Typography & design by
Richard Wolfströme

Exhibition and installation
by Standard 8

Website
Words William Shaw
Design Richard Wolfströme
Photography Kenny Laurenson

Publishing consultant Adrian Driscoll

An Unmadeup Production

He’s quite proud to be able to provide for his son this way

The gents’ toilets, Royal Pavilion Gardens

Normally buskers don’t like taking pee breaks.

You’re never sure if someone’s going to take your spot. If you’ve been there a few hours, fair enough, but...

Today’s a gorgeous sunny day. Pavilion Gardens is full. Tourists amble through slowly, dipping hands in their pockets to throw coins into Jim’s hat as he plays "Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside". There by the flower beds is one of the best pitches in Brighton.

After five years in full-time work he didn’t imagine he’d be busking again. He used to do it when he was homeless, living on the streets, too ashamed to beg just like the rest of them. But then he’d met a girl and they had a baby. The relationship didn’t work out, but he loved his son and found a proper job so he could have contact rights. He had needed to rent a place big enough for the boy to visit.

He didn’t miss busking, but things went from bad to worse with the boy’s mother. She couldn’t handle things, so he applied for custody of their son and won it.

It saddens Jim that she couldn’t get her act together for long enough to be a mother; but Jim has to admit it worked out for the best. Now his son lives with him, and, well, it’s better for his son that way too.

But Jim had to give up full-time work to be a dad. So he’s back busking. It doesn’t matter. Really, he’s quite proud to be able to provide for his son this way and still be there to pick him up from school.

When his son’s a little older he’ll go back to work. But for now he’s busking again, and today couldn’t be more perfect. There’s a pretty young student who’s been listening to him. She’s bought them some beers with his money. Maybe she’ll give him her phone number too.

So he heads back out into the beautiful sunlight not really caring if another busker has taken his space today...