From: ben@crash.cts.com (Ben Decker)
Subject: Re: busking
Organization: CTS Network Services (crash, ctsnet), El Cajon, CA
Date: 16 Nov 92 16:18:38 GMT

In <1992Nov15.023754.15259@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au> int281x@mdw013.cc.monash.edu.au (Mr S. Fox) writes:


>  We were wondering what amount of skill is required and what kind of living can
>  be made by juggling on the streets.  Is there anyone here who has done it 
>  successfully ?   Are tricks with small numbers of balls going to work better
>  than plain juggling with >4 balls etc.   Ie. what makes a good show ?

>  Thanks:  Simon Fox
>            email int281x@ccds.cc.monash.edu.au
Street performing (busking) is, IMHO, the purest, yet most difficult form
of entertainment because people don't come to see your show, you have to 
entice them to see it.

So... the name of the game is entertainment. If you can put in a high degree
of skill, that's great, but most audiences will not appreciate hard tricks
simply because they are hard.

I recommend jumping in with both feet, so to speak, and learn by doing. First,
write a script, any script. Try to keep it as original as possible. In other
words, don't say "this joke that soandso is doing works, let's use that" the
reason is simple: you won't be as good in the short-term, but you will be
a FAR better act in the long run, make more money, etc. if you start learnin
to write NOW!!! (No flames from anybody on this point, please... It's my
opinion based on 15 years of performing experience. Your ethics and goals
may vary...) So, write a script that just introduces the tricks, if nothing
more. It should be split into 4 parts:

	1) Gathering a crowd. You want to gather at least 10 people to
	start. I always did a "soft-sell" approach and told the few who
	were there about how important it was to gather a crowd. I'd
	then yell for the other people to come over and join them. the con
	trast between the personal, quiet talking and the yelling of loud
	jokes was effective. It did not scare away those who had stopped and
	it attracted those who were milling about.

	2) Make the audience into an audience and keep them there. Have an
	"official" start of the show. Of course, you've been entertaining
	them up to this point, but it has been much more subtle. Now you've
	got a crowd, tell them the "real show" os starting and then bring up
	the energy BIG TIME. What you want is some group reaction. Applause,
	cheering, etc. Break down those barriers between people and make them
	into an audience. Your goal, then is to keep them as an audience and
	entertain them. The most important thing here is to LISTEN to what they
	like and expand on it. DON'T get stuck in the "this trick is harder
	than the tricks the audience likes, so I just know someday they're
	going to wake up and appreciate it" rut. Too many jugglers do. You
	are entertaining the general public, NOT jugglers. If you put in
	juggler-impressing skill, that's great, but bake sure the audience
	LIKES it a LOT. Of course, this process takes a lot of time, but
	tweak your show, listen to the audience and keep the good and chuck
	or change the bad. This is what the streets are for :)

	3) Get money. I suggest you mention the fact that you are going to
	pass the hat in a subtle manner at the beginning of the show. Then,
	this is very important, tell them before your last routine that you
	are going to pass the hat. This limits the "shock" at the end and it
	allows the audience time to get used to the idea and, hopefully, to
	get the $$$ out. Then, make a strong pitch at the end.

Hope this helps, it's all off the top of my head. I really think that a good
way of looking at shows is to look at it as a sort of crowd control thing.
You are after a certain response. Listen to them to see if you are getting it.
If not CHANGE your show. It's simple in theory, but long an painful in practice.
Good luck.

				-Ben

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