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Rik Chew Special user 538 Posts |
Last week when I was in London, I saw a street magician in London, Convent Gardens for those who know there, perform.
All I cna say that he was amazing, obviously a very experienced performer. He did a few close up card tricks with passers by, I was one of the first as as soon as I saw I guy with Bikes (Not to common here in the UK) I knew he was a magician ( or con artist). When he had drawn a large crowd, probably about 75-100 by the end, he started with some card tricks that worked well with a bigger crowd such as card to sealed envelope in wallet. He then moved onto paper balls over the head with a dumbfounded kid, a sponge ball watch steal routine. He then gave the volontueer an old guy a £5 note to thank him for helping out, then as he was walking away asked if he wanted to trade it for this watch. He did Ambitious Card, only a few phases, tilt, couple of DLs and finally the bendy card thing to great acclaim. The real climax to this however ws him throwing it far and long onto the top of the covered square in convent garden. He cleverly chose two locations to throw the card, and asked people to choose by appluade, not doubt drawing in more people. Not that I would wish this upon anyone, but I was almost glad to see some hecklers t ocome along to se how he would deal with them. They were a bunch of teenagers maybe 17-18, and one in particular was being a reall pain. The magician obviously decided to use the make them look like fools and get the rest of the audience onside (an approach which obviosuly worked as at the end of the show I swa a rather large gentlemen go up to him and say how much he enjoyed the show, nad that he also stuck around incase the hecklers tried anything). When he was about to throw the card onto the roof the heckler deamnded to see it saying "It's a fake card", to which he repled "No that's when ou have sex", having examined the card he made to rip it, "I knew he was gonna try and let rip because of what you are, its on his cap, starts with an A". Said heckler then walks off saying "I don;t wnana see no guy throwing cards", unfortuantely his 3 friends seemed to be enjoying the show and they stayed on to watch! In the end he passed the hat, and must've made nearly a £100 for 20 mins work at about 11-30! |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Even factoring in the cost of cards, that's an excellent return on investment!
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
I was also in convent garden last week and saw a bunch of magicians performing. I was surprised with the varying styles of the performers. Some were just doing close up for two or three people and then asking for a donation. Some were doing a full hat show.
I was also surprised with how different their attitudes to performing were. One magician (perhaps the one you saw as he also threw cards) was incredibly rude when, after his show I went up and congratulated him on the show. The others were much nicer and I ended up spending the afternoon having a chat. |
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
Wow!! I'll bet I could do pretty good in C.G. if that's the sort of act that gets people! But from what I gather, there's a pretty drawn-out process to get in, and even then it's chancy as to what time-slot (if any) you get each day. I'm pleasantly surprised to hear that there are a lot of magician buskers there. I'd heard it was all jugglers & funambulists with a few escapeologists.
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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Rik Chew Special user 538 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-30 20:26, Nicholas J. Johnson wrote: Not sure it was the same person, I had a brief chat with him afterwards and heseemed nice enough. |
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jolyonjenkins Inner circle United Kingdom 1181 Posts |
It is of course COVENT garden, not CONVENT.
Jolyon Jenkins
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Rik Chew Special user 538 Posts |
Ah sorry for typo, not a lot of Nuns round there...
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NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
What the!
I read the first posting as COVENT. I then thought COVENT when typing. When I reread it just then it took me three tries to realise we had both written convent. SS- Probably not the same guy. When I mentioned I done some street work and was keen to do a shell and pea routine on the street (busking not scamming) he scoffed and said "That's not a street routine." When I mentioned a few buskers in Australia he might have met he scoffed again and said "They're not magicians." |
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Marcus001 New user 87 Posts |
Well here is my first post. And it's in response to slightly small who started the thread. I too saw this very same magician just last week in Covent Garden where he perfomred most of the material you referred to. This was a performer who was pretty polished and professional. However, apart from the watch steal most of his other effects weren't complex to execute, in fact, most were fairly standard tricks. I found this inspiring and a poignant reminder that it's not always 'the tricks' but the so many other variables that make you a winner. You're physical presence, your appearance, tone of voice and how you interact with the audience. I've never perfomed in the street before. I want to though and after seeing this guy I feel enthused. People LOVE magic! Even if it doesn't show on their faces (esp blokes) they love it if it's done well.
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Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
Marcus,
Welcome to the Café and congratulations on your first post! With an attitude like that you'll do well here. Most new members take several months to "get it." Some never do.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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nick nickolas New user Melbourne Australia 78 Posts |
The Busker you saw in London was Kenneth Lightfoot he's from Boulder, The corner at the bottom of James street is know as 'Magic Corner' or 'Bobs Post' as Bob Read used to perform there oh so many years ago...
This corner is only for magicians, there was a battle with the police and authoroties last year as they were going to close us down threating jail etc... After meetings and meetings and thanks to Keaneo, Paul and Gary (the locals) it has been secured,, no amps till after 5 on weekdays, can use them at the weekend though. Get off at Covent Garden tube and walk down James Street through the statues and tarot readers, stop at the bottom by the phone boxes, that's the pitch. Shorter shows are best as it is a fast street with not much attention span no signing a list, no getting up at 8am,, Pretty much first come first serve with a rotation... Hope this is useful,, Nick |
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Marcus001 New user 87 Posts |
Nick, thank you for all of that. Now that you mention it, I do remember seeing a the name Lightfoot on his bag. It's useful to have that info on the pitch, too. I hope to perform there one day myself. Take care, Mark.
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Danny Hustle Inner circle Boston, MA USA 2393 Posts |
If I remember my history correctly there has been a magician(s) performing on that corner consistently for over 400 years! I remember seeing a picture of somebody working the thing during the blitz of WWII.
Incredible! I know it is a big dream of mine to do a show there. It doesn't matter if it is a good show, just a show. Some people want to climb a mountain of skydive before they go. I just want to work Bob's post. Best, Dan- "MT is one of the reasons we started this board! I’m so sick of posts being deleted without any reason given, and by unknown people at that." - Steve Brooks Sep 7, 2001 8:38pm ©1999-2014 Daniel Denney all rights reserved. |
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BAH1313 Elite user Ohio 445 Posts |
Very Cool!
hey Ken Lightfoot will be working a pitch here near Cincinnati. I'll be working mine the same day. I hope we cross paths. I would like to meet him!
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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jolyonjenkins Inner circle United Kingdom 1181 Posts |
Saw him today. The biggest "ooh" came from sponge balls!
Jolyon Jenkins
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Kozmo V.I.P. 5473 Posts |
Bob, whats up dude?....let me know about this lightfoot guy....i don't want to go to cincinati with 2 guys working there better than me!
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-09-14 20:37, nick nickolas wrote: Is it me or is there a certain irony in that we have the Englishman Gazzo running up and down the East Coast of America and they have an American, Kenneth running around Covent Garden.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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theboss Regular user 134 Posts |
Primary difference between Kenneth and SOME of the natives is that he still has a love for the magic... some of them have lost that and it shows in the show.
Passion elevates technique JB |
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vernon Special user Scotland 559 Posts |
Yes, as Nick said, it was Kenny Lightfoot, he has a completly different and beautiful energy on the corner, soft spoken and sometimes surreal. A whole load of new lines that fit his character. He is a wonderful performer and very dryly funny.
Vernon aka James James |
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Mario Morris Inner circle Mario Morris 2044 Posts |
James James
Is a legend of Covent Garden, if you catch his show it will be the cheapest lesson you will get, put a £10 in his hat and get a free DVD from him, it is priceless. Mario |
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