Hey everyone, just asking for general advice, should kids do street magic? Is it safe for kids to do and where should their guardian stand or be? It seems to me that street magic seems to be increasingly popular and I want to know what other magicians think! thanks.

This tends to be more popular in Europe and surrounding areas. I would never suggest this for newbies myself, especially in the U.S. The performance dynamics, like busking, are quite different from those wishing to perform, stage, standup, parlour, and really even closeup. The inexperienced think there are similarities, but the main difference in in most street/ambush performances outcomes are not like you see in videos or on youtube.

They will show the one that went well but not the other 25, 40, or more that were bad.

Define you performance goals and then find performance opportunities that are working towards that. Most people do not get into magic to do street magic for unsuspecting people on the street.

So what happens in the other 25, 40?
Unfortunately, I don't think I have every seen a street magician in real life.

The unfortunate truth that nobody wants to admit is busking took a serious hit with the advent of David Blaine. Many younger folk at the time thought this was how busking actually worked. The downward spiral just kept getting worse. Since then there are large numbers of people who still think this somehow can happen without his most famous trick “The Appearing Second Unit”. (A TV production joke.)

Combine that with the YouTube effect of wanting everything NOW and the over tell anyone the truth if it might hurt their feelings mantra, and you have a witches brew that leads to less people even considering busking. They try the Blaine style, get a HARSH reality check, and stop. Busking is tough enough work without flights of fancy.

Kids? What age? High school kids? Perhaps. 10 year olds? Maybe not. In America busing is becoming far less popular for the reasons I laid out and many more. Several of the pitches have gone through regulation and licensing changes, some simply don’t allow it any more. Things have changed in the last couple decades for certain.

Is there really folks confusing Blaine for busking?

As to the question if kids can do it, there has been a strong trend of little kids
with violins for some reason. I hear they fill hats well.

I don't see why a kid performing magic wouldn't have similar appeal.

As for safety, you would usually be busking in a very public area, so I wouldn't be to worried.

My bigger question here is why? What is the purpose of wanting to busk? To accomplish what? There are far better venues with better performance dynamics that you should aim to perform. Street Performing/Busking have the worst performance dynamics of all - performing for those not wanting to see a performance and be performed for. Again, why?

The old argument of "to try to gain some performing experience" doesn't work here either as their are much better venues to gain initial experience like open mics, new talent nights, and other performance options where the performance dynamics are more real-world with people there to want to see a performance, appreciate the efforts and often will show their appreciation. Often you can video record for later review, and so many other benefits.

The whole busking, street performing and similar are being outlawed or greatly controlled with licensing and costs that make it even less prohibited than ever before.

Again, why? If you want to become a performer there are many better ways to learn, gain experience and become established. Again, why? I have yet to hear a compelling argument as to why one, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE YOUNG - preteen, tween, or teen (as the OP here is only 12 years old) even think of doing this? I'll tell you why, the same thing that has greatly damaged the entire magic community - Youtube. These guys see it on Youtube and somehow think "this is performing" or this is a performance market.

It might be helpful for a person looking to learn how to attract a crowd, this could have some cross over with things like amusement parks or a fair grounds worker. But largely I agree, what a busker does is way different than a formal show in a venue.

Those guys main concern is getting folks to tip, that is a way different skill than anything you would do elsewhere.

As for YouTube folks, they are just gathering content.

When his first specials came out, in disturbingly large numbers there were.

Busking heroes you to learn busking.

Yeah, they probably got confused by his use of the word "street magic", until his special that was used almost exclusively by buskers.

I don't what this means, but I assume it's funny and clever.

Helps not heros.

It is NOT funny or clever or intended to be. Busking helps learn busking. It is a statement not a joke in any way.