Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

Performances by artists on the street, called street performance, can be seen as the beginning of the road in show business.Anyone can go out and put on a show, but if your show is really good, then you can be on a par with famous street artists (among them - Jimmy Buffett, Bob Hope, as well as the founders of "Cirque du Soleil"), who started exactly From this. Whether you are a musician, magician, mime, juggler, clown, or comedian, if you know how to entertain people, you can make money by performing street shows.

Steps

1. 1 Come up with a good number. You don't have to be the very best at your craft to perform on the street. In fact, many of those who pretend to be beggars (some are talented, some are not) are also doing street performance to get some money. Performing on the street is a good opportunity for you or your troupe to rehearse your act and gain experience of performing in front of an audience. But if you are serious about making money, your show should be created and staged to be shown on the street. There are two main types of street performances.
   • Shows for passers-by are continuous action. People walk past the artists, suddenly one of them stops or just throws money on the go. Most of the musical numbers are designed for a passing audience, and since there is an element of randomness in this, most passers-by will not stand and listen to more than one or two songs. But you should still pay attention to what you play when people come up, and if they linger around you, avoid repeating the repertoire.
   • Circular representations have a clear start and end. The artists are trying to gather the audience around them, which will watch the production. Usually the audience is located in a circle or semicircle. The ideal length for a round robin is 10-20 minutes. The same production can be shown several times in an hour, as the audience is likely to change each time. Some of the steps below will relate more to circular views than to passersby, as the latter are relatively straightforward — you just pick a spot and start playing. Although some performances for passers-by grow into circular ones.
2. 2 Find a place to present. The ideal site is a fairly quiet place with busy pedestrian traffic. These can be intersections, squares, pedestrian areas, agricultural markets and fairs. The place should be chosen so that it matches your number. If you are, for example, a musician, then sitting against a wall can improve acoustics. If you are an acrobatic troupe, you will need more open space. If you are doing a circular show, make sure there is enough room for the audience in front of you.
   • In many places, this activity is prohibited, so it is advisable to check local regulations beforehand or simply ask someone, such as a police officer or a fair manager. Some local authorities prohibit street performances, others may require licenses or permits, some turn a blind eye to this, and others even encourage such performances. In the United States, local ordinances prohibiting street performances are considered unconstitutional and violate the right to freedom of expression, so this can be done in most public places. In other countries, laws may differ. If your country does not have very strict prohibitory laws, you can start performing street performances in public places, as long as you do not interfere with or inconvenience other people. If asked to leave this place, leave. On private property (including many open-air markets and fairs), permission must always be obtained first.
   • Try not to get too close to other artists. It is not correct to directly entice their audience. This tends to provide both speakers with a smaller audience.Separately, they would have a large audience. In some very attractive locations, especially near tourist attractions or fairs, it may not be possible to maintain the desired distance from other entertainers. If there are a lot of passers-by, then this is not important, as long as your presentation does not interfere with the presentation of a neighbor (for example, if you are speaking very loudly). In some attractive venues, street performers take turns performing.
3. 3 Equip your site. When you've found a suitable location, prepare a scene for yourself. Arrange all of your equipment so that you can easily and quickly move around the site. Think about how to mark the place, and if you do not spare your efforts, then place small decorations around. If you are a musician, it is best to stand up whenever possible. In any case, don't sit on the sidewalk - you will look like a beggar, not a professional.
4. 4 Gather a crowd. Any street performer loves the crowd, but for circular numbers, it is absolutely essential. Getting people to notice you is an art in itself. Instead of just jumping onto the stage, start by drawing attention to yourself. For this, musicians can use some kind of improvisation to warm up, even just tuning the instruments attracts attention and creates dramatic tension. Artists of other genres can start with light pre-numbers (for example, simple juggling if you have a juggler show). In this case, actively contact passers-by. Smile, be nice and attractive. Talk to people. You can say something traditional: from the banal "Come and see the world's greatest show" to "The show starts in a minute, would you like to stop and watch?" If you want to build a crowd, you have to be adventurous and business-like, so don't be shy. Bring people closer to you. This will help you establish better contact, and they will hear everything you say, and besides, your viewers will not disturb other passers-by.
5. 5 Maintain your audience's interest. Each subsequent episode of your performance should be more impressive than the previous one. If you show any tricks, start with relatively simple ones, then gradually move on to more complex ones, the ending should be the best. If you are a musician, the songs need to be cheerful so that this mood is conveyed to the audience (you can play sad or slow songs, but money is usually given for fast and cheerful ones). Move quickly from one focus or song to another - everything should be thought out in advance so that the preparation time is minimal. In the meantime, prepare the next number, talk with the audience, it is desirable to make them laugh.
6. 6 Interact with your audience. The most successful street shows are one-third brilliant and two-thirds comedy. People may have seen it all before, but they will watch more if you can make them laugh, and comedy will cheer them up, which will reflect on your earnings. Even if your performance is not funny, move away from this image to communicate with the audience. Talk to people, respond to comments and questions, tell stories or interesting facts about what you are doing.
7. 7 Consider audience participation in your performance. The audience always likes it. Ask volunteers to come and help you with a couple of tricks. It's okay if you play a little fun with the volunteer, as people like to see others in an uncomfortable position, unless it hurts their feelings and is done as a joke. Children are especially fond of helping, and their sweetness is just a godsend for you.
8. 8 Collect money. In shows for passers-by, they usually just put a money box or an open tool case. Better if you have an interesting box. A hat is good, but a cute basket, pot or unusual vessel will be more attractive especially for children.With round robin shows that last up to 20 minutes, money is usually collected at the very end, so it is important to be attractive and creative to get the reward you want.
   • Say the phrase that encourages people to donate before the climax of your number. In this case, people will want to watch the most delightful episode of the show. If you say it after the show is over, people will start to disperse. There are many variations of these phrases, but usually, just tell people that you are working for their remuneration and ask them to rate your work. People may not know how much to pay, so you should tell them. You can ask them to pay five or ten, or you can illustrate the value of a show by comparing it to the price of a magazine, sandwich, or movie ticket. After you've asked people to donate, make sure your final number is flawless.
   • Bring your hat. It doesn't have to be a hat and doesn't have to be worn, but it has to be something to collect money into. After the final number, thank the audience. Then take out your money jar and let people throw money in there. Be friendly, use humorous phrases, such as the classic: “Please do not regret. After all, I could rob houses. Yours, for example ... ”If you have an assistant, he can start walking around with a hat already during the final act. A cute smiling assistant who maintains eye contact with the audience and utters phrases like “Donate something for the artist?” Can easily double the revenue.
9. 9 Sell ​​goods. You can increase income by offering a product for sale at the presentation. If you are a musician, sell your CDs or T-shirts. Artists from other genres may also sell T-shirts or other mementos. Display your product in a conspicuous place with a clear price tag.
10. 10 Track your results. If you plan to continue giving street performances frequently, keep a record of the different places where you did it, days of the week and times, and how much you did. One talk will not give you an idea of ​​how good a given point is, but over time you will be able to determine which places are the best, on which days and at what time. Basically, you are running a small business, and the better the accounting, the more profit you can get.
11. 11 Learn from your experience. If a trick or joke doesn't work, change it or discard it altogether. If some songs make more money than others, play them and others like them more often. Pay attention to your audience and try to keep them interested all the time. If this is not the case, something needs to be changed.

Tips

• Before you start, put some change in your hat / case / money jar. The kind of money encourages people to add.
• If you are a musician, perform songs that are age appropriate to keep them interested. People in their 60s probably won't appreciate the Taylor Swift song you sing. Singing songs they like will encourage more donations.
• When playing a musical instrument such as a guitar or an accordion, your feet remain free and you can beat the rhythm all the time. In folk or blues music, it is common to use small pedal drums or tambourines to amplify the sound, but first you need to learn how to work your feet as well as your hands.
• It is polite to ask permission from the store in front of which you are giving the presentation, because in this case they will have no reason to complain about you.

Warnings

• Check out the legislation! In some cities, street performers are required to have a permit, without which they can be accused of begging.
• Watch out for thieves. Never leave your money, property or tools unattended, even for a minute. Keep a close eye on people when you walk around with your hat.
• In some places, performances are prohibited even with permission. For example, some sidewalks are privately owned. You can be held accountable for this violation.
• Do not put on performances in places where many people live. This may make them unhappy.
• Beggars often gather near street performers, trying to show their "talent". Worse, they can interfere with the artist or the audience, thus extorting money from the performer. In such a situation, act as appropriate, but try to avoid confrontation, especially with drunken beggars and their groups.