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Richard Shippy Special user Scottsdale, Arizona 510 Posts |
I'm really curious as to what made fellow members here in the Magic Café interested in street magic. For me, I was totally inspired by Gazzo and his amazing cups and balls routine. I was fascinated how he was able to hold the crowd's attention.
I also remember seeing performers at fairs and festivals when I was a little boy and how amazing the magic was to witness. It is fun giving people the same sense of amazement in magic I once felt as a child. What about you? What got you interested in street magic? Kind regards, Rich
"They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds." ~ Winston Churchill
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Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
Gazzo was my inspiration too. He, and a juggler named Adam who works the west coast Ren Faire circuit.
Las Vegas isn't really "busker friendly" (unless you're hired by a casino for one of their indoor shopping district shows) but I've been frequenting the Ren Faires the past 5 years or so, and of all the street (path?) entertainers there, I hardly ever see a magician. With some expert guidance and the right equipment, I hope to change that very soon.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
I loved open-air performances at fairs of my youth, and saw some outstanding street performers at outdoor festivals in Seattle in the late 1970s.
I was also attracted by the way you get better fast while street performing. It just isn't like a ticketed event or a party. If there is a weak spot in your act on the street, they bust you or they walk. It is a terrific test of your ability to capture and hold an audience. I have seen a lot of magic, but as I think about it, a street performance is more like those guys demonstrating kitchen appliances at the fairs of my youth. They have the blender or the famous Veg-O-Matic, and the pitch is hypnotic. The mirror set up over the counter lets you see the piles of gleaming vegetables under the bright lights, the cadence to their talk is like an auctioneer's at times, then it slows down to the pace of your best friend shooting the breeze. They talk about the flavor of these fresh vegetables, you can hear the crunch of the carrots, smell the fresh oranges. You are in another world! This gadget could be the beginning of a new way of life for you! Your health will improve and you'll enjoy life more! You reach for your wallet... Yours, Paul |
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Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts |
For me, it was the fact I was broke. That has changed somewhat, so I have since stopped busking.
Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
I did it out of desperation because I was broke. It was cool because within a week I had a steady gig at an attraction (low pay, but steady) and within a month I was travelling. I have done a few busking festivals but the experience isn't always the best. I recently was in Detroit busking and had a horrible time. There was no festival and we were expected to perform on the sidewalks. The district wasn't even having sidewalk sales or anything. Felt like a step up from a bum on the street. I also got stiffed by the "organizer". I am out $600.00 USD! I am probably never going to busk/street perform again unless I am fully paid a week in advance. (The company putting it on was a reputable company too!)
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keithmagic Veteran user 375 Posts |
I saw it as a great opportunity to practice and fill dates I hadn't yet filled. It helps me become a lot more versatile. And I enjoy being paid to practice ;-).
And did I meantion is is just downright fun? Keith Stickley http://www.howtobookfestivals.com
Author of "The Festival Entertainer" The Professional Entertainer's Guide to Booking and Working Outdoor Fairs, Festivals, and Events.
Available at http://www.howtobookfestivals.com |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
The groupies! Just my luck that I attract the "Under 12" crowd! Drat!
:o) Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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BroDavid Inner circle America’s North Coast, Ohio 3176 Posts |
I bought a Cellini tape and the game was on. I never really enjoyed performing in set up gigs. Show up, and then wait for swomebody else, etc, etc. For me it was almost like work. And I got paid whether I did well or not. And the reward was way too predictable. Maybe it was because I don't like playing games according to anyone else's rules. Or maybe becasue I am a bit of an old time hustler, it was just too easy, and worker harder or smarter made no difference. So on the Street, I figured I could do what I want to do, when I want to do it, and the better I do it, the more I can make at it.
And after seeing and listening to Cellini on the tape, I was convinced that it was worth a try. I loved it. I later picked up the Art of Street performing, and learned that I still didn't know what I was doing. Then saw and talked to Cellini in Lecture and also met Koz in New Orleans to see how a real live busker gets it done. He controls his spectators like they were puppets on a string, and they love it. Once again, I learned that I still didn't have a clue. But after seeing Koz, I was inspired all the more. Today, I still have lots to learn. But I am encouraged by others here who admit that they too, are still learning (and willing to help a fellow busker in training). BroDavid
If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
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BAH1313 Elite user Ohio 445 Posts |
I watched a street performer work a crowd where I live and I just knew I had to try it. So, I did. I fell on my face so many times that one would think to quit. I'm either too crazy to quit or just cant get enough because I've been doin it for over five years now and everyday I'm out there, I feel like I learn something new and I have a blast. Not to mention the money is pretty good too. I have yet to break my Hundred Dollar hat goal, but I've been close several times, and I know it's coming! It only takes one good performance, and you're hooked. Stick to it no matter what! It only gets better as long as you learn from what you do.
I am truly blessed to have a job where people are laughing all the time and everyone believes in magic....Come to think of it, I'm blessed to even have a job.
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jasonmiller New user Greenville, SC 52 Posts |
The only street performance experience I have is primarily with balloons... but I still count dangit. lol
I hit the streets to polish up my rusty balloon animal skills. I hadn't made any balloons in a number of years... so I fugured what the heck! While I was at it I discovered it is quite enjoyable. Oddly enough as my balloon apron emptied... the tip pocket kept getting fatter and fatter! haha I was asked to do my thing at a business downtown during our busiest festival of the year... What a blast! Roughly 30,000 people a day for 2-3 days crowd the streets. The crowd I drew at this store was so big the sidewalk was jammed and they had one of the bast days ever in the history of that store. Alone in a huge crowd... dollars flying in and latex flying out... how can it get any better? haha Sadly I have been a little too busy to do street work this year. Thanks to the practice I got in the streets I have a weekly table hopping balloon gig 2 nights a week. Some magic is included every once in a while... but they know me as the balloon guy ;-) Oh ya... I know Martysh form the above post... he does a great street show. In fact, I met him at his street show last year. I looked on our city street performance schedule and saw a magician. Got lucky enough to catch his last show of the season. Now If I could get a break from my gigs to go see him... His shows this year is scheduled to end at the same time my weekend bookings end. :-( Keep it up Marty!
Jason Miller
-Balloon Twister -Magic Man |
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Gia New user Edmonton, Canada 18 Posts |
Right before I entered Theatre school, a dear friend of mine performed a simple, gaffed, litttle kid magic trick. I was fooled, laughed b/c I couldn't figure it out, then my curious mind solved the puzzle, and have been laughing ever since. Unfortunately I have spent the last 3 years in Theate school. Once I graduated I did the Edmonton INternational Street Performers Festival, saw a magician, and realised I had been deprived of magic for 3 years. Now I have made the decision to escape my acting career and build a magic career.
GIA
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-08-03 03:11, Gia wrote: Gia, best choice you could have made!!! my story is on the Café someplace if you want to look it up. BTW you are close to Wayno up there go see him at http://www.spookclub.com You can also see my story there under Success Stories. There I am known as Peter. This is a great life for those who want to have fun and enjoy making people happy. Peter |
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Gia New user Edmonton, Canada 18 Posts |
Hey Paddy,
I have met Wayno at a lecture earlier this past year. And I know, it is the best choice I have made.
GIA
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johnnymystic Inner circle North Adams Ma. 1576 Posts |
I was 17 years old, a high school dropout and no place to live...to say the most I was living on the streets...I would say it was necessity that got me performing on the streets. If I needed bus fare,lunch,dinner or a forty ouncer, I'd hit the streets, usually in Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia.
johnny
I drink cheap tequila and vomit
<BR>I cannot eat hot wings...acid reflux <BR>I never inhale <BR>I can put a field dress on a deer |
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love2laugh Veteran user 374 Posts |
I have never performed on the street. What is the best way to get started? How much money can you make in a typical day?
Thank you, L2L |
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-08-07 02:32, love2laugh wrote: Well I am no Gazzo so I don't even come near to what you can make, but When I do busk I don't stop until I hit my goal of $100 a day. Sometimes I have to wait about 4 hours before this but usuall I get that rather quickly so I keep going until I get tired. Never had the $^00 days of some of these guys. Peter |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
What got me intersted in it was 2 things really 1) was the fact thatmy wife and I now specialize a LOT in the festival and fair markets runnijng from March through October. At these festivals I wanted to be able to offer strolling style street magic as an add on bonus for them and 2) Just this past weekend I was scheduled to do street magic only at the largest Music Festival on the east coast. I was mainly going to be on the streets all throughout the town and I had never tried to do street magic on this scale and scope before.
These two reasons really helped puch me to learn as much as I can. I have to say I have learned so much from all of you in the past month or so I have been coming here. I want to also say the festival was a guge scuccess mainly because of the ideas and suggestions from this group so thank you. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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magik kat New user Clagary 11 Posts |
Seeing as I am not even 16 yet I havn't heard of all these earlier time magicians, but for me when I first saw david blaine's tv special I was like wow I wish I could do that, but what really got me wanting to do street magic was seeing criss angels mindfreak. I was so amazed by criss that I immedatly went out and bought a dvd about street magic. I have been doing magic constintly ever since.
the art of magic is seeing and beleiving, not seeing and revealing.
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bwarren3 Special user 518 Posts |
I started out doing kids birthday parties, boy did that get old real quick but taught me that kids will let you know when you haven't practiced enough!!! Focused on close-up magic, ended up performing for the Holiday Inn chain for 6 years, doing close-up, stand-up and bar magic. What a great time that was. Recently have been really focused on stand-up for the past couple of years and Street Magic is just about the most fun I've ever had. Nothing compares to Street Magic, you know what you can and cannot do, if in doubt leave it out. Just great fun. Merlin enjoys it when he gets the chance to go and perform also. STeps right up to the females, definitely a make bird...
Bill |
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Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
I started the “life” working as a magician in Carnival 10-in-one. I worked several seasons. However, there came a time when I couldn’t travel even a partial season and, hard as I tried, I couldn’t seem to score the “inside” gigs so I took the act outside.
The busking experience lead to working a series of out door festivals and small town fairs which, in turn, lead to working an escape act as a “free show” for an auto “Thrill” show. Performing has helped pay the bills for a lot of years.
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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