PACIFIC BEACH – In medieval days, a troubadour was a poet, musician, magician, or fire-swallowing juggler who would roam from town to town performing their act for coins or food.
Today, these talented troupes are called street performers. One of the most popular duos in the beach area is Mark and Sarah Ames.
“I guess we are a modern-day version of a troubadour,” Sarah Ames said. “We do move around a lot. For example, Mark and I will be playing in Ocean Beach at the co-op in July, we have performed in North Park, Little Italy, Hillcrest, and I am currently doing a solo gig at Mr. Shawarma restaurant in Pacific Beach.”
The Ames are proud to be professional street musicians. They have performed on street corners, in coffee shops, at daycares, Renaissance fairs, and nightclubs from Texas to California. Traveling with Seamus, their pet Schnauzer, they live a seemingly carefree lifestyle, but Sarah says that kind of freedom also has its downside.
“I’ve had to scrub a lot of toilets,” Sarah said. “In this business, you get countless rejections, and every once in a while, we need to get a job to make ends meet. Mark and I have worked a lot of part-time jobs to support our music.”
The duo agrees that while they appreciate paid gigs, there are never rejections when they perform on the street, and you never know who is in the crowd. They say a veteran street performer knows how to spot a potential client or big tipper and then tailor the performance to that person.
“I was in Little Italy playing my lap steel guitar when I spotted a lady who was dressed in Middle Eastern clothing with her head covered, so I thought I’d try some of my Arab music. Well, she liked it and asked for my card. As it turned out, she and her brother own Mr. Shawarma in PB. The next day, she called and offered me a job playing at their restaurant.”
Sarah performs from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at Mr. Shawarma, which is located at 1050 Garnet Avenue.
For more information, visit mrshawarmasd.com or email markandsarajane@hotmail.com.
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