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Zack Special user 551 Posts |
I'm still trying to iron out the right time for a street show. If its too long, you'll lose people. If its too short, they won't tip, because they feel that they came in at the end.
This IMHO, is what makes cups and balls such a great street trick. It has a narrative flow, so they don't walk out in the middle. (I harldy ever lose them once I start the cups.) My preference is to do short shows, because I can knock out more of them. Also, if its a bum crown, I can turn them over and get to working for tipper. i suspect that a longer show might produce better hats, though. |
vernon Special user Scotland 559 Posts |
Ive seen Nik Nikolas at the Edinburgh festival continually build large crowds using jokes, asides, bombastick behaviour, and risque jokes, and it all leads to him doing the cups. He did a triumph but his initial puller was the humour oh and dice stacking...and when he had built a suitable crowd he let rip.
Great learning curve. Vernon |
Kozmo V.I.P. 5473 Posts |
I have heard that this nik guy has basically copied the Gazzo show. Don't know if its true...But it's what I have heard....
koz |
lithis Loyal user 298 Posts |
What I do, and have had work rather successfully, is to do a medium length show and involve many different people. Something so simple as holding the deck for a second involves the crowd and they will feel more like they SHOULD tip. Aim for 10 minutes using effects that are short in length. If someone does come in in the middle, include them in the next effect. This will cause the other people who have already participated to tip and rotate with the newer folks. Works like a charm.
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Kozmo V.I.P. 5473 Posts |
Listen, if you can keep them then longer is better. Environment will dictate length of show. Gazzos show is about 45 minutes. I saw him go for an hour and 20. He kept building, telling jokes. He’s the best at this...the best. Cellini’s show almost never varies...15 minutes...my show will last 7 to 20 minutes...I 'm not Gazzo and I'm not Cellini, not even in the same breath. Environment dictates the length. New Orleans.: 10 minutes. A festival; 20 minutes. Depends, .my show is modular. I can just ad a routine. I have 4 that I regularly use, I will plug one in. If I don't feel I can build an audience, not enough people... I do a card routine...If I can build I use a rope routine. It plays bigger Then I always end the same way, with a chop cup thing.. But inside of that routine. there are tons of comedy bits that I can put in or pull out. If the audience is big and has energy I do all of it...if its a smaller audience...lots of the stuff wont work...
What I'm saying is this.....your show should vary in length with you looking at your situation....its likely never going be set in stone If they look like they are going to walk, I'm going to finish and get the money before they go........ I know for a lot of us, its not about money. But think of this; without money, there is no art. Cellini told me that. He’s right. If you have to work a job, you are spending 10 hours a day working that job, which could be used working on your art. I prefer to do magic than anything else, so I get the money.... Hey Danny, are you interested in the MONEY!....? koz |
JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Besides being money--which we like for it's own sake--I think the money is also a way to keep score of how well you're doing.
Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Danny Hustle Inner circle Boston, MA USA 2393 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-03-02 11:45, tedb wrote: I’m a single parent with a four year old and a mortgage. You bet I’m out there for the money. But (there is always a but isn’t there) I cannot make any money if that is what is foremost in my mind. I have to go out there as if I am doing it for nothing more than the sheer joy it gives me to bring a good time to the people I am performing for. I have been an entertainer my entire life. I grew up surrounded by guys and gals that lived for nothing more than spreading a good time. There is nothing in this world that gives me more personal satisfaction than someone coming up to me and saying, “I had a great time thank you!” Fortunately by having this goal first by the end of my show people are breaking their arms and tearing their shorts to yank the frog skins from their pockets to stick it in my hat. I remember a day last summer when I was just as flat as a busted balloon and I needed cash badly. I went out and did shows in cold blood and didn’t do nearly as well as I do when I put money at the bottom of the list. There have been times since that I have been in a bigger bind financially but I psyched myself out before going on to put that into the last car on the train. When I did, I made more money. Cellini is right, there is no art without money. But we have to honor our responsibility to the people we perform for first. Without that enthusiasm and honest display of showmanship we may as well be shaking a cup. This is a tough thing to do when you are stuck in the Big Easy without a pot or a window and your truck is in the expensive lot but we do it. Don’t we though Koz. Just like yankin' a hat out of a rabbit. Sometimes it is the most deceptive trick we do all day. Best, Dan- "MT is one of the reasons we started this board! I’m so sick of posts being deleted without any reason given, and by unknown people at that." - Steve Brooks Sep 7, 2001 8:38pm ©1999-2014 Daniel Denney all rights reserved. |
Kozmo V.I.P. 5473 Posts |
Hey ...Thats right danny...I tell you what...that day looked bleak....but I went out ...worked my butt off...first hat was enough to get the truck out...Then I was happy....Worst thing thoat would have happened is I had to sleep in it
Ah, what a life I lead ...I'm honored that you remembered that story Danny....truly.... koz |
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
I am am doing street magic in the summer for a living. but I go out there to have fun with the audience. for me this is important, if you are having fun so will be your audience.
About the lenght of your show in the streets, this depends on the type of show you want to do. Do you want to do a classic street magic show or a circle show. When I started out doing street magic I did a 10 minute show and gradually progressed to a 40 minute show. My beleif is that you can do better a longer show because people should feel they got a complete show. Short shows are ok but the longer ones make the money. I have heard the rule is 4 short shows equels one big show. Because I choose to do a bigger show, my show won't do good in every situation. This is my choice. In the end doing bigger shows is just having confidence in your ability as an entertainer and choosing the right pit. Believing in yourself and knowing when do do the money lines is what makes the money. |
Brady Loyal user Los Angeles, CA 235 Posts |
To Koz and Danny,
Great posts guys! I paid big bucks for books and tapes that didn't have as much valuable info as those posts. Regards, Brady |
Kozmo V.I.P. 5473 Posts |
you,re welcome...
listen robert....i can do a circle show,...do them all the time...and i can take the same show and do it for 6 people....ona sidewalk....all i do is adjust the second routien of my show....it goes from a show that plays small toa show that plays big.... so i can take it inside and do it a a bar....on a bar stool....at a table....in front of 300 people ont he streets..it doesn't matter...it works everywhere....what if its raining...and i need some money for little things...like,....say ....FOOD!...inside I go...if a resaurant with a bar is busy....i can make $50 in an hour...EVERYTIME!!!!!.......if i stay for 2 hours I have a hotel room and a great meal!...my show will work anywhere... I'm a traveller....a gypsy....and for me....its important to be able to work in any envirnment...its a very cool thing... koz.... |
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
that's a good thing to do koz. I can do my show for 6 people and for 200 people too. it takes time to make a show like that but it is worth it.
That's what i like about my show with e few effects to do as much possible situations. if your are a beginner this is difficult because you have to learn so much. after a while you get the confidence in you entertainment and your ability as an entertainer. this is where the fun starts for me. |
Danny Hustle Inner circle Boston, MA USA 2393 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-03-02 11:45, Kozmo wrote: I miss Kozmo's posts man.. "MT is one of the reasons we started this board! I’m so sick of posts being deleted without any reason given, and by unknown people at that." - Steve Brooks Sep 7, 2001 8:38pm ©1999-2014 Daniel Denney all rights reserved. |
pslaughter Loyal user 270 Posts |
Man this was a great thread,
wish we had more like them today... |
Danny Hustle Inner circle Boston, MA USA 2393 Posts |
Amen!
"MT is one of the reasons we started this board! I’m so sick of posts being deleted without any reason given, and by unknown people at that." - Steve Brooks Sep 7, 2001 8:38pm ©1999-2014 Daniel Denney all rights reserved. |
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