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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2889 Posts 
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On the bus heading to Thayer Street. Scared spitless!
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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jsbosco.jpg "View Profile") New user Detroit, MI 64 Posts
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How did it go?
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2889 Posts
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Quiet. I only stayed for a little while, because it was a little cooler and more windy than I thought. Two people gave me $5 each. Some kids in the window of the pizza parlor were entertained. I was getting set to put stuff away when I saw the little girl, watching me through the window. So, before putting a prop in my bag, I did a cut and restored routine, a thimble routine, the cups and balls and a card rise using a method from Hay's "Amateur Magician's Handbook." (The plunger). It was mostly just testing the waters. Understand that I've never been good at drawing a crowd from nothing. My favorite bit is to perform for the people in the window, and people passing by will often stop and join in. But it was fun, which for me is more the point. As it gets warmer, I'll stay out longer.
Took a picture of the table https://imgur.com/a/8R7rqrN There's also a (sideways) picture of me, taken by someone in the pizza parlor, at my request. Feels good.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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jsbosco New user Detroit, MI 64 Posts
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Nice. I have yet to pull the trigger and get out into the mean streets of Detroit, though I sure would like to.
Looking forward to hearing more busking tales. |
Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5446 Posts
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Ed, You've been out and managed to get a few shows in before the elements won! Good deal man! Beating that stage fright is a lifetime adventure.
Is that tumbler holding the handkerchiefs on your table glass? The Shanghai Shackle prop makes for a great routine to involve the crowd. A good personalized story line helps make it a real personality piece. If you can re make it in black PVC it will look more menacing (I made mine from black PVC and painted the outside with a sort of brownish-gold color and streaked it on - used mat-black cloth tape around it. I called it bamboo). It is a great and underrated prop. Good idea to use it (even if reset on the street can be problematic). What is your crowd stopper-puller? Bravo, man, Brabo!!
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2889 Posts
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The tumbler is plastic. The silks are for a 20th Century Silk trick that I can do ONCE! Shanghai Shackle needs a crowd, the lady time I did it, the gimmick gave way early. AND it's on video! *sigh*
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5446 Posts
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I've had the premature gimmick failure with the Shackle routine happen too. I now use two turns of the gimmick stuff to insure the weight of the ropes don't cause it to break early. It is great for a big crowd and is a good next to closing trick. Yet it will play well for a two or three people. I've played it for two people a couple of times. I used it in those cases to try to build a larger edge/crowd. It worked to get a few more people interested. I useably name it according to the conflict of the moment. I've been performing this little trick since the early 70s and sadly have never been at a loss for a current conflict to name it after - Viet Nam, Cambodia, Iraq, Iran. , etc. etc. etc. In Berlin right before the wall fell I called it an East German Secret Police Shackle (and had a heck of a story line for it). It is a good crowd building tool if you have a couple of people to start with.
The 20th Century Silks is a great parlor trick. To carry. the props to do it only once is adding to the burden. Think about all the instant reset routines you know and like and maybe replace the 20th Century Silks with one or two of those. Putting the props away should pretty much be the reset. Get rid of that plastic tumbler and use one of the cups from your Cups and Balls set. It saves you one prop to carry and keep track of and by making the Cup from Cups and Balls do double duty it helps make those props seem more innocent . I'd keep the 20th Century Silk for a "special" bigger crowd. What are you using to gather and grow a crowd?
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2889 Posts
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Honestly? I really don't understand the basics of forming a crowd. What usually happens is, I start working for people in the pizza parlor, and SOMETIMES other people stop. It's kind of a narrow sidewalk though.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3530 Posts
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You got to hype it!
Once you got your initial spectators, whoop it up a little bit. Stop what you're doing and tell those people who just walked by that you're doing a magic show. Then do a simple trick like coin from the ear or a back palm on them to make them smile. And it gives them a reason to stay. Ask them their names, and then repeat their names back to them. There's no sound in the English language sweeter to most people than the sound of their own name being repeated back to them! Little comedy bits are absolute gold mines for keeping audiences. Might I suggest finding a book on basic clown routines? Here's something dumb that I just thought of, but in its understated stupidity, there's a kernel of truth: "If you own the space that you are in, then if somebody else walks into your space, you own them by extension as well." Yeah, I think that axiom works best if you don't examine it too closely...
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2889 Posts
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Quote:
On May 28, 2023, gaddy wrote: Wonderful stuff. Probably out of my league, but I'll try.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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Zauberman Veteran user 318 Posts
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A crowd attracts a crowd....as the old saying goes.
Just gota stop the 1st 2 or 3 and it can build from there. And there are many ways to do that...depending on where you are or what you can do. Something visual like vanishing/producing a silk. I often do color changes with a deck of cards. And talk and most important....be charming. 
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2889 Posts
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I have the article (Magic Magazine?) From the street performer who I first heard make that statement. However, there is still the fact that my favorite spot is kind of narrow. The college book shop has a wider sidewalk, but I don't like performing there. What'cha gonna do?
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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gallagher Inner circle 1169 Posts
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Ed greetings!
It nice hearing,..you're up and out(!),.. Corona,..'the Bladder',...the Eagles losing the Super Bowl,.. you've managed to keep the flame! : ) Ed, I think you've to decide: Street Performing or Working Restraurants. Combining both,.,..? They're two different,..hobbys... : ) You're heading to the Pizza point,..because there are some folks,...THERE. ,..or the waitress is cute,.. which you will never admitt, ...because your wife reads all of your posts. ; ) Ed, find your 'own' space,...where 'potential' folks,..might be. With no other distractions. Set-up,... ...because we're old friends,.. I'll share this with you. (NO ONE ELSE IS ALLOWED TO READ THIS!) Forget 'audience participation'(!), to open with. Develope 'Magic' that is visual,..non-inter-active,... kind of,..'big',..without destroying too many cars. (More then ANYTHING,..folks LOVE watching,..other,...folks. Especially,..when other folks are slightly,...having problems,...) Magic that,...baffles,...YOU. ....going to have to learn,...take a chance on,...Acting. When 'interest' is aroused,....draw 'em in. A bit like fishing,... If no one 'bites',... find a new spot,..and new bait,...suck it up, buddy. Plan for a small audience. Shorter Shows. Stronger 'magic',..less 'personality'. ....you're a Magician, after all. Or? Stick to the plan. Don't 'expand' the Show, even if the Audience expands. Build a 'confidence-base', with this small Show. ...then expand. When it starts to roll,.. change spots. (That's a hard one,...but,...that makes the Meister.) Be carefull with comedy(!). 'Pleasent people' tend to be more relaxed,... 'Relaxed' is a virtue, on the crazy rush of the Street. Mr. Vernon said: "Audiences like to watch Performers with whom they feel comforatable with. Performers that are confident in what ther are doing." With experience,..I believe,..we can AT LEAST(!), come to fake this! (As for confidence, Mr. Vernon said: "Sleep with as many beautifull women as possible!" ....just remember,..your wife is reading this!) Keep going for it Edward! gallagher p.s.: A plug of Red Man,...might help against that 'spitless problem'.... : ) As for the Bladder,...keep that close-pin TIGHT! |
TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3170 Posts
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Good Luck Ed
Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2889 Posts
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Quote:
On Jun 9, 2023, gallagher wrote: Thank you Gallaghr.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2889 Posts
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Quote:
On Jun 10, 2023, TomBoleware wrote: Thank you, Tom.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts
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My plates of meat hit the bricks.
First time since 2020... for many reasons. (Global pandemic, parlour show case, town is a building site.... crap summer) Somethings just flowed... other faulted. The love affair starts again.
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
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gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3530 Posts
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I had a pretty good summer, but it's now dying down.
There's only a few good, big, outdoor events left in the season. The Saturday market runs thru November, but that's only 1 day a week... Travelling isn't an option and, sadly, I didn't get very many leads on gigs for the holiday season... I made some OK money this summer, but I guess nobody thought I was worth retaining for their events. Kinda a bummer. I'm going to start highlighting my availability during my hat lines going forward, but I fear it may already be too late. Not even a Halloween gig. That hurts, man...
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
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gallagher Inner circle 1169 Posts
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"The love affair starts again."
...gotta love this guy. "Not even a Halloween gig." ..ahh man,..who's playing gigs!..??! You should be out 'Trick or Treating'!..! : ) Loved reading from you guys! Thanks. |
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2889 Posts
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When I worked at Westinghouse, they would hold Halloween parties for the employees children. Everyone volunteered something, I did a magic show. It was fun.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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Posted: May 19, 2023 09:09 pm 