Interview with Joan - Glasgow

'I'm the only singing Big Issue vendor I know... I'm famous'

Name: Joan 
Pitch: Ashton Lane, Glasgow

I'm the only singing Big Issue vendor I know. First I started singing fish and chips songs and then they turned into Big Issue songs. It must work because I sell loads of magazines. I'm famous! It's unbelievable. Everybody knows me and says I cheer them up. They buy my magazines because I sing.

I've sung so many songs by The Beatles and tons of other bands. All day long I think about what I'll sing. I've done the Jungle Book, now I'm on to The Rolling Stones today. Flower of Scotland was the best one. I could barely keep my trousers up when I sung that one, after Scotland won. I was like: "O flower of Scotland, Big Issue is the best for you" and all that. I'm not joking, I got so much change I could barely keep my trousers up.

I love selling The Big Issue. It's better than working in a shop or something because I'm outside, I'm dancing about and singing. It means I can eat at night, buy a few cigarettes and pay for fares.

I wouldn't recommend selling The Big Issue to people because I don't want the competition and I want people to buy from me! Although, if someone lives far away, like in Aberdeen for instance, I would definitely recommended selling it. As long as they're not on my doorstep!

It was hard to get another job because I'm registered blind. Some people don't believe me because I've only got one blind eye and the other one's misty blurry.

It happened because a car landed on my head, the one I was driving. That's how I ended up selling The Big Issue. I used to draw pictures and I can't do that now. I wouldn't be able to do anything else. I've always worked really hard.

When I met Jamie and John and other people that sold it, I thought that maybe I could do that. I hope I'll get a house someday out of it, because I'm couch-surfing at the moment, staying with friends.

It's a really great community among the vendors. There's Elvis up the road, who gave me a little purse to keep my change in, and I know all the others up Byres Road. They look out for me and they help me. They'll go and get the magazines for me, which helps. Sometimes I go myself though.

People have different reasons for buying the magazine. Some people say it's who is on the front cover that is important. They'll say they like Ewan McGregor or Anita Roddick and buy it.

Others buy it because of me, and my singing and dancing.

 

 

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