I can't believe I finally made it to London, Ontario. I've managed to rope my friend Branden into coming with me for the first leg of my busking trip. He plays classical guitar and a little tin whistle. Yesterday we hit the streets for the first time, and weren't having the best luck. Eventually we found a nice spot outside the Covent Garden Market (yes there's one here too). People were sitting on sunny benches in a large courtyards. We set up on one side of the stairs leading up to the entrance. Branden started playing while I went inside to get some lunch. When I came back, there was another guitar player on the other side of the stairs, about 15m away. I raised my eyebrow at Branden.
"Sorry" he said sheepishly "he asked if he could play over there. I didn't think he meant THAT close".
That was fair. I still have a lot to learn about busking etiquette, but setting up that close to someone is definitely not cool.
The other busker finished his song. "Play" I said to Branden. The other guy didn't wait, he just started playing at the same time. The audience was physically split in two, so half could hear Branden and the other could hear the other busker.
I was livid by this point. I glared at the other busker, pulled out my trombone and played as loud as I could- which is pretty damn loud. The guy kept playing. I couldn't believe it. An acoustic guitar trying to outplay a trombone? Really? This could only mean one thing. War.
Neither of us were getting any money. People were looking on, amused by the blatant busking battle, but too scared of the consequences of giving one of us money.
I have to give the guy credit for being persistant. He just kept playing. I belted a few more songs, Branden pulled out his tin whistle and played for a bit, then we did a duet, I started making balloon animals.... We were pulling out all the stops and this guy just kept strumming his guitar.
Eventually, he came over to us and asked if Branden wanted to jam. I like to think that means we won.
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