INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.
Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, welcomed Benjamin “BENCASSO” Barnes to provide another commentary in a series.
The Benjamin “BENCASSO” Barnes Commentaries
ARTISTPRENEUR ECONOMIC isn’t just another artist guide—it’s a real, raw survival manual. In Chapter 1, Bencasso pulls zero punches, recounting his reckless cash-only gig life that ended in collapse. He then delivers priceless wisdom: get legit or risk losing everything. Through hilarious, brutal honesty and relatable anecdotes, the book shows how structure— business licenses, taxes, credit—opens doors to stability, grants, and creative freedom. Whether you’re a garage bander, street performer, or aspiring mogul, Bencasso’s lessons make it clear: freedom comes from structure, not from hiding in the underground. This is artistpreneur truthtelling at its finest.
Chapter 1: From Cash Gigging to Legit Income – Why Going Legit Matters If I could go back in
time and tell 1990s me one thing, it wouldn’t be “buy Apple stock” (though, let’s be honest, that would have helped). It would be “GET LEGIT.” I spent years hustling off-the-books, making cash under the table, avoiding taxes like they were a contagious disease, and convincing myself that I was “free.” Free from paperwork, free from The System™, free from…well, a future, apparently. Then, my manic breakdown happened. I lost everything. My business dreams? Gone. My credit score? Destroyed. My self-esteem? Lower than my bank balance (which was in the negatives, by the way). I had to rebuild—new instruments, new friends, new confidence. And guess what? I had to do it the right way this time. I want to save you from that nightmare. Going legit might sound boring, but it will save your career and unlock doors you don’t even know exist yet. The
Pros and Cons of Working Off-the-Grid Pros of Staying Off-the-
Grid: ✅ Cash in Hand – No waiting for invoices, no taxes upfront, and sometimes, free drinks at gigs if you charm the bartender right. ✅ No Paperwork – You don’t have to track expenses, file reports, or do annoying admin work. ✅ Flexibility – No contracts? No problem.
You’re a free agent, baby! Cons of Staying Off-the-Grid: ❌ No Financial History = No
Future Loans, Grants, or Investments – No one is giving you a business loan or grant if you can’t prove you make money. ❌ Zero Protection – Someone refuses to pay you? Good luck taking them to court. ❌ The IRS Can (And Will) Catch You – If you think you’re too small to get audited, think again. Page of 7 92 I know because I did it. I survived off busking, cash gigs, underground performances, and selling art out of my backpack. It worked… until it didn’t.
The Risks of Undocumented Income (Audits, Loss of
Opportunities) Here’s the thing: cash gigs are great until they aren’t. If you’re working entirely under the table, here’s what you’re missing out on: • You can’t apply for grants or artist residencies. (Because you have no paper trail.) • You can’t get a business loan. (Banks like numbers. No numbers? No loan.) • You have no legal recourse. (That jerk club owner who “forgot” to pay you? Yeah, you’re never seeing that money.) • The IRS will eventually catch up. (Ever had the government show up and say, “Hey, we noticed you haven’t paid us in five years. We’d like our cut now, with penalties and interest.”? I have. It’s not fun.) You’re not “beating the system.” You’re just locking yourself out of opportunities that could change your life.
Benjamin Barnes, aka Bencasso, is a genre-hopping artistpreneur, blending music, painting, and education. A classically trained violinist and rock band veteran, he’s survived mental illness and poverty, transforming into a respected author, teacher, and nonprofit leader. Founder of Bencasso LLC and Culture Scholar Corporation, Benjamin produces over 1,200 music releases, runs multiple YouTube channels, and hosts the Coaches Corner on the nationally syndicated Price of Business radio show. His work empowers artists to turn passion into sustainable livelihoods.
Social Media
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/benjamindavidbarnes
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