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djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
Hi folks,
I have been watching the DVD's of Kozmo (Tales from the street) and Gazzo. The former in particular is brilliant.....but both use humour that is (in Kozmo's own words, of his own style) obnoxious confrontational. It works for them - the audience like it and they are acclaimed as some of the top street performers - so what do I know? About street performing, nothing. About myself, rather more. I could not, would not want to use the same style of humour. It clearly works, the audience enjoy it, but is there anyone successful who uses a gentler style? Many thanks, Danny To reiterate, Kozmo's DVD's are really really good. Buy them. |
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Pizpor Elite user 476 Posts |
Know your audience. I saw it not working this past weekend.
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The Great Zoobini Elite user Boulder, Colorado 443 Posts |
Absolutely nothing is necessary to busk. In fact, most buskers have always just gone out and performed without having bought any DVD's, books, costumes, etc. You'll discover your own style...eventually.
Meet you in Busker Alley
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Chance Inner circle 1385 Posts |
The truth is that for every Gazzo, Kozmo, Morris, or Maverick there are 5000 buskers that are every bit as happy and successful -- 90% of whom have never heard of a Gazzo pouch or a Kozmo servante. I know, hard to believe, right?
Another truth (one which I will no doubt be attacked for mentioning) is that there is no material covered in any of those DVD's or by any of those "teachers" that you can not find on the web for free, and covered just as thoroughly and thoughtfully. And you can probably find 95% right here in the MC archives. Let the attacks commence... |
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dmoses Inner circle 2261 Posts |
I don't think you have to perform that style of humour.
But you do have to exercise that amount of control over audience. d
"You're a comedian. You wanna do mankind a service, tell funnier jokes."
TPR by Dave Moses and Iain Dunford T-shirts for Magicians and Mentalists |
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mota Inner circle 1658 Posts |
You have just watched Kozmo do the cups and balls. Now watch this fellow...different attitude with a very similar routine...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvcUoJg4qmM |
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JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
I don't think there are any rules that say you have to be funny, but I think being funny does help.
You certainly don't have to be "obnoxious confrontational" ... but what you do need to be is interesting. If you are not doing something interesting, you are not going to attract the interest of people. To me ... being "interesting" is more important than being "funny", and being funny is interesting ... which is why it works. -JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
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MagiCol Special user Dargaville, New Zealand 929 Posts |
Chance wrote "Let the attacks commence... "
Well, I'm not a fighting man, so I'll advance from the sidelines holding a stick with a white flag waving on it and meet you in the middle peacefully, or if you'll give me safe conduct I'll come visit your camp. I'm guessing you'll agree with me that there are some advantages, for some learners [who isn't a learner?], in "those teachers" making material available on DVDs or even "selling" their knowledge one way or another. One is the accessability of the information and the helpfulness of a personal tutor. They may compress learning time significantly, and be very impressive, for certain people. We each have our learning styles, and it's a big help if we key into tutors/teachers who "speak our own language". For some, that is electronically - Internet forums, DVDs. For others, a living class setting. For others one-on-one guidance. I think that for beginners in magic, some think "When I grow up [in magic] I want to be just like my hero, XX". But as our knowledge advances most of us find out we have to be ourselves. We are our show. That's what sets us apart from other magicians. The props are a means of conveying our personality. Personalities cover a wide range. If people, in general, like our personality they will gather around our pitch and respond. If they don't like it I hope it will become evident to the person concerned and s/he might realize it would be better to turn to some activity other than busking.
The presentation makes the magic.
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Bobby Maverick Loyal user 252 Posts |
Just be yourself...you're the best at it. |
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djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
Thanks everyone good stuff as ever. vis a vis the DVD's a lot of it is about gathering a crowd, holding a crowd, hatting. The stuff probably is out there for free but after dredging through it how is the novice to know the good from the not so good? This is easy to find and one can have confidence that it is from someone who knows as opposed to someone who claims to know.
Quote:
On 2011-06-21 10:06, Bobby Maverick wrote: Now THAT I can do |
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gallagher Inner circle 1168 Posts |
Hi Danny,
Back to your original question: Yes, there are those with gentler styles who are successfull. It´s hard to compete with Comedy, though. It is the easiest form of entertainment for a potential audience to relate/associate to. It´s hard to play/listen to Beethoven´s "Für Elisa", no matter HOW masterfully, when you´ve got two clowns throwing fire torches down the street. Therefore, part of the trick, is finding the spot. I believe,.. and live with the premises, that; IF I can get people in a quiet spot, where they can relax,... feel non-threatened,... I can entertain them. Without dominant comedy. Do such spots exist? For me, THIS is the real Magic of playing the Streets. Finding,... MAKING such spots. yes, it´s possible. f.s.: I read a beautiful discription of a Show from Nikky Finn. He mention, "Twenty minutes after the Show, I returned to the spot,... just to find, it had transformed back to a normal sidewalk, once again." I believe `other styles´ demand MORE from an audience. Often more attention. BUT, I believe this is where the cutting line between `the Art´ and `the Handwork´ lies. An Artist demands, takes their audience somewhere,.... not all are willing, capable. A Handworker peddels their wares for a willing price,... no direction required. One creates,.. one serves. Yes it is possible. The choice is ours. In everyday life, I find most `comical performers´ to be very "un-funny". I´ve realized thru the years, very few are actually expressing themselves(!). They use what they see/saw work. Pretty hollow life,.. I would say. Yes, it is possible. The choice is ours. give it easy, gallagher. |
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Bobby Maverick Loyal user 252 Posts |
Different paths to the same place...
Too bad there's so much hullabaloo over which path is best. Too bad some never choose to advance along their path. Some are complacent and kinda like the scenery of where they are. I have never thought of any of it as a competition. It's about doing your best and getting better because nobody is really keeping score. Some like to walk, some like to run and others choose to crawl. Then there are those that need to be dragged along kicking and screaming. This is also sound dating advice for you single folks... |
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Gazzo Regular user 145 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-06-20 17:46, djurmann wrote: CELLINI R I P |
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djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
Aha The Maestro himself :0) Thanks!
I don't see it as humour versus non humour - I see it more as aggressive humour versus gentle. I still like Whit Haydn's line "this is an ordinary rope such as you would find in any bedroom". Thanks for the tip Gazzo, I will see if I can find examples of Cellini's performing. Not to rip him off, just to learn.. Danny |
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djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
To clarify "this is an ordinary rope such as you would find in any bedroom" is gentle.
"this is an ordinary rope, your wife knows, she saw it last night" is not gentle (and as far as I am aware is not a line used by anyone). Currently I am still a bit c*** and trying to find my own performance style. Tricks are relatively easy, performance, that is a bit harder :o) I'll get there in the end. Thank you for your help. Danny |
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joe yang Loyal user Florida 296 Posts |
Quote:
...is there anyone successful who uses a gentler style? Philippe Petit!
aka Mike Booth
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RiffRaff Special user 671 Posts |
Listen to Mama:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEQxEJ5_5zA |
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djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-06-21 21:04, RiffRaff wrote: Thanks Riff Raff, ultimately I will, but I don't mind learning from others on the journey. One day, if I get any good, others will learn from me....or not. Dan |
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djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
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mota Inner circle 1658 Posts |
As many of you know, Philippe Petit strung a wire between the World Trade Center Towers (1974) and walked it. If you liked that youtube video I think you will also like the dvd of his adventure in New York, called "Man on Wire".
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