Though there are plenty of ways to make a living, trying to be a professional artist has to be one of the more punishing.
On the one hand, you have to identify yourself early on that you have some kind of talent or voice you’d like to develop.
On the other, there’s also a long road and a lot of work that needs to be done to become skilled enough to do something professionally. Even if you’re incredible, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get the recognition that you believe you deserve.
For those reasons and others, it can be especially difficult to be a street busker.
As anyone who lives in a big city knows, buskers don’t have the easiest job.
There’s already so much going on (and there’s already so many other buskers) that most people try to go about their day or ignore them.
Still, sometimes there are performers who are so good that they break us out of our reverie and force us to pay attention. As just one example, an 18-year-old woman named Natasha Cook Jenkins in Glasgow, Scotland is just one example.
And the performance we’re talking about is a special one from September 2017.
The video she posted begins with her setting up all her musical equipment in the town square.
Once she’s all hooked up, she starts playing a cover of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley. Still, Jenkins has her own beautiful voice that she fills the song out with.
Though her playing is incredible, most of the people walking by just continue on their way. Still, after a few moments a couple walks by who seems to be moved by her voice.
Just a moment later, the two of them start dancing in the square before her.
After they start dancing, some of the rest of the passersby watch them for a moment.
They actually have some real moves of their own, pulling off a few ballet turns and kicks! When her song is over, she gets a round of applause from the crowd. Next, she sets into “Chelsea Hotel” by Leonard Cohen.
Once again, her voice is completely entrancing and stops some of the people passing right in their tracks. As she continues, it’s clear that Jenkins has put plenty of effort into developing her voice and her talents.
It’s also reflected in just how good the video quality is!
In all, the video has earned some 17 million views—and it even got her some professional attention as well!
According to an article in the Evening Times of Glasgow, Jenkins’ efforts have even been noticed by world-famous record producer Toni Visconti! For those who don’t know, Visconti is one of the creative minds behind bands like David Bowie, Morrissey, Thin Lizzy, and T-Rex.
Although it doesn’t seem all that possible that these kinds of things still happen, Jenkins’ story is proof that sometimes busking pays off! As a result of their meeting, a documentary about Jenkins’ artistic journey will be shot and released sometime in the coming years.
As it turns out, dreams really can come true!
Although it’s hard to make it as an artist, stories like Jenkins’s are still so encouraging.
If you find something you love, practice enough and put yourself out there, amazing things can and will happen.
Even if it often seems hard or that the road ahead is impossible, stories like hers prove that with enough courage and talent, your dreams can become a reality.
Congratulations to Natasha Cook Jenkins! Check out her full performance in the link below:
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