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J.G. the magnificent
Special user
Griffith Indiana
886 Posts
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Posted: Sep 13, 2010 02:04 am
0
I did my first busking at a local festival, and I wanted fat hats certainly in the long run to help pay for magic school. Yet, also, so I know I am doing a good job. I didn't today, though; I only made three dollars. I only stopped a couple adults and a lot of children. Got past the shakes quick, but felt stupid the whole time. Ran through my entire act about 5 times, had about 3 crowds of around twenty or so people.
I really need a vest for the pockets. Even though they could look in my bag and ask about the final loads, I still nailed them every time. They didn't stay at a distance in front of my table like I anticipated. I had several people watch a couple times. It was hard for me to ask for tips, like Jimmy Talksalot mentions, but that is for huge crowds anyway. I stayed in the same spot the whole time. I found I need stronger openers than string and ring or shouting "magic show" beating a wand or juggling my loads. More people came when I was in the middle of a routine.
My cups (ceramic flower pots) did break, and I didn't have extras, but I kept going and still fooling them with a cup missing a top. Even messed up my sponge and billiard balls in placement and order of moves, but not missing a beat with them not knowing anything. I need to carry extras, and my dad came up with the suggestion of revealing my final final load by hitting it with my wand and breaking it open every once in a while on the weak shows to get more impact.
While doing my billiard balls, it occurred to me why people said it was a bad idea. I argued, saying I could do it against a building or statue for the angles. That even if I couldn't, no one would think anything of the gimmick walking by at a bad angle. I then realized they were looking because of my show, and if they see the secret, they won't watch. I had a circle show getting formed by a little over twenty people, and they started going once I went into my billiard balls. In one of my last posts, I mentioned my thought of thimbles if billiard balls don't work and I should. It's a shame though, people love Mark Wilson's routine.
I also did a doorway and half circle act as well, though. Basically, I could change my dress, do different opening tricks with more patter. Get more extra flower pots to carry until I can afford copper. I also need a thimble act. After my final breaking, I did my act one last time but without a finale and called it a day after 2 1/2 hours. Awesome! Feel free to comment.
Jeremy Gates
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J.G. the magnificent
Special user
Griffith Indiana
886 Posts
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Posted: Sep 13, 2010 02:10 am
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Next, to get a few recommended books and D.V.D.'s and try myself doing parties.
Jeremy Gates
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Bill Palmer
Eternal Order
Only Jonathan Townsend has more than
24312 Posts
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Posted: Sep 13, 2010 02:27 am
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I think you have figured out where most of the problems are. That's step one. Finding the solutions that work for you is step two.
I understand the difficulty in asking for money when you pass the hat. You will get over it.
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Jacques
Loyal user
North
206 Posts
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Posted: Sep 13, 2010 04:35 am
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When I used to do street magic, billiard balls didn't work for me either. I replaced them with a ball and silk routine (appear, disappear, ball through silk, color change and complete vanish). It's much easier to cover the angles, and wide movements with a large silk seem to attract people.
Asking for money is the worst part, but now you broke the ice.
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J.G. the magnificent
Special user
Griffith Indiana
886 Posts
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Posted: Sep 14, 2010 06:59 pm
0
The morning before I busked I practiced my act on my Dad and one of his work buddies. I knew they liked it and was suprized my Dad did because usually he is nothing but critisizm. Especially suprized since I thought I had flaws from the start and even had to start over a bit. Once I got home and started to tell my parents about how it went hoever. My Dad said his work buddy asked if I went to magic school and I am entirly self taught aside from The Magic Café and a guy I used to know at church. Thought that was awsome!
Jeremy Gates
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MagiCol
Special user
Dargaville, New Zealand
929 Posts
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Posted: Sep 15, 2010 01:45 am
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Think of what you gain from peforming as money [which can be counted] and as experience [which is priceless].
The presentation makes the magic.
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solrak29
Special user
NY Metro
936 Posts
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Posted: Sep 15, 2010 01:46 pm
0
I think it's great you actually went out there. Congrats on that.
What is your set like? Did you use the rope to outline your stage area?
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J.G. the magnificent
Special user
Griffith Indiana
886 Posts
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Posted: Sep 15, 2010 10:20 pm
0
Quote: On 2010-09-15 09:46, solrak29 wrote:
I think it's great you actually went out there. Congrats on that.
What is your set like? Did you use the rope to outline your stage area?
Well no I do not use a rope outline because I thought it silly and a wasted item to carry. Now I realize it is for flash and probably a good idea even hinting for the crowed to stay in that area to help my angles. However as much as I tried keeping my props at a minimum they aren't. I guess because my effects are but each one uses alot. I use a lot of balls, cups and balls which I actually use peanuts and a big bag at that. Which I have my reasons and they are complicated. However not only are they good for the effect but I realized they are appealing I had people wanting to eat some. Good for keeping a crowed and something they can inspect.
As are all of my props except my billiards gimmick which I will replace with something else until I can replace them with thimbles. Both of which take space. My sponge balls also use a lot of room. Regarding my set though I start out with two string and ring effects from the Klutz Book of Magic and the nut off string effect. Which I can keep both except the crowed drawing effect the Liko Peng Penetration. I am not that good at it even with practice and really best close up. I could replace it with the linking rings but are too expensive and takes up too much space.
Next I go into my sponge ball routine that is designed from combinned materials that I have done for 8 years very well. Not taking it out but next is the billiards to be changed to not sure what but after that is my cups and balls finish. A bit common I know but very good. Most don't know it anyway's and it is my own recent routine that everyone loves and am getting great at. Plus I am still twiking it and using it helps that.
Jeremy Gates
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J.G. the magnificent
Special user
Griffith Indiana
886 Posts
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Posted: Sep 15, 2010 10:22 pm
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I think the billiard ball replacement will not take long to find. Yet my new crowed drawer I think I could look through one of the many great magic books at my library or through my Mark Wilson book. Maybe simply produce a bunch of coins from my hankercheif. Any suggestions?
Jeremy Gates
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J.G. the magnificent
Special user
Griffith Indiana
886 Posts
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Posted: Sep 16, 2010 01:33 am
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Quote:
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On 2010-09-15 18:22, J.G. the magnificent wrote:
I think the billiard ball replacement will not take long to find. Yet my new crowed drawer I think I could look through one of the many great magic books at my library or through my Mark Wilson book. Maybe simply produce a bunch of coins from my hankercheif. Any suggestions?
[/quote]
Just had a thought I have a lazer pointer. It is so powerfull it can be seen in the middle of the day outside from great distances. I would half to use it on the ground and be carful as to not shine it or have it reflect into peoples eyes. However I would use it to shine around in front of groups I want over to watch me. Get them looking around to see where it comes from and they see me. This a good or bad idea, if a good idea I would probably half to hide it around cops?
Jeremy Gates
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Jerry
Inner circle
Some where in Florida
1402 Posts
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Posted: Sep 16, 2010 03:51 am
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J.G. if you have the Mark Wilson book, it has a lot of source materail for your act. Check out the Rope Magic; Silk & Handkerchief magic; and Make it at Home sections.
Lots of DIY and it packs flat.
JerryB
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Bill Palmer
Eternal Order
Only Jonathan Townsend has more than
24312 Posts
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Posted: Sep 17, 2010 11:08 pm
0
It's amazing how someone who has minimal experience will consider the sage experience of those who have been in the business for decades to be silly.
It's interesting to see Jeremy admit that he had been wrong about the things he thought were silly.
People with experience do things for a reason.
But now you know what some of those reasons are -- for example, why we tend to favor metal cups over pottery.
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J.G. the magnificent
Special user
Griffith Indiana
886 Posts
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Posted: Sep 23, 2010 05:42 pm
0
I thought about using something from the Mark Wilson book producing 24 coins from a hankercheif. Yet I realized unless I find a vest with double outer pockets I will not have the pocket space. My sponge balls and final loads use enough space. I supose I could do rope tricks but that is a lot of rope to use and buy taking up space as well. I want something using little space that can be used as long as I need without replacing. I need to go to the library and go through some of my old favorites.
Jeremy Gates
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Scott Compton
Special user
Hampton, VA
747 Posts
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Posted: Sep 23, 2010 08:02 pm
0
Jeremy,
Listen to Bill Palmer - experience can't be taught. You learn more in an hour on the streets than a year at the Café. Trust those who have been doing it for a long time.
Good luck!
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dmueller
Loyal user
Central Illinois
227 Posts
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Posted: Sep 27, 2010 09:48 pm
0
Jeremy
Good on ya for going out there and trying. I couldn't agree more with what Mr Compton above me stated, in regards to where you will learn more.
I am somewhat confused as to why you are using a set of flower pots for cups and balls. Don't get me wrong, it is a means to an end, but an inefficient one at best. For less than 50 US Dollars you can get a set of cheap aluminum cups that will keep you going until you can afford the higher cost cups. And with the aluminum cups you don't have to worry about breakage, especially in front of an audience.
As far as pocket space, the one thing you mention that confuses me a little is when you mention your sponge balls taking up space..... I just can't wrap my mind around that. I almost always have sponges in my pocket when going to social functions or gatherings. People know I am a magician and always ask for me to do something. I keep sponges on me because of how little room they take up in my pockets. I use 2" super softs, I don't know what size you use, but sponges pack about as small as you can get, and in the right hands play HUGE.
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J.G. the magnificent
Special user
Griffith Indiana
886 Posts
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Posted: Sep 27, 2010 11:46 pm
0
Thank you I am using flower pots though long story short because of reasons explained in other posts. I got them to try with something else where I needed some with holes in the top. I then realized they worked and were too heavy to blow around in the wind. My aluminum ones did, so these are a cheap substitute for now. I could get a real set as a temporary untill copper but I am fine with these. Trying to save for dates with my girlfreind and not busking full time yet.
I use 2" super softs like you. They take up space though because I need a whole pocket just for items to switch around. That pocket needs to be fairly empty so I can quickly get items in and out of my hand. Other pockets I need for billiards plus string and ring. The sponge balls don't take up much space in themselves. Yet my pockets don't need to bulge and I have other things I need in my pockets and no where else. I have a bag for other items, like my bag of peanuts for my cups and balls. My wand (drum stick, rope, ect.
I mentioned before I thought of minimizing my tricks thus props. Yet ended up with effects needing a lot of props. I use a lot of balls in my show. Sponge balls, cups and balls (my final loads), and billiard balls.
Jeremy Gates
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J.G. the magnificent
Special user
Griffith Indiana
886 Posts
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Posted: Sep 28, 2010 12:08 am
0
I did another bit of busking yesterday at a local arts and crafts festival. Got four hours in before work and was very interesting. I tried the rope boarder and no one payed attention to it. Perhaps simply because I didn't bother saying anything though and it was mostly kids. I think I mostly had kids because at the last event they all wanted to go on rides. This time they didn't have much else to do but look at a few booths. I also go more crowds probably for the same reason. I made $1.25 more making $7.50. It was very cold and had one girl calling me out on everything but worth it. Some people kept coming, a few making me jinks myself into screwing up my cups and balls I thought I had perfected.
I was less shy and was able to remember everything necessary but unable to think of what needed said even though I knew what it was. Just couldn't find the right way of doing it. I did say more to crowed draw than magic show though. I said magic show and how it was free commenting on that it was one of a kind. Tried looking at people as I pounded my stick like Jimmy Talksalot said you should do. That got crowds.
I rub the inside of my pots with paraffin wax for easier sliding of the peanuts. Works fine in practice and did at my last gig. This time however it didn't. I suppose because it was so cold it make the consistency different. I then got some vegetable oil on a rag and used that. Unfortunately that left a stain on the peanuts helping people to realize they were not always the same nuts.
Not only this but it got on my hands disabling my billiard ball handling making my drop them into the dirt. I originally tried turtle wax which worked until it dried having my try the paraffin. I think I should go back to the turtle wax though even if I half to carry it around lubing the cups every routine.
This time I brought extra pots but I never had any break. I was prepared though just in case. I forgot to bring my laser pointer to get attention with. Try that next time needless to say though experience teaches allot.
Jeremy Gates
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ed rhodes
Inner circle
Rhode Island
2885 Posts
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Posted: Sep 28, 2010 03:15 pm
0
"Experience is the worst teacher, it gives the test before the lesson."
You're doing good, kid. Keep it up.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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J.G. the magnificent
Special user
Griffith Indiana
886 Posts
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Posted: Sep 28, 2010 04:38 pm
0
I used to think the same thing but I prepared too much which is why I am acting now. Thanks
Jeremy Gates
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J.G. the magnificent
Special user
Griffith Indiana
886 Posts
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Posted: Sep 28, 2010 04:53 pm
0
Another thought I had was that it was quite windy. I may have a separate act for windy days. Also I know in Jimmy Talksalot's To Lure With Spectacle he mentions indoor busking. I could find opportunities to do that. My first would be at my work. I work at a place that has inflatables, moon walks, bouncers, whatever you want to call them. Very large area and they have open plays were people come and go as they please. I could get permission to do it their when I am off the clock.
I would easily get a crowed without trying. The object would be to work on my patter. Even try different routines and material. I will try what I have for a while only to possibly discover it needs changing. How can I know when my act needs to change? Or if my patter needs to change, for one I found myself explaining my actions too much and emphasizing my voice excessivly at first. I may even need a different act for indoors. Their is also the problem of my drumstick rolling around but I think I can figure that one out. But if anyone has suggestions let me know.
Jeremy Gates
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