COVID-19’s Impact on Street Performers

While it’s hotter than ever, the Mariachi Garibaldi are still rolling through the day with a punch, Santa Monica, 3rd St Promenade. September 6, 2020. (Romeo Kuhn | The Corsair)

Whether shopping, walking, or enjoying a meal near the Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Pier area, chances are you will catch a glimpse of a street performance.

Street performers have been around for many years in Santa Monica and bring live entertainment to the city and its people. A culmination of different cultures, the performers vary from dancers, singers, DJs, Mariachi bands, violinists, drummers, and interactive crowd performances.

However, like many other people during the current COVID-19 pandemic, street performers have been struggling during these trying times. Performers have found themselves trying to find creative and innovative ways to entertain their audience while following guidelines to keep safe while performing.

Angel Guzman is a member of the Mariachi band “Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar.” The band began street performing towards the end of July as a result of COVID-19 giving them fewer opportunities to perform at their usual venues. “We’re unable to do large venue concerts, tours, and such," said Guzman.

Guzman shares with us that the band recently added curbside serenades as one of the services they offer. This is a way for their clients to still enjoy their music and services in a safer manner. He adds that he and his band members also get tested monthly for COVID-19, or more often if they feel that they have been exposed.

With COVID-19 still affecting America, many places like concert venues, indoor restaurants with live music, and other venues which are considered to be non-essential, have been forced to close their doors to the public until further notice. This leaves many musicians and entertainers who once performed in these venues unable to be booked.

Imani Elijah is a drummer originally from Massachusetts who moved to California in 2010, where he shortly found the Third Street Promenade and started his journey as a street performer. “There’s a lot of the hotels, restaurants, normal bars and places we would typically play are closed at least for entertainment. But I think eventually we’ll get those back,” said Elijah.

Kiev Morales, a violinist who is native to the Los Angeles area, is able to perform at only one of the outdoor restaurants he would typically play at. “I still play for a restaurant… but that’s the only residency that I have at the moment. All the other ones have been canceled,” said Morales.

Due to L.A. County’s stay-at-home orders, performers have been impacted not only by many of their bookings being canceled, but also by fewer people walking around the area enjoying street performances. When asked if the money they would typically earn has still remained the same, Elijah said “it’s significantly slower.”

The pandemic has also limited the spaces in which many street performers around Santa Monica are now able to perform, according to both Elijah and Morales. Typically they would perform by the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant on the Santa Monica Pier however, the location has been closed to street performers since March. Violinist, Morales, said he misses being able to perform for audiences on the pier during sunset hours, and playing songs like “My Heart Will Go On” by Céline Dion.

Morales and Elijah also said that they are taking precautions while street performing. Each wears a face mask while performing and brings extra tables to create a barrier between them and their audience.

Although this pandemic has been difficult at times for street performers, it has also inspired them to make creative changes to their typical performances.

DJ Lil Buddha, who has been a loyal street performer in Santa Monica for 5 years now, said COVID-19 inspired him to put together a new 15-song-set to play for his audience. The set includes songs like “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack, ”Europa” by Santana, and “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, which he hopes will help motivate people as they walk by and catch a glimpse of his performance.

DJ Lil Buddha also said that he constantly uses mouthwash, baby wipes for his hands, and wears a face mask to remain safe, and be a good citizen of Santa Monica while performing his DJ sets.

Leandro Levos, a singer originally from Venezuela who has been doing street performances in Santa Monica for 16 years now, said that COVID-19 made him change the way he performs. He now takes more caution while performing. “I always tell the people to use the mask. I tell people always, you know if you are a little sick, don’t come to the show. Stay at home,” said Levos.

Levos used to be a professional BMX racer for the United States before he got into a terrible motorcycle accident in 2005, which broke his legs in two different places, inspiring him to start his career as a street performer.

Although these trying times of dealing with COVID-19 have impacted many of the street performers in Santa Monica, it has also given the performers and their audiences a new appreciation for what they do.