My First Show...

[Neil Brown]

OK, so many people have given me advice and help over the last couple of months that I have decided to let you all know how it went, if you're interested!
Well, Saturday morning dawned, and it was cold, windy and raining. (Or perhaps I am just being a whinging Pom... Cheers LDR. Anyway, knives that went straight up came down 2 or 3 metres aways from me, causing a few problems...) Found the pitch, and was pleased to note that it had been carefully located, right at the crossroads of the precinct street and a side road: in other words, it was in a wind tunnel. Needless to say, I moved out of the way fairly quickly...
Perhaps it is due to our inherent nature as "whinging Poms," but nobody wanted to stop and watch a juggler at all. It wasn't that people would have a quick peek and then move on; they never even looked at me- noses held high in the air, or concealed under umbrellas, they just walked on by...
Having established that I couldn't get a crowd, a drunk started to pick a fight with another drunk about 10 metres away from me. They drew a bigger crowd than I did, much to my dismay! The fight was broken up, and both quickly disappeared down the street but it was not the end of them... My next idea was actually my most successful- I started juggling, and just yelled out "Come on then, wanna fight?" as loudly as I could, and everybody looked my way! But, despite seeing somebody juggling knives, balanced on a unicycle, wearing a bright orange vest in the middle of a storm, nobody showed any interest whatsoever. But then it's normal, obviously.
If that had been the end of it, then it would have been ok- but a certain drunk person, with whom I was acquainted earlier, showed up again, even more worse for wear. Staggering through my crowd (both of whom moved aside to let him through anyway), he grabbed a club, and began throwing it about. I decided at first just to leave him, and carried on juggling, but (for the second time!) the drunk gathered more onlookers than I had. A slightly intoxicated gent throwing a club up in the air and allowing it to hit him on the head brought the main street to a standstill. Then a police officer removed him discreetly, causing the crowd to disappear AGAIN!
So, the results... Just over £5- which I guess wasn't too bad for a first effort
Realisation that when people can't be bothered to stop, vocal humour doesn't work- situational humour seems to be the way forward for me, then
A chest cold
BUT I AM GOING TO BE DOING IT AGAIN; AND NEXT TIME, I WILL NOT BE BEATEN... At least, not beaten too much.

Thanks for all your advice- I can finally now say that I'VE DONE IT.
Cheers,
Neil

[Danny Hustle]

[quote]Originally posted by Neil Brown:
<strong>the drunk gathered more onlookers than I had. Cheers,
Neil</strong><hr></blockquote>


Hi Neil,

Sounds like you have stumbled on to(No Pun)a something you can use in your show.

Acting like a drunk and juggling might draw crowds for you too [img]smile.gif[/img]

Don't feel bad about not gathering a crowd. It will come in time. I have been busking for a little less than a year and just this Saturday my show died 1000 deaths. I worked 2 hours and made 5 bucks in Harvard Square.

I found out quite quickly that I have been very spoiled. I usually work a spot where there is a built in edge. Because of the setup, the people are all ready there all the time. I walk up, set up my rig in about 30 seconds, and have someone pick a card. This card trick lasts a while and by the end of the trick I have a good crowd.

This weekend my usual spot was gone so I had to work up by the T station. I could not draw an edge to save my life. The guy who lets rats piss on him (Yes this is a REAL guy) would have drawn a bigger crowd than me.

I took my beating, learned something about my act, and went home. Like you, I'll be back.

Very early on I was lucky enough to get some very good advice from a guy who is considerd to be pretty close to the top of the pyramid. He told me, "Dont be afraid to suck and don't be afraid to have a shitty act. There is no shame in that. When you start I can guarentee you will suck, just like the rest of us did. The only shame is if you continue to suck.

Take your lumps, learn from them, and make your act better. You will get better if for no other reason than repitition"

Best,

Dan-

P.S. It was also good to know I wasn't the only one to have a bad day on the street recently.

[Scot Free]

[quote] noses held high in the air, or concealed under umbrellas, <hr></blockquote>
[quote] wearing a bright orange vest in the middle of a storm, nobody showed any interest whatsoever <hr></blockquote>
Uh did I miss something-mayby you didn't get a crowd because
IT WAS RAINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Neil Brown]

It wasn't raining much...

[nick nickolas]

Hi Neil...
What town did you do your show in?
I did my 1st street show in Covent Gagden oh so many, many years ago had a tedious linking ring routine 2 hankys tied together with fishing line ( invisable 20th century silks) and a head chopper..

1 person watched and helped me with all routines ending up with his head in the stocks....I made 10p not fron him but from the rest of the crowd I had gathered ( one buisness man).

My first show in the States ( New Orleans ) I made zero and had zero as the 3 bucks I owned previously, had been scammed off me with the
" I'll tell you where you got them shoes scam" (Of which I have made my money back many times over,,,,
" I tell ya where you got that dress/hat/watch, etc".....).
Consequently became a professional balloon twister for a couple of hours made 10/20 bucks, enough to pick me out of the shit and get outta there!
So mate in comparsion ....5 quid....that's a goldmine...

Keep it up !!!!

NN

[ 02-27-2002: Message edited by: nick nickolas ]</p>

[Danny Hustle]

[quote]Originally posted by nick nickolas:
<strong>Hi Neil...
" I'll tell you where you got them shoes scam"
NN</strong><hr></blockquote>

"You got dem shoes on yo feet."

God, I miss New Orleans

Best,

Dan-

[The Had Matter]

It wasn't that bad - we earned a little more than that, at least £5:25 [img]wink.gif[/img] - for those of you that don't know I was also street juggling under the same licence and what with drunks etc it was a blast - roll on next weekend [img]smile.gif[/img]
<img src="graemlins/jester.gif" border="0" alt="[jester]" />

[ 02-27-2002: Message edited by: The Had Matter ]</p>

[Butterfly Man]

Jeeez, my first "show" (I wouldn't call it that!) Was juggling with "Henry the Fiddler" as we worked the Mardi Gras crowds in 1972. There were only musical acts in the "Square" back then ... Babes Stovall, Leather, Jimmy Ellis ... that's thirty fuckin' years ago ... damn!

[scot]

Drunks fighting get bigger crowds than all of us, Charlie. Somehow no matter how big you can make your edge, the dino winos will always beat you by beating each other.

My first show was in my neighbor's basement. First show for a crowd was in front of my fifth grade (aka fist grade -- I was getting beat up a lot then). First pro show, was in a different neighbor's patio. I went door to door telling people that I do magic shows for birthdays at age 11. I did closeup magic for 20 people. Half of them fully drunk. One guy picked up my cups right in the middle of my Johnny Ace Palmer routine. I was nervous. The wind blew my props around. It sucked and paved the way for the rest of my career.

My first street shows were in New Orleans. I bit it until my car broke down, I was out of money and unable to get out of town by my own means. Luckily some foreigners asked me for a ride. Don't go to NO in June if you're just starting. I headed up to Boston and started figuring out how to make my shows just crappy enough to survive.

[Neil Brown]

Hi Guys!
Well, since my post ages ago, I've only done one or two more shows- but I look forward to doing loads when I get back to Southampton... A new set of clubs actually seemed to make things a lot better- it gave me a creative boost, I guess! Well, they are Radical Fish...
Neil

[ben woodling]

yo neil where u bin? I aint seen u at itchen college club in ages. And wanna see ur act in southampton.

[DEBBIE ROBINSON]

Hi Neil,
Good luck to you!
I've really enjoyed reading this thread and your posts. You've taken me back to the first time I sang on the streets.
I chose the town I was born in - Melton Mowbray, don't know why - I'm not particularly superstitious.
It was windy and not overly busy.
It took me hours after setting up my stuff to open my gob!
I spent ages sorting my kit out. I was so nervous.
After about half an hour a woman came up and put a quid in my hat! That was it! A whole quid! I remember the feeling.
It was a great feeling. I'd made it! A whole quid! Nothing could stop me now, I just damn well knew it!

I still busk, but am also now singing now in front of audiences and get paid! Actually get paid! Get well paid! From a quid to lots of quids! And whilst I can't believe my luck some days, there's nothing like that first time you busk. The street is a magical place.
I've still got the quid!

Good luck in persuing your dream.