forced bumming is generally something to be avoided! But joking apart, people ask for you for all sorts of things in return for their money. The easiest cash I have ever made is having my picture taken with a bunch of drunken guys on a stag do (do you have stag do's in America? bachelor party?) I stood there looking pissed off on a street corner, while they drunkenly posed next to me £20 ($30) thank you very much! I've been 'gifted' money by people just for spending time talking to them. People are strange and sometimes you have to exploit that. I may sound callous but I have realised when it comes to begging, people who want to hear you do and they don't give what they can't afford to lose.

begging is a dirty business! so if you can see a way to carry your guitar then i really would recommend it. It'll save your sanity and earn you some cash.
 
E

Earth

Guest
what she say ^^^ begging is a dirty business! so if you can see a way to carry your guitar then i really would recommend it. It'll save your sanity and earn you some cash.

yeah, in the early 90s I used to lug around two Mouse amps and my old beat up Fender Jazz bass (frettless too!!) and people would like give me money to stop playing :)

This was in Cannon Ball Park, Bay Ridge Brooklyn (by the VZ bridge)


Ha Ha, oh to by young again.......................................................
 
J

James Huxley

Guest
It really kills me but I don't see any feasible way to lug Old Sasha around with me. I'm without a car and I plan to hitch it the entire way. I don't know a damn thing about the rails.

I hope I have the balls for this. I'm not like most of you guys; my background's a pretty cushy one. Size can only take a kid so far, you know?
 
J

James Huxley

Guest
Anyways I'm sure she's the first thing to grab when I eventually get robbed. Losing my gear is one thing, but I'll shit on a duck to save that guitar.
 

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