People wanting to talk to you about what you do while you’re busking is pretty stock standard. It typically means that they find you interesting which is a good thing.
The only drawback to chatting with people being that if you’re not doing your thing whatever it may be, then you’re not making money. People donate because they see you doing stuff (or in the case of buskers playing statue, not doing stuff)
There are ways to discourage people from talking to you if you really feel the need to focus on what you are doing (musicians can play, statues can keep quiet and street artists can wear earphones) but for the most part, I like to make myself available.
The problem only exists when someone wishes to monopolize your time, especially if they are not all there because they are high on something or just a little of balance mentally.
One individual who drops by occassionaly crossed the line by making me wary of him. He wanted to chat and kept peering at what had been drawn by sticking his nose mere millimeters away from the paper.
The combination of showing me his drawings (reminiscent of some of a friends drawings in some aspects) which included a fascination for genitals (both male & female) and his sudden drapping himself over me while he hugged me was a little uncomfortable (there are hugs and then there is trying to merge with someone). The worrying part though was his commentary about the warmth of my aura and how he wanted to bask in its glory while trying to eat it up.
To say I was a little put off is an understatement.
His constant chatting, telling me to tell him to “f” off if he is annoying me, promptly followed by him getting teary eyed and emotional for me being so mean when he said he had no money but wanted to throw some in and I told him not to worry about it a bit of a warning sign.
The previous time I saw him (prior to this time), he kept hanging around the donation bowl peering intently at the money. Several times he reached for the bowl only to stop when he saw me looking at him. He would then move to another spot but continue to look over at the bowl rather than anything else.
There are two obvious options…
One he is simply mentally unbalanced or two, he is on drugs. Perhaps even both.
I am leaning towards the idea he is on drugs.
Welcome to a very good reason why I choose not to do drugs.
James Kite's Blog 