Cassidy Schuck | The Crow’s Nest
Trevor Ware drums through the obstacles of being a street performer with drumsticks, a few buckets, and a drive to spread happiness.
He performs what he calls “bucket radio” every Thursday through Sunday from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Third Street N and Central Avenue.
Without a stage and a venue to back him up, the 32-year-old said that many people don’t take him seriously as a musician.
“You have to be more resilient as a street performer,” said Ware. “It’s really easy for people to just pretend like you’re a bum on the street.”
While many passersby acknowledge him by bopping their heads to the beat or dropping a few dollars in one of his buckets, he said that others point out and make fun of him when he makes mistakes.
Cassidy Schuck | The Crow’s Nest
Vinny Cosenza observes the performance as he works the counter at Central Cigars.
“We want to hear talent,” he said.
He said that he often gets annoyed at the street performance and that it can get loud with the music playing both inside and outside.
Many USF St. Petersburg students have seen Ware’s performances.
“I love that he’s putting himself out there as an artist and using the materials available to him,” said Karla Correa, a sophomore political science major.
Having seen him many times while walking to and from school, she said she thinks everyone can learn something from him doing what he loves despite obstacles.
“I wish he had better opportunities as an artist,” she said.
Ware, who has been street-performing for nearly five years, says he lives off the money he earns every night and the happiness he gets from it — as well as the happiness he brings to others.
“I left my old job because I didn’t feel like I was doing something good for people,” he said. “I wanted to do something that I knew would be good for people.”
A meaningful experience he recalled was when a woman told him she decided not to commit suicide because she saw how persistent he was in performing despite his obstacles.
“That’s probably one of the most memorable experiences of my life,” he said.
From singing in church since he was a child to playing instruments since he was 12, music has been involved in Ware’s life since he was young. The piano, trumpet and drums are only a few of the many instruments he taught himself to play.
Inspired by everything from Michael Jackson to Linkin Park, Ware enjoys and performs a variety of styles of music.
He explained that he tends to choose songs that he feels people should hear before they die and songs that have helped him improve his life.
Despite some listeners’ reaction, Ware said he hopes that he’s bringing people happiness.
“I just hope I’m improving their day somehow,” he said.
