|
|
Bridgewater Regular user North Carolina 184 Posts |
To Lure with Spectacle, and Our Mysterious Society by Jimmy Talksalot is available through the mail or as an E-Book. I chose the latter and had access to the book about 10 hours after ordering.
This is a book about street performing and is as likely to discourage as encourage anyone considering busking with magic. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, as the author provides a very frank look at an exciting, frustrating, and sometimes dangerous way of making a living with magic. I think Jimmy Talksalot is very engaging writer (albeit an atrocious speller). I'm not sure what "Our Mysterious Society" refers to, but I suspect he means the bizarre way in which street performing in America is treated. While beggars, muggers and drug dealers go relatively unnoticed in many cities, police and government officials seem to go out of their way to prevent anyone from spontaneously performing and passing a hat. I particularly enjoyed his social observations, especially about California and Californians. It is a very funny book, fun to read, with great insights and complete information for prospective buskers. $35 well spent.
"Don't run with those..."
|
Carl Skenes New user 96 Posts |
Oh, if only this book had been available 26 years ago, back when I began street performing. It would have saved me a LOT of BS and led to BIGGER hats a heckuva lot sooner.
This is not a book of tricks. Rather, it is a treatise about the business side of street performing(real street performing, for money, and not David Blaine-style crap). By the way, I rather enjoyed the publisher's decision to print this book in Jimmy's vernacular, bad English and all. It gave me the feeling that Jimmy was right there talking to me from his heart. And he definitely knows what he's talking about. Take what he says to heart, and you will profit from his advice. This is THE definitive book on the business side of street performing. By the way, his advice about working the streets can easily be applied to other types of performers, as well as life in general. His ideas and show biz philosophies are spot on. Just buy the book, it is certainly worth it. |
Tony Iacoviello Eternal Order 13151 Posts |
I finished this book last night, and it is several things at once.
It’s an introduction to street busking as a magician: Here it is a no holds barred, honest/realistic look at this vocation. Jimmy is frank and candid with is advice, thoughts, and opinions. He will have you cheering at some point, feeling insulted at some, and scratching your head at others. Jimmy pulls not punches and says what is on his mind. This is refreshing. The book is not a book of tricks, it is a book of lessons, most of them hard learned. If you read it, it will serve as a survey into the field, a survival guide to life on the streets, a guide to improving your magic (regardless of where you perform it), a magical biography of Jimmy, and a book of rants and personal philosophy. It is a fun and interesting read chock full of practical advice and in my opinion, required reading if considering busking or just curious about it. Leaping Lizards made a bold decision with this book. They left the authors words and word choice intact, warts and all. In doing so, you get the full flavor of the author’s true thoughts, feelings, and real speech. It is like he is sitting next to you talking to you. With this book, that would be the only way it would work. Bravo to both the author, Jimmy Talksalot, and to Leaping Lizards. Tony Iacoviello |
leapinglizards Inner circle 1263 Posts |
Glad to see those who have this book are enjoying it! Thanks for the comments, feedback and compliments!
Leaping Lizards!!! Who knew it was possible.
<BR> <BR>www.LeapingLizardsMagic.com |
Mark Rough Inner circle Ivy, Virginia 2110 Posts |
I'm on my third read through. It's a great book. It inspires me and irritates me equally. Inspires me, in that there are several changes I'm going to make as a result of reading this. Irritates, in that I suspect Jimmy is right about somethings that I don't like about what I'm doing in my show.
Even if you never step out onto the street to perform there's a lot here for you. No tricks, as others have pointed out, but solid, real-world advice that can save you a lot of time. Plus, Jimmy is just a really funny, deep thinking, well spoken (yes, well spoken in a real world way) guy. He doesn't candy coat his ideas or try to make them palatable to everyone just to sell his book. He tells it like he sees it. It's refreshing. Mark
What would Wavy do?
|
bobn3 Special user Wichita, KS 718 Posts |
I mailed in my money order, and am looking forward to getting it.
Bob Phillips |
Leland Stone Inner circle 1204 Posts |
Jimmy comes across as the Damon Runyon of busking, meaning that his writing style is engaging, entertaining, and blunt. Perfect grammarian he ain't, and the colloquial writing style communicates his character and a taste of his performing style. As an amateur sociologist [participant in and student of the human condition], I found the book an enjoyable read.
As a tactical manual, I'm not sure it's a soup to nuts compendium. Works of this nature are scarce, in my library at least, and Jimmy's opus ranks higher than both David Groves' and Paul West's street magic/busking writings. Compared to other Magic books, Jimmy's book is less substantive, IMO; it is essentially an autobiography of a street performer in which the methodology is largely a by-product, often intimated rather than explicitly taught. This is the inverse of the style of manuals such as Tarbell and RRCM, which are explicit in their sequential, step-by-step guidance but which reveal only fleeting glimpses of the author behind the works. As a guide to busking, "To Lure With Spectacle..." is a bit like learning to swim from a porpoise: While the teacher is an expert, the lessons are going to be a bit oblique. A valuable addition? Most certainly. A worthwhile purchase? Just try getting my copy away from me. A comprehensive guide for the budding busker? Not sure. Leland |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Books, Pamphlets & Lecture Notes » » To Lure with Spectacle, and Our Mysterious Society (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 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 < |