Diary Of A Busker Day 72 Friday April 2nd Winchester High Street (corner of Marks And Spencer, Time: 3-5:45pm.)
A ‘social’ day, in that I had more than the usual number of people coming up to talk – quite often about my guitar, which is still very shiny and well kept, and asking how I am. First up is Bertie the flowerman. He wants to know if my new ‘hat’ – my Halloween pumpkin bucket – is proving effective in collecting more money than my grey beret. I’d like to think it is but I’m not sure yet. It’s certainly more eye catching than the beret – an orange bucket on a grey pavement stands out more than a grey hat on a grey pavement. Bertie reckons I need to move it out a bit more – another four inches, as I’m still craddling it, somewhat. He puts a couple of pounds in it. I say “Hey, YOU don’t have to give me anything. I’ll play your favourite for that” and begin The Third Man. “No, my favourite’s Ennio Morricone, isn’t it?” He’s right – I’ll play that next, I say.
A couple of foreign students stand in front of me – “Play” one says/asks/demands! “Sorry?” He says it again – “Play!” I forgive him his brusque-ness as he’s taken the effort to use the native toungue and play a shortened Mr. Sandman. “Do you know this?” I ask as I’m playing. One of them nods his head. Well, I play…but they don’t pay – they just walk away.
A middle aged blonde lady says or rather laughs – “You’ve really brightened my day!” as she heads for the shop door. I’ve noticed this complimentary remark is used almost exclusively by ladies aged fifty-five and over. An old man comes up and bends down real close on my right. He wants to know all about my guitar and how I’ve ended up here. I tell him all about my guitar and throw in my ‘hard luck story’ – at no extra charge. “And do you give lessons?” “Yes, I do” – if I ever get the chance. I’ve given several people my card but not heard from anyone yet although I realise people are forgetfull… “Well, I’d like to take one of your cards, if I may. I live over there (points down to the statue)…in one of the St. Johns alm houses.” I even have a visit from Mr. Napier – Chief reporter for the Hampshire Chronicle and the man responsible for publishing extracts from my diary way back in February. I last saw Mr. Napier clutching his newly bought dvd of The Third Man. He tells me he’s had a lot of people contact the paper to say how much they liked the article. Wow! What about a follow up, I ask. Ha Ha! – I’m like Alan Partridge at his meeting with Tony Hayers, the commissioning editor of the BBC – “What about a second series? Have I got a second series?!” “…maybe sometime in the future – “You never know where this type of thing will lead”, says Mr. N, Chief reporter for The Hampshire Chronicle. Speaking of The Third Man, I become bored during one of the day’s renditions and decide to vary it by playing it at different speeds, changing quickly and putting an introduction I’ve seen a brilliant Korean kid do on youtube – much like the original Zither arrangement by Anton Karas. I am slowly learning this alternate and quite difficult version in the hope of adding it to the set, so I will then have TWO versions to unleash on the innocent pedestrians of this fair cathedral town.
…near the end, my guitar chum, Ragtime Phillip, turns up while I’m playing my samba number – Deve Ser Amor. “It’s incredibly CHEESY, isn’t it?” he says. It sure is – cheesy (especially when I play it) and catchy, but he likes it. Do I have the music? I do – here. He can have it. He takes it away to photocopy it and returns a bit later. He wants to learn it – I hope he does. No repertoire is complete without a certain amount of cheese.
Earnings: £27.57p
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