Becoming a Street Magician?

D

deck

Nov 9, 2012
76
0
England, UK
I've been doing magic since December 2011 however I have only performed to friends and family, but I want to start doing street magic; to give myself confidence, share my passion and hopefully entertain people as well as possibly give people a once in a life time experience. The only thing is I don't know where I should start:

a website?
business cards?
effects/routines?
stage name? (even though not many people have them, I think it would be cool to have one so what it should be?)
humour?
or if there is anything else.

Basically I am asking for your help and as a community on the forums I thought I should ask all of you, as most of you probably have experience with performing.

Thank you so much,

deck :)
 
Steerpike

Steerpike

Sep 1, 2007
3,786
15
First of all, forget trying to do what David Blaine does. Get a folding table, learn some parlor magic, and busk the traditional way. You'll pull down a lot more money that way, trust me.

Second, you'll have to tell us what you actually do. What material you have, what you're particularly good at, who you are as a person, that sort of thing. As it is, I know nothing about you and thus can't give any advice beyond the most generic.
 
S

SamMorgan

Aug 17, 2012
66
0
I suggest you shouldn't try to earn money from it, the public don't like that. I suggest you do it for a love of magic.
Firstly, don't record things you do straight away, go out a few times before hand.
Secondly, only perform one mind-blowing trick, and if they want more they will ask or you will be able to tell.
Finally, don't try and use humour if you are young, present yourself well, and they will respect you for it.

As a foot-note, don't be discouraged if they don't want to see a trick, remember, they came out to socialise or shop, not to watch a street magician.

Hope this helps!
 
D

deck

Nov 9, 2012
76
0
England, UK
I agree, personally I find DB's style rather different and do not want to mimic him or anybody for that matter. I like to do close up magic and just want to entertain, not make money. I am a 14 year old female magician from England, I would say I'm fun and quite a down to Earth person, I'm not being arrogant just trying to describe myself :)

I like to do card tricks, my favourite is the one where they pick a card, gets lost in the deck, I turn over the top card, its not their's, I put it in the hand and it changes. Visual tricks that get cool reactions. Although I do more card magic so I'm not sure what to do for general magic.

Thanks :D
 
D

deck

Nov 9, 2012
76
0
England, UK
I also like to perform sealed with a kiss but don't know how to perform it, I mean I just perform it like any other simple card effect because it would be awkward doing it with somebody my age and would be pervertive doing it with somebody older than myself
 
Steerpike

Steerpike

Sep 1, 2007
3,786
15
Quick aside, it's easier to read if you just use the Edit button instead of making a new post.

deck said:
I am a 14 year old female magician from England, I would say I'm fun and quite a down to Earth person, I'm not being arrogant just trying to describe myself :)
Click to expand...

Arrogant is not the first word that description conjures. Let's go with... generic.

Everybody describes themselves in terms like that. What makes you different? Eugene Burger has been described as "a cross between Socrates and an evil Santa." Docc Hilford has been described as a character straight out of a Hitchcock film.

Now, here's where I'm going to get a bit blunt. Being 14 is a handicap. Because nobody knows themselves or has their act together before the age of 25 at the earliest. I'm 28 and I still haven't gotten a handle on everything. Probably won't for another couple of years. Nevertheless, you're going to have to use a little introspection to give me a description that doesn't make my eyes glaze over. I've seen people talk like this a million times before, and I'm going to hear it a million times more.

I like to do card tricks, my favourite is the one where they pick a card, gets lost in the deck, I turn over the top card, its not their's, I put it in the hand and it changes. Visual tricks that get cool reactions. Although I do more card magic so I'm not sure what to do for general magic.
Click to expand...

If you do not have a copy of Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic, that's the first problem to fix.

Visual is a buzzword that has been ruined by overexposure, so as far as I'm concerned it means nothing in a magical context. What you should be asking isn't, "Is this trick visual enough?" Rather, you should be asking is, "Does this make sense coming from me?"
 
W

WitchDocIsIn

Elite Member
Sep 13, 2008
5,879
2,946
Guerrilla magic.

When you start out, only take your best tricks. I would keep it to three, and try to get some variety in there. But make sure they are tricks you are completely comfortable and confident with, and that have a good presentation. At first I would just worry about being entertaining. You can worry about being meaningful when you've gotten some performance chops.

Also, the social skills are going to be super important here. You need to be able to read people to know when they may actually be open to seeing a random performance from a kid. If they are walking somewhere quickly, if they are talking to someone, if they are on the phone, if they are eating, etc., avoid them. If they are working, for the love of god don't try to pull them into a performance.

Focus on creating good magic, like Steerpike is saying. Visual isn't necessarily good (and, in some cases, is actively bad).
 
D

deck

Nov 9, 2012
76
0
England, UK
so if they're just walking and look like they're not in any hurry its ok? I mean when is it good and when is it bad and what do I say? I understand what you're saying about the trick thing and completely agree.

Also I'm sorry if I'm being difficult, its just new to me :(
 
W

WitchDocIsIn

Elite Member
Sep 13, 2008
5,879
2,946
Don't worry. I'd rather you risk pestering us than random strangers.

Basically, if they look busy, they probably are. If someone is walking through a mall briskly, they are probably of a mind to get to the store they want, buy what they're looking for, and get out. Don't stop those people. If it's a couple walking along having a conversation, don't interrupt them.

Look for people who are just sitting around, or who are walking slowly and looking around a lot, whatever. You have to learn this skill on your own. Just look at people and try to figure out if they are busy or if they seem like they could use some entertainment.
 
rocket92

rocket92

Jan 10, 2009
150
0
University Park PA
For practice approaching people, do just that, practice approaching people. Practice walking up to people, introducing yourself, maybe asking a simple question or try to strike up a brief conversation, then go on your way. Don't include magic at all. This will help build your confidence approaching people and also help you start to recognize the people who might be better suited to perform for. It will also help lessen the fear of getting rejected, because there will be people who will just brush you off. After you get the hang of approaching strangers, then bring out the magic.
 
William Draven

William Draven

Dec 1, 2008
3,526
126
Las Vegas
www.facebook.com
SamMorgan said:
I suggest you shouldn't try to earn money from it, the public don't like that. I suggest you do it for a love of magic.
Firstly, don't record things you do straight away, go out a few times before hand.
Secondly, only perform one mind-blowing trick, and if they want more they will ask or you will be able to tell.
Finally, don't try and use humour if you are young, present yourself well, and they will respect you for it.

As a foot-note, don't be discouraged if they don't want to see a trick, remember, they came out to socialise or shop, not to watch a street magician.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
What the hell are you talking about?! I can make anywhere from 100$ to 500$ in a solid day of busking. Yes do it for the love of magic but don't do it or free. Never do it for free, always get something out of it.

Honestly start with some classics cups and balls linking rings, go out and just do it.
 
D

deck

Nov 9, 2012
76
0
England, UK
William Draven said:
What the hell are you talking about?! I can make anywhere from 100$ to 500$ in a solid day of busking. Yes do it for the love of magic but don't do it or free. Never do it for free, always get something out of it.

Honestly start with some classics cups and balls linking rings, go out and just do it.
Click to expand...

I think I've already said, I don't want to make money and I like close up magic; cards, coins, rubber bands etc, not linking rings or cups and balls. Also I don't want to busk its not my kind of thing. I want to entertain people and maybe later I might do it for money (at parties or events) but I'm 14 (I get pocket money). I just want to show people what I can do, and put a smile on their face/s not get them to dive into their wallet, even if they gave me money I still wouldn't take it, I don't think its morally correct :)
 
S

SamMorgan

Aug 17, 2012
66
0
William Draven said:
What the hell are you talking about?! I can make anywhere from 100$ to 500$ in a solid day of busking. Yes do it for the love of magic but don't do it or free. Never do it for free, always get something out of it.

Honestly start with some classics cups and balls linking rings, go out and just do it.
Click to expand...

Honestly, where I live, if you tried to make money, you'd get about 12p in copper coins for being a 'cute kid'.
People hate being asked for money on what they originally didn't want. I perform for the reactions, the buzz, the experience. And earn money from doing organised gigs.
Everyone has a different look on things, so saying point blank people are wrong, is, in itself wrong.

That's just my opinion.
 
Steerpike

Steerpike

Sep 1, 2007
3,786
15
SamMorgan said:
Honestly, where I live, if you tried to make money, you'd get about 12p in copper coins for being a 'cute kid'.
People hate being asked for money on what they originally didn't want. I perform for the reactions, the buzz, the experience. And earn money from doing organised gigs.
Everyone has a different look on things, so saying point blank people are wrong, is, in itself wrong.

That's just my opinion.
Click to expand...

Actually, you are objectively wrong. Your town might not be busker-friendly, but there are guys on the continent who can pull down 1k Euros in an afternoon. The UK in general is pretty busker friendly. You can find videos of street magicians and musicians all over YouTube. I believe in Germany the government actually offers buskers a grant to cover some of their expenses in the months when it's just too bloody cold to go out and perform without risking your health.

Your mistake is in thinking that your experience applies to everyone, everywhere. Which gives your second to last sentence a certain note of irony.

Remember, opinions are only as good as what you can back them up with.
 
D

deck

Nov 9, 2012
76
0
England, UK
but I already said I don't want to busk, its not my thing, there are buskers where I live and they don't do well. I prefer the more walking up to people kind of thing :)
 
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