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Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
This is a topic I've been wanting to discuss for quite some time. Basically it all boils down to the fact that "Street Magic" has become more of a fad in the last 5 years or so.
I know I'm gonna make some people mad here but I'm pretty sure I'm right when I say that a very, very small percentage of magicians that call themselves "Street Magicians" really are one. There are some out there and if you really are one I wish you much success in it. I have nothing against street magicians. If you are a real street magician you'll know that it's a very hard thing to become successful in. It's a lot more then just doing tricks well. Not long ago you rarely heard the term "street Magician". After the TV specials that where titled "street Magic" and the ellusions.com web site pushed the term and became popular. many of the magicians who where inspired by these things wanted to be a "street magician". The thing is, the ones they saw on TV aren't really street magicians either. Yes, they did magic on the street. yes, they did some tricks that street magicians do. but having a TV crew fallowing you around is an attention grabber and real street magicians don't have that edge. When people see that camera they often see it as an opportunity to be on TV. A real street magician has to use other methods to attract attention and more importantly obtain trust from total strangers. They have to draw a crowd and the only payment they receive is what they where able to get dropped into the hat. They have to be very entertaining and get people to want to donate to them. If they don't succeed they've done a lot of work and didn't get much for it. Then they have the legal issues. Competition from other performers. Protecting there turf and so forth. Real street magic is an entirely different art then close up or even strolling magic. Most of the magicians who call themselves "street magicians" are more like strolling magicians. Often payed to be where they are "strolling' the streets and rarely having to compete with other entertainers. So I ask you. Are you a real street magician or a strolling magician who performs at on the street from time to time? Have you ever really hit the streets with your act? Have you studied the history of street performing well enough to know what it really is? If you really are a "street magician". What would you tell others who want to be one? No matter what your answer is I wish you much success. Ron Jaxon |
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Jim Wilder Special user Birmingham, AL 954 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-11-27 13:44, Jaxon wrote: This topic has been discussed a few times recently both in this and the "sidewalk shuffle" forum. If such things as titles are important, there is somewhat of an underlying debate over which performer can call themselves a "street magician." This is not an important issue to me personally. However, I will say that "street magician" had a different meaning prior to the early 90's. In magic, there is enough room for both, regardless of which style seems more appealing. Personally, I prefer the more traditional. I, at one time, had more reservations about the more modern "hit and run" style street magicians. Over time though, I see it developing into a more studied facet of its own. |
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Anders Moden Regular user 163 Posts |
To be a street magician you will have to have an act, you will have to be able to draw a crowd and keep them there for 20+ minutes, you will have to do tricks that can be seen by everybody, and you have to be charming enough for them to want to pay you at the end (or preferrably right before the climax).
The most professional street entertainer I ever saw was some seven years ago. He had a unicycle act and at the end he left an umbrella upside down in the center and people swarmed in to put their money in it. The umbrella was half full and almost flattened out! But if someone has found a way to perform and get paid without following this pattern, I would love to hear about it. |
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MagikMike New user 41 Posts |
Point well made, jaxon.
I like to tell people I'm an amatuer magician, as the term fits more properly. I would, however, one day like to have an act worthy of tackeling street crouds...
"What's your father's occupation?"
"He's a magician" "What's his favorite trick?" "Sawing people in half." "Gosh! Any brothers or sisters?" "One half brother, and two half sisters" |
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Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
Not unlike the some so named "street magicians" I do impromptu type effects at times. I don't however consider myself a "Street Magician". I'm just a guy freaking people out. There's no money to be made here.
I usually do a couple of short, routined effects but not what you would call a complete act. Quote:
If you really are a I would ask them what they considered to be street magic and who they considered to be street magicians and try and point them in the right direction. "A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet."-Shakespeare |
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The Dragon New user The Dark Shadows. 90 Posts |
Titles are just titles. The outcome and effect on the street audience is the most important. Just my opinion. I feel street magicians are just magicians with no fancy huge props but one-to-many performance.
Don't think too much.
Just hit it. |
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DoctorAmazo Special user Florida 643 Posts |
Anders,
IMHO, you are describing a busker. "Street magician" has evolved (or been hijacked!) to denote a "random acts" kind of guy/gal who pretty much works for free, in the style of Blaine and ellusionist.com. I think the shift in terminology is confusing to those of us who are used to "street magic" and "busking" being one and the same. These days they are as different as bar magic versus a birthday party act. And I assume the point of this thread is to clear it all up for us old-timers. |
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Marco S. Inner circle 1017 Posts |
It is all a matter of definition. If you see stuff like Blaine`s specials, I think this is street magic.
;-) |
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NickJegor Elite user Lithuania 466 Posts |
About Blaines specials you right this is real street magic! You perform to unknown people, get big reactions and sometimes get some money!
I realy like to perform in streets or in some restorants, but this Christmas I will perform for the first time on stage and it's little friting me! |
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RonCalhoun Special user Independence, KY USA 599 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-11-29 09:51, Marco S. wrote: We use to call this close-up
Founder Heroin Doesn't Care. Find us on https://www.facebook.com/heroindoesntcare
www.heroindoesntcare.com |
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
Here I am to set things straight. (or at least, as straight as a fool could hope to set anything)
Yo Jaxon, thanks for the interest. First off, this has been discussed at length under the threads "What is a street magician" and "Busking vs. street-magic", but you ask some interesting questions which seem to be prevealent in the minds of many buskers....ARE there REALLY any 'street-mages'?? Yes indeed there are sir...present for one, and I know of at least 10 others both in this country and Europe. The reason we have an almost ehthereal, mythic reputation is that it's really not very easy to spot us. Street-mages don't wear big hats or colorful costumes....we wear street-clothes (go figure)...we don't use any type of table / stand, and we don't (actually we CAN'T) use bulky effects like the linking rings / cups & balls. Our tricks are of the variety which can be concealed on one's person and used at a momment's notice. We don't have to protect any 'turf' because all the WORLD is our 'turf'. The primary advantage of street-mages over buskers is that buskers have to stick to a set area where what they do is legal / allowed, whereas a street-magish can go and perform ANYwhere.(at his own risk of course). You COULD say we are more like strolling performers in taht we are extremely mobile and flexible. A busker waits for, or tries to entice people to come to him....a street-mage goes to the people. Yes, this can be awkward and/or dangerous, but if you practice at it, it's not that hard. The primary advantage of busking over street-magic is that you can use more and bigger effects, and it(busking) makes more money....lots more in most cases. But remember, it only makes more money IF YOU CAN DO IT....if it's raining, or you loose you pitch to another busker for the day, or the traffic in your area is dead....tough luck. But if youre a street-mage, NONE of those limitations apply. In one post I wrote the following analogy: Think of the busker as a battleship...it can hit from a far distance with a wide array of weaponry and is really impressive, but the weather has to be good, and it's not terribly subtle or manuverable. Think of a street-magish as a submarine...limited weaponry, has to get really close to be at all effective, but it can ignore the weather, and go places a battleship can't. As for what I would tell others who might like to be one: 1) Practice and master!! Don NOT just wander out and stop some random passerby with a cheap plastic gimmik! Have some GOOD skills first! 2) When choosing a mark, look for foreingers...theyre always eager to experience any form of U.S. culture. 3) Go for the kids! Theyre the weak point of any audience! Have effects like the ballerina hank which will grab their attention. 4) Don't just step in front of a mark and say 'watch this'! (That's a good way to get the snot beat out of you!) Wait or follow along witha group, and listen for them to say or do something you can play off of. 5) Smile, be freindly, be humble, be respectfull Some street magic vocab: MARK: A person who looks like he / she might be accepting of magic tricks AKKY: ('achilles heel') A child, preferably between 5 & 11. JACK OF CLUBS: A police officer. (club---get it?) SHTICK: A routine / approach BRASSBALLER: A street mage who uses pure sleight-of-hand...no gimmicks. BIBLE: A street-mage's deck of cards LEGIT: A busker
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts |
I've done a 'tame' version of street magic.
That is, I've done traditional busking, but in a venue that is somewhat safer than just 'claiming a corner' in a city. The busking I did was at Newport on the Levee, a partly-outdoor market complex with private security. 'Incidents' could still happen, but were rare, and if you were carrying a card to verify that NOTL had auditioned and 'okayed' you, you had no legal hassles. As with traditional busking, success involved drawing crowds and getting tips. I didn't do too badly last Summer. Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
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Anders Moden Regular user 163 Posts |
Thanks Mighty Fool for a very interesting post.
Can you, or do you know of anyone who can make a living being a street magician, as per your definition? (serious question) Can you give an example of how to get the money? |
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Verno Inferno Regular user Chicago 132 Posts |
Alright, my brain hurts. It would be nice if SAM/IBM would publish a dictionary. Let's do try to get things straight. We should be precise.
My first observation: "Busker" is not a type of magician as used in the above posts. "Busker" is broader, including jugglers, musicians, actors, dancers, plate-spinners... anyone performing publicly, usually for money. A "street magician" is a type of busker. Thus: We can't say there are "Street Magicians" (Blaine-like performers) and "Busker Magicians". I'm not sure if I can withstand addressing how the title of a TV special apparently changes generally accepted defintions. Am I restaurant magician because I've performed in restaurants while eating with family and friends? If I perform Metamorphasis behind a bar, did I just perform bar magic? I mean... as long as we are watering-down generally accepted definitions... bleh. |
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
First off, yes, street-mages CAN be included in the brodlay-defined boundries of 'busking. We both do magic on the streets, the diference is in HOW we do it, as well as the ad / disadvantages I mentioned in my post.
To Anders Moden: Well, that really depends on what you define as a 'living'. I know it's possible to SURVIVE on street-magic, but you wouldn't be able to raise a family or rent a house with it, except in the most rare of fortunate circumstances. But the fact is, not many buskers make a living off what they do either. Yes there are those like Gazzo and Celini, or mabye Danny Hustle, or Koz, but from what I've seen in my travels and experience, the vast majority of buskers (magician buskers that is) do magic as a supplementary or seasonal income, NOT as a full-time living wage. There are a great many buskers in London's Covent Gardens who busk full time for a living, but most of those are jugglers and funambulists. In fact I never saw a single conjuror at the Gardens. There are ceratinly more busker-magicians who make a living off their art than street-magicians (if indeed there ARE any street-mages who do), but making a living wage off the streets is rare overall. In my case, when I travell (an absolute passion of mine) I go 'last class'. I sleep on benches, hop trains, hitch rides & whatnot. Street-magic is how I get enough daily money to eat. If I find a place where I can DO a busking pitch show without having to go through all manner of red tape, then sure, I'll do it.(I keep a set of rings, a zombie-ball, and a gravity-glass in my main pack just in case) But that rarely happens. I wear pants with double hip-pockets and thigh & ankle pockets, as well as a belt-pouch, and a knapsack, and I'm equipped as follows: Eclipse TT Stealth-pen MacAbee rings Supersharpie Killer-key D'lites cards & 'fine-prints' invisible deck electric deck ballerina hank spider-pen (formally the stealth-retractor) sponge-bunnies folding coins wrap-it-up bouncing hanky There was also one time when I posed as a homeless bum here in Orlando doing magic tricks. It was fun, wierd and surprisingly profitable, but it got out of hand, and it's not something I'll ever do again.
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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pepijn Regular user Utrecht (the netherlands) 134 Posts |
Thank you very much mighty fool This was a really intresting read!
thanks a lot Pepijn |
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
Thanks for reading Pepijn. (cool name!) I stayed in Uthrecht once. I made freinds with a Cambodian exchange student named Top, and she had a little place in Utrecht. I liked it cause it was so close to Amsterdam, where I did my shtick.
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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luckybob13 New user 4 Posts |
Street magician, busker, street performer... that's the problem, does it matter? No your out their on the street doing what you do for a living and maybe if your good you can pull 3 dollar hats, my best day on the street I made 25 dollars out of 12hrs, now that's big time.
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
Aaaahh...Luckybob, I'm gonna assume you're being sarcastic, 'cause I usually get $25-$60 in a 5-hour trip through a city on a good day. Really, the average is about $30.(for 3-5 hours) anything over that is kinda rare. Though I have had the occasional $80 and $123 day! And that's a STREET-MAGISH....If I was a BUSKER, a $25 12-hour day would have me ready to cut my wrists. I know some buskers in good areas who, in season, can hat something like $25 an HOUR.
BTW, another point regarding street-mages....Here in Florida, you can make better takes if your'e willing to go POACHING. That is, doing your shtick on private proprtey without the owner's knowledge / consent. By private propertey, I don't mean some schmuck's front yard, I mean the theme parks & attractions. Disney, city-walk and the sea-world, I-drive, resort area is LOADED with fat marks who have come with cash to blow, and usually they have lots of akkys with them. But DON'T try to do it inside the amusement parks themselves....although there are 117 ways to sneak in for free, those parks are hard-wired from end to end with state-of-the-art survelience tech. Security will be all over you before you'r 1/2-way through your 2nd trick. Just roam through the properties & resorts, always stay on the move, and you can make a huge take (That was one of my 3-hour $177 days!) and have a barrel of fun in the process. Much more dangerous & rare than poaching, is SHARK-DIVING. That is, doing street magic in busker-territory. Only the most desperate of situations would compell a street-magish to do this, and I myself never have. If you read some of the threads and posts over on 'The sidewalk shuffle', you'll find that we aren't exactly loved by the busking community. Their feeling toward street-mages ranges from disdain to bald-faced hatred. They would NOT appreciate one of us trying to leech off their pitch. Though one Street-mage I know by the name of Lord-Gus, actually likes doing this simply for the thrill and conflict.....takes all types I guess.
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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chrisrkline Special user Little Rock 965 Posts |
I think most buskers would slash their wrist if all they could bring in were 25 dollars an hour, on good days.
Mighty Fool, if you can bring in 177 dollars in three hours, why don't you spend every day in these parks, considering there is about 10 billion square miles of them in central Florida? Do you make up all these terms you use? I don't know how much real hatred buskers really have for you street mages, or whatever you call yourselves, because some have stated that they have never seen one of you actually doing anything. I am not in magic central, but I spend a fair amount of time at malls and other areas where people here in Little Rock hang out, and I have never seen a kid doing street magic--and I look! Of course, I don't see people busking, either, which is OK with me, too. It doesn't matter at all what anyone does with magic. But it does matter to a newbie that we provide honest information of what is truly going on in the magic world, and not some dream. Let's say a new magic special comes on TV and sweeps the nation. The show is about naked stage magic involving rabid wild boars. It turns out to be very popular with the kids. Suddenly there are loads of exposure sites dedicated to this new magic style. New websites come out (boarsmagic.com) and all the kids are talking about this cool, and dangerous, new magic. Older stage magicians feel somewhat frustrated, because younger magicians act like stage magic was invented with this recent TV special. A new forum is made here at the Café called "Stage Magic with wild Boars." The older style stage magic is forced to rename itself Auditorium Magic, and the fight is on. In the Stage Magic forum there are endless debates over the relative virtues of total and partial nudity, and whether using a tame boar is acceptable when you start out. People ask, "How do you get people to give you a dollar or two doing stage magic," and there are fifty quick posts suggesting some possible methods, although it becomes clear that no one actually does Naked Boar Magic (or hardly anyone.) When someone lurks in from the Auditorium Magic forum and suggests that you can make money doing "real" stage magic, they are politely told to hush, and that what we do, here in the Naked Stage Magic group, is every bit as real as what Auditorium Magic do--after all, they add, you are doing Auditorium magic, not Stage Magic. :)
Chris
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