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Iron Butterfly New user 66 Posts |
I live in NYC and this year I worked Union square on the west side by 15th street. I was very sick this year and so did not get out as much as I had like BUT man what a lesson. I was very rusty my first time out...yes you have to 1) Make them stop
2) Make them stay 3) Make them pay If you cant make them stop two and three are impossible. I had my sponge balls, ropes, benson bowl routine and stupid bean trick. P also brought my coin table to do coin matrix. In the beginning it was frustrating but I was also near some girls soliciting (or trying to} for charity. I started a conversation with them and showed them my rope routine. With them watching others stopped... You get that ONE or Two people to stop it becomes like water in a dam. Different places have different energy...you don't want to try and stop people who seem like they need to be someplace other then where they are. (common sense I know) Union Square is around NYU and a farmers market so you have a bit of everyone. If you really want to do Busking just DO IT. There is no way around it. For me the hard part is dealing with the initial rejection. Im in for a bad day if I take people blowing me off personally especially in NY. You will find that once you get into a rhythm anything is possible. You need to understand mistakes will be made...LOL I screwed up my Stupid Bean Trick because of the wind. I had built a really good crowd and just when the reveal was happening the wind kicked up and blew the bag and glass over...all I could do was laugh as people walked away...GAWD. You can have all the CDs, books and info...but unless ya do it.... Good Luck |
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MVoss Veteran user Boston, MA 372 Posts |
Make sure that whatever you do, you can pack up quickly and walk away. Being able to split at the right time can be really helpful.
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
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On Nov 5, 2014, Dick Oslund wrote: Y'know, I've always hated that comment. If that's your philosophy, don't like me so much!
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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blue dragon magic New user 41 Posts |
Ok what does it take to be a street performer the best advice is just go out there with your best tricks and do it. I performed at Venice beach for over five years when I first got their I knew nothing about bucking take the five dollar challenge I say five it could be more or less but not by much go to your nearest Walmart or convenience store buy a deck of cards then go to a office supply store have a sign made that says magic show on one side and worlds greatest card trick find a spot stay there and with your deck of cards try to earn double what you spent on cards and sign oh and have the sign laminated with heavy lamination if its flimsy have it double laminated if you have a computer and printer at home print one up and have it laminated save you more money if you do coin magic just change it to worlds greatest card coin rope trick make sure its the best trick you know ill talk about tables etc... remember your doing a street performance not a David Copperfield stage illusion. Later ill talk about where to perform and handling the police
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blue dragon magic New user 41 Posts |
Also I find that people are looking for a cookie cutter approach copy a routine and the money rolls in there is none you have to practice and put the time in I will name a few tricks that work well and where to get them and the reason they work pack small and play big after walking to your pitch you'll appreciate pack small and play big also if the police ask you to move its easier to just put that trick in your pocket and go on I have not had trouble Witt the police but if they ask you to move do it don't argue or be a smart ads about it if your polite they can even help you ask them where you can perform don't go back after they said to leave you may have violated the biggies like excessive noise music someone complained or your crowd is blocking sidewalk or street traffic you will have to learn audience management you see theres much to learn than just doing magic if you are serious about it you will do your homework.
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blue dragon magic New user 41 Posts |
So what dose it take to be a street performer? Balls and lots of it. Books and DVDs are a cool tool but not the final say so on the subject. As for advice and this is my opinion many lack the confidence to go out there. Sometimes in a book or DVD on the subject people are looking for a confidence boost. I had confidence in my magic tricks but not as a performer my level on a scale one to ten was a two now its a nine the confidence has to come from within not from a book or DVD it can certainly stoke that burning desire. Again I do not teach tricks or explain them but an awesome routine is fiber optic extended by Richard Saunders watch the demo video on YouTube or go to penguin magic . Com watch it there your entire act can consist of rope easily carried in a pocket and can be lengthened or shortened time wise as you see fit oh and if you are lucky enough to book a stage show you can perform on stage. And that takes care of the table or no table. While rehearsing, practice with the clothes or costume you will wear performing be familiar with where each pocket is and which trick is in which pocket. Also many decades can pass and all that's missing is personal style it took me twenty years to find my personal style and some still have not found it. what makes you ? Look at all the TV magicians yes some do the same trick disguised but what makes them successful is there uniqueness each have a different style. Also we tend to overthink everything. Your first question in bucking usually is how much can I make and no one can say for certain weather foottraffic and talent. Now to add sound or music to your act is a personal choice but if I use music in my act I use my iPod and Bluetooth jblspeaker found at best buy when charged I carry a power stick just on case but all fit in my pocket no wires and awesome sound the loudness of the speakers can get you in trouble with the police don't ahoy anyone with it. So far I have had no trouble from police but I expect it at any time also remember this as street performer you are in business an entrepreneur and you should treat it as a business. A lot of performers are constantly broke because of bad habits this works for me maybe not for you I opened a savings and checking with the debit card with either visa or MasterCard logo from a bank that's pretty big the reason for this if you travel from city to city performing your more apt to find a branch such as wells Fargo us bank etc...to make a deposit small town banks and credit unions are tough but any how I open an account just for my business if I make lets say ten dollars I pocket five and put five in the bank ten is a random number I only use that card in extreme emergencies and to keep the account active lets say you busk and make five dollars I usually would go to McDonald's buy a coffee and something off the dollar menu as a way to reward myself write in my notebook or journal about the performance and other ideas that come to mind. Also keep in mind if you average ten dollars per hour of work imagine flipping burgers for the same time at six an hour I don't look at my tips except to gage how well I'm doing I count what I made in a week? Verses what I would make after taxes flipping a burger. So what's the sttraction to busk? For me its the not knowing what I will make as well as being my own boss unless I am having a really bad day I doubt if I will fire myself
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Mortimer Graves Special user New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. 556 Posts |
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On Nov 9, 2014, MVoss wrote: Just saw this, and it reminded me of something Cellini told me once. "Never bring more with you than you can comfortably run away with." Some of the best advice he ever gave me.
'Tis an ill wind that blows no minds.
Hastur, Hastur, Hastur! See? Nothing hap- ...and if we rub each other the wrong way, let's try going in another direction. - Pokey the Porcupine |
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Mario Morris Inner circle Mario Morris 2044 Posts |
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On Oct 31, 2014, themagiciansapprentice wrote: I am glad you found it useful, hear is a more direct link to my blog https://mariomorrisblog.wordpress.com/page/2/ If you found that usefull You will also find from diffrent Street Performers. FREE tutorials on the School of Busking website under LEARNING ON LINE. Ranging from Video tutorials, Guest Interviews and so on. Look under the tab - LEARNING ON LINE. http://www.schoolofbusking.com/learning-on-line.html |
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EVILDAN Inner circle 1279 Posts |
I had watched street performers in NYC for a good many years before I decided to strike out on my own and give it a try. I was just out of the Navy so I was about 21 or 22 years old. I remember taking a table with me, a few packet tricks, a deck of cards, some rope and I was ready to wow the crowds.
ATTEMPT #1 (1984 or 1985) I went right to Washington Square Park. I set up my table and as people walked past me, I realized how small and insignificant I was to these people. I got one couple to stop and watch a card trick. Color Monte. I looked around me and I felt so small, and the park looked much larger that it usually does. No one knew I was there. I blended in. I packed up my gear and went home realizing I had no idea what I was doing. My second chance at busking came a few years later. The owner of a cigar shop told me of a festival that was happening in town and told me that he's going to be hand rolling cigars outside. If I wanted to, I can perform next to him. ATTEMPT #2 (mid 1990's) I was set, I had my chop cup, a deck of cards, a few packet tricks and I was ready to rock and roll. Except...despite all the time I had spent watching street performers, I watched what they did, not HOW they did it. For some reason I thought people would automatically flock to me because I was a magician. Everyone wants to see magic, right? Not so. They are wrapped up in their own little universe and unless you're handing out cash, people need a good reason to stop. I had the magic, didn't really have a show but I thought that would work itself out once I started performing. I failed because I didn't know how to get people to stop and watch and I didn't have a script. I didn't know what to say. Other than the script I had for the different effects I had, I didn't know how to engage the audience so that they would be interested in what I was doing or what I was going to do. Again, utter failure. Years later, I find out that Gazzo is having a master class in North Carolina. ***, I had Broadway tickets for a show that weekend that cost me over $100.00. And there was the fact that I was in New Jersey and the class was in North Carolina. That's a long drive. What to do? The guy running the event said that he needed to know if I was coming or not because Gazzo had to make sure he had enough cup sets and pouches for the class. I told him I'd be there. That class changed my life. Gazzo filled in many of the holes in my busking experiences. Once I had the class done, I spent the next few years developing an act, creating a script, etc. ATTEMPT #3 (July 4, 2008) Fourth of July and my wife and I had planned on busking at a festival just north of us. In this town you need to get a permit and we applied early in the season and had one. We got into town a little after our start time mostly because of holiday traffic. My stomach was in a knot because I still hadn't had a good street performing experience and she had a bad experience street performing once before with another magician. Bikers were throwing change at her. As we drove around for 45 minutes trying to find a parking space, we decided that it was fruitless and went to see a friend that was performing at a location in the next town over. I told her we'll come back tomorrow. She reminded me that she had a gig tomorrow. Okay, I'll be back tomorrow....by myself. ATTEMPT #4 (July 5, 2008) The day after the fourth of July. I get into town about an hour early to make sure I found parking. That I found with no problem. As I looked at the streets, the pedestrian traffic was really light. How was I supposed to build a crowd off of this? I went to my designated spot and sat there for a while and maybe a dozen people passed directly in front of me. Everyone else was walking on the main drag that was just off my spot. I went to look at another designated location that was assigned to another magician that I knew and actually ran into him on the way to his pitch. I asked him if they day was light or looked promising. He said it was a little light but would pick up later. I sat across the street watching him make balloon animals for one interested family. Otherwise, the place seemed dead. Not a good day for busking. I should just go home. I got up and headed to my car deciding that I'll be back next Saturday when the traffic was heavier. (Today was Sunday.) As I approached my car I told myself today was "do or die." I can't keep putting this off. I just have to go out and do it. So, I unlocked my car and took my gear out from the passenger side so that I wouldn't convince myself to sit down and drive away. I went to my spot and started setting up my table and my gear as I was looking at the bleak foot traffic wondering if I made the right decision. And then a little boy popped up in front of me and asked if I was a magician. I told him yes. I watched as he ran away to his father and say, "He's a magician!" He ran back to me and asked, "Are you going to do a show soon?" I told him yes. He ran to his father again. Once he got there with his dad, I performed the egg bag for the little guy and when I was done, I had a crowd of about 20 people in front of me. I went into a card trick. By the time I was done with that, the crowd swelled to about 50. I ended with the cups and balls and collected my first hat. My hat lines sucked, I got about $15.00. But I rolled on for the next couple hours. I was still very inexperienced, I would start by stopping a couple and do a card trick. Once other people saw that I was doing card tricks and that I already had someone else involved, it was safe for them to stroll on in and stop to watch the show. I was amazed that I drew crowds out of nowhere. I didn't want to lose them so I would go right into my finale, the cups and balls speaking like a NJ guy on the Parkway (talking really fast). I know because I felt myself doing it. I wrapped up a few hours later, a few dollars richer, and richer in the fact that I finally felt I was successful at busking. I knew there was still a lot to learn about it, but I did it and wanted more. Afterwards, as I watched other buskers I paid attention to HOW they got their crowds, HOW they got them interested to stay and watch their shows, and HOW and WHY they got the crowds to pay. I talked with and sought out the advice of other buskers. As you can see my journey to the streets took a long time. A lot of it was sidelined by an interest in bizarre magick and performing séances with a two friends. We also performed bizarre magick shows. There also wasn't that much material on busking as there is today. But I was always drawn to the streets. It took me a while to get there and having been there I can say that no other venue has afforded me the experience that street performing gives. You are there on your own terms. You learn to deal with people. You learn how to deal with mistakes. You learn your craft and hone your skills by performing your material in real time in front of real people. You don't get this standing in front of a mirror in your house. I firmly believe that if you can get a crowd to stop their lives and their current agenda for that part of the day, to stop and watch your show, and to stay and pay you at the end, you can perform anywhere. But other venues will not necessarily prepare you to perform on the street. To me, the streets are home. In the end, you need an understanding of the street dynamic. That you can get from books and DVDs on the subject. You need a show. You need something to say to the crowd to engage them between performances and during the lag times in an effect itself, and you do need the balls to get out there and do it. You will fail to some extent. But you will get better and the learning curve is pretty fast.
by EVILDAN....
"The Coin Board Book" - moves and routines with the coin panel board. - http://www.lybrary.com/the-coin-board-book-p-827955.html "SLASHER - A Horror Whodunnit" - a bizarre close-up routine based on Bob Neale's "Sole Survivor." PM me for more info. "Zombie Town" - a packet effect about how a small town turned into zombies. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nzJhcoJtyOM |
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Mario Morris Inner circle Mario Morris 2044 Posts |
Great story, it so rewarding watching performers taking their first steps.
Seeing the tranformation from fear to achivement, dreed to smiles of joy. |
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EVILDAN Inner circle 1279 Posts |
There's nothing like feeding off the energy of a crowd either. And it's different on the streets than on a stage.
On the streets, they DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE. They can leave at any time they choose. But when you can grab them, hold them, and show them a good time, and they walk away happy and you have a full hat - ahhh, there's nothing like it!!!
by EVILDAN....
"The Coin Board Book" - moves and routines with the coin panel board. - http://www.lybrary.com/the-coin-board-book-p-827955.html "SLASHER - A Horror Whodunnit" - a bizarre close-up routine based on Bob Neale's "Sole Survivor." PM me for more info. "Zombie Town" - a packet effect about how a small town turned into zombies. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nzJhcoJtyOM |
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Ekuth Inner circle Floating above my 1538 Posts |
Perseverance.
The Fitzkee Trilogy is (or should be) required reading for any magi, busker or not. If you only read one of them (and they can be a slog, I warn you) then read "Showmanship For Magicians".
"All you need is in Fitzkee."
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blue dragon magic New user 41 Posts |
A sign that says magic show some sort of case pouch pockets to hold your props hat or bucket to collect the money and a deck of cards you supply three of your favorite card tricks that have easy set up or no set up unless you are having a card sign at the beginning don't start with a trick that destroys a card it can get rather expensive replacing the deck although there is an exception like balloons or rubber bands you can easily find at a regular store and not a magic shop another place to look are your home depots look at tool belts that could carry your props or act as a servant I picked one up for less than twenty bucks its black and I can add or remove a pouch as neededed. See I'm not fortunate to live near a magic shop so I have to order online a Couple years ago there where two now theres none so I think outside of the box. When Halloween stores pop up I check them out hardware stores even craft stores its about what's available to me. As a performer I am consumed to performing and making money not chasing props around to replace if you live near a sams club or Costco buy your cards in bulk if you can if you are on an extreme budget buy them one at a time or at a thrift store thrift stores you find cards that are themed like I found a James bond deck and I am working on a James bond theme trick found them in there box all cards there for iffy cents. Don't over look yard sales and flea markets I went to an auction one day on a whim never been to one before and a magician was selling all his stuff all had instructions and he was willing to show the buyer what each prop does. I won the auction for fifty dollars had over fifty books no longer in print and several hundred dollars in props not to mention autographs of doug Henning David Copperfield and David Blaine Chris angel twenty plus DVDs and books on street performing. I mention this because the props you need are all over the place not always in a magic shop. When I started out I had a sign that said worlds greatest coin trick printed on one side and magic show printed on the other laminated on heavy stock set it out and watched peoples curiosity take over later I had signs that said worlds greatest coin trick card trick rope trick haunted trick you get the idea. My first hat was sixty dollars doing this and I might have had had less then ten invested in everything so next time your in a WalMart Costco sams club homedepot hobby lobby open your eyes and something on the shelf might inspire you it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg for it to be effective.
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Mik-Kado New user Antwerp, Belgium 31 Posts |
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On Oct 31, 2014, Richard Doyle wrote: This is SOOOO true!!!! You really need a lot of courage to go out there... I've tried it once and I just feeled from myself that I wasn't ready for the 'street-jungle', while experience with magic wasn't the problem. This summer I plan to try it again... I think I've prepared myself a lot better now by working at my personality instead of my magic. But Mr. Doyle is right: you need "balls", and show the people you have them (not really SHOW them physically please), balls....without cups! Greets.
Live your most beautiful life.
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blue dragon magic New user 41 Posts |
Once you have been out there for a bit its a learning experience, you get a feel for accomplishing your goal and take comfort that you can make money anytime you want to even if your underemployed Your never unemployed once you get the feel of street performing as for me I look to local news and papers to find out what's going on and where people will gather to get the foot traffic. My show is small and compact so it can play in any space if the space can hold up to a hundred people then great if only ten without blocking sidewalk and street then I can prepare to do several small shows to make up for one group of hundred so that's ten small shows yes you work harder to make about the same and I am a big believer of work smarter and not harder but sometimes it just don't work out that way. So as a performer one has to keep informed of all the special events going on in your town. Then if I am familiar with the area I know where it is I will set up if not I do a dry run to the area so I know where I am going to set up prior to that event. I don't leave it to chance in that regard just show up I have done my homework it also lets me know of my angles and any problems with the tricks and I make the necessary adjustment to my show. Without sacrificing the integrity of my act. Basically how I will conduct my show.
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
This is a great thread. I am only a "weekend warrior" and frankly haven't done anything last year or this year. I go through magic "doldrums" and this appears to be one of them. Hopefull I'll shake it off soon and get out there.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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bropaul Loyal user Florida 222 Posts |
You need to understand mistakes will be made...LOL I screwed up my Stupid Bean Trick because of the wind. I had built a really good crowd and just when the reveal was happening the wind kicked up and blew the bag and glass over...all I could do was laugh as people walked away…GAWD.
Dang… Didn't I mention the wind on the DVD? What am I saying, it's happened to me too. hahahaha… |
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prestidigitation New user 54 Posts |
Positioning is very important.
Having your back facing a wall at angle, preferably in an enclosed area of shops (but avoid standing in front of any doors or signs) about 5 - 10 feet away from the wall, with your front facing the street/pedestrians. This allows the best sound dynamics, backdrop and presentation space. |
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cbguy Veteran user 350 Posts |
Balls....a lot of balls.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
I think that the OP (Oli) has disappeared. He's in college. We corresponded for awhile, and, he just stopped writing.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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