From: DRAMA711-AT-aol.com Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:45:27 EST To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] busking I have to echo steve's comment about busking being a great training ground. >From 1974 to 1980 we operated primarily as a street theatre here in washington dc, working in the financial district and capital hill Monday through Friday 10-2 (lunch) and Georgetown at night. We did political satire exclusively. One show "The Puppet President" was a big favorite that kept evolving over the years. The set up was each puppet got a minute to tell campaign jokes and a minute to sing a campaign song and the audience would elect the new president from by the volume of their approval or disapproval. ''76 and '80 were obviously big years. The cast ran from Jimmy Carter, Amy Carter, Henry Kissinger, Nelson Rockefeller, Jerry Brown, Ted Kennedy, Bella Abzug to the Bananaman ("the All Night Party" "put a REAL puppet in the white house!" and a big crowd favorite) Sonny Jurgenson and the Cold Duck and of course Richard Nixon who always got booed off the stage (except at the University of Scranton where he won... I still haven't quite figured out if they had more irony than we did) but it gave us a great line as he lost and hissed at the audience " I'll remember your faces!" We went out there because we believed that was the root of the art form but also because we didn't have a clue how to make a living as puppeteers. I was never too much into deferred gratification and didn't have the business acumen to get booked in the traditional ways of clubs and theatres but also hadn't figured out how great the elementary school audience was much less libraries etc. The street defined our style, interactive, fast paced, surprises and particularly LISTEN TOTHE AUDIENCE. IF there was a dead spot they'd walk away. Keep eliminating dead spots, give them what they wanted to see... here in dc politics was a natural, daily hone the script. It made us feel rich having a big wad of cash, an orange and an occasional joint from our efforts. Of course the big wad of cash was $75 split two ways after 6 shows, but it was $75 we wouldn't have had. Today we'd be a lot better at the money having seem so many street performers since then and seen how they worked the crowds but back then we were about the only game in town... PACS would have to raise there ugly puppet heads now. Another important part for me was the power to alter moods and attitude. The first puppet show I ever saw was by the San Francisco Street Puppet Theatre performing on the Berkley campus summer of ''73. If anyone knows anything about them I'd love to hear off or on list. Anyway, someone, like me, could be walking down the street sour or lonely or whatever, stumble on us and start laughing and appreciate it enough to leave a fist full of coins. Mood altering without a hangover! It's been fun also to see the dawn of recognition on so meone's face 20 years later and have someone talk about seeing us in their foggy past. I also appreciated not having a clue who was seeing us. It lead to us performing at the Carter Inauguration at the Kennedy Center, but that's another story. Once we had families and got established in the schools and were making 10 times as much we let it slip away. Also after Reagan was elected it just didn't seem funny anymore, although he seems like a pretty decent guy in comparison to what we have now. But one beautiful spring day about two years ago I was walking by Dupont Circle and I felt a serious pull back. Cheney had just shot that lawyer and mirth was in the air. Alas, a little too fat, bald and lazy now. michael cotter director blue sky puppet theatre _www.blueskypuppets.com_ (http://www.blueskypuppets.com) _drama711-AT-aol.com_ (mailto:drama711-AT-aol.com) In a message dated 2/24/2008 11:11:02 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, alangregorycook-AT-msn.com writes: Steve W. mentions Steve Hansen a most gifted street performer. One day I happened to be on the UCLA campus, and saw Steve crossing the campus with his puppet equipment packed on his back at the same time a photographer was doing a fashion shoot. By happenstance, Steve ended up in the background of the fashion shoot for PAY. Being in the right place at the right time seems an important aspect of good busking. ALAN COOK -----Original Message----- From: Widerman-AT-aol.com Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 3:01 PM To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] busking I performed a marionette act in New York City during the late 1970's and early 1980's. I was inspired to do it by Steve Hanson, the Puppetman, a talented busker whom I met during the time he was working in New York. This was during the Koch administration, and enforcement of vagrancy laws and other street-related free enterprise was rather lax. It is now virtually impossible to perform outdoors in New York City without being stopped by the authorities. It is remarkable how much the atmosphere of the city has changed. Busking is a great way to hone your skills. Income is directly related to entertainment value, and you can fix things or try new things out on the next audience in a few minutes. Skilled street performers are very engaging--by necessity. However, you are also at the mercy of the weather, the local enforcement, and other street vendors and vagrants. Although people would forget me, they always remembered the puppet. Once, while performing in Athens I was recognized by someone who had seen my act at Fanuil Hall in Boston! The South Street Seaport would schedule street performers, but I found their scheduling to be too restrictive. My regular spots were in Central Park near the entrance to the zoo during the day, and in Greenwich Village on 6th or 7th Avenues near 8th Street in the evening. I recall busking in Georgetown during the 1980 World Puppetry Festival in Washington, DC, helping to pay for my attendance to that Festival. Having a good spot is key to income, so territoriality is a big issue. I would often work a lucrative spot as long as possible, meaning until I required use of a restroom. I met many other buskers and street vendors, and sometimes notables could be found in my audience on the sidewalks. It was very hard work that at times seemed hopeless, and at other times was very gratifying. Later I opened a puppet theater, ending my street performance days, but that's another story. -Steven-> One thing about busking is that the income is directly related to drawing the audience and putting on a good show. In a message dated 2/23/2008 11:57:22 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, grego-AT-gregoland.com writes: On Feb 23, 2008, at 9:30 PM, Rolande Duprey wrote: > Busking is hard. > > I did it on South St. Seaport once (NYC) -- made enough for the ride > home. > > Anyone else busk with puppets? > > Rolande > **************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duff y/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598) _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit Archives: http://www.driftline.org _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit Archives: http://www.driftline.org **************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598) _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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