little tricks

[Evan Young]

Through your years of performing, have you learned any little tricks that seem to make your show work better?
IE: Tward the end of this summer season I started using a slight southern accent. After attending a family reunion in tennissie and hanging out with Mark Riggs in Boulder I decided that a southern accent was more interesting than a mid west accent. I don't do it full on south, but it seems to work a lot better for me to say "ya'll" than "you guys".

I don't expect this particular tactic to work for ya'll, especially for all you yankee folks. And I don't expect your tricks to work for me; I'm just wondering what kind of tactics you employ.

[jugglermatt1]

Only do shows when you feel its right , also if theres a big space full of people , then look for a small space with fewer people in it and do your first show there .

[le pire]

The question I pose to you: was it the accent, or the character and ENERGY you put behind it?

Give a man a mask, and he'll reveil his true self.

(accent=mask, in case you didn't get it)

performance energy is the key. I remember watching as act at harbour place in baltimore-- she had WORLD class skill, but the performance energy of a toad. She said her jokes-- all very well written-- and did her fantastic tricks, and nobody cared. She pulled a crowd of about 10 people. Following her was a guy who had really CRAP skill. I mean, nothing. A little fire-eating and some lame juggling, but he had fantastic energy, and eagerness to show off what little he had. He pulled a crowd of about 100 people. The moral-- ENERGY counts.

HOWEVER-- if this guy had actual skill and ability, he would have pulled a crowd of 300. Moral-- you need BOTH.

practice both.


etienne

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

I find something, anything, which is in front of me, and comment on it. Something specific to that show in that time, such that I could not have planned or rehearsed. It doesn't even need to be a particularly funny comment, and they laugh. Good thread.

[martin ewen]

Bring a flyswat

[upjuggler]

Talk to people in the audience. Just a 10 second conversation with a few people at different times during the show. Later on, include the names of one or two of the people you have talked to. "... Right, Matt?", or "I know what Jill is thinking,..." then say something dumb and funny.

My point: Get personal with members of the audience, but don't over do it.

[GlassHarper]

Eye contact. Just a few seconds. Then move on. Some will resist. Press the issue -- those with whom you've already made contact will get the joke. And all will feel more obligated.

[Doctor Eric]

Steal lines from Sunny Holiday. Works great.

[StarPixy]

I dunno if this'll work for guys, but whenever I'm dancing (especially when I'm bellydancing) I lower my chin and cock my head to the side, sort of giving em a smile that says "I got a secret and I'm not telling!" Then I wink. This sort of makes em feel like there's some sort of inside joke going on between you and them that nobody else knows. Then they feel like you're dancing just for them alone.
Maybe you guys out there might not want to do the coy little sideways smile, but a plain wink will do! [img]wink.gif[/img]

[jugglermatt1]

Sometimes if a little kid gets a bit overexcited , I look at his friends and give a little nod and wink , we all laugh at that one .

[Charles - Corporate Entertainer]

The BEST thing I do now is to get every single person to put money in my hat at the end of the show.

I go up to them all individually, and if they have no money, i ask them to 'pretend', and when they put an empty hand into my hat, i loudly say "thank you!" and move to the next.

Half the time, the ones with "no money" come up afterwards with bills or gold...! But the real advantage is the broke ones have a good show and don't feel bad as everyone else thinks they have contributed.

It also increased my hat by at least 50%!!!!!!!!