Diary Of A Busker Day 169 Monday October 17th Winchester High Street (1. opposite Phase Eight, Time: 1:15-2:35pm, 2. opposite Vodafone, Time: 3:12-5:05pm).
I reckon this so-called Indian Summer is drawing to a close: the sky’s grey and “threatening” rain, as they say. My always-dapper, always well-spoken and always complimentary regular – Ian, comes out from the shadows after a song. I always know if someone’s listening near me – there’ll suddenly be, out the corner of my eye, a large shape which doesn’t move. “Now, what are you going to play for me?” “I’ll do a new one, Ian”, and go into Can’t Help Falling In Love. At the end, instead of the usual gushing compliment – which I’ve come to expect from him – he puts his hand to his chin and after a few seconds, says he thinks the sound is “more cutting than it usually is. Is it that thing that you’ve got on your guitar?” “What, the capo? It just raises the key, it doesn’t change the sound – my sound’s always exactly the same. I put it on the second fret – so it’s in the same key as Elvis’.” “Hm…it just sounds… (stroking his chin more), not as mellow, as plangent, as it it usually does.” I’m in shock. If I’m having a bad day, I know I can always rely on Ian to boost my confidence with one of his (sometimes embarassingly so) complimentary adjectives. Not today, though. “Well, cheerio – carry on”, he says, walking back to his office.
Down at the busy crossroads, Otto, the ex-army misfit/drongo plonks himself down next to me – and it’s the usual request, “D’ye know any Chuck Berry?”, and I respond in the usual fashion – switch to the treble pickupnd the intro to Johnny B. Goode. Then “Hey! Pley Metallica!” Otto’s pretty basic in his music preferences. “Otto, you know I don’t play Metallica – do I look like I play Metallica?” Otto and his strange odour drift off.
My young black fan, Omara turns up with her friend. “What’s your name?”, I ask her. “Courtney”, she says, obviously American. “You’re obviously American”, I say. “Yeah – only takes one word!” “Yeah, that’s right”, then, to Omara, “So, are you going to sing Edelweiss?” Yes she is. So, it’s Edelweiss – with them both not quite singing, more sort of humming loudly. Then it’s Mr. Sandman, which they enjoy. I try to gear them on so they sing louder, “You know, I quite like having a couple of girls’ voices sometimes – it makes a change from just hearing ME.” Then it’s Over The Rainbow and they’re a bit louder but not much. The Edelweiss again. They’re a tiny bit louder…
Earnings: £29.26p.