busking book

[nick nickolas]

anyone know about this guy shawn leban ? or have you bought the book ?

http://ultimate-street-performer.com

just wondering on his credentials
nick

[Rachel Peters]

I haven't heard of him, but the book looks to me like the performance equivilent of a "how to draw bugs bunny in three easy steps". Nobody can make you a successful artist with tips.
(and the cover irritates me. ...juggling pins and wads of cash. Because we all know you do this for the wads of cash.) Sounds like it could be the common sense the sort of information that people really looking into performance would find redundant to read.

That's my negative two cents.

...but of course, no real help, because I didn't answer your question, and I've never read the book. (I just Googled Shawn Leban and there's only info on his book, I can't find anything else about him.)

[jesus]

I did some internet searches for the guy and the "Street Performers" that the quotes of praise are attributed to and come up empty. the only Google hits for him where about the book.
I nominate Martin to track him down.

I liked this quote the best:

In fact, Shawn, recently trained a 17-year old student who was interested in street performing, just to see if the techniques worked...and...the student earns between $80 to $120 a day doing about 3 shows daily. That's about 90 minutes of work in total.

Who knew that you could make that much in three shows?

[nick nickolas]

I have subscibed to his newsletter heheh..
and left this message
hello shawn,
I am looking forward to your newsletter, just wondering how long you have been busking and what countries/cities also what do you do are you a juggler? do you have any tips on the best sort of fire clubs to use?
thanks nick

i'll keep ya'll posted

[Rachel Peters]

....sketchy.

I think you should imply that you're 17 years old, and see if he tries to recruit you to make $80 to $120 a day for him. One word -- entrapment.

[jesus]

I think this is going to be fun!

[nick nickolas]

here is a link to his link of performers..
are you on it ? Does he have your permission...?
I'm intrigued..

http://ultimate-street-performer.com/Performerwebsites.html

heres his festival links, do you think he got these from this very site?

http://ultimate-street-performer.com/festivals.html

his disclaimers are interesting

http://ultimate-street-performer.com/termsofservice.html

Can't wait for Mr Lurk to see this..........

[jesus]

Links

All of the performer links go to the same site! A site for Trulee Odd. Is the plot thickening?

Oh where is Martin in our time of need?

[Frisbee]

DIrect from his site:
____________________________
You need a real street performer to guide you
...with no bull.

Shawn Leban has performed over 1,500 street shows all over the world.

• He made $9,761.25 through raw street shows alone in 3 months.

• Shawn is one of the few street performers to get over 200 private gigs a year.(He turns down quite a few.)

• After a street show recently, Shawn, was approached and asked to perform at a dinner-and-dance event where he went on to earn $600 for a 20 minute show.
_________________________________

If he is so good how come none of us have heard of him before?

there is no reference to him ANYWHERE except for his book.

[Frisbee]

my mistake

I am sorry, his name also came up thru one other resource...BuskerCentral... another site that gets its content from...*ahem*... varied sources.

[Jim]

Yeah, sketchy.

What's up with all those links going to Trulee Odd?

And his "Links" page is mostly copied right from performers.net. (Not that the p.net page is at all up to date or anything... but still.)

Here's the Domain registration info. Looks like he's in Singapore:

Evon Leong
ultimatestreetperforming@yahoo.com
Evon Leong
219, Tampines St 24, #08-28
NA, NA 520219
SG
Phone - 6567815202

Why is Shawn Leban not mentioned anywhere else on the web? And why is there no biographical info about the author Shawn Leban anywhere on that site?

Shawn Leban seems like an alias of some kind.

[jesus]

First News Letter

Here is what I got for a first news letter:

Dear geoff,

Thank you for subscribing to my 4-part newsletter.

You will be receiving your first installment of the newsletter in about
4 days time.

The tips and advice in the newsletters are not rigid. Street performing
is a form of self-expression and it has to showcase your personality.
So adapt and suit the tips to your show accordingly.

Feel free to email me at support@ultimate-street-performer.com if you
have any questions or comments. We can all learn from each other.

Welcome to the street performing fraternity.

Shawn Leban
P.S - If you have not read about my 'Street Performer' book click on
the link below

http://ultimate-street-performer.com/streetperformerebook.html

[Rachel Peters]

it worked...

You know what? Now I'm so curious that I WANT to read this book, just to see if it sheds any more light on who this person is, and what he actually says.
I took a little time and found the e-mail address of one of the people he quotes. The guy quoted is some sort of poi dude. He's a real person. So, I wrote to him and asked about the book, if I should buy it, and if he knows Shawn Leban or any more info on him. Pointed out he was quoted on the book's site.
I'll post any results.
Also signed up for the newsletter.

From some of the point-form stuff you're promised to learn in the book -- honestly -- I think, as someone who's not a performer and just a long-time observer, I probably could have written a book like this. BUT I haven't read it. SO, I suppose to really have any right to criticize it, I'd have to buy it. ...but I don't want to give him the satisfaction.
If anybody can find the name of his publisher, I'd be interested. ...but I have a feeling it's probably self-published.

hmph.

[jester]

The thing that pisses me off about that book is that it isn't about street performing....

...it's about greed. "Buy this book and I'll make you rich." I'll teach you the techniques, the lines, the art of persuading punters to part with their money....."

But itt still isn't nearly as evil as telephone marketing!

[martin ewen]

It's a bird? It's a plane? No just a cynical mime.

I'm sorry this had to crop up this weekend. I have been experimenting with my wifes birth control pills and it's been taking a lot of my time and energy.
I got literally blinding migraines and the vicious moodswings were painful but manageable but it was the lactating that finally did me in.
So anyway, most of the acnes fading away now and my head's more or less clear.
Now I have to admit it's nice to be wanted and the voices calling for my input are like maple syrup poured over my shaven genitalia then left to attract flies as I’ve lost my train of thought. (It has been a bad week)
However, if you were prepared to be a forensic web sleuth for yourself then you should have bought MY book. “How to find out all about people based on their behaviors and your own predudices.”
This is what some other cynical clowns had to say about my book....
“Piss off you leech” Guy in the mirror.
“ Not as good as anal sex” Jesus
“Actually BETTER than anal sex” Jesus
“ Well it just depends on the mood I’m in when I read it.” Jesus.

Look I’ll be honest. There is no book, it was a joke.
I feel like Anthony Hopkins in silence of the lambs, you all come visiting my transparent cell asking for help and i give you clues.
Heres one
The Guys name is an anagram for ‘Novel Gone’
Here’s another,
If you go through every page and count and list the links you will find that someone else (oh gee ...look over there!---Thats misdirection, who uses misdirection---THATS A CLUE)
Has almost as many links as the book for which the website is ostensibly selling.
It’s a marketing vehicle, BUT WHOSE?
Heres another.
Singapore is an Asian performance market, asian performance markets run on high form, low content CHEESE!
What type of performer owns their own TUX?

and one more
“I USED to be a magician, then a juggler and now I twirl fire.”

Now it’s saturday night and I have plans. Big Plans!
But I’ll be back later, after my glittering social life has faded into a glowing memory (or this last batch of DMT runs out)

Do I seem a little more manic than usual?
I’m, off to drive to NY (IN MY GOLFCART!)