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drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
Dear Todd,
It's great to see you as a guest of honor here! I've noticed that while there are very few touring sideshows compared to the old days, sideshow performers have pushed into new venues: theater, as in your show, rock concerts, as in the Jim Rose circus, and art galleries. Please comment on expanding sideshow into new venues. What venues do you think are being underutilized? Yours, Paul |
Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
Well, you see a lot of sideshow performance in the Ren Faires. This is a good fit and there is probably more work there. There's a lot of potential for working the streets with sideshow performance. That's how Jim Rose got his start. Johnny Fox also has spent a lot of time honing his act on the streets. These are two areas of possibilities.
Doing a theater show has a great deal of potential, but you have to know what you are doing and measure up to the artistic quality of other theater shows. It's hard. I'm a little surprised there's not more sideshow performance in Las Vegas. The corporate market and tradeshow field is rather limited because of the lack of imagination and courage on the part of the booker in this area. It will probably just take one person to break through and show how successful someone can be in this field and it will open up to others. The worlds of the sideshow and tradeshow are very closely related, so I know a sideshow tradeshow workder would kill. I guess you could also do sideshow act walkaround at a restaurant, but it would have to be just the right kind of place! |
JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
Sideshow walk-around act? hmmm ... if anyone wanted to try that, I can suggest "Dick's Last Resort", the food is served in 5 gallon buckets, the wait staff is trained to insult you, and they often make you serve your own food. I'd say it is defidently the kind of place for a sideshow act!
http://www.dickslastresort.com
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
Let add a couple of other things.
The college market can be a winner, but it's a lot of work. I have done that market for about fifteen years. I will just add that if you are doing sideshow performance, the chances of you being booked by a female activities director or female student activities counsel member are slim. I'm sorry if that sound sexist. It's just my experience. It's not really performance, but if you want to make money, check out what Café member Doug Higley has to offer. You can take one of his 'zibits, frame it the way he teaches and work street fairs every weekend. I think you could make a full time living off of this. I will probably end up doing that when I get to old to blow up hot water bottles. And that could be any day now. |
Corona Smith Inner circle Airstrip One 1689 Posts |
A lot of current art is performance based. Unfortunately often this is an excuse for a bad act, you guys'd clean up!
Much respect to you and your sideshow tradition. I read your topics in 'carnival of fun' with keen interest, P.s Dr. Wilson your flea circus is wonderful. All the best, Corona. |
Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
Thank you very much Todd...you're not only THE best you're most gracious at being THE best.
As to not being 'Performance'...you are correct of course...though when I went 'out' with my stuff, I always looked at it as a form of Performance Art and if you read Harry Murphey's latest gambit in the Sideshow threads, of 'showing' his 'Zibit out of the trunk of his car, he wound up entertaining the Q Lines that formed...so I would recommend that any person doing this stuff be comfortable with dealing with an audience...you'll have more fun that way rather than just taking the small change and waving them in. And this is all about us having fun! (ain't it) Doug
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
Though I do believe anyone could make money with a 'zibit and a little work, a showman can make more.
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DrNorth Veteran user North Starr Entertainment, Harrisburg PA 364 Posts |
I'll show my ignorance, what is a zibit?
"For it shows things that were, and things that are, and things that yet may be. But which it that he sees, even the wisest cannot always tell" ~Galadriel "A heretic is a man who sees with his own eyes." |
Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
It's a word I made up that's a version of 'Exhibit'.
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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DrNorth Veteran user North Starr Entertainment, Harrisburg PA 364 Posts |
TY Mr Higley, I just found your site. Darned crazy stuff
"For it shows things that were, and things that are, and things that yet may be. But which it that he sees, even the wisest cannot always tell" ~Galadriel "A heretic is a man who sees with his own eyes." |
Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
Dr. North,
You and Doug are, to quote Bogart in Casablanca, "a start of a beautiful friendship." You could make a good bit of change in the Ren Faire market with some of Doug's work. |
MagicMan1957 Inner circle 1445 Posts |
Mr. Robbins,
Dunno if this is off topic BUT.....can someone make a living doing a great Flea Circus Act? |
Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
If you are itching to do a Flea Circus (Oh, it's just like comedy!) you can make money at it. There are a number of folks that are doing it full time right now.
There is a Flea Circus thread on the Café somewhere. It's in Believe it or Not or Carnival of Fun. The secret to a great Flea Circus is to make the fleas talk. It's like a two person comedy act or a vent act without a dummy. You give the straight line to the imaginary flea, listen to the response and then repeat that punch line to the audience. I would love to see someone do a REAL Flea Circus along the lines of Prof. Roy Heckler. |
DrNorth Veteran user North Starr Entertainment, Harrisburg PA 364 Posts |
I am currently working as a barista part time at a Starbucks, my manager found out that I do sideshow stunts and magic and wants me to do a routine some saturday. I explained exactly what it is I do and she still was interested. I guess one never knows what venues will open up for this stuff.
"For it shows things that were, and things that are, and things that yet may be. But which it that he sees, even the wisest cannot always tell" ~Galadriel "A heretic is a man who sees with his own eyes." |
Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
As Fats Waller often said, "One never knows, do one?"
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DrNorth Veteran user North Starr Entertainment, Harrisburg PA 364 Posts |
Hmmm, Doug, I think Todd may be right. When I earn some of that Renn faire money I MUST visit your sight. All I have right now is a fairly convincing alien baby. I love that whacked stuff, or was my avatar a bit of a giveaway. Guess whose house is the most visited/avoided at Halloween in my neighborhood......
"For it shows things that were, and things that are, and things that yet may be. But which it that he sees, even the wisest cannot always tell" ~Galadriel "A heretic is a man who sees with his own eyes." |
Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
Todd said: "It's not really performance, but if you want to make money, check out what Café member Doug Higley has to offer. You can take one of his 'zibits, frame it the way he teaches and work street fairs every weekend. I think you could make a full time living off of this."
So...because of requests for the How-To, I have made that teachin' info available on the site. I won't go into the details here but Todd finally made me write it up proper! it ain't free but then...maybe it is. Take a look.
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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