When I moved to Denver from Atlanta back in 2009, I was at a bad spot.

And my mental health just got to a position where I needed to do something expressive.

So I took my guitar and I went down to the Boulder Creek path in Boulder, and I sat under this tree.

I closed my eyes, and I just sat there and plucked on this instrument for like an hour.

And then I opened my eyes and there's just cash.

Ones and fives, I think there was a 10 in there.

It totaled something like 40 or 50 bucks in an hour.

And thought to myself, wait a minute,

if I actually put some energy into it, this could be legitimate.

That's Brett Dallas.

At least that's my stage name.

I mean, the IRS knows me as a different entity.

After that day in 2009, Dallas became a professional street performer.

He has spent the past 16 years playing his guitar in alleyways, plazas, and parks in Denver, and on occasion in other cities around the country.

I feel compelled to bring music to places where people do not expect music to be.

Performing on the street isn't for the faint of heart.

You need to contend with hecklers, security guards, and other performers jockeying for the same spot.

And there's no promise that the time and effort will pay the bills.

For the Freakonomics Radio Network, this is the economics of everyday things.

I'm Zachary Crackett.

Today, street performers.

Walk through a touristy area in any big city on a busy afternoon, and you'll likely encounter at least one street performer.

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