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Herr Brian Tabor Special user Oklahoma City 729 Posts |
I've been lurking around this forum in particular, and posted a few things, and the idea of busking seems really intriguing to me. I'm looking into doing magic for money, since I am in college and my knees won't let me do a regular job. A small part of my brain has been running in the background suggesting to me that busking may be a good way to put my skills to the test, and help me to learn to be a better performer and entertainer. I have been doing magic since I was a little boy, and I'm 26 now. I've always really only did things for family and friends, and the occasional group. I have drawn a crowd on several occasions, all of which were accidental and unintended. (showing things to friends and such at college or in a park). Once, a friend and I went to Hollywood, and on the "strip" one of the friends we were visiting asked me to perform something for him. The next thing I know I had quite a massive crowd, and performed for about 2 hours. In that time, unbeknownst to me, the friend I came with was collecting tips. I didn't notice because I was caught up in performing. When I called it quits, I had raked in about 220$! I was, of course, shocked. That was about 2 hours straight with just some sponge balls, coins, two decks of cards and a shoelace. Granted, this was Hollywood, and a busy time of the year, and I'm lucky I didn't get asked for documents showing I had the rights to perform.
I live in West Virginia, and the city near me and where I go to school is Huntington. I know if I were to busk there or in Charleston I wouldn't be looking at that kind of money. Still, the idea of putting myself out there and trying not only scares the crap outta me, but excites me and I know I could learn a lot. All that being said, how do I go about learning enough to give this a try? How do I find what laws I need to know, and how do I find the information on busking in general? A search didn't really come up with too much, save for a few old posts with links to things that no longer work. I have watched some buskers on youtube, and tried to study them, and I've learned some things, but is there a good book or something to teach someone new to the idea of busking? I'm not looking for effects, mind you, but tips and things that will help me understand what I'm doing better with things such as distance from the crowd, pitch locations (if I used the word pitch right), hat lines and drawing a crowd, etc. |
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Herr Brian Tabor Special user Oklahoma City 729 Posts |
With no reviews it's something I'd rather wait and see. What I really need is a crash course for beginners, so to speak. A book or DvD specifically for a magician who knows magic, but is entirely new to the idea of busking
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Zombie Magic Inner circle I went out for a beer and now have 8733 Posts |
Paddy reviewed it. You have to read the whole thread.
Careful taking too many shortcuts....... |
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Herr Brian Tabor Special user Oklahoma City 729 Posts |
Zombie, you are correct, I apologise, I didn't see that part Thank you, and this will go on the list to get. As far as shortcuts, I don't intent to take more than I have to, since the point of this whole thing is to put myself out there and learn, and I know I can't if I take the easy way out. Thanks again.
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Zombie Magic Inner circle I went out for a beer and now have 8733 Posts |
Enjoy the journey! Great success to you in school and life!
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Brian, If you get & follow Will's DVD You will be successful. His crowd stopper alone is worth the price. Just for grins I practiced the 2 effects he teaches and went to a park. Again, mostly to practice these 2 effects. IO drew crowds and had to put up a tip jar. No I didn't pay for the DVD yet but got close in the hour that I practiced. That's how good this DVD is. A coin levitation and a card effect will make you money. This guy is GOOD!
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solrak29 Special user NY Metro 936 Posts |
Being that you are a college student and hobbiest magi; I would
say to save your money and do your homework. This can be applied in more ways than one. On this forum alone is a wealth of information that can and has helped people get started. It can be daunting but if you do your homework and organize your thoughts; its all here. If you want something more consolidated and organized and a nice introduction I would go here: http://jimmytalksalot.blogspot.com/. Now, in no way am I associated with Jimmy or do I receive anything. It's just a free resource that has solid information. Finally, you already do effects, just put together an act and get out there and do it. I follow the motto of better of asking forgiveness than permission. I've found out about many rules and regulations that way in NYC. With all that said and done; you have to get out there and do it. Then the stuff you researched will start to sink in and make sense. Then you will have questions that might lead you to other resources and/or questions that you can post here.
To Find Me On The Pitch, Follow me :On Twitter
Checkout my pseudo blog : The Sidewalk Performers Forum "I intend to live forever, or die trying" - Groucho Marx |
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Herr Brian Tabor Special user Oklahoma City 729 Posts |
Paddy, I'm going to give it a try. Solrak29, no worries, this is money the wife and I have set aside for this very thing, and I'm one of those annoying guys who doesn't have to study and still screws up the grading curve for everyone else I think you're right though too, I need to put some routines together and go do it, and just find some of the rules along the way. the cops that I know of around Huntington aren't bad unless you give them trouble first, so I think I'd be fine there. Thanks all!
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Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
All the training you need is a few days on the street. Everything you *think* you know will change in a hurry.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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Zombie Magic Inner circle I went out for a beer and now have 8733 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-09-10 15:39, Dave V wrote: People go to law school and their first day on the job it's all different. If it wasn't...they could juts go head the firm. Everything as a real time learning curve... ...unless you're Gazzo. he was brilliant his first day out. |
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Great Brian, Will teaches you everything, including how to budget your time to bring in the extra money you need. And as a married student, you will need both the education and the extra money. I was serious about the 2 "tricks" he teaches, with about 1 hour practice for each of them, I went to a park and not even trying made money. If I had put out a hat as he suggested I could have doubled what I did make. I have done shows in Hunnington, it's a good busking area, never bothered by anybody there.
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Magician Shaun Special user Huntington BCH, CA 924 Posts |
I took the Street Crash Course myself. It cost nothing. I read Jimmy's blog and wrote my own experiences down to help others. I recommend you read Jimmy's Blog, read my thread, then take three tricks, your three best tricks, the ones you can do drunk and asleep. Then get a rope, a sign, and a hat. Put the rope on the ground as a barrier, wear the hat, and JUST DO IT! You will learn fast, I promise!
If something doesn't work or get the reaction you expect change it. Don't forget to practice hat lines, you need one after each trick. Don't forget to get the audience to acknowledge they are having a good time. Then get them to admit you are entertaining and to admit some value for your entertainment. You need to compare the entertainment value of your show to some non essential purchase people make often that is worth at least $5. Then get them to admit your as entertaining as that thing, then remind them how much that thing costs. Asking for money was the hardest part for me to get. If you are funny, entertaining, and do half decent magic too, you will be fine! Just don't forget to ask for money. |
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Zombie Magic Inner circle I went out for a beer and now have 8733 Posts |
Gr8gorilla, that was such an inspiring post. Thanks!
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Herr Brian Tabor Special user Oklahoma City 729 Posts |
8gorilla, I am definitely going to research hat lines, and that's some good advice, thanks. Dave V, I am aware that I will learn a new perspective, it's one of the reasons I want to give this a try. Now the big thing is finding a good spot, with enough foot traffic. There's plenty at Marshall University where I go, but it's mostly make up of broke kids
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The Great Zoobini Elite user Boulder, Colorado 443 Posts |
There are some hat lines assembled by Cliff Walker over at Busker Central you could probably use at the link below.
Insights
Meet you in Busker Alley
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imgic Inner circle Moved back to Midwest to see 1337 Posts |
If you haven't already, make sure you read Gr8gorilla's thread at:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......um=6&103 Will give you great first hand account of starting up...
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
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Magician Shaun Special user Huntington BCH, CA 924 Posts |
You need to find a place where people are planning to spend money. I did a Google search for you and I think you should try Pullman Square. That is near you right? I looked in Huntington WV. It looks like people go there to wander around and spend money. That would be where I would start if I were you!
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Herr Brian Tabor Special user Oklahoma City 729 Posts |
Gr8gorilla, that's the spot I've been thinking of, but it's my understanding that pullman is technically private property (i could be wrong though), and I do know they have pretty active security hired, so I'm not sure if I could there. I have considered finding how close I could get and still be on public property though, or possibly contacting the owners and seeing if I couldn't work something out, though I don't know if that kind of arrangement is very common or not. It would be a good spot though
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Faulkner Loyal user New Orleans 249 Posts |
No disrespect but you just need to go out and do it. Time spent on the internet is time you could be working...the answers are out there, not on a website.
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Herr Brian Tabor Special user Oklahoma City 729 Posts |
Faulkner, I don't intend on getting a ticket or going to jail Sometimes I'd rather have the information first to save me trouble and time. I learn differently; I can learn quickly from other people's advice and experience, and in the long run save me some time. For me, I have much better success rates if I take the time to do a little research. Besides, I don't have room in my schedule for still a week or two before I can do this, so I'd rather spend that time finding out information than doing nothing.
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