Diary Of A Busker Day 50 Monday February 28th Winchester High Street opposite WH Smiths, Time: 11:50-1:10pm.
Weather-wise, the past week had been mild, however it’s all back to normal now – In other words, cold temperature, cold wind and breaks from playing every twenty minutes to warm my poor cold hands in my coldpockets. Just after I started, Alfie – the keyboard busker, comes up for a chat. Maybe we can get together and play, he says. He tells me there is a Pink Floyd ‘tribute’ group playing on Friday somewhere near the statue of his grandfather – King Alfred! I say to Alfie that I like the Syd Barrett era best. I notice he’s wearing matching navy blue jacket and trousers – a suit even, attire I’ve never seen him in before. A bit later, a woman thinks I’m too good to be playing out here. I don’t know about that. I’m definately too cold to be playing out here, though. I know that! “Can you not play in any other places?”, she asks. “I’m trying but I’m not very good at self promotion.”
It starts to rain and NO ONE feels generous in the rain, apart from the lady I met on my ‘debut’ in Southampton, so I rig down. When I leave, I walk past the bakery and see a man who gave me a pound earlier. He’s sheltering from the rain and munching on a pasty. “It’s not often you hear The Third Man” he says, clearly not familiar with my reputation and/or repertoire. “It’s not often you hear me play anything else!” I say.
Earnings: £14.00