#7 How people make money at Central Park, NYC

The Central Park in New York City (NYC) is the most visited park in the world, with more than 37 million visitors each year. It is also the third most visited tourist attraction globally after Las Vegas Strip (Nevada, USA) and Times Square, also in NYC. When there are tourists, there is money. Here are the different ways ordinary people take advantage of the crowd to make money in this famous tourist destination using creativity and enticement.

1. The crowd-pleaser. A group of friends perform and amuse the audience through their comedies and interactions. Probably the most crowd-drawer, they ask for donations from the people and announce the amount they give.

 2. The food vendor. They sell almost everything from different foods to drinks and desserts! The one in the picture is located near the crowd. You can also find food truck vendors right outside the park, usually at the entrances and exits.

 3. The horse-carriage driver. With reservations, you can ride this well-decorated horse and carriage for around $150 for 50-55 minutes. A walk-up charge is approximately $60 for 20 minutes and about $20 for every ten minutes after that, plus the tip. The fees are negotiable either online or walk-up. In addition, they can arrange for a private carriage tour, marriage proposal, and other special occasions.

4. The bubble-maker. By using store-bought liquid soap, a bucket of water, long sticks, and ropes, the man creates giant bubbles for the amusement of children and young at heart. Children pull their parents just to allow them to play with the bubbles. In exchange for fun and laughter the bubbles bring to their little ones, many parents are persuaded to drop money into the turquoise bucket as a donation or tip. I saw this enticing act at the Bethesda Terrace and The Mall.

 

5. The musicians. They play different genres such as classical, jazz, pop, rock in roll, and others. They perform either as a solo or as an ensemble. They do make good live music! Some of them also sell their recordings in CD form. Oh, and by the way, just in case you have no cash, you can donate via Pay Pal, Venmo, or a link using their QR codes. 

 6. The biker. If horse carriage ride is too expensive, you can ride the bike for a cheaper fee. Going through the same route as the horse carriage ride, you also pay by the minute. I asked one of the bikers how much he charges, he said $40 for a 30-minute ride, but he was open for haggling.

7. You also have the souvenir vendor at The Mall, selling drawings, paintings, and prints on canvasses. Other keepsakes they sell include NYC magnets, shirts, wood carvings, etceteras. Finally, you have the guy who draws your portrait either in a black and white or colored version.