Diary Of A Busker Day 27 Saturday January 15th Greenwich Market London. Time: 1:30 – 6:45pm.
A long day – the longest yet, and in a new location. I had arranged to visit my old mate Gary* at his flat in Greenwich, south London, so he could record me playing a selection of busking favourites for a promotional cd to send around in an effort to get some decent work. This was in the morning. Afterwards, he had arranged for me to do a spot of busking in the covered market nearby, so I could make my train fare back, with any luck. I was grateful to him for arranging for permission, and clearing it with the relevant authorities, because, in London, you need at least two signed medical forms, and permission from the council if you want to stand in a spot on the pavement no bigger than 4″ x 4″ for more than 1 second.
“You’ll make your train fare back easily, King”**. I set up in between the market stalls and the Coach and Horses public house. A rather confined spot, as it was right in a narrow thoroughfare, and the head of my guitar kept getting in the way of people. However, I made the train fare back in just over an hour, and it wasn’t cold and windy, for once. While I was playing, Gary and Loren Scott*** were in the outside seating area of the pub, busy keeping an eye on me and sampling the local beverage. “Why don’t you move over here, just in front of the pub – see how it goes, King, you might make more. You can always move back.” So, five minutes later, I’m doing it all again, twenty feet from where I was. I wasn’t sure about this – the takings weren’t quite as much as the other place. I spoke to Gary of my concern. “Don’t worry, King, we’ll go ’round with the hat” – ‘We’ being Gary, Loren and Julia – a lady in her 50s and a friend of Garys’s who was dancing around and enjoying the refreshments, somewhat liberally.
So, here I was for the next hour…and the next hour…and the next hour and finally, the next hour. Halfway through the proceedings, the trio – Gary, Loren and Julia were joined by Gordon The Hairdresser and The Kwaff****. The hat got passed around and the takings doubled. It was a good idea. Mind, if a 6’3″, hoodie-wearing hulk in an advanced state of inebriation came up to ME holding out a hat and more or less demanding I put something in it, I think I would give generously. I wouldn’t say ‘no’. Definately not. Sometimes I need someone like that. Hm…yes – for those of us who are somewhat backward in coming forward, we are eternally grateful for those who are NEVER backward in coming forward. It is these people we meeker ones depend on for our survival.
After five hours of hearing my own playing, I’d had enough. Gary had been carrying out hourly spot checks on the hat and announced/predicted well before the end “There’s at least a ton in here. I told you I’d get you a ton, King!” And he did. Afterwards, we relaxed, or rather, I began to relax, while Gary and Friends continued relaxing in the time-honoured English fashion. Gordon The Hairdresser bought me a fine measure of Cognac and I lit up a Jose L. Piedra cigar, sent to me by my brother in Toronto.
I was really grateful to Gary, without whom… and Loren, for her inimitable presence, and also Julia, for helping with the collection and purchasing for me a bottle of Bellefontaine Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 – ‘with rich, herbaceous fruit flavours and a round structured finish’, which kept me company on my train journey back to Winchester. A memorable and profitable day…for once.
Earnings: £106.76p.
Expenses: £21.20p.
* Gary Brady – talented musician, producer – film and music, animator, raconteur, experienced traveller, diarist and professional scouser.
** King – King of freaks. Origin unknown.
*** Local musician, artist and animator.
**** or Kwaff – Geoff Glen – an old friend who has more knowledge and appreciation of 1960s/1970s music and fashion than just about anyone else. Kwaff – a reference to his hairstyle – corruption of quiff.