When The Grasshopper goes busking, he feels a strong social contract with the public. If you want to watch and listen, that’s great. If you don’t, pass on by – I’ll be out of earshot soon enough. Though by no means obligatory, if you wish to contribute I’ll be grateful and always say thank you. If you contribute more than usual, I’ll give you a little gift (my CD).
Busking is defined as providing entertainment in a public place for gratuities. While the actual word ‘busking’ is more English than American, the busker is recognised the world over, though not always welcomed by authorities or property owners. The word is derived from the Spanish word buscar, to search for. Quite appropriate, particularly when one hops into a new town and searches for the best place to play.
In August 2021, I did a bijou busking tour of South England - Cirencester, Lyme Regis, Bridport, Wimborne, Petersfield, Southsea (four times) and Fareham (twice). As ever, nicely life-affirming. Of course, one does occasionally have a little bother with officialdom, in which one finds oneself explaining the rights and (un)regulations for buskers to numpties with scantier knowledge of the law than a pair of Linda Lusardi's old Page 3 shreddies, in terms so simplistic that one sounds almost more condescending than the Sussexes explaining to the rest of the world how difficult their life is now that Daddy and Gran have cut poor Harry off. But for the most part, when I'm busking all is well with the world and God is in His Heaven - hopefully listening to a bit of busking, played decently.
In particular, to the friendly ice cream vendor recently, plus the other gentleman who graciously paid for my post-busk ice cream in lieu of cash in the hat, I give deep-felt thanks. Small gestures like that put the icing on the cake - or at least the ice cream in the cone.
A break now until mid-September and in no time at all I'll need to start thinking about breaking out the long johns.
See you out there, peeps! x