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Rico Vandoren
Member
Last week I went on holiday to St.Davids in Pembrokeshire ( in Wales, if you're not from these Isles ). I'd promised myself I would get into busking this year, but thus far had only been out twice.
So I took my alto, and my speaker/amp and iPod and set up in nearby Haverfordwest, on the footbridge that crosses the River Cleddau.
I always start with 'Here,There, and Everywhere' by the Beatles, as its quite easy and settles the nerves. I had literally played two bars of the song when a woman came and stood in front of me, making it obvious she wanted to speak to me. I was perplexed and a bit annoyed as I assumed she wanted to complain about the noise. So I stopped the backing track and she said, " Excuse me, but do you do weddings? ". I was amazed- she wanted to book me on the evidence of two bars of playing! What a player I must be! I had to explain that I lived two hundred miles away, but was honoured that she'd asked.
Anyway, I played on, and a chap came and listened intently while I played ' Tears in Heaven '. He then said he played tenor, and would I mind if he took some photos. He's going to email them to me, but hasn't yet.
After that, a guy came up with two pound coins. He said " This one's from me, and this one's from my mate over there. We've been sitting in the beer garden enjoying the beautiful music". I was well chuffed!
Another lady came by and dropped some money in the case, and said, " Penny Lane- that's my favourite.."
Then the school bus arrived and about a hundred teenagers filed past me. I thought they would probably take the mickey, but they were really encouraging and one or two dropped some pennies in.
Unfortunately it then started to rain, so I packed up and went home. I played for about 40 minutes and got £17, but the real joy was that I felt people had actually got enjoyment from my playing.
Big thanks to the folks of Haverfordwest for making me feel like a real musician!
So I took my alto, and my speaker/amp and iPod and set up in nearby Haverfordwest, on the footbridge that crosses the River Cleddau.
I always start with 'Here,There, and Everywhere' by the Beatles, as its quite easy and settles the nerves. I had literally played two bars of the song when a woman came and stood in front of me, making it obvious she wanted to speak to me. I was perplexed and a bit annoyed as I assumed she wanted to complain about the noise. So I stopped the backing track and she said, " Excuse me, but do you do weddings? ". I was amazed- she wanted to book me on the evidence of two bars of playing! What a player I must be! I had to explain that I lived two hundred miles away, but was honoured that she'd asked.
Anyway, I played on, and a chap came and listened intently while I played ' Tears in Heaven '. He then said he played tenor, and would I mind if he took some photos. He's going to email them to me, but hasn't yet.
After that, a guy came up with two pound coins. He said " This one's from me, and this one's from my mate over there. We've been sitting in the beer garden enjoying the beautiful music". I was well chuffed!
Another lady came by and dropped some money in the case, and said, " Penny Lane- that's my favourite.."
Then the school bus arrived and about a hundred teenagers filed past me. I thought they would probably take the mickey, but they were really encouraging and one or two dropped some pennies in.
Unfortunately it then started to rain, so I packed up and went home. I played for about 40 minutes and got £17, but the real joy was that I felt people had actually got enjoyment from my playing.
Big thanks to the folks of Haverfordwest for making me feel like a real musician!
