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Robin Z New user 79 Posts |
Now for those who have already met a lot of famous buskers, this may not seem like much, however this is the first I met anyone remotely famous in the scene.
A pair of good friends and me were walking through Bern at about 10 o'clock. We were just relaxing, having a good time when we see a busker performing in front of the terrace at a rather fancy restaurant. Before anyone gets confused, this is not Sonny Holliday. Since I'm always on the look-out for buskers, I stop my friends and we watch the show. He does a rather good show, involving some knife-juggling while standing on broken glass, manipulating a burning baton and some other things. He has a great personality and I rather enjoyed watching. My friends and me were the only ones who clapped and he obviously took notice of it. At the end of his show he tries to hat the guests at the restaurant and barely anyone gives anything. I walk up and empty my wallet (which held a measly 3 francs(=3$)). He talks to us for a bit and I ask him about the pitch. He tells me he felt like trying something new, and he felt the restaurant might be interesting, sadly it didn't work out to well. So we talk for a bit and I mention that I'm a wannabe-busker. My friend offers that I show him something and I perform the only effect I had on me (which happens to be my planned opener for my show) a quick coins across routine. As I'm performing, the only other man that clapped walks up behind me and watches. I had had my suspicions about this guy for quite some time. I had seen him earlier in the city while he was wearing a vest without anything under it. After I finish the effect, the other busker, Benjamin turned out to be his name, gives some comments and critique and I hear a gruff voice say: "I do a variation of that trick." Suddenly, everything came together in my head, Sonny Holliday had just watched me perform. Holy ****. So I introduce myself, do the involuntary fawning for a while and talk to Sonny Holliday. We talked about quite a few things, the upcoming Buskers Festival, some of the experiences he's had, his impressions of Bern etc. He even offered to do his cigarette routine, but sadly, I was fresh out. After a bit Benjamin starts leaving and we exchange numbers, Sonny also tells me where he'll be performing in the next couple of days, he even offered to watch my show and give me some pointers! Definitely a great evening and I feel extremely lucky to have met one of my idols. |
Tom Bartlett Special user Our southern border could use 763 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-08-05 17:46, Robin Z wrote: A derby hat, $50.00. A set of Gazzo cups $350.00. A story like yours, priceless!
Our friends don't have to agree with me about everything and some that I hold very dear don't have to agree about anything, except where we are going to meet them for dinner.
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G.Gilbert Elite user baltimore 495 Posts |
Hey Robin where was this? -- cool story.
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Robin Z New user 79 Posts |
This was in Bern, Switzerland.
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jimmy talksalot Special user new orleans 757 Posts |
Sonny is so cool.
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Robin Z New user 79 Posts |
Today was once again great, since I was able to spend the entire afternoon with him. He's an incredibly nice guy.
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cenafreak0709 New user Memphis 59 Posts |
That's awesome! Just make sure you don't wear out your welcome with him, espescially (SPL) if hes workin. Great story By the way!
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Robin Z New user 79 Posts |
I hope I didn't overstay my welcome, but he seemed not to mind that much. I helped as much as possible, pulled his suitcase, went and bought him something to drink so that he wouldn't have to leave his pitch (all of this only when asked of course). He even gave me Cellini's number so that I could find him (Sonny) during the festival in Zurich.
I also admired his incredible cigarette routine, I must have seen it at least 7-8 times today, man that is one of the most amazing feats of magic I have ever seen. The Bernese really let me down today though, he sometimes got 3$ dollar hats (which always had a two franc piece, which means two people out of 40 paid. |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Does Sonny have any books, lecture notes or DVDs out yet. I am new to the field and I would like to know more about him.
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Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
Cellini's "Art Of..." DVD highlights Sonny's act.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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jimmy talksalot Special user new orleans 757 Posts |
I learned off that dvd.
volume one he does an intire sidewalk show then cellini plays it again for you and breaks it down bit by bit. intro beginning middle end and all the important details in between . I leterally wore mine out. sonny is my hero. but word to the wise, don´t provoke him. |
ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
He doesn't sound like someone you want to provoke.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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jimmy talksalot Special user new orleans 757 Posts |
No he´s not
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Robin Z New user 79 Posts |
On the subject of not provoking (which is scary just thinking about it) I actually used the advice in your book, Jimmy. I treated him like you said in the articles about students and teachers (humble, helpful, basically just knowing my place).
I felt like it shouldn't just apply to students towards their teachers, but to anyone towards a master. |
JohntheMagician Regular user Mechanicsburg, PA 157 Posts |
Words of Wisdom ~ Always defer to your teacher and if you disagree do so privately and with respect.
So with a wonderful story like that, any Pro buskers out there in PA / MARYLAND who give a guy some hands on pointers?
“The hard must become habit. The habit must become easy. The easy must become beautiful.” ~ Doug Henning
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