If there's already a thread on this... Sorry. I didn't find it when I searched.

I'm interested in learning more about the fabulous world of busking! I haven't decided whether I want to try it myself yet. For the time being I'm just interested in learning the art of working the streets.

I'm much less interested in "tricks" and much more interested in things like crowd control, asking for tips, how to draw a crowd, how to pick a location, etiquette, etc... Even if I don't choose to busk per say, the more I have in my knowledge base the better I am as a performer.

Here's a list of books / dvd's I've found in my searches:

The Art of Street Performing Series
Tales of the Street
Gazzo Street-wise
Gazzo's Krowd Keeping
To Lure With Spectacle - Jimmy Talksalot
School of Busking DVD Set

Obviously I don't have the budget to buy everything available. What suggestions do you have for me to start with? Is there anything I've missed that I should look at?

http://www.secretartofmagic.com

It's somewhat hard to find, but copies are still available if you look hard enough.

G'day Matthew

Yes There are other discussions that look at your question but it appears that you have come up with a good list of resources.

If you have a look in the list here (The Side Walk Shuffle) you will see a topic "If you wana learn how to street perform" (it is about half way down the page) - that long discussion is well worth having a look at and it will direct you to Jimmy Talksalot's blog which will address a lot of the issues that you have raised.

I had a quick look at your website - it is well presented and I especially liked your video for the festivals.

All the best with your learning about the fabulous world of busking.

Bob Latta (aka Troppo Bob)

Thanks to both of you! I'll be sure to check out Jimmy's blog and the other thread!

Bob - Thanks for your kind words about our site and the video trailer!

Matthew,
To Lure With Spectacle - Jimmy Talksalot

This book is a gold mind of straight up busking talk.

Need any help here in Ohio let me know.

Floyd

Thanks for the offer Floyd! I may take you up on that! ;-)

'Passing the Hat' by Patricia campbell is a fun read. Not a book on how to busk but rather interviews and observations by the young lady author as she travels and meets various busker singers/jugglers/mimes etc.
Easy fun read and sentimental for me

Krowd Keeping is a good place to start, follow that up with Tales from the Street. If you start with those to The Art Of series will be redundant. School Of goes into some great detail on crowd building and routining.

After these three you'll be better off just studying youtube clips and seeing how other performers, even non magicians, work and compare it to what you've learned. There are some great clips of Gazzo working his whole show.

The Royal Touch by Cellini..I am shocked that hasn't been mentioned yet...nothing can touch it

Brilliant, Mage Faulker! Or should I say, Sage Faulkner!

Having just run across this thread, I was thinking the same and going to post as much, when I ran across response.

Hands down, get Cellini's "The Royal Touch." This was the first book I acquired on the topic, and it's still my favorite resource.

If I could only have one book on performing magic as a busker, this would be the book. And if I could only have one magic book, this would also be the one. My only regret is in not purchasing two copies, and having the one Cellini autographed for me, and a second so I could remove the covers and create a softback version for when I'm on the road.

After that, anything by those noted above will serve you well.

Joe Zeman aka
The Mage Ulysses

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

Another book I just found out about... "Streetwise: A Guide To Magical Street Performing" by Gary McKibben. Looks like it's $20. http://blackbeltmagician.com/book.html

Keep 'em coming! Any other suggestions?

I own a great many books and dvds on busking, all of which I think are good. If I had to pick just 2 dvds to get, however, it would be Kozmo's "Tales from the Streets," and Jimmy Talksalot's recently released "Four of a Kind."

Also Mario Morris has a great DVD out on the "School of Busking" Definetly worth checking out.

http://schoolofbusking.com

Matthew: As Noland noted it above - here is a link to 4 of a Kind review:

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......rum=6&14

I cannot recommend that and the Cellini videos enough - although 4 of a Kind does not teach any effects, it does take you through everything else.

The Zurich lecture DVD by Cellini.