Theyre still scamming people. Even if the violinist doesn’t present themselves as someone in-need, they are tricking people into thinking they are providing a service: live music.

people who do these grifts make money off of it. good money too, because generous strangers give money thinking exactly what you are thinking. Thats why they do it. it makes as much as a job.

Also, hes tricking people into thinking he is providing a free service; playing live music on a very difficult classical instrument. Which he is not. So if they tip for that, they were scammed.

Theyre still scamming people. Even if the violinist doesn’t present themselves as someone in-need, they are tricking people into thinking they are providing a service: live music. Both are scams.

I have thought about it and if this guy gets 10 people to tip him 2 dollars within an hour he's making 20+ dollars an hour tax free

I mean, about as much of a "scam" as holding up a cardboard sign or just saying you're a vet and asking for change. I hardly feel defrauded by it.

This is exactly right. It seems to me that the OP believes that a person asking for money outside a grocery store is only deserving if he deems them worthy. Whether the person can actually play the violin or not, it’s not exactly the most glamorous or lucrative lifestyle to stand outside asking strangers for money. Telling them they are unworthy of a small sum because they lack talent in your opinion is pretty tone deaf (pun intended).

How do you know he is not in need? Does the fact that he can or cannot play the violin have any correlation with his financial situation? The way I see it, someone would have to be pretty hard up to choose to rely on the generosity of strangers by standing outside a grocery store whether they can actually play an instrument or not.

How do you know how much he is making? Do you have some sort of insight?

Raking in the cash? How much do you honestly think he could possibly make standing outside a grocery store?

The description of the violin mime is way different from those people who misuse their kids to get money from people at stop lights.

It's a show provided by a pan handler asking for money. I don't really see how it's anymore of a scam than people who buy tickets to watch artists lip sync at a concert.

I get that it may be an insult to your skillset, but it's really punching down to be calling out a guy trying to get creative while he begs for money in a parking

I may have been over expressive

But I honesty and genuinely ask you to explain why I’m the problem?

The littering is out of control

This isn’t baltimore

I love baltimore but fuck baltimore

You are the problem.

Nothing subtle about it but I was way too broad brush as well

Renters of 1400 sq foot apartment vs owner 1400 sq foot town house 100 yards away

Canabalism more than capitalism as were both in the same damn class unfortunately

you can care about multiple things. Personally, i care that they are taking advantage of people wanting to support someone in need. They are lying and scamming. But i guess your cool with that because they have a speaker that plays stock violin music lol. They aren’t doing it to entertain people, are you daft.

Democratically elected home owners association doesn’t have the same ring to it.

There are UFOs being shot out of the sky, I honestly could care less about a guy entertaining people by pretending to play a violin. Someone definitely ought to play a little violin just for you.

I live in a six-unit condo and we have two "owners" who only rent out to Section 8 tenants. They've made our lives a living hell and I really wish I would've rethought buying here. The latest ones only moved in this December and since then we've had: trash and half-eaten food thrown in the stairwells, music loud enough to shake the entire building, laundry left in machines over the weekend, and blunt/weed smells coursing through our vents. Call and complaints to our HOA fall on deaf ears, so we're just forced to endure it until they get evicted.

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Yep, I dropped a buck in his collection. Liked the music anyway.

its a scam. He is taking advantage of people who donate thinking he is a poor talented musician who needs money, thats why he is pretending to play the violin. I am telling you, he has no idea how to play the violin. what he is doing is no different than the supermarket playing music over the speaker, its not entertaining. Unless you’re entertained by a speaker playing music…

grifters at stop signs and red lights often use kids. His grift is extremely common, but your right its not stealing, but its scamming, they are taking advantage of people who think they are supporting a talented underprivileged musician.

Whether it’s real or not, it’s still entertainment. Not exactly a scam. It would be a scam if he were saying he were raising money for a fake cause. That said, would I tip? No, but I also never tipped him when I assumed he was really playing the violin.

Also, can’t help but to notice “The Music Man” type twist in this story. Dude turned out not to be a real music professor, but he made everyone in the community happy so they decided not to tar and feather him. Or at least that’s how I remember it…been a while since I last watched it.

I’ll just leave everyone here with this…

“You got trouble, folks. Right here in River City. Trouble with a capital "T" And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool!”

I haven't seen him with kids or babies, did he steal from you? I just give him the money. I don't feel like I have to or threatened.

Oh this guy. Def fake and his sound system shakes everything. Definitely a pro at this and raking in the cash. I also see the same people around the area when he's around with nearly professional made signs, and several other details.