talkmagic.co.uk

Hey, I have been doing magic/hypnotism for a while now, and am thinking about doing some street performance (semi-circle street performing) and asking for a bit of money at the end - busking basically. I was wondering if anyone could suggest things that I would need to buy for this? My thoughts were:

A mic and speaker
A rope (to mark the performance area)
A fold up table
A decent script
A hat for the money

Any general advice is appreciated as always. Also, for street hypnotism, It has been suggested to me that I should get some insurance. I am not sure what insurance to get (Public liability?)

Thanks, Jamie

You'll need a fold-up table if you're planning on doing the cups and balls. If you're not, you can probably avoid having to carry it around.

Consider clothing. Buskers try to look well dressed enough to not be bums, but ragged enough to look lie they need money.

Read joke books. Rather than a rigid script, have lines that you can use in various situations. As you go along, you'll make some of your own lines, so be sure to write them down. If their genesis is in your own mind, those lines will reflect your personality better than others' lines, and will be easier to sell.

There are no set things you need to buy for a street show; just take what you think you'll need, and you'll figure out the details through repetition.

I would be a little bit skeptical about including hypnosis in a busking act. Some people may be able to pull it off, but such a thing is too unreliable for me. Also, you'd need to find a way to eliminate dead time, because dead time gives audience members an excuse to walk away.

Rather than particular tricks, props or methods, on the street you need to be concerned with pace, personality, and spectacle. If you have a fast paced show with no slack, an entertaining character that has certain qualities (read Jimmy Talksalot's book on busking for details), and do things that make people walking by curious and entertained enough to stay, you'll have a good show after a lot of work.

I think street hypnotism is illegal, I was talking to someone a few weeks ago and they said if you start gathering a crowd and get noticed doing hypnotism you could end up being arrested :S

I've just recently got interested in hypnotism, I would highly recommend the book 'Reality is Plastic' (if you haven't got it already!)

Rope is a good idea, it changes you from a random yelling lunatic that should be avoided, into a performer that should be watched.

Don't bother with a mic and amp for now. It's better to learn to perform without relying on it (as they sometimes will run out of power mid show), but also while you can get a decent portable amp relatively cheaply, (I got a good one for €85) you'll still end up needing a good quality, wind proof head mic that'll cost at least £300, and when your bringing equipment like that onto the street you're going to want to insure it, that plus any other suplies you end up buying and you've spent at least £500 already. Just learn to project while your starting out.

A lot of people think when starting out that busking is similar to either parlour or close up table magic, it's not, people will walk away. Don't try all that padding and stalling buskers do, that comes with experience. Do a short, tight act with three strong visual effects and then add to it.

In three parts because my computers c*** (not the best).

There are different rules in different areas. In any area where busking is allowed some places require you get a licence some places don't. You can ask other buskers but you can't always trust them (I'll come back to that). The best way is to check with the areas local council or the owners of the land, try to find a place where you don't need a licence as you should really just focus on the act.

The general etiquette amongst buskers is that you queue up and share a pitch. If you can it's best when you start to find a place far away from the other buskers, that you don't have to share, but make sure thats okay with them.

This is another good reason to start with a short act, whether openly aggressive or not other buskers will not want you there, because you're taking performance time away from them. If you tell them you're learning and your act is only ten minutes long they'll probably be more patient.

Last bit, hope I haven't scared you away.

Musicians, breakdancers, and statues don't share pitches.
Statues are no problem but if a musician or breakdancing group are too near your pitch they will play right over you. Try talking to them about sharing the space but be prepared to be *****d over and or threatened. When this happens the best bet for you is to move on, once you've got a good act and a mic and amp you can fight back but for now if you're performing it's because other people are letting you.

Sometimes buskers or local security will lie to you in order to get you to leave. Buskers will do it so they don't have to share and security will do it to make themselves feel big. Know your rights, know what you can and can't do and stand up for yourself, but don't be aggressive. Sometimes security will move you on because they've misinterpreted your act. Most commonly they see you with cards and assume you're gambling. If you get moved on politely ask why, if they've made a mistake let them know.

Thanks so much for the advice, it really has helped. Any pointers on insurance for street hypnosis?

Adding a bit more because I wanted to end on something positive.

Despite all the bad people I've mentioned they are usually in the minority most buskers will be friendly and informative about whats best for you in their area (just take their advice with a pinch of salt).

Also a really worthwhile trick to learn is the balloon swallow. It makes it very easy to pull a crowd.

I've done some busking, and my experience has been that a table is not needed. Some guys use it because it marks the stage area, and turns a random shouting man into an act. Fair enough. I have a fold-up stool, which I stand on to give me height. A rope defines the stage area perfectly. That leaves you set up for the performance.

The downside of street hypnosis is this; if it doesn't work, you draw a crowd and give them nothing - so they recriprocate. That is why I stuck to magic. Throw in plenty of comedy.

Finally, you need a radio mike and a small amp on a stand rather than a mike stand and wired mike. I use a 30 watt DJ Cube I got from Maplins. Not the most powerful, but light and has a long battery life. It does for crowds of seventy or eighty, which is enough for me at the moment.

And remember, you have to be able to carry all this in one go. So put some thought into that.

If the security guards try to move you on hypnotise them to make them believe you are allowed to be there. Then hypnotise the audience into watching your act and giving you all their money.

If this doesn't work just stick to cups and balls and balloon swallowing.


ps take my advice with a pinch of salt too