If you went back in time to when you first started doing your street performances...

What would be the one, two or three pieces of advice you would give to yourself?

What is it that you know now that you wished you knew then?

George

Knowing that not everyone likes magic. Don't be offended if they are not interested.... And know exactly what you are doing....

Don't drink a lot of coffee before going out!
or plan for bathroom breaks.

My advice to myself, or to anyone else, starting out would be;

Buy the Cellini - Art of Street Perfroming Vol I DVD/Video and save yourself a lot of OJT.

BroDavid

I would take Bro Davids advice on the dvd...
Wish I would have read these forums more closly instead of just scanning them too.

Perform more--make a real job out of it instead of only once or twice a week.

Interesting ideas. I guess many of you were satisfied with the way you began your journey.

I agree with rkrahlmann. When I started I was a kid and had no nead to make it work, so if I felt like going to the park I went, if something else came up oh well I'll go tomarow...

All the same I've had fun.

If, one day when I'm a success, and I happen upon the secret of time travel, I will come back in time, kick myself in the groin, and order myself to practice more.
:eek:
...
You know, I had better not risk my ever finding the secret of time-travel and the possiblity of a self-inflicted coup-de-groin and just start practicing now.

I would have bought Cellini's book and Whit Hayden's notes first. (I bought another book on street performance first and it sent me down a lot of wrong paths.)

I knew enough magic I just had no concept as to how to apply it to the street. That is the hardest part and the books I mention contained the straight stuff.

(If I was starting today I'd get Cellini and Gazzo's videos)

Best,

Dan-

Don't perform zombie outside - remember wind will play a large factor if your tricks are not suitable. For example, lots of fine silks and newspaper tearing can be compleatly messed up by strong gusts of wind!

When you take a break, NEVER sit down (you'll never get back up again!)

This applies pretty much to any performer who is on his or her feet all day.

In fact, the godfather of trade shows, Eddie Tulloch, makes this his Number One suggestion in doing trade-show work.

WOW! Peter is that good advice! I hardly ever even quit to have lunch. Besides losing my pitch, I have found that Once I sit down and eat I do not want to move again at all and if I do go back to the pitch my show suffers for it. They can tell I'm "mailing it in."

The only time I will break is if I'm splitting a pitch with Sonny or something. If it's a show for me a show for you situation getting frequent breaks are not as bad. But man, if I'm doing two or three hours straight and I decide to sit down, I might as well go home.

Oh, but I always drink A LOT of water between shows. Nothing light passing out from heat in the middle of the cups and balls. It really kills your hat!

Best,

Dan-

Have faith in yourself,what you do and the punters,they are not as bad as you think (Well not all of them).

"punters"????

Punter: British slang; originally a betting term for a player who bets against the bank; it later became a sporting term for fans (usually but not always of the betting type); and, finally, now covers just about anyone who is involved in any way with just about anything: i.e., your audience.

Once again, an example of two nations separated by a common language!

Thanks Peter.