Diary Of A Busker Day 154 Friday September 9th Winchester High Street (1. opposite Reflex, Time: 3:00-3:10pm, 2. opposite The Body Shop, Time: 3:15-6:30pm).
I’ve only been playing for a minute when a big white lorry (or truck, as they say Stateside) parks across the road. It’s a delivery van (truck) for some shop somewhere around here. The problem is the driver has to leave the engine on – to operate the hydraulics for the rear loading platform, and I can barely hear myself play. I get through La Vie En Rose and get more and more annoyed but this guy’s only doing his job. I don’t know how long he’s going to be here and I’m not going to ask – I’m getting out of here – it really is loud.
…five minutes later (after a super quick set-up), I’m up the road, in the narrow pedestrian part of the High Street and it’s better straight away. My 64 year old regular, Colin donates a £2 coin and at the same time two students donate a total of 47 pence. A charming moment – a man with his year old daughter stop in front of me, she’s in a buggy, of course. She stares at me – expressionless, as I finish a song. The dad asks me if I know Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – it’s her favourite song. No, I don’t, but hold on, this can’t be too difficult! Surely I can “busk” it, why – it’s part of my job! I attempt the melody and, embarrasingly – do a few wrong notes…but after a bit, I get it. I start again and just after the halfway mark, the “like a diamond in the sky” bit, finally recognising it, she smiles at me. My work here is done.
Earnings: £38.28p.