On 2011-05-26 21:46, chriscapstone wrote:
Hey Sir Richard, actually a farmers market is no different than any other outdoor event. I've worked some really large ones and they have an important advantage over parks or other open public spaces: people are there to buy something and they're using CASH. Nobody uses a credit card or writes checks at a farmers market. All this cash business means lots of ones and fives in people's pockets and purses.

Also many farmers markets have musical entertainment so sometimes you can get them to pay you and you can also pass the hat. If you can find them on weekday evenings they can pretty good. Many of them are on Saturday morning and usually over before noon so you still have time to do other things in the afternoon and evening. You might even get a sponsorship from a vendor to draw people to their booth (and still pass the hat of course.)

The only thing you should to be mindful of is the large percentage of repeat customers every week. You can deal with that by finding 3 or 4 different ones and alternating weeks.

As far as "training" and "polishing" I wouldn't recommend a farmers market. The foot traffic can be moving pretty fast (kind of like a mall) so if you're not skilled at stopping people and holding them you'll have a tough time at a farmers market. People tend to move methodically from vendor to vendor. I try to stop a family with a kid(s) and build on that.

I would say a park or other spot where people are easily stopped or already stopped is a better training ground.

On 2011-05-27 00:04, chriscapstone wrote:
Hi Sir Richard, My point about dealing with the fast foot traffic wasn't directed particularly at you Sir Richard. I was using "you" generally. My intention was to explain to anyone new to busking who might be reading this thread that the fast foot traffic at a farmers market would make it a tough place for a new busker still in training.

Spots where people are walking around with no particular purpose (like walking in a public park) are good places for people new to this work to get training because it's easier to stop folks.

Shoppers at the farmers markets have a purpose. They're on the move. They're shopping for produce. They're moving from vendor to vendor. That makes them a harder to stop.

A farmers market can be a money maker for an experienced busker. I just wanted to make sure we didn't give a beginning busker who might read the thread the idea that a busy farmers market would be a good place to train.

I was in no way suggesting that you personally should not busk at your local farmers market. I'm sure you'll bring home some nice hats from your local market.

On 2011-05-27 01:01, chriscapstone wrote:
Sir Richard,

I'm curious as to why you said parks are out of the question? Is there some city ordinance that prevents you from busking in your city's public parks?

Several of the parks in my city have large playgrounds that attract big numbers of families even on weekday evenings and weekday mornings in the summer.

In fact, on my way home this evening I thought I might stop by a park in my area which is always loaded with families and it was. My plan was to make up for the small take at the farmers market. In fact it was so crowded I couldn't get a parking spot!

I drove through the lot twice but no spot. Too bad, I could have definitely made up for the low take from the market. It was about 75 degrees and beautiful weather with families everywhere. I had to just go home and leave all those dollar bills in their pockets and purses, so sad.

Needless to say if I don't have a booking next Thursday I'll be at that park all evening rather than that little farmers market.

On 2011-05-27 08:00, chriscapstone wrote:
Sir Richard,

I will be performing at 12 different Tulsa area libraries during June & July. If your daughter's girls are young enough for a library magic show, let her know she can find my schedule on the Tulsa Library's website. If she plans to bring them to a show please tell her to introduce herself to me after the show.

If they are looking for a fun outing on any of the last three weekends in June, I'll be appearing at the Pawnee Bill Wild Show in at Pawnee Bill Ranch & Museum west of Tulsa.

Please let me know any time you might be coming to Tulsa and we'll try to connect. We have two magic shops here and an active Fellowship of Christian Magicians club. Tulsa is a great place. My contact info is on my website.