Wonderful things happen when you walk around town wearing a guitar. It's been an extraordinary day.
Backing up two days, the owner of this borrowed guitar said I can keep it. How awesome is that! What a gift! 💕💕💕
That came about because I was inquiring about strap options so I can stand up to play - it's a classical guitar and didn't have strap buttons. Wearing a guitar opens up some interesting opportunities. I spent this afternoon in the Napier CBD exploring one of them.
Busking outside shops or just walking along the footpath, I noticed faces would light up when they saw the guitar. I made a lot more eye contact than usual, people responding to my smile. Somehow the guitar made me more visible, even if I wasn't playing it.
An elderly gentleman came in to #TheMusicMachine while I was there getting strap buttons installed on the guitar. His errand was to collect a vintage violin. He read the sign on my suitcase and asked for details on the form of my improvising.
"A cappella?" he said. "That means, to be sung in church."
I quickly translated the word in my head. "So it does. I'd never noticed that before."
The next thing he said was in Japanese, which he kindly translated as, "Keep doing what you're doing." I love going in to #TheMusicMachine -- I always come out feeling encouraged and affirmed as a musician. While I was there, Ben tidied up the flyaway ends of the guitar strings for me, so my next video will look more professional.
Wandering around town, I came upon Bob, a soprano saxophone player whose music had moved me very much when I first heard him about two months ago. I was delighted to make his acquaintance and tell him how his music had impacted me. He gave me some tips about selecting a good spot.
Look at these gorgeous Art Deco buildings! How amazing to be able to perform in a "venue" with such a view. But I didn't choose this spot with forethought. It kind of chose me. I started off across the road at Adore Collection, drawn to the 1936 rickshaw parked outside, then noticing the luxury handcrafted nature of the shop wares on display, which felt like a good fit for my particular music skills. #NarelleCustomSongs #ImprovArtist
I courteously went inside to ask the manager if it was okay for me to busk outside her shop. She turned out to be the owner. Her reply came as a shock.
She told me, "No, it's not okay. Shop owners hate buskers. They prevent customers coming in and reduce our sales. We have proof. I don't want you in front, not even next to my shop. If you go anywhere else, make sure you get permission."
Puzzled, I asked, "How do buskers prevent customers from coming in?"
"People won't walk near them because they feel guilty for not giving them money."
This seemed very strange (if I want to go into a shop, I go into a shop), but I thanked her for explaining. Had she experienced belligerent buskers? A few years ago, some of the beggars were belligerent, but surely she wasn't confusing the two.
As I turned away, she asked, "Do you have a license?"
"Yes, I have a permit."
"You'll get removed if you don't."
I exited feeling nonplussed, and stood outside wondering what to do next. I nodded to the beggar who was watching me from his position sprawled on the ground outside the next shop down, one of five "un-buskers" I saw today who don't work for what they get.
Was it really true, what Madame Adore had said? Maybe I should make a YouTube video about it; I want to canvass this idea.
A man spoke up from behind me. "Worboys," he said, having read the sign I was towing behind me. "Do you know Neil Worboys?"
Neil of Hogsnort Rupert fame and Wellington Heads (among other band names). "Yes! He's my Dad's cousin!"
It turned out that my new friend's wife used to perform with Neil in one of those bands.
Bob (hero name of the day), himself an able musician, said to me, "I heard what the shop owner said to you. She was very rude. I left the shop because of it."
Interesting. Shop owner lost herself that customer.
"My wife will want to meet you," Bob said. "She's shopping across the street."
That's how I came to be standing outside Just Jeans wearing a guitar. Cathy's face lit up when she saw me. She completed her shopping and soon joined us outside. After a lovely musical natter, they asked where I was going to busk.
"Here is fine," I said, "if they'll let me." I went inside to ask. The two lovely young shop assistants at the counter looked very surprised at my question, and granted permission without hesitation.
I set up outside well clear of the doors and performed a set, with my new friends standing some distance off. When I paused for a break, they returned to give me some welcome feedback on my voice and performance. It was clear to me it was coming from people with a lot of experience in the music and teaching industry.
Thanking them, I said, "If that situation hadn't occurred across the road, we wouldn't have met. I'm so glad we did!"
Cathy said as they departed, "I'm going over to tell her what I think of that."
I laughed. "I'll wait for the explosion."
Commencing my next set, I saw my champions exit Adore very soon. They sent me a big, cheery wave as they walked away.
I went busking today because I thought it would help me meet nice people. It certainly did. They made my day special. ❤️
#BuskingInNewZealand #BuskersLife
