Before I start asking the questions I would like to let you guys know a little bit about me. First off I'm 16.. pretty short for my age about five one or five two. I been into magic about 3 years. And lastly I live in San Francisco which I believe has many great busking spots.

So school is out and its summer time for me. I am planning to go down to fishermans wharf or golden gate park and start busking. So here are some questions. I hope you guys could help me out.

I have bought the street cups dvd. I'm still practicing on the whole routine in general but I can saftly say I got it down somewhat. I have a wand and the alumnium ups that are from the Bazar De magia company. A few things I noticed about the cups are that they are fairly light. The thing that has me scared most is that the cups give off a reflection. I noticed this when I was practicing in front off the mirror and put a red crochet ball in there and I can see a reflection of red bouncing off the cups inside. So I'm not really sure if these are the cups I want to perform with in the streets. For practice I say their good but for the streets I don't know. I don't know what the measurements of the crochet balls. If someone could tell me plz? I feel that they are just the right size for my hands but they roll and are pretty light.I was planning on getting the mike rogers mini baseballs from Michael Ammars website. I don't know if their the right size as the red crochet balls I'm using now. I have fairly small hands to begin with so if you guys could link me some balls you use or you think it would be good for me. Now my second subject is a table. I am planning to buy a suitcase table from ebay or something. I don't have a car to get around so carrying a big table half way across the city or on a muni bus is annoying. So I want something that could be easy to carry but I could still use it in my show. Now for the pouch. I am going to load 3-6 lemons and a final load of a melon just like gazzo. It's probably going to be 3 lemons and 1 melon load. I know everyone says get the gazzo pouch but 600 dollar or more is way to much for me. I was hoping to get something cheap to start me off and then when I start busking and saving money I could probably afford one.so if you guys could teach me a little on what pouches I should get that would be wonderful. Now onto the wand. I have a magician's wand with brass tips from magic makers. I don't think they are really suitable for street magic so I'm just going to get a drum stick like gazzo. I also want to hear some storys about when you got started into busking and why. Like I said I'm only doing this for the summer in the morning to the afternoon . Never at night becasue I never know when I'm going to get mugged. I know some people might say I'm way to young or inexperienced to start this. I really beleive I can do it if I gave in the effort. please don't try to bash on how dumb I am for trying to busk and I don't know what I'm getting myself into. Unless you are really trying to help me and not some jerk seeing a kid trying to start and kill his dream so you feel better.

Now onto some dvds. like I said I have street cups and I am planning to buy building a tip bally. Maybe get the art of crowd keeping as a book. Please recondmend what books or dvd I should get.

This may sound a little silly but I want to give it a shot anyways. As you can see I'm trying to improve my magic over the summer by performing and getting some money at it. So if there is someone that knows a restruant or any place that I can get a gig. Please send me a messege if you do. If there is a busker or a magic teacher that is willing to take me in as a apprentince I will be more then happy to join. Experience is the thing that I want more then anything here. I really want to become a magician when I grow up and I beleive that if I start young and gain experience from there I will be better off. So once again if you live in sf and are willing to take me in as a student I would be more then happy to join you

Thank you guys who read this far.I really appreciate your help in this. So heres a overveiw of what I need

1. What is a good set of cups to busk with?
2. What are the measurement of the crochet balls I have. Also is the mike roger's mini baseball good?
3. How do I get a table? Please keep in mind I have to ride the bus to get anywhere. Should I get a breifcase table?
4. Pouch that is cheap but I can still load from like the gazzo pouch
5. Dvd and books. please list some that you think might be helpful
6.Storys about when you start off busking
7.Which do you think is better? Golden gate park or Fishermans wharf

Thank you really much for the help in advance. Once again I'm only doing this for the summer to get some experience. I am really determined to do it so if you guys could help me get started with all my gear that would awsome. Please don't brush me off saying I'm to young and to inexperience or is this a joke? I really want to try this out and if I were joking or didn't care I wouldnt write something this long asking for help. Thanks you

Hold your crochet ball up to the monitor so I can see it.

Ah, that's good.

It's a shade over 1 inch in diameter, including the crochet.

Well, it may be. Here's the situation. Nobody can tell you the size of the balls that came with your set of cups without actually seeing them. We can guess at the size, but that's all it would be...a guess, not an exact measurement.

Take one of your balls over to a place that sells tools, and get someone to measure the ball with a dial caliper. Then you will know the answer for sure.

As far as the rest of your questions are concerned, all of them have been answered either in this section of the forum or in Ever So Sleightly. You will have to look them up.

I'm not trying to blow you off. I know you are sincere. But you are asking us to repeat ourselves. All of this information is already posted.

Check the cups and balls museum for information about cups.

Ricky Bobby, what a creative name, here is the scoop. You are not going to perform on the warf, nor the piers, nor that nice little park just down from the warf. There, glad that is over with. I couldn't read the rest as it was all globbed together and I don't have the energy to try reading it. Good luck.

An occasional break between thoughts, such as a paragraph break here and there, would have made this a lot easier to read.

The thing about the balls -- I know what size is supposed to come with the cups. However, that is all subject to what happens between when they go in the box and when they get to you.

PM sent. Maybe we can work together. I think he's sincere. I know a lot of this kid's questions can be answered much easier in person.

Not to belabor the point, but for me, sincerity is best demonstrated by the willingness to do a little work. If he won't at least look at the first 2 or 3 pages of threads, just the basic questions or use the search function, then how sincere is he?

Some of the questions he has are actually answered in the material he has.

Go with Gaddy. What I meant was you want to work in areas you cannot just go into and work. Those spots belong to people who have tried out and have permits and all that. You don't just walk onto the warf and do your show and get money. You'll either get escorted out by the police or others will smack you upside the head for taking a spot. Good times.

Magic Santa and for everyone else who finds this hard to read I will try my best to edit the post so it's easier on the eyes. Sorry about that. As far as serching the Café for my answers I have found very useful things that I can learn from. I know some of questions have been answered here before. Some of the topics I read through were not the answers I was looking for so it's safer to ask it again then don't know. Since I'm here right now I would like to thank you guys for helping me. Bill the cups and ball musuem has helped me alot. So I thank you for that. Gabby thank you for the pm,I found it really helpful and I'm going to make one myself. thanks gabby

I'll be glad to help you with any cup related material you want to know.

I can also help you in building a table. I am modifying my table plans so you can make the table for about $75.00 without sacrificing any quality or durability.

I'll send you a link to the new page when it is up.

Gabby? OOOoook...

O my bad sorry Gaddy

Ricky Bobby,
You are very lucky that Gaddy has offerred...

If you do not take him up on his offer, then you are making the biggest mistake of your young busking career. this is an incredibly complex game and doing some work witha seasoned performer is worth its weight in gold. Watch, learn, listen, ask questions and treat your mentor witht he ultimate in respect... who knows you may even make a lifelong friend.

Some many people think cracking a few shows is the easy way to money... WRONG< WRONG< WRONG... You will bust your hump for everything your earn. But the hat don't lie...

Sorry if I come off crusty, but I am bushed after a very tiring day on the streets. But I love it...

1. What is a good set of cups to busk with? - http://www.worldmagicshop.co.uk/cups-bal......231.html

2. What are the measurement of the crochet balls I have. Also is the mike roger's mini baseball good? - Can't tell without seeing them. Know nothing about baseball.

3. How do I get a table? Please keep in mind I have to ride the bus to get anywhere. Should I get a breifcase table? - Most cheaper briefcase tables will not be sturdy enough for what you have. Aluminium Roll-up Camping Table. Rolls in to a neat tube and has a carrying case with shoulder strap. Available from camping & outdoor shops. Very cheap but sturdy and light. Put all your other gear in a small back-pack and you're good to go.

4. Pouch that is cheap but I can still load from like the gazzo pouch - http://www.theambitiouscard.com/ have several gazzo-esque pouches.

5. Dvd and books. please list some that you think might be helpful - Cups And Balls
by Bob White (DVD). Don't know of any magic busking books or DVDs

6.Storys about when you start off busking - See end of post.

7.Which do you think is better? Golden gate park or Fishermans wharf - Couldn't say.

I know that you don't want to hear anyone saying you should not busk at 16 years of age, but someone will have to say it so here goes.

As a teenager you do not see the dangers that someone older does. I know you are not going out at night, but muggers, weirdos, punks and perverts are not the same as vampires - they do come out in the day time and they do not have fangs with which to identify them.

I have had some great times busking here in the UK but have encountered difficult to handle situations in even the most respectable and well populated areas.

Please do not go to either of the places you mentioned to busk alone. Aside from annoying other regular buskers by trespassing on their pitch you will be (as a young person) a magnet to any bad guy who sees an opportunity to take advantage of someone they perceive as weak or vulnerable. It happens - don't let it be you it happens to.

I say all the above with the greatest respect and admiration for someone who wants to go out there and do something worthwhile and I say it with care, OK.

You want to earn some money from your magic, right?
And you want the opportunity to develop your skills, yes?

There are some very safe and lucrative areas for a younger person to do that. Any kids playschemes in your area? In the summer, these places are always looking for someone to help entertain the kids.

What about older peoples day centres or residential homes? Older people love to watch teenagers showing off their talents and guess what - if your cute and friendly they are EXCELLENT tippers!!!

Good luck and be safe.

Wow thanks for the help tony. One more thing. I'm am going to look in the f/x section but what's a cheap sound system I could use?

About balls:

The Mike Rogers baseballs are good. They come in two sizes. You should be able to work with the regular sized ones. If you have the balls that are supposed to come with the Bazar Di Magia cups, then they will be 1.13 inches in diameter. Sometimes these get replaced with other balls, though. It depends on where you got the cups.

The regular sized Rogers baseballs are fine. However, they will show dirt very quickly. And they are almost impossible to clean. A better choice for buskers is to either use one inch superballs (available in the toy section of wal-mart -- you will need a couple of packages to get enough to make a proper set, but you will have plenty when you get through!) or, if you want baseballs, go to this location http://www.simplymagic.com.au/bballs.php . These are covered in vinyl, which is much easier to keep clean. Note that the prices are in Australian dollars.

The cups you have are the non combo version of the ones that tony2514 recommended. If you want copper ones, check out the ones Andy Comic makes. http://www.ourlittlestore.com You get a whole package including a pouch.

My table might be a tad unwieldy for your purposes. Find a folding table that is the right height for you, and make a top that will fit it. The top MUST be solid. if it isn't, your table will not be a solid support.

Regarding DVD's. Get Ammar for step by step technique, get Gazzo for how to work the street, and some practical refinements. Then get Bob White for finesse.

The wrapped Gazzo wand is a must. The magic makers wand will self destruct after you hit the table with it a few times.

Ricky has prompted responses from some of the best here guys you have given hime great advice I could only add that the table you use HAS to be rock solid. Bill has hinted at this but don't be wishy washy on this your need a Good table or you will struggle with every move.

as for cups Im sorry guys I like my Gary animal cups and the pouch I bought off Gazzo. They work great and fit fine. I use the soccer balls that came with the cups pehaps magicpitch could give us a line up of whats out there?

Warf vs Golden Gate Park. In SF you'll need permits and most good areas are controlled, again, you are not going to work the warf etc unless Gaddy has a spot and lets you try it. Golden Gate Park....I'm not sure how they would view it to be honest, I've never seen anyone there but then again I have not gone there often.

Michael,
Magicpitch hasn't carried Gazzo products since he sold himself to Penguin. It does look like they still have some soccer balls left though. Not much else of the Gazzo line remains. That's a good thing though. Now Steve's branched out to carry a pretty solid line of other products. His sleeved version of Gazzo's electrical tape wand is still available too. I sort of prefer the taped one as it gives you a bit more "grip" due to the edges of the tape, plus if done right it adds a nice diamond pattern to the wand.

There is a special feeling you have for your props when you make some of them. The wrapped wand is no exception. I have made several of these, just to have one that looks right in the photos.

I know it will be tempting to use a dowel for this. Unless you can get a good oak dowel, don't bother. Use a drumstick. Drumsticks are made for beating things.

Great table if you're taking public transportation may be a Da-lite project-o-stand (I have used one and am currently modifying one). A great, light, but relatively powerful sound system is Amplivox portable audio buddy (can come with a wireless headset mic). PM me if I can be of help.