talkmagic.co.uk

Nice to see Mr Lewise back and he makes some very good points.

Gazzo does have material out there but also check out one of the Peter Wardell Crowd Puller DVD's on crowd control / street performing etc.

My observations on street performers are that most of their audience wander up to them and they don't approach people. This is why I suggest Peter Wardell's material as he talked in his lecture about this very subject and how he sets his stall out to attract people to him, rather than approaching his audience (a great lecture for all magicians if you get the chance).

What he said made perfect sense and would no doubt save a lot of trial and error for those wanting to dip their toe in these waters.

Just recently I happened upon an old video of Tommy Wonder. I only saw a blip, but he proposed that you don't ask someone "want to see a trick?" He suggested this was a bit blunt, and not at all effective. Tommy wasn't even referring to street magic, but the point stuck with me... All my life I'd awkwardly been asking people if they wanted to see a "trick"-- and now it strikes me as odd.

Just like magic, if you turn the concept on its ear, something new might fall out.

Or a tick. If it crawls, squish it.

If you're talking about busking, there's probably no substitute for watching real-world performers. In London the most obvious place is Covent Garden (the spot to watch magicians is just on 'magic corner' near the Opera House - if you're unsure, go to the 'Magic Cave' stall and they'll point you in the right direction) outside of London, most large towns and cities have a busking area, watch any buskers (not just magicians) and you'll soon see that there are some very popular methods of attracting a crowd and sustaining them.

Good luck,

Lee

It seems that to many people here have become anti Blaine-style. I don't have a problem with walking up to strangers and performing for them. That said, I enjoy performing close-up table magic a LOT more that I enjoy Blaine-ing, but I still do get to perform magic and there are many more opportunities to perform for random strangers you meet than to sit at a table and whip out your set up cups and balls (my favorite effect ).

I find that approaching random people gives you a great chance to try new things out and get performing experience. If something goes wrong, who cares? End the performance and leave. If something goes wrong in a close-up performance, you could be in a bit of trouble.

The biggest reson I do Blaine-style magic is because it is fun and I enjoy it, though my presentation is nothing like Blaine's (I actually talk to the spectator and tell a few jokes). If you are an experienced magician who isn't shy and have never try it before, do it sometime. You will find it fun.

As for how to approach people, there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. People might say "NO!" and walk away. As someone pointed out, you don't have a camera crew following you around, therefore, you don't strike anyone as being different form anybody else.

2. When approaching people, ask them if they have a moment. If they don't, leave them alone, if they do, pull out you cards, coins or whatever you intend to perform and ask if you can show them something (yes, this approach is very Blaine-ish, but guess what... it works). DON'T ask them if they would like to see a magic trick. This will almost guarantee you a "NO!"

3. After saying "Do you have a minute?" and "Can I show you something?" you will probably be looking at someone with a very strange and confused look on their face (how would you feel if you were in the middle of a public place and someone came up to you asking if you would like to see something). Don't let their confused look scare you away. It generally means they are currious to find out what you are going to do. Take advantage of this and ask them to hold the coin or select the card and begin you performance. You will hardly ever run into the people who agree to see you effect with a huge smile on their face and a excited "Sure!" (you know, like the ones on T.V.). this is because of you lack of fame and camera crew. Your job is to leave them smiling after the performance.

4. Have a routine worked out (a serries of effects that follow each other up nicely). If someone sees you first trick, hands you your card back and walks away, regardless of how much he likes it, DON'T FOLLOW HIM!!! If you do follow him, you will be seen as someone who wants something from him (a possible pickpocett, etc.)

5. Make your effects short and to the point, with quick climaxes that hit hard. Don't whip out long routines that gradually build up (Oil and Water, etc.) If you do and ambitous card routine, don't make it too long. I find that the strongest effects are the type that happen in the spectator's hand.

6. Make sure you can perform the effect under any conditions. Don't bring effects that require a table. Also, don't bring big, awkward effects. I like everything to fit in one pocket.

7. This one might be obvious, but, if you vanish an object of the spectator's, or change it into something else, MAKE SURE THEIR OBJECT REAPEARS!!! You want to be seen as a magician, not a criminal.

8. Finally, be relaxed. The more relaxed you are, the more relaxed the spectator will be. Slip in a few jokes to loosen him up.

You should also know which people to perform for. Here's a basic list of how to find someone who would make a good spectator.

Good:
-Someone who seems to be waiting around for something.
-Someone who seems to be in a good mood and is enjoying their surroundings
-ANYONE you hear talking about what Chriss Angel/David Blaine just did
-Someone walking with a slow, relaxed stride

AVOID:
-People in a bad mood
-People walking quickly (in a hurry)
-Kids 12 and under (unless they are with their parrents)
-Anyone holding a lot of items

Basically, try to put yourself in that possition and think "If I was him, would I want to see a magician (of coarse, you must put yourself in the shoes of a layman).

That's my two cents (or pence for you British folk )

It doesn't surprise me that you come from the USA. Try approaching people in a British street and may God have mercy on your soul.

Even David Blaine got pelted with eggs. We British are terribly cruel to magicians. Ask Paul Daniels if you don't believe me.

mark lewis wrote:It doesn't surprise me that you come from the USA. Try approaching people in a British street and may God have mercy on your soul.

Even David Blaine got pelted with eggs. We British are terribly cruel to magicians. Ask Paul Daniels if you don't believe me.

Actually, I'm Canadian. Americans consider themselves to be very suppirior to us Canadians, so normally being called an American would be considered an insult up here, but I let it go as you probably didn't know that.

I didn't know how magicians were viewed in Britin. Sounds like some of you British people are pretty high strung . If you don't mind me asking, what happened to Paul Daniels?

Its called the British Stiff Upper Lip. It still exists.

I could walk up to people in the street, but I wouldnt want to.

I saw a guy this morning get sworn and shouted at as he said Hi to someone as he passed them to get off the bus

Terrible terrible country.. I love it !! No seriously though.. use British can be rather cruel to anyone we dont know.

I must inform Mc'cabe that I know more about Canada than he thinks. It is a terribly boring country full of falsely polite people. It doesn't surprise me that Canadians will stop to watch him. They are only pretending to like his magic just to be polite. As soon as he disappears I am quite sure they say to themselves "what on earth was that all about?"

I did indeed know that calling Canadians American is an insult. However if the population of Canada insists on talking all yankified and indulging in that disgusting American habit of chewing gum all the time then they get what they deserve.

Canada is so boring that even the female impersonators are women.

As for Paul Daniels he is demeaning himself on various British TV shows and is making himself into a laughing stock. This is a great shame and he should retire gracefully as befits the wonderful entertainer that he was in his prime.

As for the British attitude to magicians poor David Copperfield was so traumatised by his reception by British audiences that he took out a newspaper advertisement sarcastically thanking his critics. Of course Copperfield is a bit too sickly and insincere for British audiences. And a trifle too spectacular also. After all we are not impressed by people flying since we see that every Christmas in pantomine.

No. We British prefer our performers to be dull and boring like Derren Brown.

On the other hand Canada is very open to entertainers of all kinds. They have even disbanded the idea of work permits for foreign entertainers. No doubt they have done this because the locals are so incompetent. I suppose they need to do something to discourage young magicians from accosting people in the street I expect.

Wowwww....that may have been rather harsh!...what part specifically you may ask? The entire post! I have to say that all countries and the people that come from them have their downfalls but to genralize is not really appropriate...especially in a magic forum.....join a political forum and feel free to rant about people and the cultures they come from....there is no place for these remarks here!

To quote you: "I did indeed know that calling Canadians American is an insult. However if the population of Canada insists on talking all yankified and indulging in that disgusting American habit of chewing gum all the time then they get what they deserve."

Did you say deserve?...I was born in this country I didn't create it.....that would be like me saying "british people sound like they talk with a mouth full of marbles...nobody can udnerstand them, they get what they deserve!"....how wrong would that be!!!! And for the gum....call it being concerned with how our breath smells.....in North America it is often considered a part of personal hygene....don't generalize on our hygene habits and we won't generalize yours!

You called us "falsely polite?"....you seem to have no problem with padding your jeans at the expense of canadians...or did I read the address on your website wrong....Canada?...if you don't like us then take your show somewhere else....have you ever heard the old phrase "don't bite the hand that feeds you?" I guess smiling, taking our money and then badmouthing us behind our backs would make you "Falsely polite" wouldn't it?

Did you really just type this, "...... No doubt they have done this because the locals are so incompetent...." I respect your magic opinions but your rant about imcompetent locals is over-the-line.......Have you been to one of my shows? I have seen some awful hypnotists in my time.....does that mean I can say you are bad at it as well?

Am I a decent preformer? Yes! I am actually not afraid to say I am great at what I do......but what I do with a deck of cards does not make me any better than anyone else or give me the right to take my geralizations and rants and put them on this forum....more than a decent performer, I a decent person that has respect for all people, forms of magical entertainment (even street work) and patience for people and various cultural differences......this is an inter-racial, demoninational, and mulitcultural forum....keep your opionions about those aside and stick to magic........

Well said moodini.

mark lewis wrote:I must inform Mc'cabe that I know more about Canada than he thinks.

Clearly not.

Moodini's post covered a lot (again, well said Moodini),but I have a few points of my own to add.

First of all, exactly who do you think you are to be able to say that Canadians only "pretend" to be entertained by magic. I know for a fact that people here enjoy magic from the multiple times I have walked through malls and either heard someone talking to their freinds about what I did and how much they enjoyed it (sometimes this is LONG after I perform for them). Some people even come up to me and request to see some magic after seeing me perform for someone else.

But because you know so much about Canada ( ), you see right through this and realize that they are just being falsely posite (again, ).

Also, why Canada is a boaring country. The only elabouration you made here was some gibberish about our women impersonators actually being women.

Canadians are not falsely polite, I have been told to f**k off by complete strangers many times before.

Finally, how is it that you came to know so much about Canada? Are you someone who has been here once on vacation and believes ignorantly believes he knows absolutely everything about Canada? Or are you just some know-it-all that has never even seen Canada, would probably have trouble finding on a map, still doesn't realize that Canada played a key role in the Battle of Britin, but still ignorantly believes that he knows everything there is to know about Canada.

However, clearly you are supperior to every Canadian that has ever lived, so I guess I should be bowing down to you and kissing your feet.

Serriously, I am proud to be Canadian and if you had said something like that to my face, or a lot of other Canadians for that matter, you would have recieved a swift punch in the face.

Getting back to the original topic (please!) check out previous threads re Chris Capeheart, US 'street' performer of many years experience. His technique was to just stand somewhere suitable and start doing magic, cups and balls, perhaps a bit of juggling, anything which can be done without having to shout and bawl to attract attention, chase after people or stop them on their way to wherever they're going - a sure fire way to get a punch in the gob in the UK these days. After a relatively short space of time a crowd would gather of their own volition and the proper magic could then start with a much better chance of the hat being filled with donations far more willingly. Softly softly catchee monkey.....

I am most distressed to hear that young McCabe has been sworn at by complete strangers. Perhaps that proves my point about not walking up to people asking to show them tricks.

As for walking through malls showing people stuff that really is asking for trouble. Mall security in Canada is very stuffy about that sort of thing. Of course in Canada they are terribly stuffy about all sorts of things.

As for chewing gum it rots the brain and I think it is a perfectly dreadful habit that should be made illegal in the same way that Singapore has outlawed it. The trouble is that people in Canada (particularly the rather dreadful younger generation) blow bubbles in the most disgusting manner and make dreadful mouth noises. Furthermore they insist on showing the inside of their mouths which I really don't want to see. Unfortunately Canadian chewing gum is multi coloured and makes a most disgusting spectacle. British chewing gum on the other hand is much more low profile and has the decency to be flesh coloured. And of course hardly anyone in Britain chews gum because it is considered a rather disgusting habit.

As for "padding my jeans" I can assure moodini that I have never worn jeans once in my entire life. It is not clothing apparel worn by the British upper classes.

But to get back to the topic at Mandrake's request I shall simply say that I associate with a lot of buskers and they do not indulge in this daft nonsense of approaching strangers without benefit of a camera crew. They simply set up somewhere, draw a crowd, go to work and ask for money. If they are good they get money-if they aren't they don't. The best way to draw a crowd in my opinion is to get hold of my good friend Don Driver's video on the subject. You will have a massive crowd with 3 minutes of starting.

Mandrake wrote:back to the original topic (please!)

And I meant it guys, thank you!

Very well. I shall be good from now on providing I am not provoked.