Alright... I've heard its not worth my time to try and work off tips in the street (not busking, but performing for a group of 2-3 and getting a few bucks out of them). But say I'm walking down the street, and see a group joking and having a good time, and I perform for them... what would be the best way to squeeze some money out?

A friend gave me a thought - 'white-wash a card, and write "recommended tip $50"... and then force it on the spectator, and after they read it, and get a good chuckle out of it, say something to the effect of "oh... I'm sorry, that wasn't supposed to be in there... but tips are always welcome!" then hold out your hand and give tham a huge smile '

Ideas??

I don't like that particular idea, seems more like a hustle to me. But your on the right track. Wearing a "tips accepted" button would be better. Throw in a hat line somewhere. Always borrow a bill for your final trick.

Strolling for tips is an art in itself, you need to spend enough time with people to earn the tip but you want to spend as little time as possible so you can hit more people.

-JoeJoe

Busking for large crowds rocks. I know you said that isn't your intent, but just wanted to throw that out there.

To me, the whole idea of Blaine type street magic is that you're doing it for fun, not money.

If you want to earn some cash you need to get some paid strolling gigs.

Its not good to try to force a tip from them because the whole idea of tipping is that you gave them something and they want to return the favour.

Here is a similar thread on the Sidewalk Shuffle about tip making:

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......rum=6&27



-JoeJoe

Just drop the magic and walk up to people and stick your hand out and smile, same thing.

It is no where even close to the same thing - it amazes me when people that have no experience doing something feel they have something to contribute to the conversation.

-JoeJoe

Doing street shows yes, walking up, doing a trick, then asking for money no. JoeJoe, I know you are a great defender of the Blaine trade but do you do as described?

Yes, I have Santa ... if you had read the thread I referenced, you would see that I did exactly this type of magic on the Ocean City Boardwalk at least 10 years before anyone had ever heard of "David Blaine".

In fact, if you want to busk on the OC boardwalk it helps to be able to do this style of magic for the simple reason that you are not allowed to draw crowds, part of the permit is to remain mobile - keep moving, don't stop ... there is one pitch there now where the guys can do a quick doorway show but that pitch didn't exist when I was on the boards. You had to work strolling, the environment didn't support anything else.

The way I suggest working is to do something to get them to ask you to do magic - if they ask you to show them a magic trick they are more likely to tip. I never asked for money. I would ask to "borrow a bill" and always let them know "you can have it right back". I would always hand it back to them. If they tipped, they tipped. If they didn't, they didn't. The question is whats the best way to make them WANT to tip you?

I am not the only person that has done this style of magic either, read the other thread. Your only vision of 'street magic' is seen through your anti-Blaine blinders. There is nothing wrong with strolling for tips - a lot of performers have done it, I would drop even more names but its not for me to reveal their business.

I believe in finding solutions to problems. The problem is how to earn tips without coming across as a beggar? The thread is better served finding solutions to the problem and not just a blanket "it can't be done" statement. It can be done - I've done it. I was very good at it. People brought their friends to see it. I've landed gigs doing it. I've made great friends doing it. Others have done it. Dan_nmi has now done it for himself.

Now do you have anything to bring to the table? Questions on how it can be done successfully? I'm all in favor of positive discussion on this topic, I still do some strolling on rare occasion.

-JoeJoe

I am not anti Blaine I am anti the description this fellow game. There absolutely are ways to do magic for small groups w/out appearing as a begger and putting a bad reflection on other magicians. If he wants money McDonalds is hiring.

Your implication that there is something inheritedly wrong with receiving a tip from a small group of people is insulting to any strolling magician that works on tips; the restaurant worker, the party hopper, the bar magician, all of us. That is after all exactly what a restaurant magician does - entertain a small group of people in hopes of a tip.

You just don't know what your talking about.

-JoeJoe

JoeJoe says,"I never asked for money." and mentions some possible solutions so it don't look like begging.

Dan_nmi, on the other hand uses words like "squeeze some money out", Have a sign reading "recommended tip $50" then hold out your hand ....

There's a difference.

It is better to direct beginners in the right direction than to discourage them altogether. That is why I told him I thought it was a bad idea and then gave him better solutions, which (reading the other thread) seems to have worked very well for him.

I doubt what he did was a bad reflection on any other magician. He made tips, had everyone watching him, and was invited back. And I bet he learned a lot in the process too.

-JoeJoe

I think if you were to maybe ask a magic shop if you can work there part time on a boardwalk, and do magic while strolling then that may help with experience as well as gettin tips