There are lots of street corner and subway OMBs in this country, and from what I can see, none seem to make enough to cover their transportation costs to and from the place they're playing.
Gary
Gary ... Don't kid yourself ... a good number of these people make quite a bit of money doing this ... and it's all cash ! ... there are places in NY where the entertainers vie for the spot, because it is so lucrative ... plus, we don't know what some of these players are doing at other times ... some are playing for shows, in concert orchestras, doing studio work, etc. and use the 'street' to hone their craft ...
http://web.mta.info/mta/aft/muny/