Making Money From Street Magic

[penguincdude]

I've decided that once I get back from vacation this summer I will want to perform some street magic in my town square. Well first off I'm wondering if I need any special permits to do this or can I just show up. Second, I wanted to try to make some money off of it but I have no idea how I would do that. And would I need a permit or license to make money from it.

Thanks,
Charlie

 

[James Smith]

I've decided that once I get back from vacation this summer I will want to perform some street magic in my town square. Well first off I'm wondering if I need any special permits to do this or can I just show up. Second, I wanted to try to make some money off of it but I have no idea how I would do that. And would I need a permit or license to make money from it.

Thanks,
Charlie

I don't busk, but I do know some things about it. For one, if you want to make money doing street magic, you don't want to do street magic like David Blaine does. (From what I understand) you should set up a table and a hat to pass around. You also need to be able to attract attention. Once you get a few people, more will come. (That's not as easy as it sounds.) You will also need ways to get people to give you ca$h. From what I've heard, the best way to do that is with jokes. You could pass a hat around and say something like, "If you enjoyed the show please place a dollar in the hat. If you didn't, please write your complaint on the back of a 20 and toss it in the hat." In most cities you will need a permit, but I don't think they're that hard to get.

Remember to take my advice with a grain of salt because I have no experience busking.

Good luck!

 

[Fritts1223]

You need to go to your town hall or something like that and ask them if you need a busking license. In a lot of cases you need one.
Now, if you were just doing street magic, not for money, then you wouldn't need one.
But since you'll be accepting money, you'll most likely need one. Just check to make sure.

You could set out a tip jar next to where ever you're doing it. And of course, do some magic that deals with money so you can get that idea into their mind.

Best of luck! :]

 

[Cedric Taylor]

You need to go to your town hall or something like that and ask them if you need a busking license. In a lot of cases you need one.
Now, if you were just doing street magic, not for money, then you wouldn't need one.
But since you'll be accepting money, you'll most likely need one. Just check to make sure.

You could set out a tip jar next to where ever you're doing it. And of course, do some magic that deals with money so you can get that idea into their mind.

Best of luck! :]

yeah like fritts said..get a liscence...and don't do like Angel/Blaine does, guerrilla style....set up a little stand or something and do that...

if all else fails, join a circus....i hear they allow that these days....lol...

but serious...take fritts advice....

you are not gonna make much money, with cards, thats a promise, you must be a daredevil, do something risky, thats where geek/shock magic really comes into play.....it has to be some worth the price of admission....or if i was you, i'd just go and work for a restaraunt doing walk around magic.......

anyways man, good luck and have much fun....

if you need anytips, you know where to find me....

 

[mse&nc]

http://forums.theory11.com/showthread.php?t=18494&highlight=busking


a thread on hat lines. Actually some people make a living of doing magic on the streets. Here are some professional buskers: Gazzo, Charlie Caper, Kozmo, Cellini, Jimmy Talksalot.

It requires the ability to gather and control a crowd and much more. Most of the buskers end their perfomances with a cups and balls routine.
Some rope magic ( Fiber optics for example) is also really good.

 

[Deleted member 2755]

Some people are just nice and give money. Someone I know goes out almost on a daily basis and comes back somehow with a bunch of money with an average of $20 per tip. He doesn't have a license or anything of that nature.

If you are set up with a hat next to you and you are accepting money, you could get a very large fine from the police. If you are just performing, then you're fine. (Of course, if you just get money from someone, who'se gonna know, right? You just can't have a station set up where it LOOKS like you're accepting money.)

Hope that helps. Also, laws vary per state. I'm not even sure if a busking license is required in every state. I would look this information up. No one here can help you because I think most people just think you need a license. Look up you're laws for your specific area.

-Doug

 

[Cedric Taylor]

Some people are just nice and give money. Someone I know goes out almost on a daily basis and comes back somehow with a bunch of money with an average of $20 per tip. He doesn't have a license or anything of that nature.

If you are set up with a hat next to you and you are accepting money, you could get a very large fine from the police. If you are just performing, then you're fine. (Of course, if you just get money from someone, who'se gonna know, right? You just can't have a station set up where it LOOKS like you're accepting money.)

Hope that helps. Also, laws vary per state. I'm not even sure if a busking license is required in every state. I would look this information up. No one here can help you because I think most people just think you need a license. Look up you're laws for your specific area.

-Doug

true...i know in mississippi, we need a liscence....when i filmed in this store, i had them to sign some forms as well...