Logan Pace plays street corners for money and music

For Logan Pace, freshman in musical theatre, street performing is a practice that has added flair to his music. It's something he said he began on the Plains and has loved ever since.
"I've been a musician at a wedding where people have paid me to play there, or my aunt and uncle have paid me to come play at their restaurant," Pace said. "I had never been just sitting here with my case beside me and you tip me in front of me. I felt like that was kind of awkward at first to ask, or indirectly ask, for money like that."
Pace said his street musician lifestyle formed from his inability to have a job while going to school.
"Street music definitely evolved out of the struggling musician, but I think it's taken such a bigger evolution since that," Pace said. "I was trying to figure out a way to support myself a little bit, and I figured what better way to do it than doing something I love."
Pace said on a typical day, he goes downtown to play at approximately 6 or 6:30 p.m. until about 10 p.m. He takes no breaks and he just sings.
"It was kind of awkward for me at first to open my case and perform like that so directly," Pace said. "Over time, the reactions that I've gotten from people really kind of affirmed that people didn't care that I was doing that or they can see that it's not about the money for me."
Pace said he is not bothered when people can't afford to tip him.
"It's just about you listening to the music," Pace said. "At the end of the day, that's what it all boils down to -- are people listening?"
His musical career started when a microphone was placed in front of him while singing along with his dad at the church his father pastored.
"My music dates back to as far as I can remember," Pace said. "I was an only child growing up. I was always the smart kid and I was kind of bullied in elementary school, but I would come home and I could play guitar for hours on end."
Pace said he picked up the guitar for the first time at the age of 5, and began seriously learning to play guitar when he was 13 years old.
Pace's journey learning music in rural Covington County and Birmingham landed him in the musical theater program at Auburn University, and now as a street musician.
Keith Hibbs, director of the music department for Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (ABSM) said he met Pace as a ninth grader aspiring to be a part of their band, RockSolid.
Hibbs said that is highly unusual since he normally recruits tenth grade students.
"Logan can play anything with a string on it," Hibbs said. "He's an unbelievable musician and can play in any style. Whether it bluegrass, hard rock, Christian, he is not only a musician that can play by ear but reads well, writes well, writes and arranges his own songs and is a very fine vocalist."
Pace toured with ABSM this past summer where he showcased his musical talents and spread his sound.
"I've never met anyone my age that is so much a prodigy like that," said Anna Claire Loftis, freshman in business and a bandmate of Pace. "Logan really just has a heart for music and he's very talented."
Loftis said Pace can play a variety of musical instruments. She also said he never just stops playing music.
"It's easy to reach your music climax, but Logan is always in search of anything," Loftis said. "He just wants to know more, and I think that makes him so good and to become the musician that he is."
When Pace brought his talents to the Auburn Family, he began playing outside the Student Center, lower Quad and green space, where he said he felt a warm reception. A peer suggested he play downtown at Toomer's Corner, where he met a Memphis street musician who introduced him to the idea of opening his case for tips -- something Pace said he initially felt uncomfortable doing.
"It's not about the money for me, but just the whole feel of the street music vibe is something that I really got into," Pace said. "Music is always that voice and that medium that makes me feel comfortable. Music has made me an extraverted person. I'm always willing to talk to people, especially about music. It's always something that has linked me up with other people and made me an outgoing person."
Pace said he believes people stereotype him as a kid playing and asking people for money.
"That's really not the point of my music," Pace said. "I'm not going to blame them for it because, at first glance, that's what it seems like."
Pace said although there are still people who will walk past him and not acknowledge he is there, he doesn't mind.
"I've found that for every one of those there are two people that are going to come by and actually give me a smile or tell me my playing is nice," Pace said. "I don't try to focus on the negative, it's the positive that makes it worth it."