|
|
Tom Bartlett Special user Our southern border could use 763 Posts |
Hello, I’m 50, do you think it too late for me to start busking? Do you have to be funny? How many solid routines should one have? What magic should I stay away from and what seem to work the best on the street? Are there dvds I should buy?
Our friends don't have to agree with me about everything and some that I hold very dear don't have to agree about anything, except where we are going to meet them for dinner.
|
Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
I'm 50. My first busking performance was last summer. It's never too late.
You don't have to be "red nose clown" funny, but any little bit helps. I'm not an outwardly funny person, and my magic income shows it. But with careful trick selection you can still add humor without having to resort to telling jokes. Hang out in the "Sidewalk Shuffle" forums for a while. All your questions have been asked, and answered, many times. Here's one to get you started: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......6&37 Look for anything (make that everything) ever put out by Cellini, Gazzo, Wardell, Haydn, Sheridan, and Don Driver. Dust off your credit card and go visit http://www.magicpitch.com and buy at least one of everything. That should get you started in the right direction.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
|
Faulkner Loyal user New Orleans 249 Posts |
Tom,
I started about 2 years ago at 42, I was lucky enough to be on the same street in New Orleans as some very good magicians (some half my age...making 4 times as much). Best advice given to me...get a couple effects you can do very well and just git out there!! Dave covered everything you need to check out from the "masters". There is a ton of talent in the busker Café and they are glad to help. Good Luck and Have fun Mark Faulkner |
sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
Tom -- I figure you're never too old to have a happy childhood.
I've been interested in magic since I was 12 years old, but never performed professionally. I bought Don Driver's Svengali Pitch DVD (click HERE to view), and started pitching Svengali Decks and some other small tricks last year, when I was 54. I'm having a good time and making some pocket money to boot. Learn about 4-5 effects well, that's all you need. Gazzo did just fine with a thumbtip, a handkerchief, a deck of cards and the Cups & Balls. Good Luck! SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
MagiUlysses Special user Kansas City 504 Posts |
Greetings and Salutations,
While I don't busk, I work festivals, I got started when I was 43. After buying all sorts of tricks I've finally figured it out -- and you'll read the same advice a hundred times over in "The side walk shuffle" -- it isn't the tricks, it's you! If you're entertaining it doesn't make any difference what tricks you do. That being said, I finish with the cups and balls, open with either a TT and silk or professors nightmare, do a floating magic stick or ring and rope routine and collect the hat. If I'd known that, I'd have saved myself a lot of money and time -- live and learn. Follow the link in Dave's post above, it'll lead you to a discussion of the best wisdom on street performing collected in books or on DVD. Go through this forum, visit Danny Hustle's site, hit magicpitch.com, and then it's all you! Oh, and don't make it about the money. Have fun. Entertain the heck out of your audience. Then the money will come. Go for it, man! Good luck and fat hats! Joe in KC |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Hello Tom,
What is this??? Some kind of mid-life crisis for magicians?? LOL!! I, too am 50 (Yikes!) and busk to fill in the gaps between regular bookings. For a few years, I busked a lot, not on the street, but in bars and clubs. Now, I enjoy working the street thing. The $$$ isn't as consistent as table-hopping (in bars, the cash is usually already on the table!), but it's a lot more fun. For me, the money comes from the regular bookings that I have worked to build over the last 25 years, and now also from building magic. But, it's always cool to watch people drop money in your hat!! (usually means you did something right!) The tricks you do can probably be whatever you now do that works well for you. Assume that you may at any point be surrounded, and often working with people very close. Test what you have and you will quickly be able to weed out on your own what doesn't work the best. Keep the rest. As long as it plays, it's probably good material. Good luck! ~michael
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
Jondalawyer New user 63 Posts |
Tom:
Thanks for asking the question. Hearing from guys who got into magic and performing later in life adds some perspective and motivation. I'm 41, recently unemployed and taking advantage of some "free" time to work on an act myself....(Unfortunately, I have to look for a real job too.) Best, Jon Young |
Tom Bartlett Special user Our southern border could use 763 Posts |
Thank you all so very, very much! I could not have received betters answers, if I had been a talk show host.
My hats is certainly off to all of you, and hopefully soon to collect the approval of an audience. Respectfully, Tom Bartlett
Our friends don't have to agree with me about everything and some that I hold very dear don't have to agree about anything, except where we are going to meet them for dinner.
|
Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Jon and Tom, I have posted this before but for both of you I want to repost it again. It is my story and how I changed my life around when I was over 50. Yes Jon, consider working for YOU and going full time.
My story. At 50 years old I was laid off with absolutely nothing to go on. No pension, no more insurance, no crap. A friend helped me start up a painting contracting business so for the next three years I painted apartments and houses to support myself until 3 hernias put me in the hospital. Thank God my (now ex) wife of the moment had insurance. When I got out and the doctor said no more carrying the 5 gal paint cans anymore I got a job as a meat clerk in Kroger’s, my wife(?) turned 50 and left me and I found a new girlfriend in that order. OK I'm getting to point. At my girlfriend's insistence (read B**ching) I studied clowning and attended a David Ginn, Patrick Samuel Smith seminar. I was 53 and fell in love with magic!!! Bought over $500 worth of equipment and practiced every night until I drove my girlfriend NUTS! (BTW she is now my wife and partner in this business.) Then a new restaurant opened up and I dropped in to see the General Manager. He auditioned me on the spot and I did some impromptu sleight of hand effects with some coins he had and he hired me I had turned 54 years old. I did this one restaurant part time for a year until Kroger laid me off too. When that happened I went up to the place and had a beer with the G.M. and told him I got laid off, he went into the office for about 10 minutes and when he returned he handed me a list and said "here is your schedule starting tomorrow night." I suddenly had 5 restaurants where I entertained and my income was suddenly taking home more money in a week than I grossed in a month at Krogers. 54 years old and suddenly a new career. I am now the BIG SIX ONE yep 61 yrs old (I will be 62 on June 30) and have been doing restaurant magic and balloons full time for 7 years now. I also started doing shows day care centers and have a “SAY NO” show for schools. If you want to see some of what I do go to http://www.scho-lan.com Not bad for an old guy like myself. Remember very seriously "whatever the mind of man can conceive AND BELIEVE the body of man can DO!" Never doubt yourself! Peter P.S. Sorry if this is too long. |
Jondalawyer New user 63 Posts |
Paddy,
Thanks for sharing... The post wasn't too long. Just Right. Jon |
Tom Bartlett Special user Our southern border could use 763 Posts |
Paddy,
I’m inspired! Respectfully, Tom Bartlett
Our friends don't have to agree with me about everything and some that I hold very dear don't have to agree about anything, except where we are going to meet them for dinner.
|
aiki Regular user Middletown NY 181 Posts |
Paddy,
When you do the resturant work are you performing magic as a clown or is the clown for school? And as the saying goes "never too old to learn" so we could all say never too old to do it!
Ray K.
Till we meet again! |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Have we just formed a new club?? LOL!!
~michael
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
LeonardH New user 5 Posts |
Paddy,
Great post. I am 49 and decided to give pitching Svengalis a shot. I told my wife it was the new teacher retirement funding system. You are never to old. Fat hats to all. LeonardH. |
Tom Bartlett Special user Our southern border could use 763 Posts |
Let see, “The Ancient Magicians Society” at least that’s what my 13 year old son suggested. LOL
Our friends don't have to agree with me about everything and some that I hold very dear don't have to agree about anything, except where we are going to meet them for dinner.
|
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Yeah, I have a 13 year old son, too. The amount of respect we get, we might as well be Rodney Dangerfield! Ha!
~michael
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-06-08 16:06, aiki wrote: I started doing everything in clown. Now I do restaurants in clown but use my character "Doc Paddy" based on a medicine show for schools and corporate stuff. When I busk it is as Doc Paddy and not in clown. |
Kozmo V.I.P. 5473 Posts |
Hey paddy, it ws nice meeting you
koz |
kOnO Special user 548 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-06-08 03:06, Tom Bartlett wrote: I am 57 and started busking last year....HAVING A BALL (a loop ball)!!! Buy all the DVD's you can from our friend at: http://www.kozmomagic.com/ And enjoy your self. kOnO
It is a lot easier to get older than it is to get wiser.
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The side walk shuffle » » Am I too old to start busking? (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.04 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |