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Wayne Whiting Regular user 181 Posts |
Jack Daniels is regarded as one of the most successful distance running coaches in America. In his book Daniels' Running Formula he states that it takes four things to be a successful runner. 1) God given talent. 2) Desire and determination. 3) Opportunity. 4) A coach. Number 4 he says can be optional.
I believe these qualities can be true for a street magician as well. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you have no desire or determination to be a street magician, you will fail. If you have all the desire and no natural talent, you will not achieve as much success. If you live with Eskimos, you probably aren't going to make fat hats. If you have a good mentor, buy him dinner more often. I asked Kos what makes for a successful street magician. He maintains it is not the magic but the personality, and "I don't know if that can be taught." A recent post on this forum stated that he didn't have the "desire or drive" to go full-time. He's right. Better to stay at the day job. He also puts some blame on being "stuck" in his hometown that is not busker friendly. I think opportunity is important, but I don't think that is legitimate enough to stop trying. Danny Hustle has admitted he can't travel because of family responsibilties and he is undoubetedly limited by that. Good thing he's "stuck" in one of the most busker friendly cities in America. I can relate to being stuck, but I am working at getting "unstuck" if there is such a word. I'm stuck by a mortgage, a business with a few employees, my 100 pound labrador and a wife with and high profile job. Our kids are gone and raising their own families. I recently sold my motorhome (buskermobile) and I no longer have that payment. I am determined not to buy another car unless I can pay cash. I am getting ready to sell my $10,000 pool table so that the next house we buy doesn't need a room 18 x 20. My wife is not excited about me busking. She has an important job in the community and how would it look if her husband was downtown begging? Cellini did say that a street magician is not looked on as "an entertainer, but a beggar. Whereever you go, people will see you as a beggar." She is gradually warming up to the idea though. The next house we buy, we will pay cash and I will have no mortgage. My dog will live for another 7 years, so I figure he will have to accompany me on the street! I am not blessed with loads of talent, but I do have the desire. "Dream like there is no tomorrow, live like today is your last day on earth." "Perfect freedom is reserved for the man who lives by his own work, and in that work does what he wants to do." R.G. Collingwood |
BAH1313 Elite user Ohio 445 Posts |
Nice post Wayne!
I am truly blessed to have a job where people are laughing all the time and everyone believes in magic....Come to think of it, I'm blessed to even have a job.
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RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
Wayne: Are you a talented street magician?
Bloor: Nope.
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
Wayne Whiting Regular user 181 Posts |
No, not yet, as stated above. I did live in Reno for 25 years though.
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-25 06:22, Wayne Whiting wrote: My wife and I just had this same conversation now that I started busking at the Farmer's Market in OUR town.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
SeaDawg Special user The Lunatic Fringe 718 Posts |
Guys, for what it is worth, my wife was a little uncertain till she saw some fat hats days, several days running... That combined with the corp gigs, parties etc and she saw the $$$$.
But she also saw something else. She saw a flair and a zest and a joie de vivre that had been missing in my life for years. Sometimes I think she would like me to have a steady dependable income from a straight job. But she knows if I go back to being as miserable as I was, she will take this any day. I meet fascinating people, get to give some great stay in school messages, and live freer and happier. It takes a real mindset to get to wear you have magic props, parking, water glasses, and other magic parephenalia etc as budget items. So what. If it makes you happy... go for it. My brother had a harder time accepting it than my father... who by the way thinks it is great that I am having so much fun. My brother kept asking me when I was getting a "real" job till he found out thru an outside source how much my shows were booking for. If you want to do it, then get on with it and start doing it. Maybe not full time at first but the only way you better is to do it for real on the street.
Crazy people take the psycho-path thru the forest...
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Amon Regular user Chicago, IL 134 Posts |
Yes, good post Wayne!Wow..what is it with the wife theme??..same here. She likes it on fat hat days, and gets frustrated on bad hat days (she thinks I must'v been goofin' off)..I love my wife, I love my magic, I..i..i..me..me..me (for us artists who've committed to certain things at home there's a place where we deny ourselves)cause it ain't all about just what I want.Hey at least she wants to move back to Chicago with me.
here and now
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dxsare Veteran user 361 Posts |
Well everybody knows that men and woman aren't compatible!
Stevie D
-Stevie D
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Amon Regular user Chicago, IL 134 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-25 22:16, dxsare wrote: Vs. what?? uhh...i'm hoping you didn't take my "turn tricks" comments seriously..lol
here and now
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Brady Loyal user Los Angeles, CA 235 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-25 22:16, dxsare wrote: It's not a matter of gender, but of passion. People without your passion (i.e. love for magic, in this case), for the most part, aren't really interested in your passion and can't share that joy and exhilaration that it gives you. Brady |
Rupert Bair Inner circle ? 2179 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-25 06:22, Wayne Whiting wrote: He is also one of the finest drinks. |
Kevin Mc Lean New user Kevin Mc Lean 57 Posts |
Hi Wayne and all,
I guess I'm lucky. I started twisting balloons and doing magic at markets, fairs and occasionally the street at my wife's suggestion. I believe her exact words were "I think you can make some money doing that..." One of the best ways of making sure you have her permission is to come home with a hat full of money, tell her you've been busking and say "I'm not sure if I should do this honey." The first thing she'll do is say is "Of course you can. You've got to be happy..." The second thing she'll do is take the money... Trust me, if you can make a decent amount doing it - it's amazing how the objections vanish. Go for it. I've always said that it generally takes two things to succeed: The attitude and the skills (and if you've got the attitude you can usually acquire the skills). You've obviously got the desire - so give it a shot - just make sure you don't jeopardise your finances doing it. Best Wishes, |
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