Diary Of A Busker Day 533

Diary Of A Busker Day 533 Monday March 31st 2014 Winchester (1. Opposite Vodafone, Time: 2:27-2:45pm, 2. Opposite Pavillion, Time: 2:49-3:12pm).

Mandolin John’s at The Butter Cross, shouting and strumming away. I’m going to have to stop calling him that – it’s the guitar all the time, now…no, sod it, I’m going to keep calling him Mandolin John. It’s pretty dead around the corner. Even Legless Brian outside The Eclipse says ‘Very quiet, today’.

At Vodafone, I wait for a bloke to finish his cigarette and go back to where he works a few doors up, before I set up…and I’m there at just the right time to witness a somewhat traumatic moment. A mother who’s lost her child is reunited with him. He’s about 6. They meet up – she’s coming from the direction of The Butter Cross, he’s coming from the other one. She’s hugging him and she’s hysterical, saying ‘I thought I’d lost you – where did you go? Where did you go?’ – she keeps saying it, and ‘Don’t do that ever again – do you promise me?’ She’s really relieved, but then she starts getting angry – ‘Promise me you’ll never, never, never, ever, EVER do that again – PROMISE ME!’, really raising her voice. I was getting traumatic, just listening. The kid didn’t seem to say much – I only ever heard HER. They went, then walked by 10 minutes later just like anyone else – you wouldn’t have known what had just happened.

After that bit of drama, a bit more drama played out in my head. The reason? I was ignored by everyone. In fact, I could take not even 20 minutes, for which I got two donations amounting to £1.30p, and that was it. I got the terrible depression and there was nothing I could do about it. It came on pretty quick – after the first song, and that was it, I had to get away. Something wrong somewhere – it’s getting more and more unbearable to play and be ignored. In fact, I’m starting to get a fear of playing in the High Street. Get a grip, get a GRIP!

Anyway, less than 5 minutes later I’m playing up the road, off the High Street. I can’t be too long, though – I’ve got Tom’s lesson at 3:50. So, two songs in…and it starts again – the depression!…but then I’m saved. After The Third Man, an elderly couple – well, late 60s – come up, ask about the CDs and, PRAISE THE LORD! – THEY BUY A £9 ONE!! I can’t believe it, it’s saved my life! That’s what it feels like, anyway. The sense of relief is ridiculous – it’a almost embarrassing…EMBARRASSING! And what’s more, while the man was paying me, his wife put a pound coin in the bucket, so out of the total amount of £12.80p, they contributed £8.50 (minus £1.50 – cost of the CD manufacture). They were my day’s saviours! I came out for THEM and no one else. How crazy. So, The Third Man – Song Of The Day, something it hasn’t been for awhile.

Earnings: £12.80p (Including 1 CD)

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