Encouraging personal style

[Rex Boyd]

Quite right Steven, "an ongoing struggle" for us all.

[Doctor Eric]

"BE something, don't just DO something."

That's a good way t put it, the way I've always said it is

"Whatever you do, doesn't really matter, it should always be secondary to who you are."

So maybe I would change your statement to say "be SOMEBODY, don't just do some THING."

Being a full time comic, and a full time street performer is odd, the comics I hang out with are full of hate, especially when it comes to variety acts, quite often I am much happier hanging out with street performers, and variety acts, who at least know how to have a good time... but, on the other hand, comics, in general, seem to get this concept a little more than variety performers (trust me, I'm not say MUCH more, I know hundreds of crap stand ups, too), but hanging out at open mics, or showcases, just telling jokes, or doing whatever, can be really good for your head in this aspect. At the end of the day, think about what you like. Do you want to see a trick, or do you want to make a connection with someone? If, like I suspect, you would rather make a connection, and get a sense of some thing deeper, then, in order to offer that as a performer, you have to do things, in performance, that are scary. Like exposing yourself. Give it a try, peel back the armor a little bit, and do it until you get a favorable reaction. Let me know how it feels, once you get it.

[Doctor Eric]

Wow, I'm not even going to spell check that, or try to make it make sense. Obviously, I'm a bit drunk, and have been holed up in the house without talking to humans for too long. Whatever, hopefully there's something useful in all that babble.

[Devinthejuggler]

jesus. ok. ill give you guys a shout in couple of years when i find the character that lurkes at the bottom of my bag, at the moment i seem to pull a different one out each show.

thanks for the advice.

[jeep caillouet]

You know what Sonny Holiday said...

In Key West we have a juggler next to a juggler next to another juggler and so on. There is little creativity in the jugglers here. If fact we have one juggler here who thinks you stole his show, you can't use my lines etc... Tom From NOLA was here once and was doing his show on a 6ft unicycle, fixing to juggle 3 flaming clubs when he looked over and saw Alex juggling ,3 flaming clubs riding his6 ft. unicycle,so he told his crowd ,''you wanna see some juggling then watch him '', pointing to Alex!!!! got off his unicycle and passed his hat.
The juggling mentality in Key West is "juggle,juggle,juggle,watch me I'm better,pass the hat. The space between our shows in Key West is about 10 ft. We have 9 spaces and 3 that are in the weeds, you might say, for large acts, and we have5 jugglers that work daily. Me, Rondini ,Dr.Juice, Casy and Will Dark.Rondini and Casy both do straight jackets. We are the only acts that don't juggle. and it's not uncommon for there to be more than one show at going once.There will by more jugglers and straight jackets when season starts ..."once you've seen one juggler you seen them all, they all do the same thing,juggle''

[Devinthejuggler]

alright, i got it...ill change the name...

[magic_fella]

I understand from reading the replies that you are a juggler. I am a magician.

But here are the ways I choose to build creativity in my act. Hopefully they apply to you as well.

1) I never read the "patter." Most magic tricks come with a suggested "patter" -- stuff you say as you do the trick. This breathes death all over your presentation. At best you will wind up re-hashing what someone has already done.

2) What else could the prop be? I look hard at a magic prop as soon as I see it. I try to see it from the audience perspective. What else could it be? What else, in the case of a juggler, could the pin be?

3) I try hard to find the "secret" of the prop. If I can, then I know a certain segment of the audience could find it too. But this involves handling it a LOT.

4) I build my presentation around what I have figured out and...damn the torpedos...I start creating an act.

Is this helpful?

The whole idea is to look at the prop you're using NOT as a performer...but as a member of the audience.

David

[Devinthejuggler]

aah, thats a nice nugget of advice!

the audience has no idea about why im throwing bowling pins in the air.

thanks.

[Richard]

1) I never read the "patter." Most magic tricks come with a suggested "patter" -- stuff you say as you do the trick. This breathes death all over your presentation. At best you will wind up re-hashing what someone has already done.

Love it!........