Diary Of A Busker Day 6 Saturday November 6th Southampton City Centre Pitch B Time: 11:50 – 3:10pm.
I was booked to play on Pitch A which is an exposed position in front of the clock tower and in the middle of the pedestrian pavement. So, after exchanging greetings with the two jovial flower sellers (they’d certainly been on the ‘pop’, I could smell it) nearby: “Do you play real guitar, are you good?” “I’m better than some, not as good as some others”, I decided to return to Pitch B, where I’d been last week. While setting up, I was approached by a man, late 60s, who started talking about old music and recalled how he’d seen Count Basie’s band with Ella Fitzgerald singing, at Carthage in 1967. He didn’t have to pay as he was involved with the company putting on the show. Then, some other guy came up asking me about my little Roland Cube amp and advice on what equipment to buy…20 minutes later, the playing got off to a slow start, as did my collection, about 40 minutes on I finally get my first coin – a 50p piece in the gig bag, hmm…the gig bag is too big, I’ll have to get a hat.
Had the usual twonkers and their usual tricks, like the 12 – 14 year olds pretending to throw money, when, in fact their hands are empty. They like that one.
After an hour there’s a voice beside me – “Hey, let’s take his money!” (what? – all of my 87p?). I look to my right and see a young guy wearing a Big Issue jacket. Then, switching his tiny attention to the vibrato bar on my guitar – “What’s that for?” “Can you not talk to me – I can’t talk and play at the same time.” He kept on at me, “Like I said, can you NOT TALK TO ME, I’M TRYING TO PLAY.” “What you mean, can’t you do them both, aren’t you ambi – uh – dexterous?”
Money-wise, I thought I’d take a bit more on a Saturday, as there were thousands of people about. However, it seems thousands of people had other ideas.
Earnings: £12.27p
Expenses: £5.50p – train fare.