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mbl16 New user 18 Posts |
I am in Buffalo Ny and I have been doing as much research as possible on busking.. Oneliners, different situations people have come across, putting together my own routine. I would like to know if people who have been to Buffalo recently feel I can make a decent profit? Either way I am going out to give it a shot. I just don't want to get my hopes up just to come crashing down ya know?
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Magician Shaun Special user Huntington BCH, CA 924 Posts |
Get out there. You can make money anywhere once you have some experience. Plus no busker is going to talk about money.
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Gary T. Veteran user 375 Posts |
Haha I live outside a tiny town in missouri (it's a village really, population 300) and I've found places to do it, idk how big Buffalo is, but if you can't find a steady flow of people on the street, find a festival, that's what I've done, having some extra money is good, but the way I see it is I get to go out and perform for LOADS of people, that's where the fun is, and the money is just an added bonus, really, where else am I gonna get payed for having fun?
if I can make something arround here you can make something anywhere. |
Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Gr8 is right. Anybody tells you how much he makes busking is a liar. If the spot is good he''l tell you how little he makes, barely enough to eat on. If the spot is poor you'll hear that he set a record by making so much per hour. Truth be told, we want to protect the good spots for ourselves and the rotten spots we will send you to so you'll stay away from the good money areas.
But to expand on Gr8, comments. You will suck. no questions about it. This is not theoretical anything, this is life. When you start you will suck, but you also will learn. It's just like a child walking or learning to ride a bicycle. he falls on his *** every 30 seconds. We all did. But like the child the more he tries the better he gets. We all went thru that busking too. I will say about myself, I am not on the street often any more because of my health (I am on dialysis due to kidney failure) but I have been there and try to be honest with people. Get out there, do it!!~! You will make money, just know that funny is money. If you blow an effect kidd about it and laugh at yourself. The audience loves it and tips go up. I always end with "If you have enjoyed the last few minutes, if you forgot abojut your bills and just had a good laugh, either with me or at me, I've done my job. Please fill my hat. Fat hats to you MBL16 |
solrak29 Special user NY Metro 936 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-10-26 21:44, mbl16 wrote: @Paddy, love your final line...good stuff... mb, it really depends on what you define as a "decent profit". And I am also interested in knowing what you mean by "crashing down". I'm assuming that you've never performed on the streets before, but what is your performance experience like?
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Magician Shaun Special user Huntington BCH, CA 924 Posts |
Get out there. You can make money anywhere once you have some experience. Plus no busker is going to talk about money.
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Kozmo V.I.P. 5473 Posts |
MLB?... I make 500 a day...there ya go, and I'm not lying
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mbl16 New user 18 Posts |
Haha nice I didn't word what I said correctly. I wasn't asking for how much people make. Its none of my business haha. How about this what are some good tricks and books about busking. I was thinking about getting gazzos lecture on penguinmagic. I have cups and balls and things of that nature. I have coin bends. My sleight of hand is good. I know I'm a good performer because I have been told so by people I Goto college with.
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Kozmo V.I.P. 5473 Posts |
I heard this kozmo has a 2 DVD set called tales from the streets that's pretty good...at least I've heard that
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-10-27 20:23, Kozmo wrote: Yep he does. It's better than just "pretty good." It is REALLY GREAT. He teaches even idiots like me to make a living on the streets. |
solrak29 Special user NY Metro 936 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-10-27 20:08, mbl16 wrote: I would say that you should go and get your feet wet with the 2 or 3 effects that you know and perform really well. Maybe get an idea or two from Jimmy's blog and/or this forum here (just look back on previous threads). Only then will you have some knowledge of knowing what books, vids, and stuff to get. Or perhaps, have very specific questions that folks on this forum can help you with here. For starters, I think the Gazzo lecutres on Penguin would be a good place to start if you really have to buy something...they are very basic, but have good insight. Lecture shows some classic effects he does (mostly card work on table) and lecture two goes over busking. I would also say to not expect 500.00 a day when you first start out.
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
I have to disagree about Gazzo. He is THE BEST at what he does. I have taken his masterclass when he was teaching them. However his lectures and classes are set to teach you what Gazzo does. Circle shows. Take a class from Kozmo or get his "Tales of the Streets" DVD set. Koz teaches you to do sidewalk shows. What's the difference? HUGE! A circle show runs about 30 to 45 minutes and you draw a BIG crowd, 100 or more people. A sidewalk show takes 15 minutes or less and draws up to 25 people. I have seen Gazzo pull in over $300 from one show. I saw Kozmo pull in over $50 from a 10 minute show and then start again and pull in another $40. That's close to $100 in less than 30 minutes. It is a lot easier to hold the attention on the street for 10 minutes than to keep them for over 30 minutes.
That's been my experience. Both Gazzo & Kozmo are fantastic people and will spend time with you in person making sure that you learn it RIGHT. |
solrak29 Special user NY Metro 936 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-10-28 18:14, Paddy wrote: No, the Penguin lectures referred to by the OP do not cover what Gazzo does. He refers you to his DVD and clearly states that. Lecture one, does not go over busking in any way but over some card effects and classics (i.e. the egg bag). The second one, was created as many thought the first lecture would be a busking one. So Penguin created the second lecture where Gazzo goes orver a basic approach. Plus, there are some QA. I thought this was of great quality and that was way after I've invested money into other things. You will not get anything to copy (i.e. routines) but you will get what I told you...take your best 2 or 3 effects and just get out there and do it. Then figure it out from there. Matter fact, a couple of years before watching the Penguin lecture, Koz told me the same thing... Don't be dilluded about the numbers being thrown around above. It's not going to happen your first time out. Just get out there and do it...especially, in Buffalo...before it gets too cold... Please note...I am not affiliated with anyone here...just telling you from my experience.
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MagiCol Special user Dargaville, New Zealand 929 Posts |
Kozmo wrote: I heard this kozmo has a 2 DVD set called tales from the streets that's pretty good...at least I've heard that
It's excellent! That said, it's not the tricks that make the magic, it's the way they're presented. You are your show. Say after me 50 times, "I AM MY SHOW". Then get out and show others that.
The presentation makes the magic.
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
OK Solrak. I was going by my personal experience with both these guys. I learned a lot from Gazzo, but I just ain't him. My show fell on it's butt when I tried to follow what he taught. Koz, on the other hand, showed me how to format my show to fit ME and then how to do a short fast show which fits my personality. MagfiCol summarized Koz the best. When I learned that the money flowed.
As you pointed out, and I have said earlier, when we all started, we sucked. We sucked BAD. But as we kept trying and learning from our screw ups, we all got a lot better. I am no where near Bobby Maverick or Kozmo, but I am 1000% better than when I first started this a few years ago. Hang in there, keep pushing yourself, keep learning and you WILL be a SUCCESS!! Woody Allen was right when he said "the main part of success is just showing up." |
gallagher Inner circle 1168 Posts |
I think both Paddy and Solax hit the button here,..gotta just go out and drop your hat.
It's hard to accept Paddy's wisdom, "You're going to suck, at first.",..but if you can,..you'll become a Busker. He's right on. I'll go a bit father though, and tell ya a pitch, in Buffalo. The original Chicken Wing house. Three years ago, exactly in this time frame, Nov., I played there. At first on the sidwalk, in the front; then inside at the bar, waiting room. On top of that, the food was good,..and they'll make you a root beer float, on request! givin' it easy, gallagher. |
solrak29 Special user NY Metro 936 Posts |
Thanks Gallagher...true indeed...thanks for the Buffalo tip...
@Paddy, I agree with everything you said (not trying to go against you as you are a worker from my perspective that I respect greatly)... I too have felt that I am no Gazzo...matter of fact never even tried (though I use a line or two), and to flip the script a bit... I agree that Koz's work, more so Cellini's, and even Mario's work are all good references for the street worker. Jimmy has good stuff for free on his blog and Gazzo's work has already been mentioned. I could go on and on with list of reference material to check out. But what I found, a lot of that stuff was not clear to me until I was on the streets for some time...and failed...yes, it helped a bit, but I have to say on the streets is where I got those aha moments... My response was geared mainly towards the OP's original question. If he can make a decent profit. This is where my response comes from as many are mislead by numbers posted here in these forums. Sure, Koz probably can make 500.00 a day, but for most this will never happen; no matter whose DVD or material you buy. Then there is the question as to what is a decent profit? Everyone has their own definition of this. Click HERE to see a break down of the type of shows and how much they generally make. Note that this is just an opinion, but I've seen this opinion to be true...well, so far anyway. Now, to contradict myself, I guess, and add confusion, it is good to arm yourself with some idea before you head out. Yet, I've been there and done that thus found that it is better to go out there and just do it... With someone with my limited experience, I think I've said too much; perhaps some of the more notable workers on here can chime in...
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Devious Inner circle 2120 Posts |
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Solrac, you are right. Hope I didn't mislead you MBL. Gazzo, Kozmo, Bobby Maverick, Jimmy Talksalot all make good money. I am not in their class and I don't know anybody but them that makes what they do. But I make enough to live very comfortably and I have a lot of fun doing what I do. I could make just as much plus have all the benefits of a wage slave. I would (and did) HATE that life style. It's not for me. Maybe I push people into becoming a busker, I don't mean to but as long as you love what you do, it's not work and the time slips by on velvet wings. Whatever you do, do what you love.
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solrak29 Special user NY Metro 936 Posts |
Just curious on what path MBL has chosen...??
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