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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
And I added a new sign
"Blocking Shop Doorways = Illegal by Fire Code" maybe that'll shut em up? |
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Rotten,
How often are you going out, barring the hand injuries? You seem to have come a long way in under a month. -Mary Mowder |
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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
Mary,
First I would like to appologize for calling you "fellas." I didn't know we had a lady in the room. I have been in showbiz since I was 10. Started with formal theater, Shakespeare and the like. Living in Mustang Oklahoma that made me an odd duck. If it's not horse poo or pig skin it's not entertainment. So I spent much of my time as a boy doing magic and juggling in my bedroom and theater at night. In my twenties I decided to give stand up comedy a try. In a couple of months I was traveling around the midwest as a Feature act and paying the bills. Not very well though and I had a son at a young age so I gave up comedy and went back to theater, childrens theater and birthday parties. Then theme parks and corporates. For the past 8 and a half years I have headlined a show on a cruise line with a juggling partner. So I have had some amazing teachers in my life and have had some amazing experiences that I learned a lot from. Now for the first time in over ten years I am working solo again. It was very scary at first but it came back to me pretty fast and the creative juices are now flowing again. To answer your question I have been out a total of seven nights but two of those I wussed out and only did one show. But I still learned from those two nights. And I must say that Jimmy Talks Alot's blog helped me jumpstart the process VERY much. Thank you Jimmy. -Ted Campbell But my friends call me Ted |
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RiffRaff Special user 671 Posts |
Rotten: I believe that I can name that pitch in one note
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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
RiffRaff,
I'm just saying that I have been fortunate enough to have many teachers. That helps with any learning curve. Have I fallen on my face? Oh yeah. On comedy stages, cruise ships, now the street. Learned from it and made sure it never happened again. And I didn't mention that I have no other skills or trade. This is it. Learn or starve. Mary, Your question has intrigued me all night. Upon reflecting on my post I realize I failed to mention some important things. I started street perfroming at 16 years of age at a local theme park in OKC called Frontier City. I had no idea what I was doing. I had a bag of magic and juggling tricks as well as a 6 foot unicycle. They paid me minimum wage and I did that for one whole summer. One week they hired a professional street act called "Darn Good and Funny." It was a trio who went on to win a IJA gold medal in groups. I made good friends with one of them right off the bat, despite the age gap. He was great and everything I wanted to be. He didn't just juggle balls but he juggled everything and the kitchen sink. He was very much an inspiration. Shoot, going back further I had seen the on TV a few years before that, local morning show, and was blown away already. He's the first and only guy I have seen do a running jump mount on a 6 foot uni. I can't remember seeing anyone else do it although I'm sure there are guy that do. I learned it and it's HARD. That is the same guy who has been my juggling partner for the past 10 years. His group broke up and we started working together. I have learned so much from him. He is one of the best guys I will ever know. And another one of my best friends came out to "my" spot and showed me how it's done. So I have by no means walked this alone. So many teachers and friends and audeinces. I don't think I can do anything but I sure like to give it a try. Don't copy, Don't take. Learn and Create. I just made that up,,, as far as I know. my friends call me?? |
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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
Pardon me. I misunderstood RiffRaff's encrypted message. Come to find out we are neighbors and he knows the spot I'm working. Now I get it!
Ted |
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Seems like you came to this well prepared Ted.
I used to unicycle and walk slack-rope as a kid and teen (not very well). You couldn't pay me to do either now, Thank goodness I found Card Tricks before I seriously hurt myself. Thanks for the photo of your set-up. -Mary Mowder |
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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
It's just another form of show biz. Money through art. Doing what I love...or at least the only thing I know how.
It's funny you mention the unicycle out of all of that. Two days ago I wrote a new routine using my uni. I haven't ridden it onstage in many years since my juggling partner does. I have always kept them hanging in my garage but only rode for exercise. So I called my mom and said "guess what. That unicycle you bought me at 14 is going back in the show at 39." I never would have thought I'd be back on one but the routine is going to be my finale so it's worth the training. I think it's gonna be real funny...?? You are welcome for the pic of my set up. Guess no one has any comments or thoughts about it or don't want to share for free? After all the requests I thought I would have had a few more replies. Feeling like Mario and his table post now. Ted |
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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
I went out last night and boy do I have a lot to learn. A true student of the art of Busking came out and gave me some wonderful tips and bits. He's a new friend and boy is he welcome.
There is just so much to think about at any given moment. It's still all so new. I keep forgetting jokes I have used for years because there are so many distractions.I will get better. It will get easier. I am still tightening routines I have been doing for many years but they work different on the street than the stage. Transitions must be faster. And no more bending over. I kept dissapearing from the audience when I went to get something out of my case. So I now have everything on legs and up in the air. Every routine I ever took out is back in and the stuff that I wasn't as strong with is out. Geez, why did it take me a month to figure out what I already knew? Once I have it down I can fool around. Try new stuff. Till then lock it in. And I wanted to explain the hecklers. In my experiences my hecklers have been drunks with something to say. I can work with that cause it's what I'm used to. Out here the hecklers are 14 year old boys that walk up in packs, watch 3 seconds of my show and yell "YOU SUCK." Now I have tried several different techniques to address this. My personal favorite is a took I a water spray bottle with me. So when the kid walked up and yelled his brilliant proclomation I said, "It's alright folks, I'm a kid whisperer. SSHHH." Then I sprayed him with water. He didn't like it so well so I haven't done it again. Still trying to find the perfect way to take care of it and get a laugh with out upsetting said boy. I'll be back at it tonight trying to remember all the bits of wisdom that was shared with me last night. Oh, and I learned to never talk about,, oh, wait. I can't talk about it. Ted Ted |
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MagiCol Special user Dargaville, New Zealand 929 Posts |
Ted, you'll do yourself a favour, if you aren't already doing it, of saving your self-critique postings into a file on your computer as a diary to look back over at in a year or two, or even more, and laugh at your ignorance "back then".
Listen to the music of the street - real life in action, and you're part of it. Write down some of it. I keep a couple of files "Street Scenes in my First Year" and another, "Street Scenes after my First Year". I write up experiences from my street work, or what I see happening during it, and it sure brings back some memories. Do it the day, or day after, it happens. Then you can cut and paste the latest into Magic Café thread to share with us [Thanks, I'm enjoying your postings!].
The presentation makes the magic.
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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
Thank you, great idea.
Tonight I was thinking back at things that I used to be scared of and conquered. The thing with the street is looking into their eyes and seeing their faces. I know my first night I looked at the ground or up in the air for the most part. I was used to looking out into an audience and seeing a sea of black darkness. Now I look out and see faces, eyes, smiles, glazed over looks. I am enjoying working with that. The way a person is standing. I tease them and get them to laugh at themselves and change what they are doing. It's so different than stage but it's the same thing. Instead of controlling a thousand people sitting I am doing it one at a time, on the street where they are standing. So many cute kids tonight. I wrote a few jokes to make fun of people giving me change. I never used them. So many of the families I see are out for a cheap night out and don't have much money. So I thank them the same as a $1 tip. Times are hard. Especially for a large family. I tried to implement everything I learned last night and of course forgot half of that while I was forgetting half of my jokes. SO MUCH TO THINK ABOUT. "Folks, step away from the doorways, we can't block the shops." forget what I was saying and skip ahead leaving great jokes behind. I am getting much smoother and looking like I know what I am doing. Now it's a matter of time before I feel like I do. Not one heckler. My show is tighter. No room for them now. One drunk guy was trying tonight but he was in the back and every time he opened his mouth was on a punchline and I had a speaker. I kind of wanted him to yell out on his own but my shows were tight tonight. I finally know how many shows to do when and where. Setting up and striking is a pain but it's part of the process. Finding the right spot. The management approached me tonight, for the first time, concerned about the fire. Oh boy. And security keeps coming up to chat. I think the guy is just bored. He needs to get a life and leave me alone. Now he thinks he wants me to move to another spot. Off the main path. Nope, can't happen. So frustrating to start getting my part worked out and now they come along and want to mess with it. Muscles are sore, dogs are beat and swollen but I feel great. Going to sleep well tonight. I learned when asked when the show starts, and I am just standing there on break, that if I want to do a show I tell them 2 minutes and they wait while I get going. If I don't want to do another show yet I tell them 5 minutes and they walk off. I guess those extra three minutes are just too long to wait. Works best when it's a pesky kid repeating "when's the show, when's the show?" |
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NexusMagicShop Elite user Sunny California 434 Posts |
Keep it coming Ted awesome to read about your progress enjoying this very much.
Jason of BackroomMagic
www.BackroomMagic.com/| Mobile friendly magic forums and blogs www.twitter.com/Nexusmagicstore |
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travisb Special user Vancouver, BC 546 Posts |
Heh, the two minute/five minute thing rings true, although in the place I go most often it's more like thirty seconds/two minutes. But I've seen that behavior, for sure.
-Travis |
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djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
Hi Rotten,
Really great thread. Vis a vis the small tippers I rather like Cellini's line. "No contribution is too small, just fold it up and put it in the bucket"! Keep posting, Danny |
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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
I had a friend in town who wanted to see my street show so I went out and did one. Perhaps since he was there and is my oldest friend since we were boys but I was on. Looking around and calculating things, lining them up. Zinging them. I was sparking. I still forgot a few gags and jokes that should not have been forgotten but I remembered some brand new ones and made up a few adlibs that made him and me and one drunk guy laugh.
I just must get a larger amp so I stop using my voice too much. I'm used to having a mic one inch away from my mouth, a sound guy to engineer it and a theater full of speakers. Those were the days. Now it's me, all by myself. AND I LOVE IT! |
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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
SUCCESS! At least that's how I feel. After going out for over a month I am starting to be happy with my performance and am inviting my wife and mother in law out to watch on Sat. night for the first time. Now that I have a show that I"m becoming happy with. I'll even have her video it for my own review, for now. I haven't done that yet because I didn't feel like I had enough things worked out but now I feel I have a little piece of Street Theater.
I am loving bringing a group of strangers together and uniting them as an audience unexpectedly. Making them laugh, gasp, and stunning them. Gosh it's getting fun. Tonight I even received a coveted 20! However I must get a better speaker so one of my best friends and I are going in on a Anchor and will share my spot with him. One show after another alternately. Then eventually we'll both chip in on another and then we'll each have one. I wouldn't do that with just anyone but him and maybe a few other dear friends. I feel the speaker will more than pay for itself. The lines flowed out of my mouth. I watched the crowd. I didn't forget any lines. However, I changed the order of a few jokes and then later when I was performing I suddenly couldn't remember if I had said them in that particular show yet or not. Luckily there was a little boy who was really into my show so I just asked him if I had said it yet and he said no. lol. I am really getting my set down finally. Wheh. It was a process. So much tinkering before I was happy with the flow and transitions and lines. I still have work to do but all of the rough cuts have been made. Now it's time to polish. I have taken some peoples advice and got rid of the trickle bucket. It was okay for when I was starting and was scared I suppose. Now it just interrupts the show so I keep the bucket out of site until it's hat time. I do still stand there with the hat but most people really like balling up the bills and throwing them in the bucket. I don't like that I then have to un-wad them but it works, for now. I put a zippered money bag in my case and I place 5 envelopes inside of it and numbered them 1-5. So as soon as the show is over I grab the dough and stuff it in the envelope for that show. I don't want to stand around straightening and counting. I stick it in and find out when I get home. Almost as exciting as christmas. I do watch as they put it in so if I get a big tipper I acknowledge them. The other reason I like having the envelopes is that sets my goal. To do 5 shows. Put something in every envelope before I can go home. Oh and heckler little boys. I had one tonight. I can't even remember what he yelled but it was pointless. Something my dad used to say popped out of my mouth and the adults laughed and he shut up. "If you push on a mule expect to be kicked." Did I mention I'm originally from Oklahoma? It might not work every time because as another one of my dad's sayings "Telling a man to get lost and making him do it are two entirely different propositions." Thank you everyone for your words of wisdom and support. I couldn't have done it otherwise. I'll keep at it and if I come up with any new ideas or find something that I can share I will be happy to. Regards, Ted |
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Congratulations Ted,
You are an inspiration and I've really enjoyed your thread! Mary Mowder |
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Rashkenes New user Jacksonville NC 29 Posts |
I am quite thourghouly enjoying this post. A wealth of information in here, keep up the great work man, we're all rooting for you!
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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
You know what? I found myself on the street. I'm plum tuckered or else I would expand but assure you me that I may have went out to build new routines, instead I found out who I am. Honesty is the one ingredient my show needed and I found it. You may take the boy out of Mustang but you can't take the Mustang out of the boy. This is a first as I have always been a character name from ????. I already crack whips. What was I fighting?
On the street if you aren't true people see right through it. IT AIN'T SHAKESPEARE. Establish a true and honest character and your crowd would follow you right off a cliff. They just stand there till the ice is broken and then file in. It's like magic. I am getting it now. As for my rig. I had no intentions of keeping it in milk crates. Not from the start. I was fooling around cheaply to figure out what exactly I wanted to build. Since I'm a juggler I have long props. Plus the amp and table stands, etc. At 6 bucks a crate from Walmart I figured out what I need to build out of luan and 1 by 2's. Bolt some wheels on and away I go. No more navigating the dollies. Some nights I tipped over as I walked to and fro and it made me just wanted to take my dolly and go home. So GOOD BYE dolly. (yeah, I'm straight but I'm not scared of a show toons ref or corny jokes) Going to build myself the rig I need now that I know. My friends call me Ted and I'm from Mustang Oklahoma. (There, I said it) Find me on facebook cause I have yet to meet a man I can't put with. Ted |
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-04-08 01:37, Rotten wrote: I only get facetious on alt.conspiracy, those guys are fun! No, I'm serious, your posts are very informative and the responses are excellent! Someone posting; "Hey! I worked outside this place for forty-five minutes and hatted them for $150!" is interesting reading, but not very useful. You're giving us the ups and downs of learning this side of the business (from someone who actually works on other sides of the business). It's very interesting to read.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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