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marty.sasaki Inner circle 1117 Posts |
Do you need a hat to pass the hat? Can you use a can or a coin pail (if you do the miser's dream for instance).
Should you wear the hat throughout the performance or just bring it out for the finale and the hat pitch? I wonder if sweat and dirt are a turn off to folks in the audience during how summer days. Just wondering.
Marty Sasaki
Arlington, Massachusetts, USA Standard disclaimer: I'm just a hobbyist who enjoys occasionally mystifying friends and family, so my opinions should be viewed with this in mind. |
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SeaDawg Special user The Lunatic Fringe 718 Posts |
I have seen everything from sacks, to hats, to treasure chests to you name it...
Find something that works with your act and your personality... The street has very few absolutes. But humping a lot of useless gear is perhaps a truism.
Crazy people take the psycho-path thru the forest...
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The Great Zoobini Elite user Boulder, Colorado 443 Posts |
5 gallon buckets, suitcases, slurpee cups, funnel into the pocket, etc...
The hat is traditional old world so you can "warn" them in advance several times that you will be passing the hat... People seem to really like putting money into expensive elevated hats... Many methods, too...one busker throws his hat down on the ground and backs off while another proudly stands holding his hat out in front of him for all to fill Experiment to see which works best for you
Meet you in Busker Alley
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mrunge Inner circle Charleston, SC 3716 Posts |
Nope...as mentioned, you can use anything you'd like that works for you. Hats are just something people are used to hearing about during a show and they are convenient to carry...ah...wear! As SeaDawg said, there's no use "humping a lot of useless gear."
Mark. |
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TheGiz Veteran user 335 Posts |
Forget the hat and do the trickle. The money can is available throughout the performance. They can give early and leave or wait till the entire performance is complete. My money can is secured to the front of my table for the entire performance.
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Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts |
Yeah any thing can be used. When I trickle I find a small box which I replaced with a tray. My tips went down when I went with the tray and they went up when I went back to the box. I think people like filling something rather than just popping the money down. I think it needs to substantial.
I also prefer as a member of the audience to tip the performer when hes holding the hat or other thing.
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
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TheGiz Veteran user 335 Posts |
Use a Big can/bucket when doing the trickle. The smaller the can/hat the smaller the tips. Bigger receptacles = bigger tips. This is s Chris Capehart tip!!!
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Tony Iacoviello Eternal Order 13151 Posts |
Marty
If you use a bucket, don't kick it... Tony |
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mmreed Inner circle Harrisburg, PA 1432 Posts |
I disagree with the trickle - as Kozmo mentions, to make decent money you need to plant the hat thought a few times during the show - building the crowd, then hatting them all at the end... rinse and repeat.
If you are more into busking for "the art" and not to make a living or side income, then trickle hat is fine... but a trickle will not be as good as a solid hat build at the end. Its easier for them to just not tip when its trickle.
Mark Reed
Wedding and Event Entertainment |
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The Great Zoobini Elite user Boulder, Colorado 443 Posts |
Nothing wrong using a trickle then flush, either
the bigger receptacles = bigger tips sounds fishy not to mention a 5 gallon white bucket looks like crap...I wouldn't be surprised if people put trash in it
Meet you in Busker Alley
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
I use a Change Bag for collection. When the collection is done, I pull out a 36" long silk $100 bill.
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Pokie-Poke Special user Bensalem, PA 883 Posts |
Flush vs. trickel is very dependent on you pitch.
A hat is not 100% nessasery but, like an open guitar case it sets the subconciuos stage for what is to come. My tips go up when I use a hat.
www.pokie-poke.com
The Adventure cont... |
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
I use the 5-gallon bucket from when I was working at the Snack Bar in Wal*Mart. It has "MAGIC" painted on one side. (I had "THANKS" painted on the other and intended to turn the bucket around at the end of the show. I now think that would constitute 'solicitation' in the eyes of the law, like they need a reason, so I don't do that.)
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Where I do busking I'm already paid to be there but my contract allows me to "pass the hat".
Sometimes I do a tip jar. Sometimes I pass the hat. I think it's important to pass the hat to get good at "passing the hat". The act of passing the hat is like a trick in istelf. you need to have something to say, you need to rehearse it, and you need to take notes on how to improve. I use the jar when I feel lazy.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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ttorres Special user Rock Hill, SC 513 Posts |
No you don’t need a hat but that is what I prefer. Just so you know I have never used anything else so I have nothing to compare it to. But I think people just understand what they are supposed to do when you present your hat. As stated earlier you have to tell them that you expect them to tip you if they stay and watch your show. A statement you make a few times throughout. So when the time comes there are no surprises and a hat just fits most people’s expectation of a collection device for this type of venue.
...the magic that creates Memories!
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MagiCol Special user Dargaville, New Zealand 929 Posts |
I use two hats - fedora style. One I wear as part of my persona, with hat, vest, longs. shiny dress shoes. The other is on the ground for trickle and hat appeal.
I have a small rabbit stuffed animal toy in the hat. People comment on "the rabbit in the hat" {the hat is on the ground} - one of the most recognized symbols of a magician. Sometimes I joke around asking if people have seen a magician pull a rabbit from a hat. I then cover the hat with a silk, and from under it pull out the rabbit. There! Nothing secret to the joke, but a bit of fun. I keep in persona [dress] for some time before and after I leave the pitch. People recognize me and greet me as the Magic Man, or the man they got a balloon model from. Good publicity, I reckon.
The presentation makes the magic.
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marty.sasaki Inner circle 1117 Posts |
I guess I'm off to find a hat. Kozmo uses a hat, but he never actually puts it on, he uses it in his routine and to pass the hat at the end. I noticed that Joe Howard has started to not wear his hat even though he uses it in his Gazzo style cups and balls routine.
A problem that I have is that I have a big head (size 8) and it's hard to find hats that fit let along with those that might fit my personality (whatever that is). I also want a hat that I can use for a final hat load. Thanks for the responses.
Marty Sasaki
Arlington, Massachusetts, USA Standard disclaimer: I'm just a hobbyist who enjoys occasionally mystifying friends and family, so my opinions should be viewed with this in mind. |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
I don't busk, but a thought... why not have a HUGE LEATHER WALLET made... and you show it is EMPTY... and you hold it open s you go to the crowd for their donations? Thoughts?
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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The Great Zoobini Elite user Boulder, Colorado 443 Posts |
I'm a fathead, too, but I found large sizes here at reasonable prices
http://www.nightmarefactory.com/hats.html
Meet you in Busker Alley
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misterian New user United States 13 Posts |
I have always used a special hat which folds up and springs out again. I found it at bargain store and have never gone out without it.
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