Diary Of A Busker Day 75 Wednesday April 6th Winchester High Street (opposite Marks And Spencer, Time: 1:08-2:15pm.)
These days I never usually busk for under an hour and a half. I often think of the days, not too long ago, when the longest ‘cabaret’ gig would never be longer – AND I’d be taking home a couple of hundred quid – sometimes more, at the end of the night.
I keep forgetting that Wednesday is Market Day here in this fine town, which means it’s busier – with buskers as well as shoppers. The market stalls are too close to the bit where I usually set up so I’m on the opposite side of the street, near the flower stall. Bertie the flowerman nods to me and I hold up my Halloween bucket so he can see I’m still taking his advice. I get a few donations, including Bertie. Twice he comes over in the space of a few minutes, nodding approvingly. But then…nothing. Two young women stop in front of me, one fiddles with her purse then comes up to me. “Hello, where are you from?” I ask her as they look foreign – very dark, almost black hair, olive complexions. “Jordan” she says. “Are you just visiting Winchester?” I ask stupidly – of course they are, they’re from Jordan! They ignore my (stupid) question. One holds up her camera – she wants to take a photo of her friend with me…
An old man comes up. He has a hearing aid like me. I remember him from awhile back when I was here last. He’s very cheerful. “How have you been?” he asks. “Oh, fine, yeah, I’m OK today, I’ve just been…” he interupts – “I collapsed in London. Heart trouble. Make the most of it – live while you can!” Well, I’m trying to make the most of it right now but it’s not going well – and the fruit and veg guy is getting on my nerves – all he seems to shout is “REVERB! REVERB!! THREE FOR A POUND! Surely he’s not selling reverb three for a pound – they can get it from me – for free. I try and work out what fruit or vegetable sounds like “REVERB!” Strawberrys? Lettuce? Apples? Carrots? Pomegranate?…eggplant? I give up – and pack up and I’m starting to doubt Berties’ words of wisdom concerning the world of busking. Is my orange bucket working? – I’ve just got £4.21p for over an hour. Oh well, I’m going to carry on using it. Who knows – I might have got even less without it. Anyway, as the song goes, I’ve become accustomed to it’s face…
Earnings: £4.21p