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magicman491 Veteran user 326 Posts |
When I do street magic with a table and people come up to me for a trick(not quite like a full on show like busking)... I have a hat on the table but does anyone have any tips for getting tips/coins?
thanks |
Gary T. Veteran user 375 Posts |
Put together a full show and hat the crowd, go check out the sidewalk shuffle section of the forums, if you're out for tips you really need a full show.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Just having a hat on a table, and doing 'a' trick "aint gonna" get you a tip!
It's somewhat like having a "tip jar" at the cash register of a buffet type restaurant! T I P S originally was an acronym for "To Insure Prompt Service". When working tables in a white table cloth restaurant, Eugene Burger had the "real work" on encouraging tips. His "idea" was to "get some money on the table". He would borrow a bill. Usually a $5. He did a GOOD trick with it, and often through subtle suggestion, he got the $5. STREETS ARE NOT A WHITE TABLE CLOTH RESTAURANT! A tip must be earned! (not that Gene Burger didn't earn his!) Look back one strand of this thread! GARY T.SAID IT!!! (You gotta DO "something" (a show, in this case) There must be "percieved value".
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
OOOPS...I left out an important point!
If you're a serious busker, you will seed the hat with some PAPER MONEY! (The "quiet collection"?) There is a "story" of a revival preacher who never passed a hat or a basket. The ushers moved up the aisle with a clothes line stretched across the seat sections. There were safety pins attached to the rope. People were asked to 'pin' their offering to the rope! You can't do that! But, most of the successful buskers that I know, make the pitch at the end of their set, and then take the hat "around" the crowd. It takes CHUTZPAH to WORK the streets. --and TALENT, too. Someday when I have some free time, perhaps I'll pass along a few stories.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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magicman491 Veteran user 326 Posts |
Thanks guys
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yankay37 Regular user Canada 176 Posts |
Yea I agree.. if you're going to be asking for "tips" you need at least a 30 minute show.
Once you gather a crowd you can make a joke with a kid for example. (flip them upside down over your hat.. and create the effect that you're making change fall out of their pockets.) usually gets some laughs, and then ask the kid to walk around with your hat. Or just mention the hat yourself. good luck |
BigWheel New user Earth near Washington DC 43 Posts |
How about a sign on the hat that says "Tips Appreciated." Then there is no ambiguity. Perhaps people think the hat is part of a routine that you will do.
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JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
You don't need a 30 minute show to get tips, you just need to put a hat out. You don't even need a sign - just put a couple bucks in it, people will know what it's for. You will probably make a lot more if you do have a 30 minutes show, but it is not mandatory.
If you don't ask, you won't receive ... so go ahead and put a hat out. -JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
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nautimike New user South Haven, MI 54 Posts |
That's exactly what I did this past weekend. I was telling people the magic was free, then I had a little kid, maybe 8yrs old, ask "do you accept tips?" I was surprised to hear that from someone so young. I said yes I do. He and his two siblings stayed and watched for about 20 minutes, while he held a one dollar bill in his hand the whole time. I remember thinking this is a lot of magic for one dollar, but then thought about how I do it because I love to. He gave me the dollar after the show and they left. I was packing things up 5 minutes later when he ran up and handed me 5 more he got from his dad. Everyone else had approached me from a different side where the hat was fully visible, and they had no problem knowing what the hat was for.
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Mr. Danny Loyal user North Central Louisiana 249 Posts |
A couple came up to my table with two children, and the guy drops 2 bucks in the hat. Did something for his son and after doing something for his daughter, he drops another 2 bucks in the hat. As they turned to leave, I performed a quicke for the young girl and he drops a 10 in the hat! Biggest single tip yet.
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