It wasn’t always easy for Donald Duncan to understand the ins and outs of being a vendor at Real Change. It took some time to get the hang of it. But with support and encouragement from his close friend and fellow vendor Richard Smith, it’s become a way to support him financially and hopefully reach his goal of receiving housing.
Before making Seattle his home, Duncan traveled to 11 states and, at one point, even worked at a traveling circus, where he interacted with various animals, including elephants. Duncan has taken up a more tame route in selling the Real Change newspaper on Broadway in Capitol Hill, which happens to be right across the street from where Smith sells.
Being a vendor has opened a different world for Duncan, and we sat down with him to learn more about it.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Real Change: Do you have a story about a really fun or great interaction with a customer?
Donald Duncan: It’s where they [talked] about the ballots on who’s voting for who or whatever and also about housing. That one was a really good conversation. I got a lot of different feedback on that because housing is not just for the homeless people trying to get housing. There are other people out there [who] are one paycheck away from being homeless.
[Customers also asked] about what Real Change really [does]. I was like, ‘Well, not only does it help vendors get something in their pocket, but they help out with illustrations of voting, where to go to vote and what’s on the ballots. Real Change also does a little bit of everything. They got their hands [on] everything now.’
What’s your favorite part of selling the paper?
Talking to people and meeting new faces. The connection and interaction that I get from people. Some people come to me and they talk about their home, family issues, personal issues, and I’m there to [listen and] talk to [them]. Not only does it help them, it also helps me so [that] I can relate to some of their issues and they can also relate to mine. It’s like having a counselor in public because the public is my [client] and I’m their counselor.
How does Real Change support your future?
I’ll probably [be] a vendor for [the] remainder of my days because I like Real Change. I like what it does and the interactions [with] people.
Can you speak about your relationship with Richard and how it affects selling the paper?
I’ve been with Richard for quite a while. He has shown me these different aspects of selling the paper, how to communicate with people, and basically [be] a down-to-earth person.
What does being chosen as Vendor of the Year mean to you?
[It’s] an honor to be chosen as a Vendor of the Year. I see it as an honor. Something that I must have done to prolong myself in the Real Change business. So I guess I’ve done something right.
You always come in with the most fun hats. How did you get started wearing such fun and interesting hats and accessories?
Very interesting question. My hat selection actually comes from my clientele. They bring me hats. Not all the time, but a couple of the hats I do have are from my customers. [I started] a year ago. I also have other flowered hats, but they get nowhere [near] as much attention as this one (referencing his “Finding Nemo”-themed bucket hat.)
A lot of [people] say “nice hat,” or I say hi and they say hi back. It’s pretty much how you break down that barrier. It’s like you come by, and you look at me. I say, “Hi, have a nice day.” Either they’re going to stop, turn around and come back to me, or they’ll say thank you and keep on walking. You acknowledge me, or at least I know you can hear me. That’s the main part about selling [the paper]: getting people to hear you. That was a big problem that I had when I first started [was] getting people to actually hear me. It’s how you come out to them and how they respond to you.
Do you think being a vendor and selling the paper has changed you as a person?
Yes, in a very big way, because growing up, I’ve never really been a people person. But since I’ve been doing the paper and I’ve done it [at] previous places, it kind of [shined] a light on a different subject. It’s like people are not all that bad. There are some people that actually can hold a conversation, and it’s kind of enlightening.
If you had to identify with any character the most in any movie or TV show, who would it be?
It’s however you want to describe yourself. If you want to be a comic, it would be around Robin Williams or Jim Carrey or Boxcar Willie. It’s a tie between Robin Williams and Jim Carrey because I like them both. Both are excellent comedians, and I love their movies.
Is there anything you want to share with your customers and the community that people should know about you?
A lot of people already know a lot about me, so there’s nothing really I can say any different than what they already know.
I’m still on Broadway, but I [don’t] know how much longer [I’ll] be there. I will still be there on Broadway as long as I can. From what I hear through the grapevine of where I’m selling my papers, they want to tear down that building and put [in] a parking garage. I’m also at Neumos, a half block [down] the same street on Broadway. I’m usually there or I’m at the former [Jai Thai restaurant on Broadway and Thomas] pretty much every day, seven days a week. I can’t say the hours [since] they vary, and I had to shorten the hours. [A lot] of people have actually [noticed] and realized that.
Donald Duncan is one of Real Change’s 2024 Vendors of the Year. His badge number for Venmo payments is 14564.
Before you go! Real Change exists to provide opportunity and a voice to people experiencing poverty while taking action for economic, racial and social justice.
Our vendors sell our weekly newspaper all over Seattle and the surrounding area, and they rely on the support of our readers to make an income.
Enjoyed the article? Find your local street paper vendor to buy it in print or Venmo a vendor to support their work!
Cat Huber contributed to this reporting.
Marian Mohamed is the associate editor of Real Change. She oversees our weekly features. Contact her at [email protected].
Read more of the Sept. 11–17, 2024 issue.