The strumming of the guitar, the human statues frozen in time, and beautiful voices drowning out the hustle and bustle means that a great street performance is underway. Local entertainers, formally known as buskers, utilize their city’s great outdoors and popular areas to make an honest living by stunning the eyes and ears of passersby. 

Some of the best performers are the ones who haven’t made it big like those in the following U.S. destinations.  But they are patiently waiting for you to see what amazing tricks they have up their sleeves. Every city beats to the sound of its own drum, which is evident in the way these are designed to put on a grand street show.

Santa Monica, CA

Singers pouring their hearts out over soulful melodies and dancers skillfully breaking out their best moves come together to put on a spectacle in the beautiful city of Santa Monica.  It is all in day’s work as they flock to densely populated neighborhoods like the Santa Monica Pier, its downtown area as well as Third Street Promenade hoping to catch the attentions of the floods of people busily enjoying the city’s vibrant atmosphere.

Nevertheless, in the midst of the shopping and dining activities surrounding the city’s popular areas, many are specifically drawn to the dozens of performers who aim to drive large circles around their captivating performances. It seems the better the performance the more difficult it becomes to attain a perfect view of Santa Monica’s best talents.

Cambridge, Massachusetts

There’s never a dull moment in Cambridge’s Harvard Square, especially because it is as historic as it is entertaining.  However, it is its eclectic collection of buskers that makes this interesting hub a classic.  Almost every spot of the square is dominated by a musician or performer of some genre tantalizing students and everyday visitors with their artistic capabilities.

Here it is all about finding that perfect spot to watch thrilling acrobatic movements or dancing to rhythmic beats as each performer vies for their audience’s undivided attention. And if you find their street performance particularly amazing, why not reward their brave efforts with a generous donation.

New York, NY

From aboveground to deep below the earth’s surface, New York City is a playground for the street performer.  After all, it is this location where the Naked Cowboy became a walking sensation and life-sized figurines are constantly seen taking selfies with overly excited fans. In the midst of commuters hurrying to connect with their trains, old tunes performed by gifted musicians drown out their frantic footsteps. 

Once travelers are sitting comfortably on their trains, the silence is typically disrupted by performers athletically jumping off seats, and swinging from the railings while rapping and clapping. And what would NYC be without forming a platform for the undiscovered to have their moment of fame amid curious walkers.Whether it is local artists drawing portraits or saxophonists wooing onlookers, NYC is a great mecca that is awakened by the hustles of its people.

Las Vegas, NV

The Las Vegas hustle is alive and well, and it never pulses as strongly as it does along the sizzling Strip. On the world-famous boulevard, instrumentalists take their positions on the busy pavements while tuning their instruments, kids transform their bodies to breakdancing machines, and magicians perform electrifying tricks using their onlookers as props to name a few. 

From the bizarre to the astounding, there’s rarely a moment when loud clapping or oohs and aahs aren’t echoed throughout the sizzling spot. Aside from the glitzy casinos and nightclubs, visitors also become easily entranced by the entertainers hustling for a buck, where the more outrageous the talent the harder it is to obtain a front row view from dusk until dawn.

Chicago, IL

Music in Chicago goes way back to the days when locations like Maxwell Street were not only known for their blues singers, but also made a cameo in the “Blues Brothers.”  Sticking to its routes, Chicago has never lost its musical desire as mimes, hip-hop dancers and other enticing performances have evolved throughout the city. 

The streets of Chicago are like an alf resco concert venue with many buskers livening the city's paths with their acrobatic skills and beautiful harmonies. Birthing its very own style of blues, the city’s love of music runs deep which is evident when witnessing the variety of shows speckled along its sidewalk.

New Orleans, LA:

There’s rarely a moment in the Crescent City when the sounds of jazz aren’t heard or human statues aren’t bombarded with the flashes of amazed shutterbugs. New Orleans’ entertainment scene runs deep, especially in the French Quarter. Many street performers in this old neighborhood have made a name for themselves, stopping visitors in the tracks time and time again with their quirky acts.

If you want to know what the future holds, fortune tellers are available for a reading.  Looking for a comic relief? You may see a jokester beguiling the crowd with his slick one-liners.  And don’t miss the famous Maria who been dubbed the jilted bride because of the wedding dress she usually dons.  New Orleans puts on a show like no other city with locals showcasing their skills in hopes visitors will appreciate their love of the arts.