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Latig0 New user 63 Posts |
Hey there guys, been working the streets for a couple of months now and i´ve got some questions. My street game so far consists in doing close-up for small crowds. I´d like to have a big crowd show but first I want to master this type of scenario.
One of the things that happens is, there is no applause! They fail at ´showing the love´. Whenever I finish a trick, they just stay there doing nothing. Sometimes I will say ´hey come on you guys, why don´t you show some love!?´ and someone will say ´we´re in awe´. I take responsability for everything that happens or not during my show so I guess that i´m not communicating efficiently enough. Another thing that usually happens is they leave as soon as the trick ends. They don´t wait untill the show ends but as soon as the trick does. This does not happen always but sometimes. Another one that´s killing me softly is: i´m not funny on the streets! I´m very experienced in private parlor gigs. I have a very entertaining show. I interact with my audience and we usually have a great time but on the streets my funny is not on! WTF? Well, this is not completely true actually. They will laugh when they are a small group of friends. But if my audience is composed of more than one group of people, i´ll have a hard time making them laugh. Weird. I guess it has to do with me not being relaxed enough. It´s also easier for me to get money from small groups than from large ones. When they are a big crowd they just disappear as soon as I finish my show and don´t tip. All tips appreciated. |
manal Inner circle York ,PA. 1412 Posts |
Buy everything you can on busking (books , CD) by Cellini , Kozmo and Jimmy Talksalot . Also check out Talksalot s free blog.
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Johnny Butterfield Veteran user 378 Posts |
Try to sell the Big Finale. Tell them that you'll do something amazing at the end of your show, something they'll tell their grandchildren about if they stick around. Give 'em a reason to stay.
The current economic crisis is due to all the coins I've vanished.
The poster formerly known as Fman111. |
troppobob Veteran user Crescent Head Australia 372 Posts |
G'day Latigo
Great to see you are getting out there and both enjoying and learning from the experience. I had a look at your blog and found your story interesting. I attempted to write a comment on you blog but I got lost with my very limited Spanish language. Bob Latta (aka Troppo Bob) |
Arkadia Special user Sweden, Sundsvall 866 Posts |
About the laughter thing: I had the same problem when I started out. I remember just now (when you wrote about it) how frustrated I was. I remember writing in my journal: “More jokes!” And that’s what I did. I started to gather a joke-file. Everything I heard that was funny I wrote down. That helped me a lot when trying to break the funnybone. Later, when I became more relaxed I seldom looked in the file. But I am pretty sure this focus helped me out. I don’t know you and I haven’t seen your shows so I really hope this doesn’ts sound arrogant, but I guess that in your ordinary show you are more relaxed, you have a script but you don’t follow it like a slave. You improvise when the situation opens up. When you can do the same thing on the streets you’ve come a long way. The thing with the streets is that these situationse, that are open for impro, constantly is there. It is up to you to see them, grab them and do something funny. I find this to be the best in street work. You can try out things. If things mess up, well you’re short of some bucks, but there’s not a cooperate guy looking all angry.
On the streets you need to be even more funny than in a secure situation. The reason, I think, is because you’re on the streets. Your crowd isn’t a crowd yet. It sounds like you haven’t established your place on the street yet. That takes some time. When you’re totally secure, the audience will be the same. You will start to make more money, get laughs and perhaps applause. (Even though I am not so much into the applaud thing. I like my magic to consist of two sounds - gasps and laughter.) Perhaps some of what I wrote will help. But most of the time, it all comes down to just keep doing it.
Don't miss out on the great new mentalist magic: www.metalwriting.com
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ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
http://www.iankeable.co.uk/books
if you have problems with comedy / laughter then read this book STAND UP from Ian keable. this book is writen by a magician/standup comedian. he teaches in his book how you can find your kind of comedy. because you are new to the subject this is a great book. through this book I found out that my comedy is in the situation and my character. I am not the joke telling performer. first decide what kind of show you want to do: 1) boardwalk magic / short show from around 10 min. (look for jimmytalksalot) 2) a classic street magic show (jim cellini) around 10 to 20 min. max. 3) circle show (robert blake) 20 to 35 min. now make a script of your show. simply write down what you do: 1) getting the crowd 2) keeping the crowd & turning them into an audience (the show) 3) getting paid creating a street show is like fine tuning a car. take little steps. |
pslaughter Loyal user 270 Posts |
Man, you are doing exactly what you need to be doing. Just get out there and keep at it. Pay attention to what works and what doesn't work and go from there. Keep trying new things. Some will work, some won't. Keep the stuff that works, junk the crap that doesn't. The more things you try the more likely you are to stumble onto something great. Don't over think it. Just keep working it!
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FunTimeAl Special user 987 Posts |
Heya L-
I'm not a good street performer, but I've got a few years experience now and have figured out a couple of answers (that work for me) to the questions you're asking. Things like having your crowd melt right after an effect, are street performing problems, not magic problems...but it sounds like from your original post that you know what's wrong and needs fixing. That's 90% of the battle. The worst street performers are the ones that blame their audience for bad shows. I don't have any direct advice, but I do have a couple of youtube videos that perhaps you can use to see how I do things. Like I said though, I'm not that good, I just have a few years of doing it behind me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1YOpKktrYw Watch it, and any other video or (preferably) live performance you can...with your questions in mind. Then identify the performer's approach to solving your problem and then try like heck-fire not to copy their act verbatim. Like others have said, getting out their and doing shows is the best way to self correct. It's like surfing...watching someone else do it will never make you better...but may give you some ideas about technique. Good luck and keep at it. Chad |
T. Sebastian Loyal user Ozark Mountains, USA 223 Posts |
As far as your crowds taking off without tipping, Hat line hat line hat line.
So sorry I soiled your precious eyes.
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MagiCol Special user Dargaville, New Zealand 929 Posts |
I read somewhere that you should put as much effort into a script for your hatting appeal [during your show] as you do for a trick routine. So I wrote one and change the wording every so often. That said, I do have troubles getting hatting right, but a script helps me to focus on the matter.
Here's a general approach to familiarize your spectator's with the idea that you will be expecting them to show their appreciation by giving you money. About three items before the end introduce the idea that you expect the spectators to give some money for the entertainment. Do it in a light-hearted jokey way. After that routine you say a bit more about the "show me with your money that you've appreciated my show." then comes the 2nd-to last item, but before doing it tell them the final trick is one they should stick around to see. Then a bit more hat line, including maybe "Before you walk away at the finish come on up and show me how much you've enjoyed my show." Before the final WOW! item - tell them you're going to be holding out your hat and expect them to put some folding stuff in it. After the final item and getting applause tell them to come on up to meet you, and to put some money in the hat. If you can, get to watch and listen to some street performers [don't limit yourself to street magicians] work towards their hatting. Live performances, you-tube, books, forums, etc. Modify to suit your show, your personality. Big hats to you!!
The presentation makes the magic.
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djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
I am not an experienced performer, except at training, but I will quote mark James who is:
a) Ask for the applause. e.g. You picked a card at random, shuffled the pack, I was blindfolded the whole time if this is your card you go wild with applause! b) His line is you have to be at a higher pitch energy wise than the audience....you pull them along with you. In my non magic work I would say this is true. |
Latig0 New user 63 Posts |
Hey there you guys, thanks for all the advice. You´re all pretty much rite.
Now my journey is almost over and i´m going back to my home country. I must say that going to the streets (even though I come from a private gig environment) was THE BEST thing that I could have done for my show/skills. It´s like going back to school. On the streets people are hardly nice (as opposed to a birthday or wedding) and you have to ´really´ fool them. Also you have to be tough because you got to stop them, keep them and get the money. The streets were a constant source of inspiration and frustration too. It´s been wild and i´ve learned so much stuff. Also, a great place for trying out new stuff! I´ve finally found a place where to try without shame all the tricks and sleights i´ve been collecting all my life. Arkadia: i´m finally starting to being funny on the streets. It all has to do with how confident/relaxed you are at the time of your performance. And yes, the streets are a source for great improv too! Lots of stuff happening all the time. Thanks and this is what probabbly every serious magician/entertainer out there should do. Take it to the streets. Have a wonderful day. |
Arkadia Special user Sweden, Sundsvall 866 Posts |
Makes me happy to read!
Don't miss out on the great new mentalist magic: www.metalwriting.com
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Latigo, taking control of the crowd is very important. Steer them the way you want.
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Nick W Special user 515 Posts |
Take a pen and paper with you wherever you go...you hear something funny, write it down. than work in that joke in a show. visit libraries and take out joke books...you might skim 10 books for one joke, it will be worth it. again, write down anything that's funny to you. which is a good way to start building your own personal lines rather than using someone elses....
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Circus Bambouk Loyal user Tempe, AZ 256 Posts |
Re: people leaving after each trick--
Don't end your tricks until the end of the show. I'm serious. Try building tension and letting the tension mount as long as possible, then go on longer. Comedy street performing? You could probably get at least 20 minutes out of a single effect, and an additional ten minutes of material of crowd gathering before you officially "Start the show", which is probably after you've already gathered a sizeable crowd and have entertained them for a few minutes, all the while not doing any tricks. You could also pass the hat before the grand finale. That's worked in the past. Think outside the box. Find ways to extend the road map. If the effect is strong (the anticipated result) find some detours along the way, play with your audience, get some more laughs, react to what's actually happening in the moment, then catch everyone back up with where you were when you had the little detour. Then find another one. But if the effect is strong...they will want to see the ending. And they will wait for it. They may even pay for it. My humble two cents, written in a way that reads as anything but humble. Kindly, Brian |
djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
I heard of a guy in Germany who had a lovely line.
Ladies and gentlemen if you have enjoyed the show please take one or two euros out of your wallets or purses and give the rest to me, and children if your parents don't give you any money for the funny man it is because they don't love you! My aunt was appalled by the last line btw. |
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