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pslaughter Loyal user 270 Posts |
OK, here is the first of a series of questions I've had for a while...
Let me put this in context first... I've performed a silent magic (comedy manipulation) act for quite a while. Use to where whiteface, now I don't. I've performed outside primarily at festivals, corporate events, and family resorts primarily. I've always been paid to be there so I haven't had to worry about passing a hat. Now I'm looking to get out there on my own. I really haven't had any problems gathering or building a crowd, but when it comes to the whole hat thing...that is a different story. So my question is... What are your thoughts about how a silent act could successfully hat an audience? I've thought about signs, but I'm not crazy about them. I've thought about pre recorded audio tracks, but not really sure how to go about it. I'm leaning towards just going ahead and starting to talk. (insert jokes here) Again I'm curious to here your ideas! Thanks! |
The Great Zoobini Elite user Boulder, Colorado 443 Posts |
Rub your thumb against your index and middle fingers
Meet you in Busker Alley
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joe yang Loyal user Florida 296 Posts |
Philippe Petit did a silent show. He worked a big circle. At the end of every bit, he rode around the circle on a unicycle, with his hat out.
aka Mike Booth
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The Great Zoobini Elite user Boulder, Colorado 443 Posts |
Mimes do it all the time...but I got it from a silent clown overseas
Meet you in Busker Alley
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pslaughter Loyal user 270 Posts |
:0)
Yes, Zoob, I had that one down. I was just hoping that there may be some more developed or more creative ways of GTFM... |
Faulkner Loyal user New Orleans 249 Posts |
Petit is about as developed as you can get.
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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
Pull a fiver out of your own pocket and put it in the hat. Make sure everyone sees it. I break my own ice now and it seems to help getting everyone else to reach into their pockets.
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djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-04-11 12:28, Rotten wrote: Like it! |
Brent McLeod Inner circle 1792 Posts |
Silent acts with music work well
Jeff Sheridan in New York was legendary with his silent act years ago... A couple of small signs & music saying what you do once youve started will stop a crowd!! Ive used Diminishing cards, 6 card repeat, 20th century silks, Rings etc all with volunteers & the crowd grows very fast and with mime & acting etc the tips come as as well.. Keep the act short.. |
pslaughter Loyal user 270 Posts |
Getting a crowd had never been the problem.
I do usually perform to music and perform classic effects like rings, a rope routine, miser's dream, etc. The silent show usually runs about 15 minutes. Plenty of people stop...the problem comes when I'm trying to get the money out of them! I like some of the suggestions here, and plan on giving them a shot. I'll let you know how it turns out! |
pslaughter Loyal user 270 Posts |
Getting a crowd had never been the problem.
I do usually perform to music and perform classic effects like rings, a rope routine, miser's dream, etc. The silent show usually runs about 15 minutes. Plenty of people stop...the problem comes when I'm trying to get the money out of them! I like some of the suggestions here, and plan on giving them a shot. I'll let you know how it turns out! |
joe yang Loyal user Florida 296 Posts |
Working midtown Manhattan over lunch, I put a bowl on the sidewalk during my act. Lunch timers on tight schedules would throw a few coins in the bowl and leave before I could close and pass the hat. As I mentioned on another thread, a loose pile of change on the sidewalk in NYC was painfully obvious to everyone. When I picked it up and passed it everyone got the message.
aka Mike Booth
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Mario Morris Inner circle Mario Morris 2044 Posts |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK5WTqLe6......embedded
I enjoyed the clip, you may find it intresting or at the very least entertaining. |
joe yang Loyal user Florida 296 Posts |
The "Two Timmys" used to do a show like this on the steps of the NY Public Library. They didn't run out in traffic. They played off the constant foot traffic. There aren't any pedestrians in this video, but the guy has a really big crowd. Wonder where they are coming from?
The Two Timmys worked silent. The space on the library steps was too big and we didn't have PA systems back then. One of their funniest bits played off pedestrian traffic. While people walked buy, trying to ignore the clowning, one of the Timmys would wait till a pedestrian passed them. Then they would stop what they were doing and walk right behind the passerby, mimicking their walk. They would look at the crowd and make faces while they walked. When the pedestrian looked back, they would stop and try to look innocent.
aka Mike Booth
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The Great Zoobini Elite user Boulder, Colorado 443 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-04-27 01:49, joe yang wrote: Classic mime....Marcel Marceau I think
Meet you in Busker Alley
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RiffRaff Special user 671 Posts |
Shields and Yarnell.
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G.Gilbert Elite user baltimore 495 Posts |
I've done silent shows.. One of my bits was at the end I would take a few dollars out of my own pocket and put it in my own hat.. pause and say... "What! was it something I said!?".. (Crowd laughs).. and then you can dilver a hat speech and say goodbye..
Birdie Mcclaine is a silent comedy juggler who has been doing streets for around 30 years.. he just points to his hat on the ground and whistles at the audience.. then he delivers a quick speech. Birdie's taught me a lot about silent work and street performing and I haven't seen anybody better then him. Tom Frank has a video of birdie performing in GA in the early 90s. http://homepage.mac.com/tfrank8176/Archi......121.html |
G.Gilbert Elite user baltimore 495 Posts |
The bit that I used to do actually came from jimmy talksalot
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