Must have the interest and desire.

What is your motivation for going out on the street?
To make money?
or
To gain experience?
If it is experience you seek then the streets are a good place to get it.
No book, dvd, or advice will teach you the things you will learn out there.
(like how you carry yourself, your performance style, how you handle tough cookies, things that are unique to each of us)
You can't put a price on the experience you will gain.
No amount of at home practice can teach you how to deal with the unexpected situations that arise when performing for total strangers.
If it is money you seek then these experiences will teach you ways to get that money. In particular, your confidence level will eventually rise high enough that you won't feel weird about delivering hat lines.
So, in my humble opinion, there's nothing to do but get out there and start blowing minds. You might even find (as I did) that you are better suited to the street than the stage. But, there's only one way to find out.
Also, to answer your first question, I found getting tips is not hard at all if you have a tip jar in plain sight. Just have a solid 5-10 minute routine and you'll find most people will put some money in. Stay loose and have fun.

Hey man,

When Kozmo's DVD drops this Fall. BUY IT! That man has got busking down to a science.

Until this, check out the Cellini, Art of Street Performing DVD series. Koz produced them & sells them on his site: http://www.kozmomagic.com/

If you're really interested in becoming a street performer then prepare to spend as much time thinking about the non-magic parts of your show as you do your sleights. You routining, patter, hat lines and blocking all need to be given some thought.

Save yourself a little frustration & buy some reference material

Owen I like you for some reason. You are confusing "Street Magic", which is the name of a TV special with David Blaine and the art of street magic. The guys who make a living doing street magic are not doing it ala Blaine. The ones claiming to be making a living ala Blaine are not what you call street magicians, they are what you call a liar. You can make money doing close up but in the right environment though.

I have been performing street magic in Liverpool, England for the past 6 months. You can make a reasonable, if not large amount of money in a couple of hours in the afternoon.(around £30, or $60 or so). Approaching the "right" people is crucial and is learned by experience. As a basic example, anyone who looks overtly aggressive, or is clearly busy or in conversation would not be appropriate to approach. I find from my experience that you need to make such a strong impression with your first effect that they want to see more. Then give them just a little more. Only then do I slide a baseball cap out of my bag and explain that what I am doing is free, but contributions for new cards would be appreciated but not compulsory. 99% of people will give some money. I now find that I am often unable to go shopping in the city without people approaching ME and asking if I am the magician, can I show them some magic etc.

Thanks Dave,

I did indeed start off this way and for a year I made my entire income out of Hit & Run style street magic - before moving on to a bigger show.

Owen - there is absolutely nothing wrong with going out and performing Hit & Run style magic on the streets or 'blaine' style as some call it. It is a briliant way to get experience, and with the right attitude and style you will find you make a reasonably decent amount as well. You will also find you create some of the most intense magic moments of your life this way. You will probably fin, like me that you are drawn to bigger things after a while, but I would heartily recommend to ANYONE considering doing this style of magic to go out there and do it - just make sure the way you perform it is done in a professional and non-harassing way - nobody wants to be half-accosted on the street and have a pack of card thrust in their face, but try doing something entrancing and visual for no audience as you walk down the street, and see how often you get someone <i>approaching you</i> - that above all is the key to sucessful hit and run magic, to be someone they choose to see, not someone who forces their magic into peoples lives.

Owen

Been a while since anyone looked at this post but... I was at the Daytona Convention and saw Chris Capehart there. He started out as a Street Magician and became very good at it. He has some lecture notes just for doing street magic that you may want to see if you can get. It is full of information on working the crowd and ways of getting money out of their pockets and into your box.

Check out my book on my website. It answers all the questions you're asking + more. I only do close-up on the street. I don't play to huge crowds and I use the "Trickle" rather than pass the hat. Check it out http://blackbeltmagician.com Let me know what ou think.

Street Magic = Free Magic

Not if you know what your doing it's not.

-JoeJoe

You ca make an excellent living performing close-up magic. But get off the streets or become a busker (nothing wrong with that!).

This whole street thing is a TOTAL miss-understanding! The street concept was designed as a vehicle to imply an impromptu audience for TV. That's it. The sooner the current generation comes to understand this the better.

Your hero's (Blaine, Angel, whoever) DO NOT make a living performing on the streets. They simply shoot vids there to IMPLY an impromptu audience.

Benny

I think we've already beaten this horse to death Ben.

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......&start=0

-JoeJoe

I'm always up for a good beating! LOL

Benny