Day 2376

Diary Of A Busker Day 2376 Friday May 24th 2024 Chichester.

 

‘That’s a fire escape door. You’re in front of a fire escape’ says an old bloke as he’s walking past. He’s talking about the Marks & Spencer doorway that has Keep clear. Fire escape on the doors. 

‘Yes, thank you’ I say as I tune up the guitar. I haven’t even played anything and this is the first thing anyone says to me. 

‘Better hope there’s not a fire. he says.

‘Thank you!’ I say. 

Fucking killjoy. 

 

A sunny day in Chichester and so warm I take off my coat after a few minutes. 

In the middle of Eleanor Rigby up comes a shirtless bloke on a bike, very tanned, tousled hair, lots of attachments on his bike, including a mandolin-sized case. In fact he looks like he’s down from the mountain. He’s studying the album propped up in the case. 

‘Is that this music?’ he says, pointing at the album.

‘Oh no, that’s completely different – that’s got singing and lots of twelve string guitars.’

‘And what was that you were playing – did you write that?’

‘Oh no, that’s a Beatles song, Eleanor Rigby.’

‘And that is your music, on that?’

‘It is.’

‘So why are you not playing it here?’

‘Well, because no one would know it and I wouldn’t get any money…people only pay if they hear you play a song they know.’

‘But why not?’

‘Because…that’s how it is…unfortunately!’

‘But have you tried?’

‘Have I tried?’ Well…no, but I know what it would be like. That’s why everyone plays other people’s music.’

‘You should try. How will you know unless you try? I only play my own songs.’

‘Really?”

‘Yeah, and my friend, he never plays any covers.’

‘Right, well…good!’ and off he goes, very slowly on the bike.

 

Ten minutes later, I’ve just finished The Third Man and he’s back…

‘Is that yours? Did you write that?’

‘Oh no, that’s very old, from 1949, from a film.’

‘So…do you get pains when you play?’

‘Pains?’

‘Yes. I do and you know what I do? I get these (picks up two mini bar bells which are attached to his bike’s tubing and holds his arms out wide)…I do this a few times before I start playing.’

‘Right, I’ll have to try that…I get aches and pains…and I’ve been told I shouldn’t cross my legs because it makes the back pain really bad.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah and I’ve had some really bad problems…posture, really.’

‘Yes, well, you try these (flexes arms again) before you play.

‘Right, I will!’ and off he goes again, riding really slow and briefly talking to a young woman.

 

Two women in their 70’s donate. 

‘Very nice, thank you’ says one.

‘Yes, very nice’ says the other – ‘My grandson busks – he plays the guitar. He’s doing his GCSE’s in Exeter.’

‘Oh, I used to live in Exeter in 1983. I know it well…or I used to.’

‘Well, he’s doing music technology and…something else, can’t remember what it’s called. But we’ll see where it takes him.’

‘Well, you never know. I mean I’ve done some interesting things. I’ve played some big places. Wembley Arena, the NEC in Birmingham…and now I’m in a street in Chichester!’ That made them laugh. 

‘Really? You should have a sign saying PLAYED AT X,Y, and Z.’

‘Yeah, I should – that’s a good idea. Anyway, here’s my card, there are loads of videos on youtube if you like what I play. You don’t even have to buy a CD, you can hear it free!’

 

‘Oh OK…I like your green boots.’

‘Thank you. It’s Cadillac Green. They match the guitar.’

‘Oh I see, yes they do!’

‘Well almost. In fact, the boots are a bit closer to Lloyds Green – the bank. When I went in there a few weeks ago, the girl said, “Your boots are the same colour as my dress!”

‘Haha…yes. But the guitar, what was it?’

‘Cadillac Green because it’s an American guitar, Gretsch.’ (made in Korea!)

‘A Gretsch, well I’ll have to tell my grandson about that – a Gretsch.’

 

…and he’s back again.

‘So how many songs do you know?’

‘I’m not sure but I can do 2 1/2 hours – that’s how many songs I’ve got.’

‘2 1/2 hours?’

‘Yeah, something around that.’

‘And your album. You have others to help you? A bass player?’

‘Well, most of it’s just me but there’s a drummer on a couple of songs.

‘And people haven’t heard your own music?’

‘No, not really but I’ve sold  three albums in Winchester the other day. And they bought the albums without hearing them.

‘Really? You didn’t sing them first?’

‘No, and if I did, I probably wouldn’t have sold anything.

 

I did two hours, then packed up and made my way up to the Cross and one of the benches near the cathedral, to have my packed lunch of cucumber, cheese and mayonnaise sandwich and three dates, during which I did a bit of thinking about what the bloke said and for the first times, seriously considered going out and doing my own music. I mean, just for a break because doing all these old songs almost every day is starting to do my head in and I’m thinking “Is this it? Am I just going to be playing other people’s music for the rest of my life?” I’d have to use the Sigma 12-string and get a battery amp with two inputs because I’d be singing. Bloody hell, I couldn’t do it in Winchester! I’d be run out of town like a common pigmy. 

 

But the more I thought about it, the less I wanted to do another set so I decided to go home early. And it isn’t just the music that’s doing my head in. It’s this new suitcase with four wheels. This is the first time I’ve used it and it keeps veering off in another direction and I’m constantly correcting it so it goes straight, which is putting a bit of a strain on my wrist and I’ve had enough and I’m taking it back to TK Maxx for a refund. £59 that was.