The trailer is the perfect size for my accordion. I was donated a children's trailer and used the wheels and hitch from it. The amazing Nate built the trailer, and his neighbor Bob did all necessary welding. It's bare as it's not yet painted, but it works wonderfully.
This was the first time I took it out with my accordion in it, and I was a nervous wreck. I didn't really know how wide I was and feared hooking something and launching myself. I packed so much stuff in the trailer and basket that I didn't have my helmet. Oops. For the fear, there was also pride. I got a lot of smiles and compliments, and rode like this was something I do every day. Hopefully it will be someday! I checked out the spots as I paraded by: Amy Scotts was in the Pig pitch, and Marsha was at Town Hall with the guitar player/singer whose gender is still a mystery to me on deck. I went to show Topher my setup, and by the time I rode back Marsha had packed up and the on-deck busker was up. He/she isn't as loud as Marsha so I was confident that I could be heard at the Shell Shop corner. Here, though, I sometimes have trouble with the taffy store owner, an older Italian man. (Have I written about him yet?) I poked my head in to ask if he was there so I could ask him if I could play. The man working said, "Sorry, he's out of town till Monday." Hallelujah! I set right up.
It wasn't an extreme day in any way. There was enough crowd, enough gave me money to satisfy me, and it was perfectly room temperature outside. Often when I play I either feel really great about it or really bad. I didn't have any strong feelings (until later).
Only three things worth noting happened here:
1. This young man kept going in and out of the store and was generally lurking. He came over. I expected him to complain. Instead, he told me that he was going to do some cooking in the basement and would have to turn the fan on. He was concerned that my set list paper would blow away. Sure enough, I was right in the line of fire. I moved two feet to the left and all was fine. It was so nice of him to warn me!
2. Someone told me I was their favorite street musician, and he hoped that I come back next year. Obviously that made me feel happy, since I assume Marsha and Ben Pegg were everyone's favorite.
3. I'm at an intersection where many cars turn right towards Bradford St. One such car pulled over and the passenger got out to drop a bill or two in my box. Cars often smile, wave, honk, and thumbs up out the window, but they rarely stop.
I quit after an hour and a half or so because I was sucking pretty bad and I was worried that the guy working at the shop would develop the same sentiments as his boss about my performance. I decided to bike to the hardware store on Conwell St. and buy a second bike lock for the trailer. For the first time, I biked against traffic on the one-way Commercial St. THIS was scary. The advantage, though, was that no cars were coming up behind me so I could angle my rear-view mirror to keep an eye on the trailer at all times.
The hardware store was closed, but as I came back into town I found two men packing up their yard sale. I stopped and asked if they had any chickens. (I collect chicken figurines.) Did they ever! I scored four chickens in addition to two painted wine glasses for Anne. Then came the challenge of packing it all up. They bubble-wrapped everything, but I had to rearrange things. The trailer and basket were jam-packed, and the non-breakable wooden chicken stood proudly in the trailer peering out. All my wares made me even more nervous biking, since they were breakable. As I went back down commercial street, my fear came true and I hooked a sign post. It made a loud noise and I promptly received a huge dose of adrenaline. Everything was fine, though. The trailer was okay, the sign was okay, and I wasn't launched headfirst into oncoming traffic. I decided I needed a beer, but first I went to Arnold's bike rental place to see if they sold bike locks. Success. The guys there complimented the trailer, and the man in charge said that he's thinking about building similar models to rent to dog-lovers to transport their canine pals.
After having a deliciously Autumnal pumpkin beer and meeting the Squealing Pig bartender (important for later) I set up at my favorite spot across the street. It was prime dinner time, but the streets were pretty bare. It was getting cold fast, and my fingers weren't cooperating very well. I loove playing after dark though, and the chill reminded me of my days playing in Boston. I wasn't sure if the Patio owner was in, but I played as softly as I could anyway. I played only slow songs, hoping to provide a pleasant sound from the shadows. It paid off, since two things happened:
1. A middle-aged couple came out of the Squealing Pig and said it was their anniversary. They wanted a romantic song. I played "La Vie En Rose" and they danced. It was very cute. Later, I went to dinner at the Pig and the bartender presented to me an envelope. It turns out this couple bought me a gift certificate. That touched me so much that my music provoked such generosity. I had a delicious dinner on Rich and Bonnie.
2. A waitress from the Patio came over. I assumed she was sent to deliver her boss's usual message of "scram." Instead, she said that there were newlyweds at the corner table who would love to hear "That's Amore." I couldn't think of how it went before "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie" so I called my brother to ask him to sing it. He couldn't think of it either so he brought it up on youtube and held the phone up. Aren't brothers the best? After a secret practice round I sauntered over and performed it for the new brides and their friends. I followed it with a round of "Here Comes the Bride" then we settled on "Bella Notte" as the finale. The couple posed for many kissing photos during this, as did other members of their posse. They handed me the money I usually make in a half hour! Not a second too soon, because I was freezing and wanted to quit.
The moral of this day of playing is that I can't half-ass it. I undoubtedly half-assed it this summer and as a result I forgot all my songs. I couldn't finish anything I learned from sheet music (Beyond the Sea, La Vie en Rose, Fly Me To the Moon--my best songs). If I'm going to do this right, I should suck as little as possible, and that can only be achieved through playing as often as I can.
I biked back to my car which was the scariest part yet. I was against traffic, without a helmet, my bike was full of chickens, AND it was dark out. I'm excited to use the trailer more and get used to it! Too bad winter's a-coming.
Hope we can go out in Ptown again!
