Hey guys! Welcome back to another installment of 5 Fun Ways to Improve Your Magic. Last time I talked about using a deck of cards or some other props, like a set of balls or coins, as a way to break the ice with people. This time I’m going to share with you 5 fun ways to busk for money.
I’ve been doing magic for about 20 years. I started when I was in middle school. My dad taught me a couple tricks and from there I was hooked! In college I actually made most of my money by busking. All you need is a deck of cards and you can make more money than you’d think.
1. Start by getting comfortable with the basic moves like cutting, shuffling and dealing, and force-feeding the audience your patter.
2. When someone says they want to see something cool, show them your best trick and then give them a business card so they can come see you at your next performance.
3. Don’t be afraid to wear a tuxedo or leotard if that’s what makes you more comfortable performing the tricks!
4. Practice on friends first before doing any public performances so they know what they’re in for when they see you live later on down
If you’ve ever been to the mall, or walked the streets of a major city, you’ve probably seen a busking magician. They’re often wearing a top hat and cape, and they’re putting on a show for people who happen to be around.
Some busking magicians are really good at entertaining and engaging their audiences. They have routines that are fun and interesting, they know how to involve people in their shows, they have great jokes…
And then there are the others. These magicians don’t seem to be interested in getting better; they’re just trying to make some quick money.
If you want to be a successful busker, you have to do more than just put on a magic show. You need to get people actively involved! So here are 5 ways you can improve your magic performance:
Busking is a fantastic way to improve your magic. It forces you to hone your act and perform it over and over again in front of real, live audiences. I’ve been busking for four years now, and have picked up some great tips along the way. Here are five things that will help you get started with busking:
1. Choose the Right Spot
There’s no point in setting up shop in a place where you’ll never be able to attract an audience. Pick a location where people are already walking or sitting around. If there’s not much foot traffic, find a spot where people are already gathered. These could include benches, parks, or in front of other attractions (for example, most people visiting the Eiffel Tower will be at least curious about a busker performing nearby).
2. Time Your Performance Well
This is another important part of choosing the right spot. If you set up in front of an attraction that only draws crowds during certain hours, you should make sure those hours work for your act. Also keep in mind that people don’t always want to watch magic when they’re hungry or otherwise rushed; if you’re performing near meal times or closing hours for an attraction, consider moving somewhere else and waiting for the next day
My biggest tip for practicing magic is this: have fun! If you’re not enjoying the process, you won’t enjoy the results!
You’ve probably heard the saying “practice makes perfect”, and this couldn’t be more true. But don’t forget that practice doesn’t have to be boring. Don’t just repeat a trick over and over again — mix it up! Here are five ways to make practice feel like play:
Try something new.
Expose yourself to new tricks, props, and ideas. Learn a few new tricks every week and try them out in your next routine. Not only will you get better at those tricks, but you’ll also keep your audience on their toes!
Film yourself.
Filming your shows is one of the easiest ways to improve your magic. You can see exactly how everyone reacts to your tricks, which will help you figure out what works and what doesn’t. Just make sure you ask for permission first so no one gets angry with you later.
Practice with friends or family members.
Performing for friends and family is great practice because they will give you honest feedback about what works well and what doesn’t. They’ll also have fun watching you perform if they know some of the secrets behind your magic tricks
1) Keep practicing
The first way to improve your magic is to practice every day. This is the only surefire way of getting better at magic. If you want to get better at anything, you need to put in the hours. You are not one of those lucky people who is naturally talented at magic.
You may be thinking that magic is a talent, and there is no way to get better at it without being born with the right genes. Well, that’s a load of codswallop! Practice makes perfect. If you’ve got a trick you’re struggling with, just keep practicing it over and over again until you’ve mastered it.
2) Get tips from magicians
The next step to becoming a world-class magician is to get tips from other magicians who are already famous for being great at magic. To find these magicians, just go to YouTube and type in “magic tricks.” You will find many videos by famous magicians all over the world who have hundreds of thousands of subscribers and millions of views on their videos because they are so good at magic. These are the people whose advice you should listen to if you want to become as good as them at doing magic tricks. Just watch what they do, copy their techniques,
If you want to really impress people with your magic, you need to practice. And when you practice, you want to make sure that you’re practicing correctly. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your practice:
1. Practice in front of a mirror.
2. Record yourself as you practice, so that you can watch it later and see how you look on camera.
3. Practice your tricks in different places with different backgrounds and different lighting, so that you can see what works best for each trick.
4. Ask people who don’t know anything about magic to watch your routine and give their opinions on it.
5. Try performing for friends or family at least once a week – this will help both your performance skills and your confidence level!
All magicians have to deal with the haters. They’ll tell you magic is fake or that you’re a fraud. You can’t let them get to you! The best way to deal with them is to ignore them and keep right on performing.
The magician goes on after the heckler leaves, but he’s clearly shaken up. He has trouble with his next trick, too, and the crowd starts to boo him. Not good!
At this point, I want to shout at the screen, “Stop trying so hard!” When magicians are nervous or trying too hard, they make mistakes. Their hands shake or sweat, so coins slip from their fingers. Or they get nervous about dropping something and grip it tightly, which makes it obvious that there’s something in their hands for the audience to see.
If you’ve ever watched people perform live onstage, either as a musician or an actor, you know how much work and preparation it takes just to appear natural and relaxed. It comes with lots of practice — sometimes years of practice. Magic tricks are like little plays; they take a lot of rehearsal to look effortless.