Chicago street sign guys (& gals)

I was in Chicago today - but it could've been anywhere. Do you ever pay any attention to those guys standing by the side of the road with some kinda sign pushing whatever? I don't really give them too much attention when driving my car, but I gotta front row seat at 3 different intersections of varying versions of the street sign folks while out for a quick bike ride.

First guy was very entertaining - dancing, prancing, had a sign he'd twist, twirl, flip, make go through his legs, behind his back; all the while seemingly enjoying his antics (smiling, waving). Even after he dropped his card, the show continued. He looked at it like it betrayed him ("how come you just laying there?"), he stomped on it ("take that"), he put his hands on his waste ('WELL"), and then he picked it up and his routine continued. This all happened while waiting for my light to change 30-40 seconds max. The problem was with all his enthusiasm it was very difficult to see exactly what he was advertising - $5 pizza - but I couldn't understand where? And it wasn't obvious looking around either.

Next guy was on the total opposite spectrum of enthusiasm. He slouched, barely moved, had a bad expression on his face, with a cigarette dangling from his lips - holding a signing in the shape of an arrow pointing across the street that read "1/2 OFF SALE" in big letters and the words "Salvation Army" in small letters. No twirling, dancing or waving from this guy; and his arrow wasn't even pointing at the Salvation Army store, which was behind him. It also begs the question - the Salvation Army (like the Goodwill & others) gets its items donated to them, they have little investment in the items their selling (beyond possibly some cosmetic repair) - why would they price anything so high that it didn't sell that they then have to hold a 1/2 price sale?

The last intersection I witnessed was a couple of bouncy young ladies (high school-ish age or younger?) all eager to wash cars; or in my case my clown bike. Now I thought the first guy had energy, but these girls put him to shame. Not only did they have the dancing & twirling thing going, they had music and verbal brashness to entice customers into their sudsy lair.

The girls were only doing this once a year (maybe once a lifetime) - fundraising effort of some kind; while the guys were most likely at it full time. If the girls wear out, they have replacements they can call over. The guys had no reinforcements.

I realize how little I know of the insides & secrets to the street corner card twirling advertising profession - if it's a different gig every day, new signs, new corners, or if it's the same ol day in - day out? What kinda perks & benefits do they get for standing there in all kinds of weather, with exhaust permeating your existence all day? Does OSHA get involved here? How's in depth is the interview process for that job? Would they hire the handicapped? What are the limits on your roaming? Do you get any breaks? Can you bring a chair? Do you get a shoe allowance? How many corner card twirling guys can one street corner handle? Is it like panhandling - first come first served? Are there municipal codes that need to be followed (permits, sign size, etc.)? So many unanswered questions.

I know one thing - probably the first thing that they're told in street corner twirling school is to get the hell outta Dodge in case there's an accident in the intersection - that distracted driver is sure going to point to sign twirler guy as the root cause. Really $5 pizza - where??? Smashhhhh.