YEAH playing cello in a restaurant/cafe/cofffe house B****!!!?

So I lost my job today and it being summer and a horrible economy there are not many jobs available. However while I was looking for a new job I remembered something my friend told me. He is a cellist and so am I, and he told me that there are a lot of small cafes in Albuquerque, NM that will hire a cellist to play for a couple hours, he also says he earns quite a bit from tips as well. Both of us don't suck we are pretty good. I was wondering if it is possible to play at places like these instead of having a job (and of course it won't be steady pay and there are TONS of little places like this where I live). And I am a senior in high school so I don't have to pay for anything but gas, that's it. If I were to do that what sort of songs are best to play? If I could hear from any one who has done something like this before, who could give me advice or let me know if they were successful, please do!