I had to figure out how to mount it on the bucket, used some self-adhesive cellphone hangers.
I'd be happy to share the firmware if anyone gets one, can easily customize it. Along with the tip detect mode, it can also scroll messages, I have mine setup with 100 bad musician jokes, pub website addresses, Guinness ads, all that sort of thing.
Installation of the firmware is very simple, Freescale setup the board so that when you plug it into a USB port, it shows up as a disk drive, you just drag and drop the firmware binary on the drive and it re-programs the flash ROM on the card.
Michael, that's a hoot! But seems like it would encourage coinage over paper money, no? Even if a bill registers.
I was playing at our local pub last Tuesday with silver bow and two other folks, and some guy listened to silver bow's first set of the night on button box and then dropped us a $60 USD tip! No bucket or scrolling screen needed. We were flabbergasted (and promptly bought whiskey).
Yeah, I can see the punters exchanging bills for coins with the barmaid, and then this little 'tink!" sound every five seconds followed by laughing while you're trying to play a set.
"It's amazing what you can do when you embed a MCF51JM128 ColdFire® USB MCU, a MMA7260QT 3-axis accelerometer, a MC34673Li-ion battery charger IC, a MPR084 capacitive touch sensor along with an LED screen into an event ID badge."
So much for the argument around remuneration/performance...
Should we condemn ourselves to "buskerdom" or simply face the idea that what we can do might be worth something to somebody?
I know it's a can of worms here, but this kind of defeats the whole argument in one strike.
I'm not exactly what you'd call a capitalist (indeed I'm on the other side of things), but come on...
Don't get me wrong, I've gone busking too, and I don't regret it, but isn't this pushing it a bit? This gizmo reminds me of the gipsy-held ability-testing trailer stands we see at votive village parties in France.
Yeah, its pretty crass... But I can tell you it works. Tips from the first two sessions where I used the bucket were up 200% from the average, and that was just with a rolling message that greeted people in the pub. It just reminds people that its kind to tip.
Also depends on what you use your tips for. We usually keep ours as a collective kitty and then use the funds to help buy instruments for our session mates, or pay their way to workshops and concerts, or to defray travel expenses when we drive to a charity gig, etc. We've also donated money to support live music and other good causes in our community.
Pimp your tip bucket...
Pimp your tip bucket...
Fun with embedded processors...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eskin/3277230890/
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by Michael Eskin
Re: Pimp your tip bucket...
Great idea! Maybe fewer things will be thrown at US!
# Posted on February 13th 2009 by feardearg
Re: Pimp your tip bucket...
I want one! Next best thing to a money-collecting monkey.
Although I wouldn't use it for street busking--more likely to lose that to some street urchin, than my meager tips.
# Posted on February 14th 2009 by tuckered out
Re: Pimp your tip bucket...
A few people have asked about the board. Its a Freescale sensor development EVK.
They were giving the boards away at a Microsoft conference, and included a CD with the software tools to develop code for it.
They sell them for $30.00 from:
http://www.canyourbadgedothis.com
I had to figure out how to mount it on the bucket, used some self-adhesive cellphone hangers.
I'd be happy to share the firmware if anyone gets one, can easily customize it. Along with the tip detect mode, it can also scroll messages, I have mine setup with 100 bad musician jokes, pub website addresses, Guinness ads, all that sort of thing.
Installation of the firmware is very simple, Freescale setup the board so that when you plug it into a USB port, it shows up as a disk drive, you just drag and drop the firmware binary on the drive and it re-programs the flash ROM on the card.
Cheers,
Michael
# Posted on February 14th 2009 by Michael Eskin
Re: Pimp your tip bucket...
Michael, that's a hoot! But seems like it would encourage coinage over paper money, no? Even if a bill registers.
I was playing at our local pub last Tuesday with silver bow and two other folks, and some guy listened to silver bow's first set of the night on button box and then dropped us a $60 USD tip! No bucket or scrolling screen needed. We were flabbergasted (and promptly bought whiskey).
# Posted on February 14th 2009 by Miss Lonelyhearts
Re: Pimp your tip bucket...
HA! Score Will!
Yeah, I can see the punters exchanging bills for coins with the barmaid, and then this little 'tink!" sound every five seconds followed by laughing while you're trying to play a set.
# Posted on February 14th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Pimp your tip bucket...
Cool. You'll be rich!
# Posted on February 14th 2009 by Gzeg
Re: Pimp your tip bucket...
LOL, you take the (temporary) title of "SESSION ALPHA GEEK" for the time being, Michael!
# Posted on February 14th 2009 by Reverend
Re: Pimp your tip bucket...
"It's amazing what you can do when you embed a MCF51JM128 ColdFire® USB MCU, a MMA7260QT 3-axis accelerometer, a MC34673Li-ion battery charger IC, a MPR084 capacitive touch sensor along with an LED screen into an event ID badge."
Darn! - if only I'd thought of that...
Nice app, Michael !
# Posted on February 15th 2009 by Rick Payman
Re: Pimp your tip bucket...
So much for the argument around remuneration/performance...
Should we condemn ourselves to "buskerdom" or simply face the idea that what we can do might be worth something to somebody?
I know it's a can of worms here, but this kind of defeats the whole argument in one strike.
I'm not exactly what you'd call a capitalist (indeed I'm on the other side of things), but come on...
Don't get me wrong, I've gone busking too, and I don't regret it, but isn't this pushing it a bit? This gizmo reminds me of the gipsy-held ability-testing trailer stands we see at votive village parties in France.
# Posted on February 15th 2009 by Fanning
Re: Pimp your tip bucket...
Yeah, its pretty crass...
But I can tell you it works. Tips from the first two sessions where I used the bucket were up 200% from the average, and that was just with a rolling message that greeted people in the pub. It just reminds people that its kind to tip.
# Posted on February 15th 2009 by Michael Eskin
Re: Pimp your tip bucket...
Also depends on what you use your tips for. We usually keep ours as a collective kitty and then use the funds to help buy instruments for our session mates, or pay their way to workshops and concerts, or to defray travel expenses when we drive to a charity gig, etc. We've also donated money to support live music and other good causes in our community.
# Posted on February 15th 2009 by Miss Lonelyhearts
Re: Pimp your tip bucket...
I use any tips for drink
# Posted on February 16th 2009 by gedpipes