Asking for money, what works best?

[Michele/Columbina/Stupina]

Just wanted opinions on what makes the busk work for you (pardon if I have used inappropriate terminology) or in general.

I don't want people lines or bits, but what themes work? What techniques?

What hat passes have worked really well and what fell flat on it's face? Is it based on venue? Attitude of the audience based on country or part or country? or are there universal rules that seem to fill your hat more than others at the end of a show.

I am trying to improve my hat pass for the one event I do that requires it, and it is, by far, the weakest part of the show. I absolutely do not want to steal anyone else's bit, besides, if it's not "me," I doubt it will be as successful.

Based on the material (more like a straight play rather than a skills act) I can't really pitch mid show, so it's the end or never, and that means it has to be all at the end as the story has finished.

Thoughts? Ideas? Helpful hints on what general areas work best to recreate this again?

Thanks,

[le pire]

Michelle-

this has been discussed EXTENSIVELY on Pnet so dig around and you will find it. There are even articles about it in the Pnet Library.

Here's what works for me:

Three jokes in the show mentioning money -- I sometimes give $5 to a kid who helps out.

Hat pitch at end of show:

here's the "formula" for my commercial:

Thanking audience- honestly - and enthusiastically
Initial pitch for $$$
followed by joke
Pitch for amount of money desired
followed by joke
3 Reasons for why that amount make sense, all of them get a laugh
It's ok to not give if you are broke-- followed by two jokes
one more pitch for $$$ that is funny
honest and warm appreciation for audience

final big trick and jokes

wait... and here they come

as people are putting money into the hat-- KEEP UP THE PATTER --and make it funny.

You mention that you can't pitch in the middle of the show-- you don't have to do a full blown "hey by the way, I'LL BE PASSING THE HAT" but try to find more subtle ways of letting them know that money is involved.

There's a pretty decent book on street performing: "Drawing a Circle in the Square" (or something like that) that mentions that one of the techniques street performers do is to find clever ways to show money during the act. They don't say anything, but the idea is put into the audience head, that there is a transaction involved.

hope this helps,


etienne

[jester]

I have found that the hat lines are more important than the act if you want people to part with their cash.

If you do a great act and don't ask for the money, only a few people will be nice and give it.

If you perform a mediocre show (I did this with a hang over last year) but put the funny hat lines in, people pay you.

People want to give you their money, all you have to do is make them feel happy about parting with their cash.

Explaining that they got value for money is the most important part of the experience. Appeal to the shoppaholic in them. That is how consumerism works. People feel powerful when they are spending money.

I'm seriously considering accepting credit cards.

[Patrick Kelly]

Michelle,
You might want try taking off your mask (If possible). You may be able to relate to people enough to perform in your mask, but asking them for money may be completely different. Think about it from the audience's point of view. If they buy into your character it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense for them to give the character money. It would be like walking up to a nutty old man on the street and giving him money just because he is a nutty old man. At the end of your performance separate the character from the performer. Stop, take off the mask and show them that you are a real person and that you -the person- are the one asking for the money. If you do this you will show them how different you are from your character and therefore how much work goes into creating this character. They will then support you the artist, not the character.
Michael James (years and years ago) performed his juggling/unicycle show on the street 2 different ways. One was out of make-up and one was in a full clown outfit. He did the exact same thing in his show both ways many times. He found that consistantly he made double the money when he wasn't in clown gear.
It's worth a try.

[le pire]

Patrick,

That is FANASTIC advice.

etienne

[Chris Griffith]

Not necessarily true!

Originally posted by jester
If you do a great act and don't ask for the money, only a few people will be nice and give it.

I'll never forget watching Christoff from Australia on the last day of the Edmonton Festival refusing to give a pitch at all, wanting to give a gift back to the people who supported the festival. The audiences loved his show so much, they wouldn't let him leave- they literally surrounded him and stuffed money into his costume, despite his protests and complaints.

In the right setting, when people see a brilliant performer who is clearly giving them high quality entertainment, they INSIST on paying.

[jester]

IN the right environment

In the Edmonton Festival, I think the people expect to pay.

On the Quay at Poole in Dorset its a completely different matter.

I was very disillusioned at my first ever buskers festival in Bournemouth when all the artists talked about was how to make the hats bigger.

I often perform without having to hat because I am being paid, and people often try to give me money. However, if I ask for the money, I do tend to get more.

But fair play to Christoff. If you can perform and connect with your audience that well it is brilliant that they volunteer the money.

[Michele/Columbina/Stupina]

Originally posted by Patrick Kelly
[B]Michelle,
You might want try taking off your mask (If possible). You may be able to relate to people enough to perform in your mask, but asking them for money may be completely different.

Ironically, these are for shows that I don't do in the mask (work you guys haven't been able to see yet as they are two person shows). And, if it is, I would either go without the mask, or have the unmasked actor to the pitch. Weird faces are great at a distance, but they don't go over all the time as well when little kids have to approach, as you get scarier as they get closer.

The one thing that we do do is we keep accent (as Italians). I have wondered if that is in any way a put off, but even in the street interactions (this is at a Renn Faire) I keep the accent, so as far as the people know, it IS who I am and the "real me." Many confusing thoughts....ah well.