Diary Of A Busker Day 230

Diary Of A Busker Day 230 Friday May 4th 2012 Romsey Market, Time: 11:27-12:37, 1:12-1:44pm
Back at Romsey for the first time in a long time, I say hello to Bertie and get his photo – standing with his mate Darren, who runs one of the other stalls. I tell them about my historic encounter with Duck Baker on Tuesday. Bertie’s never heard of him. Darren has though – and is quite impressed. He says he heard him on a BBC radio show not long ago. While we’re talking, Bertie’s phone rings…after he hangs up, he says, ‘that was Duck Baker.’ Funny guy.
It’s another grey day, and by Romsey standards, surprisingly slow, coinage-wise. A lady comes up, contributes, then leaning into me, says, ‘You could be out mugging old ladies!’ I’m quite offended by this – obviously not enough that I want to give her pound back, but…really! I say, quite hurt, ‘No – I COULD NOT! Do I look like someone who would mug an old lady…or anyone?’ It’s as if I was on my way to do just that but happened to find this guitar lying here, and somehow managed to teach myself to play all this stuff, immediately, but then thought, “No, on second thought, I WON’T find an old lady to mug, I’ll stay here and play this guitar for a bit.” After just over an hour I take a break and decide that if, after counting my money, if I’ve cleared £20 (after taking off the £6.10 bus fare), I’ll go home. However, when I do this, during my snack at the front of Romsey Abbey, I find that I’ve made only £11, so I decide I have to do another set. On walking back to the market, I pass some more pavement inscriptions – they’re all over the place. One says: DUST DOWN YOUR SHADED, FADED EYES
THROW OF DEEP WINTER’S TROUBLED SHAWL
FOR A WEALTH OF BEAUTY UNDERFOOT LIES
AND THE SPRING AIR IS A PROMISE FOR ALL
‘The spring air is a promise for all’? – It’s bloody freezing! Back on the beat, one of the market blokes tells me about a group he was in years ago – ‘The Outer Limits, they were called, and we WERE! Couldn’t have picked a better name! We were alright, though. Only had three chords!’ he chuckles. After half an hour playing, I decide to pack up. I’m not in the mood for it today and I think I’ve got the £20 now in the bucket. However, on my arrival back home, I find I was way off the mark. For the second set I must have got only £2.50 – that’s for 30 minutes. Terrible. A bit of a waste of time. Romsey – you let me down. I may be some time returning.
Earnings: £13.41