As I was walking to the Dome this young girl was drumming on her buckets with so much passion that I can not believe a child could have. I was stuck in my tracks, unable to move, because of her performance and mannerism. The sounds she made from a bucket was astonishing, pure magic! She was preforming, drumming on makeshift drum, bucket. If did not seeing her hitting the $2 bucket myself, I wouldn’t have believed it, especially that the artist was a young girl.
As I watched her, she managed to keep surprising me. As with all kids, they eventually are motivated my money and stuff, especially girls. I know my 7 year old gets excited when she sees a dollar bill, always ready to snatch it up to buy some candy or a frozen cup. A street performer, preforms not knowing if we will drop a coin in their buckets. This little girl’s focus was not on the tip bucket, but the beating of her sticks against the buckets. She was living within the rhythm she created, as if it was her compensation. Shockingly, money was not the factor for her. I sensed that her audience wasn’t either, she wasn’t playing for us or money.. I listen to her for a good 1o minutes give or take, because my antsy family was ready to get into the Dome, but I recall her attention being on her sticks and buckets. Not once did she make eye contact with me or the people who stopped to listen and record her as she played. She never looked to see if we dropped money into her tip bucket. It wasn’t until she completed her mini jam session when she shifted her attention from her bucket instrument to give us a soft thank you as we clapped. She took a few sips of her cold drink and back to drumming on her buckets.
She looked content as the sticks hit buckets. I could see joy in her eyes as if she was loving the moment, loving the sounds she created. It was as if the beating of her heart was a in sync with her sticks, as she struck the buckets like they were her lifeline. The sounds she made sang of hope, possibility and greatness. I literally could feel this child’s heart and soul thru her beats.
I was lost within the beat, lost in her, wondering if she knew her music affected me in such a wondrous manner. How can she inspire me with sticks and mop buckets, I thought to myself.?? Then it hit me,she was a survivor, a product of our ancestors and environment. An overcomer, she used what she had, she practiced; mastering her technique, found a platform and courageously came out in public, on the street at that, not knowing if she would make any money. In-spite of all this and without a parent or adult by her side, she came out to share her talent with us.
Most adults could not do what this little girl is doing.I know I would at least need someone sitting by me.. How was she able to preform so well in front of strangers, strangers who are walking by and happened to walk pass her on their way to see performers they paid to see. It takes more than confidence to be on the streets of new Orleans. I’m more than proud of her, I’m inspired by her.
Since the day I heard her I have poured into my passions, my talents and my purpose in life. I decided it’s time to put away my fears and step out on fate. She left me wanting to be more like her..Isn’t that something at 44yrs old I want to be more like a 12-14yr old girl lol. You see her, isn’t she inspiring? She is so much so that I believe she is deserving of so much more.
My hope is to find her, tell her how awesome she is, how much she inspired me and to never give up. I want to gift her with a set of drums as well, but I believe she’s deserving of more than that. I’m writing this in hopes of using my platform to reach out to others to help me establish a fund to get her in a preforming arts school and/or instead of being outside of the Dome preforming, but apart of a show like opening up for an artist or play during half time.
What do you think?? There are so many talented kids on the streets of New Orleans, putting their lives in harms way to do what they love, preforming. They want to be heard by the masses, they want a chance to touch the stars and they are deserving. These children are more than likely have to give part of their earnings to an adult, help pay bills and buy food. Maybe, their parents do not know they are out there, surprised when their 10 year old comes in with money to help keep the lights on or it can be some unimaginable horrible reason. I hope they are out there, with, because there aren’t any openings at the community arts center. Maybe, they ‘re out on the streets to raise money to pay for a class. Why else would an adult let their child go on the streets of New Orleans with buckets?? I know for certain that all of the free classes no matter the type are all full. As soon as a class opens, it closes, leaving thousands of New Orleans children out on the streets, some not so creative..
These children have no concept for money, they want to be heard and have their talents validated by hand claps and the knowing that someone will drop a few coins the bucket. It could be a penny, but for a kid that penny means just as much a hundred dollar bill. It shows they are worthy, they are talented, we see their talent and we see them. If you ever visited New Orleans you know that adult street performers do not move unless you drop a bill in their buckets and most of them have credit card machines/apps now…
Back to the little girl street bucket drummer. I do not know who she is or anything other than she lives in New Orleans and preforms on the city’s streets. She gives a great performance without a guarantee of a tip and she helped me beating that bucket of hers… She speaks determination, love for her craft and showmanship, especially hows she throws her sticks in the air without losing her beat. She’s talented and deserves a shot in my eyes. If anything please share her video, maybe it will go viral and music pro will seek her out as well, but sharing can help me find her as well and I’ll gift her the drums myself.
Let’s find her New Orleans!! ⚜ I think she is the next Shelia E….
Dat NOLA Chic 