Diary Of A Busker Day 304 Friday November 9th 2012 Winchester High Street 1. Opposite Bellis. Time: 1:05-2:22pm 2. Opposite Vodafone. Time: 2:38-3:12pm
About an hour in, I’m pretty much warmed up so I make an attempt on the dreaded Requerdos De La Alhambra…which goes OK I think, considering this damn hand problem. At the end, I wonder where Ian is; I usually see him around here and I know he’s quite partial to a bit of Spanish music. I start James Bond and there he is behind me, Ian that is. I actually stop Bond and say I was just playing Requerdos, but wait – I’ll play it again, for him. Which I do, after apologising beforehand for my inability to play it properly…and then covering up certain failings by way of smothering the sound up in re-e-e-e-e-v-v-e-e-e-e-r-r-r-r-b-b. At the end, Ian says, ‘You know, I don’t think there’s any piece written for the guitar before or since, which is perfect – the harmony, the bass.’ I say I agree, although I notice he doesn’t comment on my performance, just the piece in general. I reckon he’s picked up on my missing note, in between every bass note. Still, ‘two out of three ain’t bad! and well…I’m just glad John Williams wasn’t walking by during that’, thinking Ian might say something like ‘Rubbish! Your performance was magical!’ him being always so polite and complimentary. But no, he says, ‘Well, HE’S special, but you’re pretty good, too…well, goodbye’ and walks off. And I thought I played it OK!…well, good enough for THIS one horse town. It got me a couple of coins, anyway, and that’s what it’s all about, so…Song Of The Day it is.
Down at Vodafone, I start with my SOTD – that’s three times I’ve played it today but what of it – I need the practice! Someone else I haven’t seen for awhile turns up; Colin, who doesn’t look at all well and his hands are shaking. He puts a £5 note in my bucket along with his usual request of When I’m Sixty-Four, ‘or in your case,’ I say, ‘When I’m Sixty-Five.’
Just before packing-up, I’m approached by a bunch of university students. Aarron’s the ring-leader and he tells me they’re doing a film about ‘how great and diverse Winchester is’ and they really like my playing and can they film me? I say they can, so they start from outside the Vodafone shop across the street, then come over and film me from my left side. Aarron says to let him know if there’s anything I don’t want them to film, which throws me for a bit. I’m just playing music. I’m not shouting or being obnoxious or being sick. Anyway, while they’re filming, I think Aarron wants to get some people putting money in the bucket, but no one’s doing it, possibly because they can see I’m being filmed and they don’t want to interrupt. Aarron’s solution is to get a girl from his team to walk past and contribute!
Earnings: £30.83