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Raymond Singson Loyal user 259 Posts |
My own street persona is actually based on a few silent movies I'm sure you've all recognized. I've always been a big fan of Charlie Chaplin, so think of him when you read through the act. It all takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and has been enjoyed by several people in the past.
A comedic hobo stumbles in front of the audience with a miniature top hat upon his head, a folding table under his arm, and a walking cane supporting his weight. He looks around, obviously delighted with the crowd, and sets up his stage. The portable table is set upon the sidewalk, and the miniature top hat is placed on to it's surface. The hobo's full length walking cane surprisingly fits into the top hat whereupon the show begins. Several ragged silks are produced out of thin air. They continue to change color and fly around the the performer to his own amazement. From the colorful mess of silks, the hobo produces a full shot glass. The shot glass seems to mulitiply between his own finger tips under increasingly impossbile circumstances. They all proceed to vanish simultaneously--in their place, is a full cocktail glass resting on the hobo's open palm. As the contents of the glass are poured into a nearby child's hand, the liguid changes into a handful of colored sponge balls! A brief demonstration of sponge ball manipulation is performed--they vanish, reappear, and multiply in the child's hands! One of the sponges are lit on fire, whereupon it vanishes in a sudden flash of light--only to transform into a long stemmed rose which a lady spectator may keep for herself. Pleased with what he had done, he walks back toward his top hat resting upon the table. He reaches into the small hat to reproduce his long walking cane, puts on the hat, folds up the table and amusingly walks away. After I perform this main colorful bit, I like to mingle through the audience and perform some intimate close-up magic, one-on-one with some of the spectators. Most of the time, they all stick around to see what else I have to offer--I'm usually satisfied with the tips I make from this performance. It's just fun to do. Tell me what you think... RT Sometimes, I also do a bit of card manipulation instead of spongeballs to attract a wider, more diverse crowd.
“The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions which have been hidden by the answers.” -- James Arthur Baldwin
raymond.singson@gmail.com |
Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
Hey RTS (etc), I’d like to watch your act. It seems to be done as a silent act. Right? You mention that you get good tips. I am wondering how you make your pitch for them? How are you telling your audience that you are working for tips?
I am just wondering. Still and all, sounds like a nice, tight, very visual, and very magical routine that is fun to watch.
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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Raymond Singson Loyal user 259 Posts |
Harry,
You're right; it is a silent act. My money pitch is pretty straight forward--before I start the show, I simply walk around the area with a glass jar or top hat, and perform the Miser's Dream. Everytime I drop a coin into the hat I get happier, and the limp carnation in my jacket pocket starts to rise everytime I let someone put in some change as well. And I use that as a running gag throughout the routine--if the jar or hat hasn't been receiving many donations, the carnation slowly goes limp again. I depend a lot on my own facial expressions and body language--much like Charlie Chaplin and Hobo Joe--even like the Orignal 3 Stooges. The more fun I have with it, the more the people seem to tip me. And when I perform the mingle magic, I come out of character and act as myself. I just talk to everyone in the crowd, and by simply socializing, I've gotten some good money. I guess my age has also benefitted the amount I've received--just by being 17, some people enjoy seeing young talent and approve the sight with their wallets. RT
“The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions which have been hidden by the answers.” -- James Arthur Baldwin
raymond.singson@gmail.com |
Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
RTS (etc), I love it! Good thinking! I agree that people love seeing youngsters with talent! Have you ever thought about NOT breaking character? That is, keep in character while doing the mingling magic bit? I think that you have built something good and would love to see you work!
I should have been so polished at 17!!! Heck, I should be so polished now!
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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Raymond Singson Loyal user 259 Posts |
Harry,
My stage character is actually geared more toward the kids so that absolutely everyone finds appeal in the show. I heard somewhere that kids are supposed to be the main, primary audience of a street performance-- as long as you have children's attention, their parents will stay around as well to watch the entertainment. If you do a good job keeping the kids interested and behaved, they can't really help but donate some money toward the performance. I intended to have the mingling magic geared toward those who weren't quite satisfied with the clownish persona. I like to show that I am indeed a real human being, and I proceed to display my attitudes through the closeup magic I perform. I try to reach a diverse crowd using different stage characters... it's worked well for me so far. But I've only performed this act about twenty times in the past year, so perhaps I'll give your suggestion a try just see what happens. Any more tips or advice? RT
“The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions which have been hidden by the answers.” -- James Arthur Baldwin
raymond.singson@gmail.com |
Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Showmann,
What an absolutely beautiful routine! Would that more performers understood, as you do, the need for a structured act. I would truly love to see you in action; it would, indeed, be something to behold. Well done! cheers, Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com |
Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
Man, I’d hate to mess with a good thing. You seem to have it working right now. Twenty times is starting to give you an idea of a rhythm. I think I would want you to perform it a lot more before I started changing anything. I guess what I am trying to say is “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it!”
Keep us posted as to what seems to work best and what is not working up to expectation and maybe we can offer a little long distance help. I'd like to see the act before I tried to change it! Keep on performing friend!
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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Bird Brain Regular user 161 Posts |
RT,
I want to give you a VERY high compliment on your routine! Reading the description of it, I felt kinda like I did when I had just started playing guitar, and I heard Eddie Van Halen's song "Eruption" for the first time. It OPENED MY EYES TO HOW GOOD PEOPLE CAN GET!!! "Eruption" is an AMAZING song, with Eddie playing guitar AMAZINGLY fast... Reading the discription of your routine was just like listening to "Eruption" ...Mind opening! Keep up the good work! You're gonna go far! 5150, Bird Brain
Yes I know my enemies
They're the teachers who taught me to fight me Compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission Ignorance, hypocrisy, brutality, the elite All of which are American Dreams, All of which are American Dreams |
JBmagic Regular user New Jersey 110 Posts |
Awesome Ideas there RTS, kudos to you for keeping the magic alive!
I am a few hours from you, but I visit the railroad up there once in a while. I would love to hook up and chat, and watch your act.
Jay Buchanan
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Brian Proctor Inner circle Somewhere 2323 Posts |
Hey RT, Your routine sounds very entertaining. I wish I had the oppourtunity to see it myself. I've always liked silent performances, this one sounds like it tops them all. Good luck on future shows.
Brian |
Starry Loyal user New York 219 Posts |
RT,
I'm in agreement with everyone that it sounds as if you've really got a good thing going. I 've never tried to work a silent act on the street, and always relied upon jokes and a loud voice to make money. Several magician's have been highly successful with silence, I'm sure you will too. To increase your tips, you might think of a couple of things. One is to develop a big finish of some kind that lets the audience know it is time to tip. This could be something that you attempt a few times through your act but fail, then on your last attempt by some miracle or help from the audience you succeed. A simple vanish of some sort would work. The idea is to build. Secondly, you might "teach" someone in the audience to do the miser's dream. They would of course not be able to make a coin appear until you planted one in their pocket. After they pull one out of their pocket you demonstrate how they can pull them from other's pockets. (looking for donations)Just a thought. Live the magic! Ace
Ace Starry - Author or THE MAGIC LIFE - A NOVEL PHILOSOPHY
http://www.starry.com/ |
Raymond Singson Loyal user 259 Posts |
Mr. Ace Starry! Wow, I've heard so much about you, sir. Your name has been referred to me so many times in the past, but I unfortunately never really knew who you were. I recently did my research, and I understand that you've actually studied with several of my own idols, including Tony Slydini, Dai Vernon, and Paul Harris. That's amazing... I also viewed the several photo albums on your site-- it's very impressive. Thank you for all your kind words-- I hardly find my modest routine all that praiseworthy from someone of your diverse background. I've actually attempted doing things like pickpocketing (and pocket loading) in the past, but I felt it was too difficult to continue doing so. I've become very good at stealing watches, but I find it too hard when doing a silect act. I can't seem to find the misdirection in loading a person with a coin (or any other object for that matter) without the use of words. I'll continue to take your advice into consideration; thank you again. RT Can we keep in touch over e-mail? I'd like to discuss more about street magic in the future. I seem to have more of a passion for the streets than I do for any other venue. RTShowmann1985@icqmail.com
“The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions which have been hidden by the answers.” -- James Arthur Baldwin
raymond.singson@gmail.com |
Magicman0323 Special user Just outside parts unknown. 713 Posts |
RTS, it really sounds like a good show, you only live about an hour or so away from me. Perhaps I might have to stop by and check it out sometime. It sounds great !!!
You'll wonder when I'm coming, you'll wonder even more when I'm gone. - Max Malini
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