Walking through the circle

[Rich Potter]

When I'm doing a show, and I've got my circle, occasionally someone will walk through the circle to leave. This bugs the crap out of me. I do see this as an opportunity for improv (Usually I say something snide like, "Oh, don't worry. We'll wait..." or sometimes I'll ignore them, or just stare), but sometimes it just gets under my skin.

Anyone have thoughts about this particular situation?

--Rich

[Evan Young]

pants them!
I like to act scared and startled and yell "woah!, DANGER!". It scares them and it's funny.
You should do whatever you feel. Connect with the situation, and the people around you. Make sure you keep the audience on your side.

[Mark Wessels]

This calls for some stock lines!

Don't worry, it's just a stage your going through.
Can I see your backstage passes?
Or pretend they are your co-stars. Your late, hurry up and get into costume.

Or kick them in the balls. I'm fuming at the head.

mark

[scot]

Screw up their plans. If their planning on saving time by walking through, you make it take longer. You can drop what you're doing for such an occasion. Or, at least I can.

[Butterfly Man]

In Japan when this happens I'd say "Doko iku no" ... which is just the unformal way of saying "where are you going" ... it always got a huge laugh ... maybe you can try it over here too ... if nothing else, it should make you laugh ...neh?

[Peter G]

I was already planning on posting this cartoon from a recent New Yorker Magazine (12/16/02), and this thread seems like the perfect opportunity-


I think you need to decide what the real intention of the person is.

In Boston we often get teens and college kids who purposely walk through a circle to act cool, impress their friends and 'dis' the performer. One weekend I had enough sense to tell the crowd that crap like this happens and if it did, I would stop the show, and I wanted everyone to point and yell "looooser!" And won't you know it , half way through, bang! It was beautiful!

On the other hand, if the person is older, foreign or just doesn't get how rude they are being, playing the innocent is always good. Welcome them to the show, etc.

Remember, the thing that disrupts the show, is your loss of control. As long as it appears you are in in control, nothing is lost.

Peter

[ 12-17-2002: Message edited by: Peter G ]

[ 12-17-2002: Message edited by: Peter G ]</p>

[Cavedude]

I Usually drop what ever i'm doing and welcome my new volunteer.
Give him some funny clothes and use him a my assistent [img]smile.gif[/img]
Works for me

I even had a mom crossing circle with 2 little childeren during my fire final...just when i was ready to fire breath....
Some people just don't see the danger

[clapchap]

cavedude- no joke... i was doing some sweeping chops with torches, and some lady walked right through the pattern. i dont think she even noticed. another lady did the same thing, coming at me from behind, and then she got mad at ME, in french, for almost hitting her. go figure. Mark foo, does that strategem really work? a swift kick might do it, but what if they fall down in the middle of your circle? that wouldnt be so hot...hehe that was almost a pun cus of the torches [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]

[Doctor Eric]

Proclaim to your audience that, for your next stunt, you need a 5-dollar bill. Once you get it, taunt the circle-breaker with it, telling them you'll give it to them if they sit down and watch...
Once they sit down, pocket the bill.

[Frankie O.]

I had a fun show in Munich where an old guy on a bicycle, riding up the walking street, started ringing his bell, careening through the crowd, and when he got to the center, right up next to me I scared him by yelling "What are you doing?". I scared him so much he dropped something, and circled back around to pick it up. It was his teeth. I'd scared 'em right out of his mouth. He popped them back in. The croud was roaring. Once he was out of earshot I said something like "He won't ride through MY crowd again!".

[Pyromancer]

[quote]Originally posted by Doctor Eric:
<strong>Proclaim to your audience that, for your next stunt, you need a 5-dollar bill. Once you get it, taunt the circle-breaker with it, telling them you'll give it to them if they sit down and watch...
Once they sit down, pocket the bill.</strong><hr></blockquote>

How many kilometres is the diametre of your average circle, that you have time to do all this after realizing someone is walking through?

<img src="graemlins/haha.gif" border="0" alt="[ha ha]" />