Diary Of A Busker Day 239 Monday May 28th 2012 Winchester High Street 1. Opposite Vodafone, Time: 11:50-1:30pm, 2. Opposite Oxfam, Time: 2:10-3pm
At my first spot I manage to sell no less than two CDs. This was fortunate, as until then, business was extremely slow despite there being a lot of people about. A woman was talking to me when an old man came up and asked to buy a CD, and because HE bought one, she wanted one. The power of suggestion…maybe I should arrange it so that when someone’s talking to me some ‘stranger’ comes up and buys a CD. But I’d probably have to pay someone to do that – maybe a percentage of the sales or something. Maybe it’s not such a good idea.
I chat to Colin, who’s down at Marks & Spencer, packing up. He tells me that Tony is thinking of packing in his job at Sainsbury’s and busking full-time. Please, no. I think Tony had had a few good days but Colin warned him “don’t pack it in because you’ve had some good days – things can change,” which he should know, though, having busked for a while, ever since I’ve been doing it, anyway.
After I’ve put my stuff down and about to set up for my second set, I notice old Ralph sitting on the bench nearby. I hadn’t seen him for awhile, maybe two months, and had been fearing the worst. I go over, say hello, ask him how he is and by the way can I take his photo for my album? Yes, I can! Afterwards, I show it to him but the sun’s too bright and he can’t see the camera screen. I say it’s a good photo and I’m going to play a bit but not more than half an hour as I have to give a guitar lesson before five o’clock. After a couple of songs I see Ralph get some change from his pocket, get up and come over. I say he doesn’t have to give me anything. ‘It’s only a few pence,’ he says, and puts his hand out, showing 12p. Alright Ralph, that’s fine. He stands on my left with his black walking stick, humming along to Somewhere Over The Rainbow and Can’t Help Falling In Love, my capo-on- the-second-fret-medley. After, knowing about how he used to play the guitar – he still has one, I ask him if he’d like to pose with mine while I take another picture. He can just hold the top of it, but I think he thinks I said “do you want to PLAY it?” and goes to sit down on my stool! Oh well, I help him sit down, which is a bit worrying as, if you don’t approach the seat at the right angle, as it were, it’ll collapse and you’ll end up on the ground – and Ralph’s a bit unsteady, as it is. All I need is an old man lying next to me in a coma, or worse. But he’s alright, he manages it (I should have more faith in these old guy’s – he’s got to 92, for goodness sake!) He settles in and strums a few chords while I get two more pictures. Then he gets up, hands me the guitar and we chat for a bit. He’s got a doctor’s appointment soon but maybe I can visit him at his flat sometime and teach him some more chords. He lives in the same block as Anthony, just down the road. During our chat, two girls come by wearing braces and very short skirts. They put some money in the bucket and when they walk off Ralph says, ‘Pretty girls.’ ‘Still got an eye for the ladies, eh Ralph?!’ Then it’s time for him to go. He crosses the road – slowly, turns around and waves as he enters Cross Key Passage and a few seconds later, turns and waves again. I wave back and think – that could be the last time I see him.
Earnings: £27.01
