Making Money during College

[Forrest Bishop]

I'm a freshman at Purdue University in Indiana and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of how to go about making money on campus using some of my performing skills. Should I even try anything? How could I best make sure I don't get arrested or killed. I can imagine that I will have hecklers galore.

I can unicycle well (one foot riding with foot out on a 6' giraffe, backwards, 1 foot idling, and all the basics) these I can do confidently. I can juggle 3 balls or 3 clubs, with some of the basic tricks such as underarm passes and half shower. I recently started juggling clubs on the 6' uni. My audience skills are fairly good as I spent 5 years working in theater as well as many other things.

I'm not talking about making a living or covering all my school expenses, but I would like to make a few dollars and start honing my performance skills. What would you suggest? Should I even try? How?

Thanks in advance for your help.
________
Hyde Park Residence 2

[Frisbee]

School

Try talking with the school about doing a performance in the theatre. You can offer a general admission price and a student discount price of 5 dollars or so.

If you do not think you can pull off a show on your own, get an opening act of some kind for yourself, music, magic, etc...

If the show is sucessful and you end up making money, then do it again...if you are a draw the school may even pay you a fee...or better yet negotiate for tuition credit for classes or look for other venues.

If and when the school says yes, which I imagine they would if they do not need to pay you and you base it all on door admission.
Video tape your performance and you will have the beginings of a promotional video to submit to other possible venues around your area.

[jester]

How hard is it to get off campus.

Why try getting cash out of your fellow students, students don't spend money generously unless it's for beer.

Get off campus, earn dosh with a streetshow and then be popular on campus when you flash the cash.

That's my advice.

[Steven Ragatz]

Get off campus, earn dosh with a streetshow and then be popular on campus when you flash the cash.

Jester,

You've posted some pretty stupid things, but this one has got to be the stupidest.

Bravo.

Forrest,

Put together a routine with your juggling and unicycle skills. Make it as long as you have material. Take a look around campus and watch for open mic events or talent shows. Offer to perform at campus coffee houses. Talk to the local balloon venders, party planners and agencies. Contact some of the agencies and event planners in Indianapolis and Chicago. Use the Purdue club as an opportunity to perform and get some experience.

Here in the Midwest, you have to make your own opportunities - they don't exist otherwise.

"be popular on campus when you flash your cash..." I'm still in stitches!

Steven Ragatz

[scot]

It works, Steve. I also have a gold card! Oh, I've gotta stop typing. The ladies are here.

[jester]

Yep Steve.

I've posted some pretty smart stuff too. It's just tough talking to the stupid.

So tell me the flaw in my cunning plan then, and then I'll explain the joke.

[ben woodling]

Hey forrest,
I used to do gigs quite a bit while i was at college in winchester, theres no way it would have worked on campus though especially if you want to make any money. I used to take my kit to the highstreet and start a show there. If you can get a few mates together to come down with you it makes gathering the audience a hell of a lot easier and you can probly do it in your breaks then, also its pretty cool walking into lectures with your kit and er....stinking of parifin. But yeah get a few mates to support you if your just starting out as it It's pretty easy to gather a crowd 3-4 deep that way. Also make friends with some of the bar staff on campus or locally as they will be there to change the coins into notes and save you staggering around with cash pouring out everywhere.
I'm planning on trying to start it down here in bournemouth when the sun comes out probly around easter sorta time.
take it easy man,
Ben

[Steven Ragatz]

I doubt if the locals in Indiana will take kindly to the idea of street performing - particularly in West Lafayette - and especially on the Purdue campus. I think your best bet is to get some paying gigs through more formalized venues (see the previous post).

Steven Ragatz

[pablo]

NACA

Speaking of Purdue...

I'll be at their campus in Hammond Indiana on February 21... not as a busker, but a very well paid performer with a nice hotel room included in my contract.

If you want to crack the college market - and I'm not talking about loose change - you need to join NACA (www.naca.org) or find a good agent who's already a member and will promote you to colleges.

Be prepared to travel & spend lots of money on promotion. It ain't cheap, but it's worth it.