Holy fucking shit! Some of you may not believe it when I tell you this, but yesterday I came upon the most talented street performer I have ever encountered. In my 47 years of life, much of which has involved walking down the street, never have I witnessed such a master of the sidewalk performance.
This guy was a downright genius. He played the sax with the affection of a gentle lover and sang with a voice full of sweetness yet the aching pain of a full life. I was so moved that I even considered reaching into my wallet to toss him a dollar. I didn’t. But I was close.
Now, before you come at me for being financially reckless, you have to take my word for it that this guy was a one-of-a-kind prodigy. If you had seen him, you would’ve almost bequeathed him a dollar too. And I can say that with confidence.
At one point, I even turned to the guy next to me and said, “This guy’s good!”
After that brief interaction I hushed up, careful not to disturb the performer in his element. But the guy was completely entranced by his own music, seeming not even to notice my fawning. It was almost as if he didn’t want to be paid, which makes me feel even better about my decision not top tip him.
Ultimately, I did not end up giving the performer money. Instead, I decided to pay him in the Lord’s currency: supportive smiles and nods. If he’s a real artist, which I’m sure he is based on his stellar performance, he should be more grateful for that anyway.
I also made sure to take down his Instagram handle so I could support him from afar. It was @AlvinSmith. Or wait, was it @CalvinSchmidt? Oh well, let’s not get hung up on the details. The important thing is this guy’s art made me feel something incredible, and for that I will always be grateful, privately and with no tangible benefit to him.