Do you use a rope, chalk, water, etc to mark your "stage" from your edge? If not, why? What are some of the pros and cons of either? This may be a personal opinion or even dependant on your venue, but I am curious as to what most people do and why.

I personally do not. I suppose there could be pros to it. But I don't because of all the places (so far) I have busked at I tend to be in an area where at some point I had to move the crowd; even if a few feet. I like to practice my crowd control on the streets; so I just like the idea of no "stage".

G'day Matt

All the options you mentioned have worked for different people at different times.

I choose to use a rope when it seems like a good idea - and it can also be used as a prop.

Bob Latta (aka Troppo Bob)

I started on street magic with a stripped rope for the edge line. I think it's useful for those starting out as it gives a basis for telling people where to stand, for getting them to come forward, and move back. You do need to be able to control the physical location of your crowd [as well as getting their attention and keeping it when they are at the edge line]. After a good number of outings I no longer bothered with a rope line as I found I could get the people to move in and move out as I wanted. I'm glad to say that, in general, I don't have a problem with people standing too far away. Gazzo pointed out in the DVD set -3 disks: School of Busking by Mario Morris and Gazzo - a way to draw in people who are too far away. It's a useful technique at times if you haven't got a table anyway.

Thanks for all your responses. As a new busker I wasn't sure if it made crowd control easier or harder with a rope.

To biggest advantage of using a rope or chalk is that you create a group. imagine a theater you are standing on stage and looks into the audience. when there are not many people they will sit at different places. one on the front row two on row three etc. why because people are afraid of people they don't know. so what I do is that I show my leadership and ask everybodu to come and sit on row one. now I have created a group of people and not some bystanders.

this idea applys to the chalk line and rope line. they become a unit.

Happened about a Magician busking a few weeks ago...he had a good sized crowd formed up in large semi-circle in front of him. No rope or chalk, but distanced varied from 4 to 8 feet away, a bit irregullar, but all in all, well spaced, not crowding his table or block views or walkways. For some reason, as he's doing a sponge ball routine he became obsessed with crowd control. As he finished one effect in routine, he ran over to one part, telling them to take step back. Went back to routine, finished another part, then ran over to another area of crowd and asked them to step forward. Then began telling parts of crowd to move over as he's doing his patter. Was completely distracting; ruined the routine and people began trickling away. Remember, you're performing on the street...focus on performance..