Street Entertainment

I was walking along a popular market in London, and I passed a guy standing on the sidewalk, wearing a very silly costume, holding a kid’s guitar, and miming along to a song playing on his very small and crackly stereo.

People were laughing and clapping along. I stopped to watch, but he was so unentertaining that I just thought, “Why on earth are they clapping and throwing him money?” I just want to throw him off the street!

But then I saw it. He had a cardboard sign leaning against the wall. It read (in horrible handwriting), something along the lines of “keeping street entertainment alive”

And I stood there for a couple of minutes, staring at him and his sign. I walked away and continued to think about it to this day. It really got me thinking. I finally figured out (after many months!) that even though the guy was incredibly unentertaining, and somewhat annoying, he was fighting for a cause. Say what? Yes a cause! And a good one too! He might have needed the money, sure. But that doesn’t prevent us from knowing that the guy had a point. That poor silly guy was actually doing us a favor. Yes, US!

Can you imagine the world without street entertainment? Imagine walking along busy streets without someone singing, performing magic tricks, miming, dancing, juggling, etc, etc. Instead, you'll find hundreds of people, bustling about, doing random chores without a smile on their faces.

Can you remember when we were kids and we stood watching those street entertainers make us laugh, even though they were sweating like pigs, fatigued and probably had dozens of blisters on their feet? I want my kids to have that. The ability to watch random performers do what they do, making my kids laugh, and then take pictures with them. Because that type of fun is priceless, and you can never get it at any store or on the internet!

Entertainment doesn’t have to cost a penny! It can be free and fun, and you should be able to find it (or them), right there on the nearest street. Playing a song. Juggling some stuff. Performing tricks.

And if you see them, throw in a coin. Or two.

Just like I do.

‘Cause this lady is keeping street entertainment alive!