Reed - I'll have to look into Bauer's stuff as I've heard nothing but good things about him and his products. While I’m not a busker, I have ‘enjoyed’ the life as a telemarketing professional (many years ago……well beyond the statute of limitations!). I used to see plenty of superstar salesmen come and go, always red hot and record-breaking when things were good. But eventually they would implode (burnout, miss an appointment with their P.O., skip town, etc). However it was the rock solid, no frills, ‘steady-eddie’ salesman that kept the doors open. All they did was pitch to truly qualified prospects, close a good percentage of them and do it year in and year out. The owners of the telemarketing never had to worry about them showing up or not producing. I’m sure when my copy of Don’s video arrives, I see the same…….don’t think it matters whether you’re pitching decks of cards or Florida real estate, the same work ethic principles apply……….that’s my four cents…..

Hey Guys,
I just got back home.The taping on Hollywood Blvd. went really good.This is from building a tip(getting an edge)from my Jam Auctions days.It works SO good you won't believe it and its EASY once you know how.Whit will have it all edited and out in about a month.You can get a copy either at Whits site school for Scoundrels or my site that is on my profile.
Thanks for all your kind post.I can't think of a nicer bunch of guys...I mean that from my heart.
Been gone three weeks...going to take a shower and take a nap in MY bed.
Thanks again,
Don

Okay, I'm a little lost here. Is Whit's tape going to demo how to draw a crowd for busking, or is it how to draw a crowd to sell something? I'm not all that familiar with the 'pitch' concept.

A crowd is a crowd. The method Don is teaching is an old Bally to draw a crowd for a Jam Auction pitch. It works just as well to draw an edge for busking, which is what Don showed as we taped him drawing crowd after crowd on Hollywood Blvd.

The Dollar Bill Bally is very old, and contains principles that can be applied to many different situations, like drawing a crowd to a trade show booth. If you know what gold ore looks like, you might just strike it rich.

Whew Don!

I can understand going with sleep for that long, but three weeks without a shower? Man that is some pitchman who can draw a tip without having showered for three weeks...

Glad to hear you made it back home safe friend! I am looking forward to hearing more about your trip.

BroDavid

Whit said it, a crowd is a crowd. Don is a pitchman and a jam auctioner, I'm a busker. The bally is performed on the tape under "busking" circumstances, its out on Hollywood blvd, and he does a short busking routine.

After watching him do it a few times, I was able to go out and draw high quality thick crowds for my act.

This product will get you the crowd. What you do with it afterwards is up to you. Hell, you could use it to sell Amway!

Just to clear up any confusion some of you might have,this "building a tip" DVD that Whit and I just taped and will be out with in about a month has nothing to do with selling or my Svengali pitch teaching VHS and manuscrip that I have out now.
Later,Don

Don,

So you are saying we need to buy both?????

I'll be waiting in line

kOnO

From what I can tell, they are two different videos for two different purposes. But I'm sure Don won't mind you buying both.

Sorry to bring the conversation down to amateur level here, but what is a Jam Auction?

Cheers,

Chris

Its a old British saying for old ladys and gents that make and sell Jam for Church building funds. Don that is a fine thing you are doing in your old age.
Mario

Look here http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=23

A "jam auction" is an old timers gig you rarely see these days. The basic idea is to draw a crowd together, and then sell them things they wouldn't otherwise buy ... and in some cases don't want nor need.

It starts with the money pitch Don Driver filmed, and then goes on into a sales frenzy ... cigarette lighters for a nickle ... key chains for a dime ... flashlights for a quarter. The price goes up to $5 ... $20 ... then $100.

The guys that work these pitches are extremely talented, and they make it look easy. The truth is a jam auction is very difficult and requires a mental edge greater than that required for street performing. I've seen people try to do the pitch and fail miserably.

There is a jam auction in Myrtle Beach, I've seen the pitches a thousand times over the many years ... I've only seen it fail to draw a crowd one time. On several occassions, it didn't draw a crwod with enough kickers (people willing to spend the top dollar) to make it worthwhile. But these failures are very few and only happen during the off season.

The pitch itself is very solid and works like a charm, choosing the exact words is important so having a good script is a good thing. One of the jammers once gave me this tid bid: on the word "watch" ... a very powerful word, it commands more than just "look" or "see here". It commands them to stop what they are doing, look at you, and continue to do so until you give them another command. Thus, the pitch has quite a few "watch closely ... watch carefully"s in it.



The script for my "Disappearing JoeJoe" was modeled after the jam auctions ... I drew on what I saw stopped the crowd and get them to gather and move closer etc etc etc ... the hype and expectations ... the control switches it pushes and pulls inside their little brains ... with this pitch, the money part makes it easy to build the tip - what you can learn from it is where it's real value is.

JoeJoe

Great post Jojo!!

Cheers for clearing that up - that sounds like some serious hard work to do (convincing someone to pay the highest prices for the most useless bit of tat you can find), but great fun.

Chris

Hey, whats the name of this new video

Cstreet,
Be patient. It's not even a product yet. All they've done so far is shoot some video footage.

I think someone mentioned it being called "How To Draw A Crowd" ... but I would suggest it be entitled (or at least sub-titled) "The Ancient Chinese Money Switch" as it's to my understanding that is the pitch that was taped.

JoeJoe

Hmm...no mention of it being chinese is anywhere in it. But I suspect it is the same technique you're thinking of.

BTW, the bally is STILL working for me. I'm making almost DOUBLE what I used to make, and working about half as hard. This tape will pay for itself your first time out.

Mt. Sterling court days, Third weekend in Oct. , Mt Sterling, Ky. attendance 150k. A great jam auction, his name is Bobby Jones. He has been doing festivals, and the stockyards for at least 40 years. Gives away hammers, wrenches, watches, even money, then auctions off cheap goods. He is very good. Would be worth the trip, and there is another guy doing one here too, but can not recall his name.

I know I keep going on and on about this, but I am a bit excited. When is this video/DVD likely to be released, and any ideas about the prie? I ask again at this time because this topic has recently been listed in another topic (if that makes sense).