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Chatterbox41 Veteran user Atlanta, Georgia 349 Posts |
Okay, I have always scripted my effects and routines... maybe not thoroughly and maybe they developed and evolved over time, but I always knew basically what I was going to say and when and then ad-libbed around that. In the past 10 years I took a stand-up comedy class and learned to condense my script while still maintaining my personality and speaking patterns. In recent years I primarily worked doing stand-up magic shows and some stage work, but earlier in my magic career I performed close-up in restaurants. Now I want to try my hand at busking, primarily because I can perform anytime instead of waiting for a booked show and because I am now retired and my wife and I like to travel.
My question is; when scripting for the street do I follow the same rules with my scripts? Should I keep my first routines shorter and faster and then lengthen my closer(s) while adding my hat pitches? Sorry if this is a naive question, but want to do as much right as I can to shorten my learning curve. Gary |
Nickoli Sharpe Regular user Worldwide 160 Posts |
Scripting is very important on the street.
What ever type of routine your doing I would keep them interested. Holding them for the first few minutes is important. Letting them know what your going to do aswell. Then deliver |
Stperformer Loyal user 291 Posts |
Hi Gary
Next weekend is Memorial Day Weekend..there'll be tons of people, activities going on...even in Atlanta lol Why don't you give it ago. You've got tons of experience performing so it shold be just as matter of adapting your stuff to the street. Give it a go for the weekend...and then get back to us how it went and any questions. No excuses, just go for it, mate. |
Chatterbox41 Veteran user Atlanta, Georgia 349 Posts |
Quote:
On May 18, 2017, Nickoli Sharpe wrote: Thanks Nickoli... kind of concerned that maybe need to shorten wording to help hold attention and do short/fast/direct things to start off to stop and hold them? Gary |
Chatterbox41 Veteran user Atlanta, Georgia 349 Posts |
Quote:
On May 18, 2017, Stperformer wrote: Hmmmm... hadn't thought of that Stperformer! I've been trying to tighten up my scripts for the street and haven't even really worked on an ending, except for thinking about effects I think would be good before hatting... But I read in Jimmy Talksalot's book, "It's better to go out and do something instead of staying home and plan something" so maybe you're right... I have a grandson graduating high school and his party the next day, but maybe I can squeeze in some hours next weekend (sound of knees knocking)! I've got a little over a week to explore what's going on and locate possible pitches and practice a bit harder. Might be the best time to start! Thanks for the idea! Gary |
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
Scripting is good for every kind of magic.
Go out and do a show. You will see that street is a different monster. You have to keep them involved. By jokes, interaction, magic, comedy. Always keep them looking in the eye. Above all HAVE FUN! |
Stperformer Loyal user 291 Posts |
Gary....a long holiday weekend is by far far far your best bet. There will be more people, more kids, more tourists...a much easier go.
You've mentioned you have decades of experience performing, done restaurant, stage etc....so.....as Nike Says...'Just Do It' So enough research and development..planning...thinking. Looking for advise on all sort of stuff. Go out there Memorial Day weekend and do what you do. This is your hometown, You know the area. Much much easier this arriving at an unknown place. No rationalizing...excuses. Do it and let us know how it goes...the good and the bad. |
JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
I don't "script" ... I "flow chart" ... meaning a routine can go in multiple directions depending on the conditions.
-JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
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gallagher Inner circle 1168 Posts |
Hmm,
with a name like 'Chatterbox',... hey Gary, you're a lot like me. (THAT'S A COMPLIMENT!) ,..i analyze, ponder, plot, plan,.. ponder some more. ,...then go out, ,,.'chicken-out'. try it. ,...and it all goes in different directions! "Go out and do it." "Have fun,.." ,,...uhhh, sounds so good. I'm a proprietor of the ''Six P's". "Prior Preparation Prevents P*ss-Poor Performance" (Drill Sargeant King,...Fort McCellen, Ala.) {please con't reading} Scripting. I was happily surprised by JoeJoe's responce(!). "Flow-ing." I agree,...! It's very hard getting that far, however. Experience + [expeience x experience] ~ 2 = Confidence. I recommend a more focused plan of attack. A bit more concrete,,. something, I myself have struggled through. I believe, your Magic,.. your 'Spectacle', should be developed to the point that it 'carries'. I really believe, a 'Magician' should be able to entertain with Magic. I believe, you should develope your Show, at first; so that you can perform ONLY your Magic. When,,. when your Magic is strong enough to carry itself, 'text' WILL develope. "Hello." "Wow!,..I don't believe it myself!" The words WILL come,.. from YOU. [an authentic character will emerge,.. "Mr.Chatterbox" will 'exist'!] On the other hand, if you are a 'Joke-Reciter',... now that's a different cookie. '. . . . . . , . . . . ß. . . . . . . . . . . The biggest challenge, playing the Streets, is getting an Audience. (I'm talking about 'the Streets' here, not 'busker boulevard'.) If you can perform, without text, you can perform for,...yourself. If the Magic you perform amazes you,... an Audience will come. ('Talking', with yourself,... comes across a bit strange,....) When an Audience developes, because of your 'do-ings', the words will follow,.. eventually. Eventually. Until they do, work the Magic. If Magic becomes the foundation,,... yeah! In any case, I believe: the more thought, the more preparation, and more planning,.. in the end, helps.... understanding our failures, better. 😊 gallagher p.s.: 'Script' a series of five 'Magical effects'. Five effects with NO audience intercource. ('magical-masturbation', so to speak) Loop the Show three times thru. Concentrate soley on doing the effects,..well. let 'the Audience' merely watch,... I really believe this, to be the first step, ....over the cliff. (Life's to short to crawl. Jump. Fly.) {"Hello"'s. "Thank you"'s. Smiles. Winks. Head-shaking. Bows. ,..will come. AND,..AND,..and it will be REAL. 'Mr.Chatterbox', will 'become'. ,...not merely another ''Mr. Another-from-the-Box"} |
Chatterbox41 Veteran user Atlanta, Georgia 349 Posts |
Wow! Thank you Robert, Stperformer, JoeJoe, and Gallagher!
Robert - will work on they eye contact and having fun! Stperformer - thank you for the encouragement and push! JoeJoe - thank you for chiming in. I think this is how I primarily work with volunteers on my other shows... have it scripted out, but it can vary depending on the person I'm working with. Kind of nice to have options! Gallagher - wonderful post! A lot of info in there! Yes, I can see where you're coming from. Planning... I've wanted to do this since the early 1980's... life got in the way... or maybe it was my own fear of failure... either way, it is time to begin. I'm taking inventory of what effects I'm ready to take to the streets and trying to routine them for a weekend of "street practice"... hopefully 'Mr. Chatterbox' already exists after all these years, but I'm sure his personality will need expansion in this new arena! Another quick question... was communicating with Pete Wardell awhile back and he suggested that I take a day and just work on performing without worrying about trying to hat them. I mentioned this to Mick Stone when I was in NOLA a year back and he didn't seem too keen on the idea. Any thoughts? I'm nervous, but ready to take the plunge! Thanks again guys! Gary |
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
People - show - money
If you do not have people No show. If you not have show no money. Concentrate on first 2. When you go out there. The money will come later. If you think of the money and not the show people sense that.So go out there and HAVE FUN. |
JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
Quote:
On May 19, 2017, Chatterbox41 wrote: The less people watching, the more awkward it is to hat them. If you are good, you don't need to hat them ... they will crawl through a river of raw sewage to give you a dollar. So I agree, don't worry about hatting them. Just have a tip jar out that they can see and presto you're done. -JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
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Chatterbox41 Veteran user Atlanta, Georgia 349 Posts |
Thanks Robert and JoeJoe!
Gary |
Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts |
Chatterbox as you are aware the advice you have been given is gold and from some real workers and pros. I agree with the idea the next real lesson you need only happens on the street. So take what you have a get out there, what you learn by doing this is more then a 1000s post here. (DO NOT READ THIS- I took me ages to accept this 10 years ago)
I just want to add a real life example of scripting for the streets because I feel it shows how you have to think different for the streets then say Stand up / stage. Also its on track with Joe Joes flow chart idea. With my rope routine I realized sometimes I would need to spend a little longer building the crowd and getting them in to position. So I have cut my rope routine in to 3 clear parts. And in between I have developed options that I can use. So I can pause the effect attend the crowd but pick up from were I left strong. One thing I have between the 2nd and 3rd part is a a little joke. Its stupid but it still puts me in the ligth of performing strong and distracts enough that if needed I can repeat the 2nd part or go onto the 3rd part. Hope this helps. One last request when you go out over Memorial Day Weekend do one of those first time out busker topics. There are some really good ones at the moment and I see your lovley face pop up in them a few times. I exciting and all helps the learning process.
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
Nickoli Sharpe Regular user Worldwide 160 Posts |
So with all that said.
If anyone tells you not to script. They are crazy good and can ad lib at any moment. Every really serious performer, street, stage, radio, singing, playing violin. They all have a script It really does help and relieves stress. Have fun and smile a lot |
Chatterbox41 Veteran user Atlanta, Georgia 349 Posts |
Thanks Yellowcustard and Nickoli! At the moment trying to take the stage fluff out of my scripts to shorten/tighten them... some not sure I can/should...
I like the idea of being able to start, stop, repeat, flow! Will work on that while deciding what to do next weekend. And smiling... have a week to work that into my rehearsals. Tomorrow hope to decide on when/where... hopefully the park... usually a good busking spot I hear, but not sure what their attitude is with the jazz/arts festival going on. Gary |
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
Do not worry, if you are entertaining people like the different form of art.
i was once booked at a heauvy metal festival. they loved it. they are peole too. |
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