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chrisrkline Special user Little Rock 965 Posts |
Although I have done some busking for magicians and for my local church at carnivals, I had not actually gone to the streets and tried to busk.
Well last night we had a Boo at the Zoo fundraiser for the zoo. I was hired to do a short stage presentation. I planned to do two effects, for about 25 minutes, Haydn's Mongolian Pop Knot and Danny Archer's GI Bill routines. When I got there, they had me scheduled for only 15 minutes, so I did the ropes. The audience was not big, but it went over well, which was great, since this was also my first small stage show. Afterwards, I went to the "Midway" and set up my table and did my c&b busking routine. I stuck with just the cups, because most of the families are there for the candy and the games, and I figured that they might not want to stop for 25 minutes. I performed the routine about 10 times over about two and a half hours. I was nervous calling people to watch, but after I started it got easier. But the whole thing went great. I am guessing I showed about 100 to 120 people. I got good reactions and I felt good enough to experiment with some different approaches to the phases of the routine (I do Gazzos) and even better, I handled the inevitable mistakes without a hitch. That is what I was proudest of. My first show, I was doing the part where I remove all but one of the little balls and then have them jump back to the empty cups--but I went through the phase and realized I had forgotten to do any loads. I finally got a load under the middle cup and then revealed it and did a second load, but I was two loads short. I set up the hat and then improvised and was able to get five total loads before I showed the hat. I was very nervous when I got there, and was starting to have second thoughts about this whole busking thing, but now I am energized.
Chris
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Ron Reid Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 2732 Posts |
Hi Chris:
I love hearing stories like yours! It really motivates and encourages me. Congratulations on your successful night and as they say, "thanks for sharing." Ron |
JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
How'd you do hat-wize?
Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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chrisrkline Special user Little Rock 965 Posts |
This was a volunteer fundraiser for the zoo. I was paid for the 15 minute show I did, but the busking was just me--no hat passing, though. So that is still the aspect of busking that I have yet to explore. That is next. But getting out there and calling the crowds was the first hurdle.
Chris
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DamienT98 Regular user London UK now live in Austin Tx 180 Posts |
Congratulations, sounds like you did a good job!
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BroDavid Inner circle America’s North Coast, Ohio 3176 Posts |
You now have gotten the first half (in my opinion, the easiest part. No tthat it is easy, but it is easier, in comparison to what comes next...) under your belt, and that is great. Congratulations!
Being able to work through the unexpected is a key to survival on the street. Whether you just forgot, (we all do) or had an "incident" occur, you have to keep it going! Well Done. And just being willing to step out that way, is a big step. So, please don't take this wrong. What you did was outstanding. But I think the very hardest part of busking, is setting up the hat and collecting the tip. Hat lines have to be woven through the routine, and not seem pushy or like greed. You have to let them know why you are doing it, and what is expected from them. And then you have to ask for it. I have trained a lot of Salespeople over the past 30+ years, and the hardest thing for most of them is asking for the Order. They talk, they relate, they show the goods - figuratively, and then they just wait. They wait, because they think the prospect should know what to do, and because they are afraid of offending of seeming pushy. What they absolutely forget, is why they talked, and showed, etc. It was to get the Order! The good ones, show their wares, and explain why the prospect needs what they are selling, gets agreement on the need, agreement on the solution, and asks for the order. It is the same in Busking. You have to educate them as to what you expect from them too, remind them of what you gave them, and how it met their need, and then you have to ask them to live up to their end. If you are just there to entertain. Fine, you are an entertainer. But if you are there to perform and be rewarded by the audience for that performance, you are a busker... So set it up, build it up, make it make sense, and then ask for it. But once again Chris, that is a great story. And you did a fine job. BroDavid
If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
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chrisrkline Special user Little Rock 965 Posts |
I know that the hat lines are the hardest. I too was a sales person who sold high quality goods. I was flabergasted at what we were told to do to get the money. I didn't like to do that at first, but I learned.
I have hat lines--but having the theory is not the same as doing it--and doing it in the right tone of voice, with the right body language, etc.
Chris
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