Diary Of A Busker Day 38 Saturday February 5th Winchester High Street (next to Accessorize, Time: 2:55 – 4:55pm).
Some more people coming up to say they enjoyed ‘the article’. Someone who likes it less than others is Rob, the American rock guitarist. I passed him when I came into town, he was busking at the top, opposite WH Smiths. After he finished for the day, he walked by me and said “I saw your article, hey, I’m not American! Just ’cause I play American music, doesn’t mean I’m American!” I reckon that kind of reaction can mean only one thing – he’s Canadian*. Canadians don’t take kindly to being called American.
Frank the accordion player dropped by and mentioned the article – “I didn’t say ‘take a tip from an old PRO’, I said ‘take a tip from an old TIMER!’ Anyway, you’ll be more famous than me, now!” Franks’ been in the local papers several times over the years, from protesting about whatnot to raising money for charity. He thinks I should get the article blown up double size and displayed next to me when I’m busking, but I’m afraid flagrant opportunism just isn’t my style. I don’t know, maybe that’s why I’ve ended up here, busking.
After an hour and a half I feel I am getting on the nerves of the people working in the jewellery shop opposite my pitch, “He’s playing that bloody song (The Third Man) AGAIN!” Maybe I’m paranoid. The two women keep looking at me and not smiling. Or maybe they’re bored. Some of these shops never seem to have any customers. Then a young man appears (manager?) and joins them in looking at me and not smiling. Then one goes away for a minute, and then there are two looking at me. Then one comes back, but doesn’t look at me, so there are still two looking at me…then three… I suddenly remember enquiring about busking in Winchester. In Southampton I needed authorisation. I had to apply eight days before the day I wanted to busk and they had to send me a letter giving me permission to be at a certain place at a certain time. I also had to have authorisation to use ‘limited amplification’. In Winchester you don’t need a license but you are advised to limit the performance time to not more than one hour. It’s an unwritten rule, apparently. I’m wondering if these people in the jewellers know this. In any event, they don’t come out to me (which would have made their day more interesting, I feel), so I carry on.
Earnings: £20.79p.
* I found out later that Rob is English, from Portsmouth – nowhere near Canada…or America.
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