"Street"

[Deryn]

I'm not looking for a flaming but I'm sure someone will. I'm not attacking anyone in particular but I have noticed something throughout the years.

I read an article weeks, probably even months, ago about "street magic." It went on to talk about how the term "street magic" was coined when David Blaine's first TV special came out. Watching that special, that was TRUE STREET MAGIC. He was literally ON THE STREETS of New York, among other places, performing magic.

Before "street" magic, it was "close up magic." Street performers/Buskers did the same thing (Pre-Blaine). Guys in New Orleans, San Francisco, Jersey Shore, etc...

I personally am getting a little tired of hearing the words street and magic being used together.

There are literally CHILDREN, 12-14 year olds, over at the E forums and even some here, talking about how they are street performers and how they perform in the streets, when really they perform at school, malls, and movie theaters.

I'm sorry but STREET performers are the ones that earn their tips, do this as a part/full time job, and can gather a crowd of 100 with no problem. The guy you see on the boardwalk at any given moment is the TRUE street performer.

The young bloods of magic throw around the words street and magician very loosely; Learn one trick, they're a magician. Do that trick at school, they're a street magician.

I've been studying and performing magic for over 17 years. I've invested my time. I HAVE performed on the streets, I've moved up since that and am now performing at high class restaurants and casinos. I don't call myself a magician because, imo, magician seems too classic and I'm no where near a classic magician. I like to call myself an illusionist. Though definitions are practically the same, the meaning to me isn't.

Honestly, I mean absolutely no offense to anyone. I'm just wondering if anyone has seen this "trend"

 

[Jakeh]

Well, in my eyes, if you perform magic on the streets, tips or not, you are still being a "street magician." It's something that I've never given a second thought because it seems to simple to me.

Street + you + magic = you performing street magic.

I do agree, though, that performing in schools doesn't make you, by my definition, a street magician.

 

[2ndDeal]

Street + you + magic = you performing street magic.

I disagree on that.
First, ever heard of mall magic? School magic? In general, I don't think we can categorise magic by locations. Restaurant Magic is a special case, since it's not just showing close-up effects on restaurant (usually).
Street magic is nowadays just a marketing trick used mainly by Ellusionist, and on some degree Theory11.

 

[Frodo]

You've got an interesting point, there especially with the kids who think that they are "street" performers. Since there is indeed a difference between street and close up. However I don't believe you have to have a crowd of 100 people to be a street magician, but I would definitely put them in a class of their own, such as a street performer.

 

[chriswiehl]

if i was to describe street magic to someone i would tell them that its when i go out to anywhere and am able to do a trick for anyone at any time. I think that it has a lot to do with the "impromptu"ness of the situation. I dont think that going to school and doing magic for your friends makes you a street magician necessarily but having the balls to go up to a stranger in school and performing for him and some friends in the hallway or cafeteria is more of a street magician. to sum it up i think street magic is the form of magic where you can walk up to any stranger anywhere and perform magic for them.

 

[Deryn]

You've got an interesting point, there especially with the kids who think that they are "street" performers. Since there is indeed a difference between street and close up. However I don't believe you have to have a crowd of 100 people to be a street magician, but I would definitely put them in a class of their own, such as a street performer.

I said "I'm sorry but STREET performers are the ones that earn their tips, do this as a part/full time job, and can gather a crowd of 100 with no problem."

 

[2ndDeal]

...to sum it up i think street magic is the form of magic where you can walk up to any stranger anywhere and perform magic for them.

So performing impromtu is Street Magic?
People use term "Street Magic" as one genre of magic nowadays. Originally, street magic was performing on streets, and collecting tips. Busking. Then Ellusionist started to sell the image of cool street magicians, people who perform anytime, anywhere and to anyone.

Linguistically Street Magic and Restaurant Magic compare nicely. Both are specific to locations.
Let's compare.
Restaurant magic is performing in restaurants for money. In restaurant magic performer has to take account the fact that it is restaurant, and perform according to it. Also, a real street magician, a busker, has to take account the fact that it is street. To collect much tips, he collects big audience.
That is street magic.

Performing impromtu is nice, but it's not a genre of magic! Neither is it Street Magic!

 

[Deryn]

Performing impromtu is nice, but it's not a genre of magic! Neither is it Street Magic!

I thought impromptu was a genre. Maybe it's a style of trick. That's probably what I was thinking... but NO I do not think street magic is a genre.. closeup magic is what it should be refered to. No matter where you are, restaurant, street, school.. it's all closeup magic.

 

[audun123]

I pesonally think that its not that big of a deal what "name" people use on their magic.. Okey so someone does a trick in a mall and call it "street magic", but whats the big deal? at least they dont run around revealing magic.. THATS a big deal!

 

[Deryn]

I pesonally think that its not that big of a deal what "name" people use on their magic.. Okey so someone does a trick in a mall and call it "street magic", but whats the big deal? at least they dont run around revealing magic.. THATS a big deal!

.. true.. but this isn't what we're talking about.. we're talking about why a lot of new blood think they're "street magicians" when they don't perform on the street and only know the few tricks on the popular magic sites.

 

[audun123]

.. true.. but this isn't what we're talking about.. we're talking about why a lot of new blood think they're "street magicians" when they don't perform on the street and only know the few tricks on the popular magic sites.

I totally agree with that, however i got the impression of u being irritated on people saying they do street magic when theyre in a mall or at school etc.. I agree with that kids performing only the Populare tricks on sites very badly can not call themselfs street magicians.. Even if they are in a "street"

 

[SHANE BLACK]

I have read everyones post here and I agree with a fraction of everyone's responses mainly my disturbance comes from the fact people calling themselve's something and doing something else as well. To me a street performer is a versatile individual that does cups & balls, kids magic w/ balloons, adult magic and is well versed at every aspect and goes out like said before and earns his money from "anyone on the street"! Too many people disrespect these hard EVERDAY workers by claiming thier street magicians because they learned how to Control and want to perform it to a stranger on the street. We need to get a grip and start showing more respect to the working bee.

Shane

 

[Deryn]

I totally agree with that, however i got the impression of u being irritated on people saying they do street magic when theyre in a mall or at school etc.. I agree with that kids performing only the Populare tricks on sites very badly can not call themselfs street magicians.. Even if they are in a "street"

I have to admit that it does irritate me a bit because like I said, I've invested 17 years into the art and I've recently (in the last 4 years) turned professional. My booking agent bills me as "professional magician" meaning that is my profession, which I can agree with that. However, what I don't agree with is people learning a few tricks here and there and call themselves magicians.

I met a kid that had to be around 13-15 years old. I was performing for his table/family and he said, "I'm a magician too." I asked him what can he do, to which he replied, "Oh I only know a few tricks from Ellusionist."

In a thread, on the E forums, there was a kid that named off what he knew, his list consisted of EVERYTHING Ellusionist sells and nothing else. I asked him if he new anything else and he replied no.. but he wanted to start doing restaurant magic. Now granted, he may do those effects well, but saying himself he just started out in magic a few months ago, buying loads of E products on his first purchase.. that naturally made me say "whoa, dude, you're setting yourself up." I told him to take his time and learn them properly.. furthermore, learn some restaurant magic.

But again I say, just because you know a few tricks, doesn't make you a magician. Just because you go out "to the streets" more like mall parking lot, doesn't make you a street magician/performer.. I think the difference is the lack of devotion, not because it's Friday night and other kids will be there.

 

[princehidalgo]

While it may take away from the honor and imagery we think of when we think of street performers playing music, juggling, painting, or in this case performing magic, I think street magic is a term we need to use to classify. E, however, does overuse it. I think street magic can hold some things that cant fit into the close-up genre. Being at a table and fair ways from your audience (standard close- up form) would you really perform coin in unopened bottle? What about coin bite? Would you perform levitations in a restaurant?A card through window in close up or table hopping?Yes, you COULD do them in these situations, but do they really fit and are they convenient? I think we need the term to classify the magic that not only can be performed on the street, but Needs to be performed on the street. That being said, Deryn is right that alot of newcomers to magic don't know the history they should. Its not right for them to call themselves magicians, regardless of the type of magic they perform.

edit- after reading your story Deryn I have one of my own. Me and my friends were hanging out at college and this guy comes up to the table and starts doing some magic that I recall being a carbon-copy of patter and all from E. He introduced himself as a magician, and after performing this stuff so nervously, taking pauses to remember his lines of patter, I could tell he had just learned the tricks yesterday and never took any time to make the trick his own. He was so unnatural. And talking to him after, he was completely different than his performing character was. Sad. And to beat it all, not one classic in his performance. He rather chose angle-sensitive effects that before performing would say to his left or right laughingly "Now, you are going to see the secret and how its done, but dont tell anyone" I asked him after why he didnt perform Triumph, given the table we were at and the situation of being somewhat surrounded. He gave me a confused look, as he said "Whats Triumph?"

 

[Deryn]

Thank you prince.. I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[caruso]

true

It is true, many new bloods as said before are calling themselves street magicians when they barely know or respect this noble and beautiful art. I am a beginner myself, but I have surfed many forums and details, tips and facts, my knowledge grows bigger and bigger by the minute. I have seen many people perform, not really perform just “do a trick in front of a webcam”, although I did that too, but I now perform to other people, I have performed on the streets, but I do not do that much, its kind of hard breaking the shakes especially on the streets with stranger.
yes many noobs think they are street magician, they have no respect for this art. They are just “tricksters” in a way of saying it, people who do tricks to random people, instead of a magician who performs magic to unplanned crowds

 

[Ampersan5340]

This post didn't really possess a question or ask something.

It really doesn't matter if the term is "thrown around". is it going to hurt anyone if a magician does street magic when it might not be street magic? No

Being a street magician mean's you do magic while your out for people you don't know. You don't have to actually be on the street's. Or else it would be called "mall magic" or "park magic"

This thread is plain stupid

 

[Deryn]

that's your opinion.. you're allowed to have them

 

[2ndDeal]

Being a street magician mean's you do magic while your out for people you don't know. You don't have to actually be on the street's. Or else it would be called "mall magic" or "park magic"

This thread is plain stupid

This thread is (I believe so) to argue with people who think like you.

May I ask you, on what you base your view on street magic? Possibly David Blaine? Brad Christian?

According to you, I'm a street magician if I show a trick to someone I don't know in for example café?

 

[Deryn]

i read a forum thread over at E and there was a kid, seriously, he was 13.. he was giving advice. Albeit that it may have been decent advice, he started off by saying, "I'm 13 and I'm a street magician... I've been performing magic for 7 months... blah blah.."

this is what I'm talking about... too many "kids" nowadays are so quick to call themselves magicians..