David Reeves, Waterstones, The Hayes, Cardiff

Image: Kieran Doe

I’ve only been selling Big Issue for two or three months but, so far, it’s been excellent. To be honest with you, I’m trying to get some DJ equipment so I can start DJing. As of today, I’ve earned enough money to pay for my DJ stuff. It’s decks, a laptop, the full works. I want to go into doing discos. I haven’t done anything like that before but I want to start doing it. I’ll play whatever people want. Clubs, private parties, all sorts. 

I’m not sure what I’ll play first when I’m testing out the equipment but I’m excited. I’m going to get cards and leaflets made to get the word out about my DJing and advertising on Facebook. I’ve got a booking already in Newport. I’ll be doing the lot: DJing, on the mic, everything. 

I’ve told Tom from the Big Issue office that I’ve got enough money to get my DJ stuff and he’s so happy for me. He’s a great man. I hope he buys one off me at some point! I just try to be friendly and go up to people to sell magazines and make sure I’m on my pitch.

Putting in the hours makes a lot of difference. I say: “Big Issue! Good morning, my lovely.” “Good morning sir, Big Issue?” People buy it straight away. I’ve managed to get quite a few regulars.  

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Big Issue has been fantastic for me and they are fantastic people as well. Tom makes me a hot chocolate in the mornings and I enjoy that. I have a QR code that people can scan to pay for the magazine and the money goes straight to the bank. It works brilliantly. People are quite happy to scan it. I’d like to say thanks to my customers for buying off me and hope they keep doing that while I’m there. 

I came to Big Issue because I had a lot of problems and ended up splitting up with the missus. I was homeless so I thought I’d go to Big Issue. I was sleeping in a tent for a month last year. It was tough staying in the tent. The cold winter months were the hardest part. I was freezing and getting wet.

I’m sofa surfing at a friend’s at the moment. I don’t mind too much sharing a space with them but I am hoping to get a permanent place for myself at some point in the future. I’d quite like to get a petrol scooter at one point too so I can get around. 

I like speaking to the public and communicating with people. I am quite into my rugby too. I mainly support Wales in the rugby and it’s not been going too well for them. I hope it gets better in the future! They’re looking at changing Welsh rugby from four professional teams to two. That’ll be quite good I reckon. They can’t go on like they are. I’ll be selling Big Issue through the Six Nations so I reckon I’ll miss the matches. I’d have to sell Big Issue to get to the matches!

I’d be probably dead by now to be honest, if I hadn’t had Big Issue these last few months. It’s been quite tough. I still want to sell the magazine part-time when I start doing my DJing. That will give me a bit extra, doing four or five hours every few days. I’d quite like to do a DJ event to promote Big Issue. I think if I had to play a song to sum up my time with Big Issue then I’d play Celebration by Kool & the Gang to celebrate good times because it has been good times with Big Issue. 

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Waterstones, The Hayes, Saint Davids Centre, Cardiff, UK