The Beltline, a Busker’s Stage: Learning to Perform in Public
A few years ago, I made a decision that changed everything:
I picked up a mic, speaker, guitar, and keyboard — and I went to the Atlanta Beltline to busk. I’d never done anything like it before.
It wasn’t about money. It wasn’t even about exposure. It was about facing a fear I’d carried for years — the fear of performing. See, for most of my journey as a musician, writing came easy. Recording, I could handle. But performing in front of people? That was different.
I struggled with self-consciousness. Imposter syndrome. I worried I wasn’t good enough. That my voice didn’t measure up. That I’d freeze or mess up or sound shaky. And those thoughts kept me stuck for a long time.
So I made a deal with myself: just go out there. Don’t wait for a “real” gig. Don’t wait until you feel ready. Just show up. Plug in. Play. And that’s what I did.
The first time, I was nervous as hell. I kept the volume low. I picked songs I knew well. I avoided eye contact. But I kept going. Every weekend. Slowly, I got more comfortable. I turned the volume up. Started mixing in originals. Took requests. Talked to people. Felt the energy shift.
Something powerful happens when you perform for strangers in the open air. No stage. No lights. No buffer. Just raw connection. Some people walk by. Some people stop. Some nod. Some smile. Some come over just to say, “Thank you — I needed that.”
That’s when I knew: performing wasn’t about perfection. It was about presence. It was about service.
These days, I’m still pushing myself. Still learning. Still working to become the kind of artist who can show up fully in the moment — whether it’s for one person or one thousand.
But it all started there. On the Beltline. With a mic, a speaker, and a willingness to try. And I’ll always be grateful for that.
— Tenor Blue
