Diary Of A Busker Day 67 Thursday March 24th Winchester High Street (1. corner of Marks And Spencer, Time: 2:20-3:45pm, 2. opposite WH Smiths, Time: 3:50-5:42pm.)
The weather was fine today, though not much else was. I played for an hour and a half and took only £3.70 and I’m immediately transported back to October last year when I started busking in Southampton – the money was so bad – mainly 1p, 2p coins – I was barely making my train fair back some days. I’d really hit rock bottom. It’s days like this when it gets the most depressing. My mind wanders. I’m embarrassed to be here – ignored by pretty much everyone – thousands. And I’m angry that somewhere down the line something has gone seriously wrong for me to end up here – that I haven’t advanced or pushed myself in the right way and the end result of forty-eight years is sitting on a street corner playing for some pennies. I leave in disgust. I’m angry at the people for ignoring me, but I’m more angry with myself. I move up the road – maybe it’s better somewhere else. Near the end of the session I notice a young man – about twenty, sitting on the bench opposite me. He’s wearing a black track suit, has short, light coloured hair and is smoking. He leans forward with his elbows on his legs and is looking at me in a hostile way, which makes me nervous so I keep my head down. I look back up a minute later and he’s still glaring at me the same way. I look down again, look up another minute later as he flicks his cigarette butt towards me, it lands a couple of feet in front of me and he’s looking at me as he does it. What’s all this about? All I’m doing is making everyone’s day just that tiny bit brighter through my popular rendition of The Third Man Theme. What’s this guy got against me? I decide I’ve had enough and start packing up. As I’m doing this, this guy wanders over and sort of hangs around near the entrance to Boots, just behind and to the right of me. He’s shuffling around with his hands in his pockets, looking down. There’s no one else about and I feel a bit vulnerable. However, just then a man comes up to me and starts talking about guitar lessons. I feel safer straight away and this other guy wanders off. No, I didn’t like that at all.
Earnings: £32.43p