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Stperformer Loyal user 291 Posts |
Recently, after I had finished hatting, I was approached by a lady. She explained to me that her father had passed away 6 weeks ago and her mother, who was standing beside her, was devastated and had been in tears since. She had not smiled once since then.
The lady explained that even though her mother spoke little english, my show had, for the first time since her husbands death, put a smile on her face. She then proceeded to give a big hug.(and, yes, put a generous donation in the hat). Folks, that is why I Street Perform (no, not the tip!). After soooo many years draging meself to the pitch, putting up with all the crud, fustration, exhaustion, etc.....it is moments like that that make it all worthwhile. And that's what I have found to be the most important part of a successful show, for me. To be able to affect the audience emotionaly. To make them feel good at the end of the show. To have a human interaction with the audience. Earlier this year I had largest single hat I had ever gotten on the actual street. It was huge by anyones and I mean anyone's standards. The funny thing was that I had absolutely no expectation that day. I was just performing for 'the people', making their day, becoming part of their lives. And the $money$ followed. But while the money certainly raises my standard of living, it moments like the followuing that make my day and have kept me lugging my gear to pitches on this planet for what's probably way too long. The young girl, maybe 5 years old, who comes up to my hat, opens her change purse, picks out a quarter of her own money and drops it into my hat. It might not seem like much, but to her, she just put in a large amount of her total financial assets. The chap who comes up after the show and explains that at the moment he is out of work and has nothing to spare but just wanted to shake my hand and tell me how much he enjoyed my act. The couple who wave me over at the pub, after I finished for the nite and gone for a quick brew. They buy a beer (or two (or three)) and we spend the next hour discussing everything from travel to sports. The ederly couple who ask me if I am going to be there tomorrow and then show up with their grandchild because they want him to see 'this' magician. I'm sure you lot have many instances like the above that have made your day. I've always maintained that if you head out the door each day with the intent to make money, you won't last. Busking is too much of a fustrating endevour, But if you go to the pitch each day with the intent wowing the audience, becoming part of their lives, getting them to forget the aches, pain, and sorrows, getting to KNOW THEM......well the rest kinda follows |
Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
EXCELLENT POST Stperformer!!!!! Yes those are the moments that make it all worthwhile. When I started, for me it was about the money, but I learned very quickly that that attitude can be smelled by the crowds and they avoid you like you are a social disease. But when my viewpoint changed to entertaining the crowd instead of getting money from them, that's when I became successful. Funny you mention about a couple buying you a beer. I was working a festival, no money just tips and was doing OK. Well the heat index was over 105F so I had to quit early. Well the beer vendor that I was near called me over and gave me a chair in the shade of their awning, then handed me a liter of beer. Do not drink a liter of beer when you're dehydrated!
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jimmy talksalot Special user new orleans 757 Posts |
Brilliant post as usual.
thank you. every time I read your posts it gives me hopes about my peers. |
Ekuth Inner circle Floating above my 1538 Posts |
THIS, +1.
Nailed it, Stperformer.
"All you need is in Fitzkee."
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Magician Shaun Special user Huntington BCH, CA 924 Posts |
Every time a little kid gives me some of their own money, whether it is a quarter or two or whatever it is more amazing than the adult that puts a $5 in. I won't be a hypocrite and say that I don't want $5's and that I would rather just have the kids Quarter but the Quarter means a lot. It means that I touched someone.
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Ray Bertrand Inner circle Ottawa, Ontario 1452 Posts |
Do what you love... the money will follow!
Ray
Mentalism in Ontario.
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mota Inner circle 1658 Posts |
Stperformer, thank you for that post. It made a difficult and tiring day much happier.
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Rui New user Tavira, Portugal 19 Posts |
Reading your post was a great day to start the week. Keep up the great work.
Cheers, Rui |
Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts |
Yep kids giving you money is so nice. Also people that hang back and just want to tell you about how they enjoyed the show. I also laugh when I look in my hat and there a warped boil sweet. Once as I finished a set and photograph came up and said he doing a wedding photo and can I do a trick for the happy couple I did sponge bunnies. It was so good to do and they loved it and got some unique photos. About a hour and half after I left the pitch but went to the bar oppiste and sat out side with a cool beer. The best man appered again in the squer walk around a bit. then saw me cam up to me and said sorry we had no money on us I meant to get back sooner but got busy with the weding. he paid for a few drinks and tiped me. That was a good feeling
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
NICE
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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troppobob Veteran user Crescent Head Australia 372 Posts |
G'day Stperformer
I really enjoyed reading your reflections - It put me in touch with similar heart warming experiences. Thank you. Bob Latta (aka Troppo Bob) |
ekins Special user Portland, Oregon 513 Posts |
Very inspirational post Stperformer. I think you've impacted a few people here today. I hope I get to see you perform sometime.
-Brian |
howlinhobbit New user Seattle, WA 53 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-09-30 08:59, Stperformer wrote: I do so wish there was some sort of "like" or "+1" or "thumbs up" thing for the posts here. the littles get it faster than the bigs. I've been busking (first with magic, then with music) for about 30 years. and I'm going to restore some magic in my life now (thus me being here). I've made some fat hats, but some of the best things have been dancing babies, couples who spontaneously start to dance, and other stuff of that nature. a quick story from me. busking latish at night, guitar, vocals and harmonica, in the University District of Seattle, WA. it's a little drizzly so I'm definitely getting the trickle show thing. I look up and there's an old wino (no other word, sorry) leaned up against a car and watching me. can't for the life of me remember which song I was doing, but when I was done he came up and emptied the little dish he'd been panhandling with into my case. and there were tears running down his face. true, it wasn't a lot of money, and he refused to take it back. I had touched him somehow and he wanted to return the favor. he did. I'm practically tearing up typing this. |
ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
I was trying to draw a crowd when a mother brought her little girl out of the playground. The little girl was sobbing because she didn't want to leave although she was frankly, exhausted. When I expressed sympathy for her distress, her mother said; "Oh, she's really tired." I replied, "She's not tired, she just has one of these stuck behind her ear!" and pulled out a sponge ball!
I ran the sponge ball routine for her (Mark Wilson - Encyclopedia of Magic) and as I reached the end, the father showed up in the car. The little girl looked at me, happy eyes shining and said; "That's my daddy, I have to go now." Her mother tipped me a five. That's always been one of my favorite busking days. (Did the same thing once at Walt Disney World, without the busking. Just trying to amuse a (different) little girl who was getting cranky waiting for Aladdin and Jasmine to show up.)
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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