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I have just returned from an amazing 3 days in cambridge at the School of Busking run by Mario Morris and team. www.schoolofbusking.com

The course was amazing. After learning the theory on friday, we spent saturday getting amazing help with our acts. Then, Sunday we all had a turn busking magic in Cambridge market.

The course covered essential parts of busking that never crossed my mind before, such as how to ask for money. Also, it was invaluable in terms of creating and performing an act.

If you want to learn loads about busking magic, and about yourself as a performer, this course is a must.

5 STARS *****

A course on begging. I love it!

bmat wrote:A course on begging. I love it!

That might be a joke, but it is quite offensive to a busker like me bmat.

Busking is an art form and a busker isn't begging as he is exchanging his skill for money and not just asking for something for nothing. When was the last time you saw a city have a festival of beggars? Never, yet busking festivals take place all over the world. Another thing you should be aware of is that busking is often a way for a performer to hone his skills and can keep them working during lean periods as well as being a form of advertising (one of my major clients first saw me busking).
I have traveled the world because of busking and I always know that if I have a bag of balloons or magic on me I will not go hungry and will be able to put a smile on someones face.


abecedarianmind - Glad you enjoyed it mate! Busking is a noble profession and don't let anyone tell you different. Can I ask if they covered the regulations concerning busking by different councils? For example in Sheffield you cannot actually ask for money, it has to be donated spontaneously.


Anywho, thanks for the review!

Perhaps 'Street Performers' means more to those in the US?

I have not busked much, but I have on occasion, and it is certainly not begging. I too find that remark offensive.

On June 12 and 13 the Street Performance World Championship will be held in Cork (with an additional four days in Dublin). Some of the best acts from all over the globe will be here. They are good enough to grace any stage, combining artistry, skill and entertainment. They are not beggers. They are presenting a show, and instead of paying beforehand, you pay afterwards - and you pay as much as you think the show was worth.

I have seen those acts consistently fill hats, and come away with several hundred pounds after a day of busking. Show me the beggar who can do that.

Mandrake wrote:Perhaps 'Street Performers' means more to those in the US?

I don't know Mandrake, certainly in Canada it's referred to as busking...

I think it was a joke, it is hard to be offended. Seriously, if you want to hone your magic skills, try busking. It is very pressured and a great learn experience. It was great!

I might go and do some busking since I have a spare week and little performance time and I need to get lots of practice with some routines and skills, without draining my friends and family and becoming unapproachable. Any tips? (Money tips will be accepted too)

if you live in birmingham, let's meet and chat - there is loads to learn. The main tips include, building an audience and overlapping routines.

I shouldn't bother. It is a very tough life. One veteran busker told me that it was "hell on earth". Here is an example. And yes, this happened in Canada. Toronto to be exact. This is the sort of thing you have to put up with. I hope they gave you lessons on how to handle it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKUoaq5l ... re=related

Thanks Mark,

That's a very funny clip and yes although not typical of my busking sessions is not that far from some of the things I've had to deal with (although generally it's drunk nutters and not preachers)!

Busking is tough, it's not for the faint hearted... But it can be heavily rewarding to a performer, if you can deal with what the street can throw at you you can pretty much cope with anything.

I was selling svengali decks at a Festival in Ireland once and THREE preachers started up beside me. I am afraid they found that the Satan they preached against was working next to them. I turned into the devil incarnate they were preaching against.

After half an hour of me they packed up all their paraphenalia and left. If I had been working next to that preacher in the video clip he would have left too.

I have ways.....................

The pitch business is not far removed from busking and is equally as tough. I have had knives thrown at me by and bombs going off while I have been working. I am sure the same sort of thing happens to buskers too. And of course often buskers have the disadvantage that there is no management to complain to.

Not an easy business. And I believe it should be a stepping stone rather than a lifetime career. When you get to a certain age you really need to stop.

The owner of Cirque Du Soleil started out as a busker on the street. He stopped and became a multi millionaire instead. Wise choice.

mark lewis wrote:Not an easy business. And I believe it should be a stepping stone rather than a lifetime career. When you get to a certain age you really need to stop.

The owner of Cirque Du Soleil started out as a busker on the street. He stopped and became a multi millionaire instead. Wise choice.

I think that's very wise words there my dear reverend!

They dealt nicely with crowd control...I think for most magicians busking would be an incredible thing to do....they also taught "hit and run" magic.

I drew a big crowd at a festival, cleared a space in front of me, and began my show. Then a Romanian Gypsy sat down in the space I had cleared, spread a rug, and began offering hair braiding - on my stage!

I stepped over her, turned her rug into my stage, and scattered her beads and threads all over the place during the course of my next effect. When I finally stepped off the rug she packed up and didn't come back.