The musicians on the #1 train were all business. Four well-dressed gentlemen, each with his own instrument, stood in my car near the closing doors. They waited politely until everyone found a seat at the 50th Street Station. They played one very lively and tuneful song that lasted exactly as long as the ride to 59th Street.

And then, with respect and a smile, the guitarist doffed his hat and held it out for contributions.

Let’s review:

• These guys knew their market.
• Their timing was measured and precise.
• They were dressed for the occasion.
• They performed flawlessly.
• They followed it up with a call to action–the passed hat for contributions.
• They exited at 66th Street, presumably for the next opportunity (and, perhaps, before any law enforcement officials might get wind of their activity).

I didn’t see how much was collected, but my hunch was that for 5 minutes worth of effort, they did pretty well.