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Glenn Alloway Regular user Edmonton AB Canada 103 Posts |
Wow, these are great posts. Thanks for all the help.
I really need to find a good way to "build on people’s curiosity." I like the way that was worded. I made a pathetic attempt at this by using card flourishes. This was not good. But I don't think it was because of the card flourishes. It was lack of noise, lack of volume, and maybe even a lack of trying. It wasn't intentional, I'm just new, I figured people would be interested in a guy and a deck of cards. I'm a magician, I would be intersted, but most people are not. Most people think they are going to get another dumb card trick. What I need to work on is the words, the volume and the build up. It sounds Like the pro's are using a huge build up to draw a crowd. "Hey I'm going to be doing the most fantastic thing's ever!!!!" and then start small and build the act and finish with the most fantastic thing ever. My approach was more. "hey look at this guy he might do a card trick." I think I'm getting the idea, I need much more build, and much more energy right off the bat. One other item I had on my perforance improvement list was getting the audience to applaud. I can get big reactions, but I think the applause is key so that more people stop to hear the commotion. Gazzo had mentioned this point in "Krowd keeping" I know it should be easy, but it was a hard thing for me to remember to do as I was performing. I'll try again, practise makes perfect. Wayno, You are absouteley right on the 15-25 year-old thing. I've noticed that this is the target audience that pays well and reacts the best. I've tailored a good part of my show to this type of crowd. I'm gonna try again on Friday, see if I can pull bigger crowds. I also like Mario's idea of leading the one thing into the other. Something that I will have to try as I work to build the show. Thanks again for all your help and suggestions.
"This is madness and yet there is method in it." ~Shakespeare
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Gia New user Edmonton, Canada 18 Posts |
Hey Glenn, Were you ever at Streetfest this year? I believe you were doing 2card monte for me when ROn stole me away. ANyways, if you are out this Friday I'd love to catch your show on whyte. See you then.
GIA
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Brent McLeod Inner circle 1792 Posts |
Great posts & advice guys
Im sure we can all learn from these-very helpful!!!! |
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wayno Veteran user Canada 323 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-08-08 14:43, Glenn Alloway wrote: Flourishes will not get you any attention. I don't want to start a flame war with anyone who is hardcore into flourishing, but flourishes have no place on the street. Your voice, and your character are the only two things that will build your edge. :cool: |
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BAH1313 Elite user Ohio 445 Posts |
Not just noise, but something a little different. Especially one that kids like or turn around to see what the heck that is. Like Cellini said, "stop a child and you'll stop a crowd" Basically, if you're doing something interesting enough to stop a child, their parents pretty much have to stop too. And mama and papa have the money! So, give junior what he wants. Be weird and funny. They'll stop
I am truly blessed to have a job where people are laughing all the time and everyone believes in magic....Come to think of it, I'm blessed to even have a job.
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Glenn Alloway Regular user Edmonton AB Canada 103 Posts |
Wayno,
"Flourishes will not get you attention" - True "Flourishes have no place on the street" - False There is a time and a place for everything. Anything goes on the street, and therefore flourishes have there place and time. Flourishes are not a good way to get attention and build an audience, however, flourishes are a good way to help me relax before a show. I won't ever start a show by saying "Hey look at what I can do." BAH, I've tried stopping children with limited success. I've found some parents are evry hesistant to let there children talk to a guy on the street. But sometimes it is just the opposite. I'll kleep playing with the idea though. I think it can work very well, I just need to get better at reading the parents. As always the insights are appreciated. ~Glenn
"This is madness and yet there is method in it." ~Shakespeare
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BAH1313 Elite user Ohio 445 Posts |
Try giving the parents a "wink" then approach the kids. Remember your feet are not stapled down and you can move around a bit. In most cases, the parents encourage the kids to participate, and they understand you are not some wierdo trying to abduct them or something. And remember KEEP SMILING and acting surprised at whats going on. They will too! I sometimes use a squeaker in the palm of my hand and a spongeball. I poke the spongeball and then let them do it. Then I poke 'em in the head and make it squeak again. Kids love this. They even poke their own head to try to make it squeak. Funny stuff to watch, and other people will stop to see what the heck is going on with that kids head. Then maybe I pull them in closer to start the show.
I am truly blessed to have a job where people are laughing all the time and everyone believes in magic....Come to think of it, I'm blessed to even have a job.
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Yfirum New user 73 Posts |
I too hit the streets today for the first time. I had quite a hard time out there, but I'm a littlebit proud of myself that I did it. The first time is the most difficult one (I hope ;-)
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wayno Veteran user Canada 323 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-08-09 17:01, Yfirum wrote: It is. After the first few times, standing on the street will feel natural. :cool: |
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wayno Veteran user Canada 323 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-08-09 14:09, Glenn Alloway wrote: True enough. I think really what I meant by that comment is it will not get people to stop, and it will not make people want to give you money. :cool: |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I found out a very important lesson this weekend when I was doing sreet stylke magic for a large music festival. I was on main street and I could basically set up anywhere I wanted to and handle my shows or performances in any style I chose. The goal was to get people to stop walking down the street when there was so many other visual distractions.
I tried numerous approaches but ultimately what worked amazingly well for me was a combination of 2 principles. 1) SOUND and 2) CURIOSITY It worked so amazingly well I was literally taken back by the effect. What I did was set up my iPod boom box and started some fairly loud and impactful techno/dance style music and began by doing card manipulations. However, I didn't even do a move for about 30 seconds. What I did was to wear my fedora. Place it on my head.. take a single card out and at finger tips and look at the card, then the crowd and then the card and then stared up into the sky. I followed this several times building this suspense. before I knew it a crowd was built around me casue they heard the music and wanted to know what I was looking at. the minute the music hit the first climatic section, the card vanished into the air and I start a fast paced manipulative segment. By the time I was only 30 seconds into the sequence, I look up and I have a crowd of well over 150+ folks. It was simply amazing. I honestly had no idea that would happen or even could happen for me. I simply tried something and a few tips others mentioned here and combined them together. It worked. I do think that sound can be a big attraction for people. People hear noise and a sound and are drawn to it. I also think curiosity keeps them there. They really wanted to know what I was looking at and what I was going to do with this card. Funny how it worked but it did work and I want to go back out there and try and learn more. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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wayno Veteran user Canada 323 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-08-09 18:03, magic4u02 wrote: That's great to hear. And an excellent addition to this thread. I could certainly see how the building anticipation could help build a crowd. I'm visualizing it in my mind and I certainly would stand around to see what is going to happen. Also interesting is the fact that you started your show off with manipulations. How effective did you find it to entertain them? What other effects did you perform? How was the response to the manipulation in comparison to the rest of you act? :cool: |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Wayne,
Thanks for the post and kind words. I have always loved manipulative magic from billiard balls to cards and so on. When I did this on the street, I learned to adapt moved to keep things angle proof. I was simply amazed by the reaction. Not only did people love the music and the manipulations, but they applauded with gasps and wopws and clapping as I did the short 1-2minute fast paced routine. I started with no crowd and by the time my song and manip segment was done, I had a crowd of well over 150+. I think it was the mix of the great music, with fast paced visual magic and curiosity that seemed to go hand in hand and worked for me this past weekend. By the time I had the crowd, it was easy to go right into my patter type effects that I do. I do a comedy finger chopper routine using "impossible Penetration". The entire effect is based really on getting a lot of laughs from the two helpers from the audience and also engaging the audience at the same time. I also do a rope escape bit that plays very well. I find the biggest guy I can find to do a sort of Keller rope tie behind my back. The comedy comes in the fact that I have to escape in record time while listening to the world's worst music. there is a lot of byplay between the big guy and myself. I do a card in show routine with a lady from the audience. She takes a card, signs it and places it back into a shuffled deck. She stands back and she tosses the cards in my direction at which oint I must try and catch one single card using my razor sharp and dangerous KITCHEN TONGS OF DEATH. It gets a great laugh as I am blind folded and the poor lady ends up tossing the cards in the air before I really want her to. In the end the signed card ends up in my show of which she reaches down and takes out to show the audience. For smaller crowds I do a great ambitious card routine themed around meeting a gambler in mississippi and how he told me the difference between a trick and a gambling stunt. I do a lot of other routines but you get the idea. I learned the key for me was comedy and direct interaction at all times with the audience. I engage them in every single routine I did on every show. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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BroDavid Inner circle America’s North Coast, Ohio 3176 Posts |
I use card flourishes, mosly one handed fans, along with "clever banter", big smiles, and plenty of eye contact to stop people. I use a brightly colored American flag deck, and the fans snapping out in red white and blue do get peoples attention. The deck is a two way deck and shows mostly stripes one way, and mostly blue with stars the other.
When I do flourishes, it isn't showing off. It has a purpose, and it works for me. Once I get a few stopped, the flourishes stop too. On Jackson Square in New Orleans, I was doing the flourishes, and a couple came up from behind me, (away from where I was flourishing) and asked "can you do a card trick for us?" I said yes, and told them that I have a great trick that needs a few more people to help out, so could they applaud, and yell a little, help me gather a few more, so I could show them this great card trick? They did, and I had a nice enough crowd (about 12-15) to start. I did Sankey's paperclipped, had the rest of the specs watching the prediction card. The couple loved it, and got a card souvenier, and couldn't get to my hat fast enough to show their apprecation. They did just what I told them to do. They applauded with their wallet. And it all started with a flourishes. Nothing always works all of the time for everyone. And there is nothing that won't work sometimes for someone. BroDavid
If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
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belotte New user 63 Posts |
Well I don't know if this thread is dead, but from my experience (which admittedly is slim). I can tell you about my experiences. I was performing about 6 days a week for about 2 months in San Francisco, Ca. For those who don’t know, this is a performer friendly place, and very big on tourists.
My first day out was terrible. I close with a straightjacket escape, and I got stuck for a half hour just trying to get out. I was wearing a special shirt that I thought would attract attention, but it bound up in the canvas jacket. I knew this, but forgot my first day (nerves I guess). I was stuck for a half an hour just getting out of that jacket… but I never made that mistake again. I know getting out there on the street is terrifying! But it truly is a liberating experience at the same time. If you are really shy like I am, it can be really pain full, but by then end of the day you’ll be telling your self… “Hell I can do this, I can do anything.” And that’s a good feeling. Just remember it’s not personal if they walk away. I was wearing all black thinking I would be “odd: and stand out. But I was told that I was scary. I since learned bright colors are good (pastel yellow being the best, why… I don’t know). Something else that I learned was being friendly to every one, the other performers, the homeless guys, etc. Even though I got "This is my spot” by the end of the day I had other performers pimping for me (and I for them). I had homeless guys hawking for me and even dropping the biggest tip at times. You never know who can help you out in a pinch. Also every one told me it takes about a year on the streets to figure out what you are doing. I do mean every one. I got this from the 3 card monty guys, the quick sketch artists, other magi, and all sorts of strange street performers. A couple said, “I couldn’t pay people to stop in the beginning. After about a year I just figured it out, and now I’m good”. Last thing (at leas at this time) I can tell you is I had the opportunity to hang out with a relatively successful street performer by the name of Chris something or other (sorry I cant remember the last name). I watched him pull in between $350 to $500 in forty five minutes (I would say a good haul). He waited till about 6 pm before he even did anything. He didn’t have to fight a work crowd then. He got people strolling and relaxed with time and I guess money. Secondly, the first thing he did was to put out a small sound system and pump out some ACDA. This got attention. But he didn’t do anything. He sat there for at least 30 min, just chatting to people and goofing around. Then he took another 15 minutes to set up, by this time he already had a big crowed. Of course he was masterful at pulling more and keeping those he had. One last thing I can tell you. On my fist day, I worked about 8 hours, I don’t know how many shows I did, but I got a grand total of about twenty-five to thirty dollars. Not very good, but I was thrilled I could make any money, on the street, with my raw skills. I decided every time I went out I would make more money, even if it was just a dollar. And I was able to accomplish that. So stick to your guns. Work hard and you’ll eventually get it right. Richard Belotte |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
The feeling I got by the second day was that I basically could control how this audience not only reacted to me, but I control when they clap and when they do not. It got to a point where I really grasped and connected with the audience unlike what I had experienced in the past.
I also learned that I had to also adapt my style and presentations to make them ready for the street. This happened naturally for me the more I worked the crowd for those two days this past weekend. I learned I really needed to stay in contact and react with and towards my audience. I engaged them constantly. This was much more then I ever do on my stage shows, but I felt it was neccesary and it worked for me. I also felt that I got away with much more comedy and a tad bit of a harsher attitude. I was not making fun of people or being rude, but my street character certainly had a lot more fun with being able to adlib off of situations from the crowd and my helpers. One thing that happened to me that I thought was going to KILL me ended up being a blessing in disguise. I got this big guy up to do a comedy rope escape I have been working on based upon a variation of the Keller Rope tie. Some of you may recall me mentioning this routine. Any ways it is done behind the back and the guy pulled and tied the rope and knots so darn tight my wrist and fingers were indeed pinched and turning blue. I kept a straight face and just thought..... my god I better be able to get out of this... It turned out that he really wanted me to not escape and he really tied me tight cause he was a biker guy wanting to impress his gang. When my hand slipped out as he was timing me and when he did not see it but the audience did, there was this thunderous laughter of which I had not heard before. I got back in the ropes before he even knew I was out of them. It went over wonderfully. I learned so much those two days and I am even more excited to go back out there and do it again. I took digital pics and I will try and post one here of me performing for the big crowds on main street. That is if anyone is intersted. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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Rik Chew Special user 538 Posts |
Its be good to see somepictures, Ive never seen any of a street performer; Itd be good to see visually what equipment you have, where you are set up, costume, crowd size etc. Things that we often see described but rarely in pictures.
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Let me try and get some set up here and post them if I can. I know the Café has certain size limitations on photo posts, so I will see what I can do. I always take my hi-res digital camera with me to every event I perform at. Because I am also an artist and graphic designer, I use these shots for my website as well as posters and other marketing materials.
Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Here is a picture taken about midway through my street performance at the recent Music fest. I hope it posts ok.
Click here to view attached image.
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Here is another shot taken of a more close-up style show I had done earlier in the day. Sorry the images are so small but it is the best I could do with the file sizes etc.
Click here to view attached image.
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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