Le Petit Bateleur wrote:Hi Ian;
Out of curiosity, why / how was the Australian crowd different from the UK one? same language, same culture etc...
Never thought about that before, interresting.
Thanks
LP.
Though I can't be item specific to Ian's case, I do know all too well of how regional culture can make a big difference when it comes to how material will work. Just in the U.S. there are at least 5 distinctly different bits of "nuance" (for lack of a better term) that affect everything from how your comedy lines may be received to whether the common flower, fruit or veggie forces used ala Banachek are going to apply. In the U.S. South for an example, the most common flower named is the Magnolia and the fruit can differ from one state to the next... Georgia being the Peach while Florida will typically give you Oranges. Then you have cultural elements such as the strong French perspectives common to the Bayou & Cajun regions vs. the Cuban Hispanic over the Mexican Hispanics...
... as you can see, loads of variables!
As to the idea of "Busking Around the World" I'd make certain that you understand the culture in each region in that certain parts of the world still believe in Magick and doing something as "mundane" as the Cups & Balls could place you in the middle of a turf war with local shaman... there's a wonderful article in the Utne Reader from years ago, telling of the travels of a young mage through India and various South Pacific Island groups in which his life really was in danger because of these very elements. The moral of the story being that you MUST understand and respect those cultures regardless of your point of view around such things; the Western-European arrogance that is not intentionally projected, is still felt by these people and to perpetuate that attitude, even without meaning to, can make that leg of your journey rather arduous.
As a few have suggested already, get some solid experience at home first. You must have a tight act, quick wit, and solid improvisational skills. These are things you can not learn from books or videos, you simply must jump into the pool and start swimming... at least 6-10 hours a day, five to six days a week.
Another great way of earning your chops would be to travel with a Carnival unit doing side show and midway pitches. I still believe that some of the best foundation material I was allowed to know in my early adult years, was working for Ward Hall as the Psychic/Magician/Escape Artist in the "Circus Unique" side show...
...understand, in this type of program your day starts at 9 a.m. on stage and ends at around midnight. You present no fewer than 15 spots a day which (in my case) were rotated in theme so as to generate deliberate curiosity -- one group wouldn't see the Straight Jacket escape but rather, the Mind Reading. Thinking they missed out on something a large number of folks would pay to see the show again...
If you insist on doing Street Magic FIND PRODUCTS!
Chances are very strong that you will go hungry just passing a hat. So have easy to transport products that you can sew into your material and sell the hell out of... Sculpting Balloon Kits, Svengali Decks, those novelty booklets of 101 Magic Tricks Anyone Can Do and other such "premiums" (even the Psychic Fish). By offering a product along side the performance you can readily double if not triple your daily hat take.
KEEP IT SIMPLE! Don't try to be everything and do it all -- FOCUS!
Have 3 primary acts (at the most) with maybe one or two "Challenge" bits that you promote during your regular demos as something special that you're going to attempt at such and such a time. When I was plying my hand at this sort of thing I'd deliberately let folks know that all the money collected during that challenge bit went to a local charity... its a great way of generating a positive sense of community support along side regional media attention.
Though I've said to not worry too much about all the books & DVDs there is a video set you should consider. I believe it can only be had through Stevens Magic in the States but it is the Improvisational Magic and Bar Magic series featuring numerous "legends" known for this area of work. You should also avail yourself to as much solid slight of hand material as you can possibly get your hands on and learn it! You
will find yourself in situations where you must think fast and work with what's on hand.
I hope I've shined a bit of light on this area for you and ultimately helped you to stay out of some potentially hot water.
I have 2 years of experience with close up magic (not busking, just for fun in clubs or for friends) and now I want to buy some books or DVDs to get some tips and tricks for busking.
You are exactly right and I was amiss for not mentioning that point. This is however, the way I've always done my sidewalk bits so I simply never gave it a second thought in that most areas require a performance permit to begin with.
