Born Again Busker Pt. 2

Got to Pike Place Market at 11:30AM Sunday morning. Chris the bird man was working my spot. He had another half hour before Johnny Hahn would play the piano and sing for his hour at the corner of Pike and Pine. I was queued up to get in my first show at 1:00PM. No problem, plenty of time to get my hands warmed up, smoke a cigar, and take advantage of my free weekend minutes.

I chatted with Jim Hinde and a few of the other street performers. I was excited to tell them all about my new found enthusiasm for the art of street performing. I've been spending a lot of time lately, thinking of ways I can be the best street magician that I can be. Trying to identify and eliminate all of the negative and self defeating frustrations that can be the result of focusing on the money, audience response, or people leaving. Yesterday I felt like I was having a breakthrough. No longer did it piss me off when a family of 6 left 5 minutes before my pitch. I truly felt grateful that they had watched as much of the show as they did.

I talked to Johnny as he put his CD's away and his rain cover over his piano. I asked him how the people were. He didn't seem too happy and was apparently leaving for the day. Not sure if this had anything to do with his set or not. The traffic was light for a sunday, but it didn't matter to me. I was excited about doing the best show I could possibly do for who ever wanted to watch. I did two 15 minute shows back to back. As I was performing, I removed all thoughts of financial expectations. It was about the art. It was about trying to connect with the audience by coming up with shit off the cuff. Having fun with the people in-between my routines and performing the material that I know so well and love.

In the first half hour of performing I got three, ten dollar tips as well as a twenty, not to mention all of the ones and loose change!!! I can't remember the last time I got a ten or a twenty dollar bill from street performing. I believe that my frame of mind and being engaged with the material I was performing had a lot to do with it. My third show, a large portion of the crowd left without chipping in, but I didn't care. I told them as they left, thanks for the smiles and the good vibes.

No one queued up behind me and I worked for three hours straight. I had a great time making people happy with my magic.