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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
Aim low.....
Kid's are the Achillees' heel of even the stoniest crowd. If you get a laugh & reaction out of a child volunteer, the crowd will warm up to you.
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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Blackpool New user Kingston, Ontario 31 Posts |
As a busker who has never actually been able to make a "living" at it, I say "Don't do it for the money." I'm pretty sure panhandlers make more than I do.
The hardest part of performing on the street is the first 2 minutes. I'll find any excuse I can not to start, but after I have done one or two tricks, I settle into my groove and have a riot. When I was developing my current persona, I kind of modelled it on Baron Munchausen, from Terry Gilliam's movie - a charming old rake who is prone to confabulation. (Most of my stories start with "So there I was, surrounded by 400 murderers...")I particularly loved the way he always had a rose for a beautiful woman. So when I first saw the Napkin Rose, I had to have it for my repertoire. On the street, I usually make up a handful of roses and keep them in my case. Often someone will stop to see what I am doing, or else I will offer one to a passing lady and say, "You look like you could use some magic in your life." And then I tell her it was her destiny to stop here, her fate. Chicks love that. I used to do a lot more card tricks, but the wind can really mess them up. I love performing the Cups & Balls, usually Dai Vernon's routine ("This is literally the Oldest Trick in the Book!"). Kids 13 years old will scoff and walk away, because they "know how it's done", but you know what? They don't have any money anyway. Adults 30, 40, 50 years old pop their eyes at the wand-through-cup and cup-through-cup bits ("Let me see those cups again!"), and the fruit-and-vegetable final loads take them flat aback. One problem I had during the Kingston Buskers Rendezvous a couple of weeks ago was the heat and humidity made my little leather baseballs stick to my hands ("Exact copies of the very balls used to entertain the Pharoahs of Ancient Egypt over three thousand years ago!"). At times, I had to shake them loose! Rings are pretty well impervious to weather - wind, heat, or rain - and always a favourite. I do Whit Haydn's 4-ring if I can get a volunteer, Chris Capehart's 3-ring when I can't, and The Legend of the 5 Rings (thanks Tom Frank) when no one is paying any attention at all. Add some rope, thumbtip, and silks, and you've got my whole act. |
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RiffRaff Special user 671 Posts |
I believe Punx performed a 'set' as Munchausen.
Aren't I right Mr. Palmer? |
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naturalturn Regular user 154 Posts |
Whit's 4-ring routine is excellent as it has a lot of great interaction with the volunteer. I've been studying it for the past couple of days to see how I can adapt it to my style and personality, plus shorten it for the street. 2-3 minutes max?!
www.facebook.com/RayWongMagic
When Magic Went WONG! |
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martysh Special user Greenville,SC 522 Posts |
I think the street is a great place AND you have to love it to do it.
so... you just make it work for you. nobody in my town has the courage to try... so to my mind it sets me apart. The love of it WITH perseverance will find success. Marty |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Just curious if any of you have to check with your local municpalities etc. in order to do street style magic or busking in your locations? Do you have to have a license to work and how does this usually work? Just curious and wanting to 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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Tom Frank V.I.P. industrial Strength Magic 493 Posts |
Since Eric is too humble to toot his own horn and offer to sell you his revolutionary book on Street Performing, I will encourage you to do so. It was eye opening.
http://www.secretartofmagic.com |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Thanks. I will certainly look into that. I always like to try and expand my magical knowledge and any sources to do so are greatly appreciated. thanks all.
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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Jeff Dial Special user Kent, WA 533 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-07-30 20:56, naturalturn wrote: Just remember, Whit's 4 ring routine was developed for use on the street. Not sure it needs to be shortened.
"Think our brains must be too highly trained, Majikthise" HHGG
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Blackpool New user Kingston, Ontario 31 Posts |
Kyle,
In Kingston you need a licence to be a street performer. It costs $25 (Canadian) per year. |
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drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
Kyle,
You have to check your local ordinances, which these days are often online. In Bar Harbor the ordinances against panhandling are enforced against buskers. It is illegal to solicit funds on public property. Even on private property, the ordinances prohibit calling out, crying out, or playing music for purposes of advertising a business or selling something, even on private property. Grrrrr.... In Portland, Maine, it is much more open; they require street performers to get a permit for $1. Yours, Paul |
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mattsharpe New user Paradise, Newfoundland 72 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-07-31 10:54, magic4u02 wrote: You should check your city by-laws. Most of the time you can find these online. I'd also recomend getting in contact with some people working on the town council or who would be in the situation to know the answer. Many cities have laws against it, unless you buy a license. But many also have no laws against it, and as long as you follow the rules, you will be fine. If you're having trouble getting a solid answer to your question, you could possibly ask a police officer you see walking the streets or something. I never had to do this myself, but I'd say he'd be able to answer you. Luckily here in St. John's there are no laws or fines. Good luck.
Matt
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Paul:
Thanks for the information. I was just curious about that. I guess I can check and find these rodances for my areas doing a web search? What would be the best way to obtain this information? Looks like I should move to Portland, Maine. hehe Thanks again. Thanks all. This is a great help. I am learning more every day and I appreciate your generosity. 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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naturalturn Regular user 154 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-07-31 21:43, Jeff Dial wrote: Thanks Jeff. I just realized it after I finished watching Whit's video. What a humbling experience! I now have 3 busking shows under my belt and have made a total of $50.00. I have so much to learn. It's very different than performing for a children's party.
www.facebook.com/RayWongMagic
When Magic Went WONG! |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I have to thank everyonehere for the help I have received in the past few weeks. I have never really busked so to speak, but I am doing more and more street style and outdoor strolling style magic and this weekend I prepare for the largest Music festival on the east coast where my wife and I will be doing 2 days of street style performances.
Your generosity and comments have helped my wife and I really get to understand how we can adapt our festival style stage show to this new environment and how best to go about it. I know we will learn a lot this weekend and I will have a lot to learn along the way. But as they say, you have to start somewhere and we feel eager to get out there and start using what we have learned here. if anyone can give us any tips, suggestions or comments for us before we go out this weekend, that would greatly be appreciated. Thanks. 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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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Kyle,
Get the book Danny and I typed up for Gazzo. "The Art Of Krowd Keeping." It's great. Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Can either of you give me a link on where I can read up more on the book and how I might be able to get a copy of it? It really looks like exactly what I am after and could gain a lot from.
I only wish I had known sooner as I could have used some of that information for this weekend. I have ideas from things I have read here that I am going to test as well as things I have done in the past to gather a crowd. If anyone has any tips on various methods you all have used, that would be appreciated also. Thanks. 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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Blackpool New user Kingston, Ontario 31 Posts |
I ordered my copy from Hank Lee's Magic Factory.
http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/pr......p;page=1 |
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kOnO Special user 548 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-08-01 22:47, magic4u02 wrote: Kyle you can find this book and much much more at http://magicpitch.com/ Check it out kOnO
It is a lot easier to get older than it is to get wiser.
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drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
Kyle,
While you are at it, invest in your future and get the Cellini Art of Street Performing DVDs from magicpitch. They are pure gold! As for finding ordinances, get the city or town's web site through a Google search and poke around until you find the ordinances. If you are a people person, as I know you are, you can also ask someone official, as has already been suggested. Be prepared for something of a runaround, though. Break a leg! Yours, Paul |
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