Savannah, Georgia Street Performers: Check Out Riverfront Entertainment

Savannah, Georgia is known for many things. Savannah features the home where the founder of the Girl Scouts spent her life; the home where Johnny Mercer spent his life which is where the movie, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" was based; some of the oldest buildings in America are in Savannah; and Savannah is acknowledged for being the 13th Colony of the United States. The historic sites seem to be never-ending.

The trolley tour is enlightening and explains such things as the fact that the statues in the squares had a special significance. Those that featured soldiers on horses with two legs on the ground and two in the air, meant that the soldier had died in battle during the Spanish American War. Those whose horses had three legs on the ground and one in the air referred to soldiers who had been wounded in battle but died of natural causes. If the solder was on a horse with all four hooves on the ground died of natural causes.

The history was fascinating but the quality and quantity of entertainment in Savannah are also a refreshing element. Down near the riverfront, a saxophone player performs solo with his saxophone case open in front of him for patrons to contribute tips. Further down River Street, a clarinetist plays for donations from the crowds of people who stop to listen to his music. Continuing down the sidewalk on Savannah's riverfront there is a small square. In front of a statue, sitting on the ledge, a guitar player, named Walter sings request in his very deep voice with a young man singing harmony. The singers are not alone. A man with white hair and a long white beard also sings with Walter and his friend. When he is not singing he is dancing. All of these entertainers are well dressed in colorful clothing, and the white bearded man looks like a cross between an old sea captain and Mr. Bojangles! Together, they make quite a trio and usually keep a large crowd entertained. They have a bucket where people can express their gratitude for their performance, and money is often deposited into that bucket,.

It is obvious that these musicians have selected the best and most lucrative location, surrounded by ledges where their audience can sit and enjoy the music. Although there are benches elsewhere along Savannah's riverfront, the other performers are standing out in the middle of the sidewalk and do not have the benefit of these accommodations.

Also along the sidewalks, artists from the Savannah College of Art and Design, lovingly referred to by Savannah residents as SCAD, frequent the area. Visitors can have their caricatures and portraits done while onlookers watch. Many of these artists are not similar to the ones you might find at a county fair or park; they are actually students of SCAD, and therefore well-trained in their field.

Wandering around the areas where the musicians are playing, a man creates roses and other flowers from palm leaves, selling them to the tourists for $5. Credit must be given to all of these entertainers because they are not begging, they are performing. As in professional sports, boys playing in Little League dream of someday joining the majors. Young people in high school bands often dream of making the big time and becoming famous, also. Few of them reach their goal. Therefore, respect has to be given to those who continue to follow their dream on the streets of Savannah. Just because they are not famous or recognized doesn't infer that they are not talented. Walter is a fine example of that. Some nights he is not sitting on the ledge in the square on the waterfront; some night he is playing gigs at private parties with as many as 500 people attending! That may not put him on Rolling Stone's list of top musicians, but he is making a living playing music, realizing his dream and paying his bills.

In Savannah, all of the music is not at the waterfront. There are clubs that have live music ranging from jazz and blues to dueling pianos. The difference, of course, is that people have to pay for food and drink to enjoy the entertainment.

Take a walk up to Savannah's City Market and it is likely that a band will be playing at one end of the market area. Motor vehicles cannot drive on the main street of City Market. There are plenty of benches and ledges surrounding beautiful landscaping scattered around the sidewalk to provide seating for visitors. Those who like refreshments are free to enter any of the many cafes and buy beer, wine and soft drinks and bring them out onto the sidewalk areas, as long as the drinks are in plastic cups. No glass bottles or containers are allowed on the streets or sidewalks of Savannah.

A trip to Savannah has a lot to offer. While offering historic trolley tours, carriage rides and buildings dating back to the Spanish American War, there is a variety of free entertainment that can be enjoyed without exceeding a budgeted vacation.