Tag: Exeter

busking, guitar, learning, music, street life

Don’t wait ’til you’re ready

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Ive been busking today in the glorious sunshine. I’ve been out a few times since the shops opened it’s still a bit quiet but the overall response has been positive. Locals have been coming up and saying it’s nice to hear ne again so that’s encouraging.

I’ve tried out my lockdown arrangements. I’m enjoying playing Death on Two Legs, Only You and 9-5.. Famous Last Words is in the wrong key for the High st as the lower vocals get lost in the general rumblings and noise of the street so I’ll have to revisit that one… not giving up on it yet. The Pretender, I’ve done once or twice but I’m not that comfortable yet and I’ve not yet played Rio on the street.

Then, at the end of lockdown I thought I’d have a go at The Greatest Show. It’s such a big song so I didn’t take it very seriously, just fiddled around with it. Then it started taking shape and I decided this week I’d go for it. I sang it today for the first time. It was a bit ragged if I’m honest, there’s a lot of words and the energy of the song just drags you along but I did it and I loved playing it.

The thing is, I never feel ready to play a new song , it’s always a leap of faith. Sometimes it works , sometimes not so much… I’m pleased with how today went.

So anyway I’m back home having a cup of tea… mmmmmm tea….

busking, music, street life

Who ate all the pies?

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Me. Whenever I busk at Cathedral Green I always get a coffee (decaf flat white if you’re interested) at The Plant Cafe. These are the good guys in life, amazing coffee who gives a crap loo roll and a selection of ‘lady products’ in the loo and AMAZING looking food.

Anyway, I drank my coffee and chatted with a few of the locals. One guy had been a guitarist and then suffered brain injury so was struggling to play. I felt sad for him as it must be awful to be so changed by something and so suddenly.

After a while more people were about so I started to play. It was already really hot. I had dressed for autumn but it was hot hot hot! One song in I’d taken off my cold weather gear and was playing in my vest; no longer as smart as I wanted to be but needs must.

Time passes quickly when I’m playing and by the time I’d finished I was famished. I always say I’m going to get something to eat from the nice cafe after playing but I never do; not until today. Oh my! I have been missing out. It was a toss up between the beetroot red onion and Brie or the sweet potato, ginger, coconut and dhal. The latter won…. As Arnie says, I’ll be back

busking, Life, music, street life

September Songs

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I was back in Exeter today; a crisp and sunny Autumn day. I was really enjoying playing and then I noticed a fake charity seller just up from me and it put me off my stride for a bit. Well I might be wrong but proper charity workers don’t normally put the money straight in their pocket. There’s a lot of them up in Bath, there’s nothing to be done. They give you a leaflet which you have actually bought rather than giving a donation to charity, it’s a loophole. So anyway, I might be wrong. I just don’t like seeing people conned.

I got myself back into the music, after all me getting cross changes nothing. It took a while! I had couple of requests for Joni Mitchell songs today, she’s one of my favourite songwriters so it’s strange that I don’t. I’ll have to rectify that!

After playing at The Face, I thought I’d have a play at Cathedral Green but another busker was about to play. Instead I went up to Lloyd’s Lounge. I haven’t played there since it was redone. It’s a nice spot and I had some lovely comments.

So all in all a lovely day. My plan to get my husband some valve oil was scuppered by a wobbly wheel on my trolley; I was lucky to get it back in one piece to the car park.

busking, spring

Here comes the sun 🙏🏼

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Yey!!!! It’s Finally beginning to feel a bit like spring…. today I went out without a hat!!! Only 5 layers!!!! I didn’t have to stop because my fingers froze, I could press down properly on the strings.

The Barry Manilow is going well (Copoacabana) and also ‘Moon over Bourbon St’ – good to be singing some new material. Still not entirely comfortable with ‘How deep is your love’ but getting there!

Looking forward to a weekend in Bath with my husband and the girl and also a bit of busking too. Let’s hope the weather stays nice!

busking, music, street life

Bring Me Sunshine

louisehartcom

It was really quiet in town today.  I had no real plan about where I wanted to play except I didn’t want to play the same pitches I played last week and the the most of the other pitches were in the shade. It’s been a long cold winter and on such a lovey sunny day I couldn’t bring myself to play in the shade.

I’ve seen other buskers playing by the poetry pyramid in town, it can knock out a few of the other nearby pitches but there were no other buskers in town. It was bathed in beautiful early spring sunshine and I thought I’d give it a go. I’m usually the first in town as I come straight in from the school drop off and often I’m finishing more or less as others arrive so I figured it would be ok.

It felt strange to be standing in this new spot; I FaceTimed my husband who was playing Newton Abbot and showed him the various Vistas. He’s been busking for over 3o years and is a bit of hero wherever he plays so I trust his experience.  I went and got a coffee and played facing up the high street.

It was wonderful playing with the sun of my face. When I start playing I always wonder if I’ll make any money at all but you can’t think like that.  That’s one of the (many) things I love about busking; no one has to give you anything. Some people were sitting waiting for their bus they were clearly enjoying it.  Some people gave some pennies, some didn’t. It’s not about that. It can’t be about that.  You stop enjoying it, half an eye on the case, not fully inhabiting the songs; It feels horrible. So I don’t look in the case, I always say thank you, I live in the song that I’m singing. Even better today was that my  hands weren’t cold, my fingers didn’t hurt, I was without that distraction so I could just sing and play. I really enjoyed myself.

Towards the end of my set I saw Stripey and later Jamie come in to town.  It put me off my stride a little as I wondered if I was raining on their parade, like I said, it can knock out a couple of pitches and I don’t want to make things difficult. However we’er on pretty good terms I think they didn’t come over so I figured they found somewhere and anyway I knew I would be leaving town shortly to get ready for the pick up.

I finished with Should I Stay Or Should I Go… It makes me smile. I packed up and the street was as if I had never been there. I like that