STEAMFEST 2019

2 Weeks ago I was privileged to participate at the first SteamFest hosted by WeDiscoverGeeks in Bethlahem PA. The location was AMAZING! A place called The Stacks. This was the perfect backdrop for a SteamPunk event. The old factory and buildings were great to look at and use as a backdrop for photos and selfies.

The plan was to host an event that highlighted the importance of STEAM in education and how the Maker movement has encouraged and embraced this philosophy. SO on August 31st I arrived and checked in. The excitement was like static in the air. The goggles and gears and Victorian dress was everywhere. I strolled around the vendor area to check out the wares for sale. I am always impressed by the level of art and ingenuity of the creators that make up the vendors. I met and spoke with a few as I scoped out my pitch trying to gauge guest traffic flow to get the most foot traffic.  I set up my table at the top of one of the vendor isles between the vendor area and the Steampunk Sailboat-Car

Yeah it was cool. And I spoke to the builder and its a real vehicle and he actually drove it to the fest. I put on my badge, put out my hat and watched the crowds grow to start my show. 

What a great day! I did about 10 shows, and had generous hats. between shows I walked around the Fest, sat in on some panels and just soaked in all the creativity and enthusiasm for this cool genre.

At the end of the day I spoke with my hosts and they told me they pre registered and expected about 600 people but in the end they had well over 1000! Truly a successful event...…and of course I was invited back for next year. 

Then as a bonus, they contacted me about another event WeDiscoverGeeks is hosting and invited me to work that event as well. I also plan to reach out to some other SteamPunk Festivals I learned about from people I got to know during the day. 

I look forward to working at many of these events in the future......

Be Well and Keep 'em clean

Bruce

Well....it actually happened!

After performing the cut and restored rope for almost 35 years I finally screwed up and cut my finger while cutting the rope! It was quite a scene, at least from my side. I was performing at the Carousel Fantasy Forest in Flushing Meadow park and I was having a great show.

A nice little girl was helping me and I handed her the scissors and asked her to cut the rope in the center loop I presented to her and used the line," remember the rope is the white thing and my fingers are the pink things" she cut the rope fine and the routine was going well. Next after restoring the rope, I am supposed to take the scissors back and after the volunteer sits down I go ahead and trim the end of the rope for the next step.....that's when it happened. I was snipping the end off the rope and came too close to my left thumb and slice! I caught my thumb in the scissors. Pretty stupid mistake and I immediately looked at my finger and thought," did I really just do this? Well luckily it isn't bleeding...."
Well I thought too soon..... I continues with the rope trick and suddenly noticed the end of the rope was bright red! Ahhh....so that ended the regular finale of throwing the restored rope into the audience, the rope trick was OVER.
I grabbed my towel I use to wipe off my hands and wrapped my thumb up and held pressure on the cut. The audience to my knowledge didn't realize what was going on. I flagged one of the staff from the Carousel as he walked by and asked him to get me a band aid from the office.
I know they have basic first aid stuff on hand, like band aids and ice packs etc, some child is always running and falling and scraping a knee or banging some body part on something, or a klutzy magician who doesn't know how to use a scissors.
I get the band aid and remove the towel and put band aid on the cut. Problem solved........well not quite.
The next effect is the Peanut butter and Jelly trick. This has got to be one of my favorite parts of the show. It is easy to perform and fun for kids and adults alike. Part of the routine is to get a kid up to stand in between the 2 tables and hold the paper bag with the 2 slices of plain bread in it. Then at the end you tear open the bag to show the bread is now a real peanut butter and jelly sandwich! amazing and tasty too...
I put the slices of bread in the bag and fold over the top flap and hold it up and just as I am ready to call a kid up to hold the bag, I see my thumb bleeding through the band aid and starting to run down the back of the bag......uh oh change of plans.....I don't call a kid up, I just put the bag down on the ground between the tables, I clench my thumb into my fist and squeeze,  and say,"and now the finale, the Peanut Butter and Jelly Trick" It wasn't supposed to be the end of the show but now it was going to be. I finished the trick and grabbed the bag tearing it open and holding my thumb behind it and showed the real sandwich.....Thanked my audience and they applauded and dispersed. One little girl from the front row came up and asked ,"are you ok, did you hurt your finger" I assured her it was ok and said, "remember you always have to be careful with sharp scissors"
SO that's how it finally happened, I cut myself during a show during the cut and restored rope.
I'm sorry if this post is too graphic for some.....I didn't include any gory pictures.......But its a real lesson that you should never get too complacent about performing, "second nature" doesn't mean you don't pay close attention to what your doing, accidents can always happen.
Keep 'em clean and Be well

Circus Magic In The Park

It was a great day! Thanks to my Son @phineasjuggler I was on the list of performers for the weekly entertainment her in Queens NY at the Flushing Meadow Park's Fantasy Forest Amusement Park at the Carousel. Every weekend they have a performer to do a "clown show" at 2 and 4 and I was the performer today (Sunday July 7th)

So I put on my Dr. Molar Magic Summer clown costume and headed out to the park. I arrived and set up my show in the designated performance area and then went about the gathering a crowd. This part of my job consisted of walking around the rides and interacting with the people on the lines, doing walk around stuff, small magic, and letting them know that the magic clown show will be starting at 2pm.
At 2pm we started the show. As the families gathered and the kids took their seat on the artificial turf put out for them and I started with some juggling. My shaker cups (a personal favorite) which are loud and visual. Once the crowd was settled it was on with the show!
My 30 minute kid show is fast paced and involves lots of audience participation. This show I added something new....the new Rocky The Raccoon Zig-Zag.....yes our old friend Rocky comes out of the magic closet and instead of just doing the usual gags and jokes, I place him into a vertical box slide bladed through him and move the middle section apart from the others! Its Rocky meets Harbin. The routine is fun to perform mainly because its just so ridiculous and in the end if a real fooler. I'm glad I added it to the set as it got a great reaction from the kids and their parents.
My finale is the Bells.....bells in the key of C covering a full octave and a few of the sharps/flats just in case they are needed. I line up 6 young volunteers and they each get a bell. Now if you want fun and comedy just give 6 little kids bells and tell them not to ring them until told.....yup its a tough one, but that's where a lot of the comedy and fun develops. We manged to get the kids under control and they were able t follow directions to allow this impromptu bell band to perform Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and of course the cell phones were videoing and taking photos of their performing kids!
After the last note and a colorful throw streamer the show was over and everyone had a great time.
I love this kind of show because the families come to the park and they know the rides are there and maybe they know about the show but they are not paying a fee for the show. They are staying and enjoying the magic and fun. I'm proud to say that the audiences were large and there was plenty of clapping and laughing. I know that when I have fun performing the audience has fun along with me, I'm happy to say the audience agreed.
Be Well and Keep 'em clean

Have Magic Will Travel......

For any of my regular readers you all know that as a Busker I try to perform everywhere I travel. So for business or vacation I always have some magic with me and some sort of busking set up.
I also happen to be a bag and case fanatic! I love different bags and cases both custom and generic and I've spent a lot of time looking for that "perfect bag" to carry my act that is both portable and can hold all the magic I need to street perform. I've also come up with many different portable magic table designs that are adapted very well to the portability needed for street performing.

Well this trip is no different. I'm back in Baraboo Wisconsin and Wisconsin Dells for @Pupperdoodle18 's YMCA Gymnastics National Competition. So I assumed there would be some down time so I brought my Busking bag. This case is one of my favorites. I've travelled all over the place with this one, its a case that holds a tiny table top and tripod stand as well as my 8 inch linking rings, chop cup and a bunch of other magic for a solid 20-30 minute street show.

Its a violin case I found at a thrift shop and after removing the guts from one side it holds plenty  of magic as well as one of my Steampunk hats, goggles included. Its small and has a handle and the case can be left open leaning against the tripod to have a collection bin after all those clever hat lines at the end of my act. So keep an eye out on your travels for me and of course other buskers. Be they magicians, or musicians or balloon sculpture artists please support street entertainers. 

Until next time Be Well and Keep 'em clean

Bruce

Busking Cardiff

What a great trip! I Just returned from Cardiff Wales where I participated in the SCHOOL OF BUSKING with Master Magic Buskers Mario and Veronica Morris. Got there Thursday morning jet lagged but excited......I fell asleep, very exciting I know, but I did wake up in time to get some dinner in a local restaurant. Cardiff is a very nice city and everyone I met, spoke with, or just interacted with was pleasant and happy to talk. Very welcoming! Friday morning we gathered at the Ocean Arts Center and after meeting the rest of our group, Jeremy, Jan, Phil, and Scott we started working through our acts giving feedback and getting feedback from each other. No matter how long you've been performing, and how great you think you are its always a good idea to work with a coach or director or even just a colleague to get objective feedback. This means notes on the good and bad aspects, what works and what doesn't. Its a very important part of the improvement process.


Then we hit the streets. Mario scoped out a good pitch and we all took turns doing our shows. Stopping the crowds, getting them to stay and watch and then collecting the money for a show well done.

By the time I started my Cups and Balls Finale I was performing for a crowd of about 75 people and everyone was having lots of fun. It was great when I started my hat lines I hadn't even finished the finale and people rushed forward to put money in my pouch! Then after the finale it kept coming....it was a good day.
Clearly the busking environment in Wales is much different than NY.  I can't wait to head back and busk more places in Europe.....but that's sometime in the future. For now I'll be out in the Parks in Queens and Manhattan.....and a few festivals around the tristate.

Be Well and Keep 'em clean

Dachshund Spring Fiesta!!!

Its that time of year again! The twice yearly meet up for all Dachshund lovers in Washington Square Park, NY under the Arch at the base of 5th Ave. The last Saturday in April and the First Saturday in October lovers of this adorable dog breed meet up with their Dachshunds and schmooze and at 1 PM sing the Dachshund Song, and of course pet and play with the dogs.
So last Saturday Pupperdoodle and I took Otto to Washington Square Park for the festivities.

The weather was great in the park, not too hot with a slight breeze and all the Dachshunds you could handle. All combinations of color and type enjoyed each others company, sniffing and barking in celebration of their breed. 

Then the culmination of the event came at 1PM when everyone grabbed a song sheet and accompanied by Murray Weinstock we all sang the Dachshund Song by Paul De Vries and Murray Weinstock. 

Its always great fun and we look forward to this meet and greet each October and April

And of course Otto loves the event but it takes a lot out of him 

I'm sure after a good nap he'll be up and ready for the next adventure!

Keep 'em clean

Bruce

why hire a magician for your event.....

Let me set the stage for you. You've planned your event, be it a graduation party, engagement party, or even 50th birthday party. Everything is in place, the venue, the food, the decorations and your guest list, and the party begins, music plays and your guests begin to arrive.
What do they do? Have you ever given any thought to what your guests will do as they arrive. They come in, look around, notice your efforts to set the scene and your attention to detail in the decorations or the sign in board or place cards, ah the place cards!
      Have you ever noticed how people stop and spend so much time at the place cards, or even as they stop and note to themselves the seating arrangements. Guests will find their card or scout out a place to sit and then take note of who else is there or invited and if they know them or not. They are looking for a friend or at least acquaintance to find a comfort level. "Oh great there are people I know so there will be someone to sit and talk with" That's what they are thinking and once they realize there is going to be someone they know there is a relief that they are not "alone" at your event. 
     At a wedding or family event this is much easier (or maybe not when dealing with family relationships!) Then the party begins and you may notice that people gather in small groups with those they already know. After all this isn't a self help group where they need to introduce themselves to everyone in the circle.
    As the host you may have the time or inclination to go to every table and make sure that everyone at each table has introduced themselves. "So everyone this is John from work and this is Jane my second cousin I found out you both like Star Wars...." No that's not likely as the host you have other responsibilities. So where does this have anything to do with hiring a magician for your party.
The art and performance of magic is ALL ABOUT INTERACTIONS!!
      Yes its not just card tricks and wow how did he do that? Its much much more. As I walk around performing at a cocktail hour or table to table at a party, my first job is to interact with every guest, weather they know each other or not and engage them in conversation and entertain with my magic. If there are 2 or 3 small groups on the floor just talking I can engage all of them and help them all interact as they all together engage in the enjoyment of the magical effects I perform. I've found that people at a party who don't know each other and would never even make the effort to introduce themselves or make small talk will come together, watch and engage in the magic weather its selecting a card, holding out their hand hold an object, confirm a serial number on a bill, or even just contribute by watching, and of course reacting.
       Have you ever been to a party where people line up just outside the kitchen door waiting for the next tray of  hot passings to come out, or are just leaning up against the bar looking around the room, because there is nothing to do and that's the most exciting thing  going on until they are asked to move onto the next part of the event. Now these same people have moved into the cell phone world and are just standing there checking their emails and social media. But as a magician I look for these guests and help them engage with those around them. That's what magic is all about, its a way to engage and help people interact and enjoy themselves along with other humans in the room.
So I ask you to think about this next time you're at a party or an event. Just look around and check out what your guests are doing.
     I promise you they are clumping in small groups who already know each other from work or family or community and there will be lone stragglers on the fringe just buried in their phones. Lets get them involved and lets engage them and help them enjoy your event with some escape from the mundane and enjoy some magic!
       If you have an event coming up, reach out to me by email "thebrooklynmagician@gmail.com" or call (917) 324-6066 and we can talk about how I can bring magic and amazement to your guests and make your special event even more special and memorable.
Be Well and Keep 'em clean