Busking Alkmaar
About a week ago I decided that I was going to start playing my music wherever possible and one of the possibilities was to play in Alkmaar on the street. It would be an invaluable experience after my terrible nerves in Het Parool Theater. So....I got in touch with Gemeente Alkmaar and asked about a permit. It wasn't necessary as long as there weren't more than 5 of me! Well nuff said.
I turned up on Saturday and was a bit confused as to where to stand but no place looked any worse than any other so I picked the first place I saw and unpacked my guitar. Feeling a bit like I'm about to take off my clothes in the street.....My heart was beating fast and I really wondered what I was doing here! The weather was beautiful though and the Langestraat was busy and in the spirit of No Fear I pushed through the apprehension and away I went. I started with "On the Way to your Heart" because it's one of my louder ones and I wanted to grab attention. Some people stopped, some kept right on walking, some young lads gave me some stick and I gave it right back to them. I got over the nerves very quickly and began to enjoy myself. I did "Autumn's Child" and "Lions and Lambs" and competed for a while with a barrel organ further down the street. He was louder than me and I finally moved further on down the road to get away from him. Did about one and a half hours in two sets and realised that I need heavier strings. Someone came to tell me that she thought my music was beautiful, a man stood with his daughter and listened with such concentation that I sang almost only for him for a moment. The wonderful Paul Robeson song "Old Man River" really got their attention and I came home with a tired voice and the feeling that I was an experience the richer. Had a ball !! Watch this space; I will be doing that again,
Love,
Alan
