Where to Find Undiscovered Talent in London By: Lauren Avila
If you visit any tourist spot in London, or perhaps a busy tube station, you are sure to spot a busker putting their best foot forward. They want to be noticed, they want to share their talent, and they want you to help them do that. In any profession, it takes hard work, commitment, and confidence to know that you have what it takes to be successful. Busking is no different.
Creative artists throughout London are making their dreams a reality simply by having the courage to show their talent. In the halls of the London Bridge tube station there is a one man band performing Caribbean music, a poet in Trafalgar Square sharing sonnets created on the spot, a magician in Leicester Square striving to amuse the public, an accordion player outside Warren Street tube station, and an acrobat in Covent Garden putting every ounce of physical effort into their performance. The list can go on and on with artists of all kinds, including the painter, the violinist, and the singer doing the same thing. They are pursuing their dream one stage at a time, regardless of where that stage is and who is watching.
Of course, it isn’t always easy.
There is still a big hurdle to have to overcome in order to get to the next step. It is important to not lose focus. There is a phrase that originated here in England, yet it is plastered on merchandise across the world: “Keep Calm & Carry On.” It is true that one must carry on despite hardships and challenges. Sometimes perseverance and commitment speaks even more than talent alone.
Gathering all the courage one has and putting themself in the center of the public’s attention for the sake of a dream is not limited to the streets either.
At the Top Secret Comedy Club on Drury Lane, you can find comics who test their new material on an audience. I can hardly imagine many more terrifying tests to put yourself through. I recently saw two comics, Katie Green and Evaldas Karosas, doing this very experiment and were vulnerable enough to take feedback in real time. As it turns out, their reactions to our reactions were just as entertaining as their material.
Suffice to say, it was an opportunity for growth which we can all use yet some are more afraid than others to put into practice. Bravo to those complete professionals who do!
Another example includes Zemphy, an Irish singer and guitarist, who used to busk on the streets of London. She now has a residency at Amazing Grace London where she puts on a show of 90’s & 00’s hits.
There are artists who recently introduced their work and also sold their art during the Print Fair at Somerset House for a few days. They are making their dreams a reality while facing the public right in front of them.
It goes without saying that success is subjective. I believe that success happens when a person goes from dreamer to doer, even if they never become a household name.
There are plenty of success stories in the London arts scene if you look for it. Go out and explore. It will not take long to find someone who could be the next Vincent Van Gogh or the next Ed Sheeran.
Beginning with nearby Paddington Station, a railway and tube station. For Paddington Bear lovers, this is the very location where the fictional character first arrives in London. As such, there are a few tributes that you can take pictures of (and with), including a few statues, a bench, and a store. Paddington Bear can also be found in several other locations throughout London, including other statues and a mural. There are also locations nearby that were used for the Paddington films such as Alice’s shop that stands in for Gruber’s Antiques. 
Finally, there’s Paddington Arts itself. It is a beautiful building easily accessible by tube or bus, and offers opportunities for the community to engage in art forms. It is a colorful, three-level building that offers a welcoming environment. It is also a stone’s throw away from the real Windsor Gardens (not seen in the films) that Paddington Bear lives at with the Brown Family. 
