Street Performing: Hints and tips [Archive] - West Coast Poppin - Popping & Locking Online Community Forum

inventfmc

07-07-2009, 10:14 PM

This one is from Robert Muraine aka Mr. Fantastic.

first, you need loud music, and music that people will like, something hype catchy, but not boring and monotonous. i use shit that nobody's really used to hearing.

now here's what I've learned from trying to POP and make money. it doesn't work. you cant just go out there and freestyle. i mean you can, but you wont be making over 100 dollars after a long sweaty day of work. you need a story, just like what i think most poppers lack these days is a story.

if you can tell a really good story with just popping technique, you can make cash or at least applause and smiling faces after your show. now when i say story im not talking about riding in a low rider etc... i mean a clever story, one that has a good plot or irony to it, but keeping it SIMPLE! Has to have an INTRO, BEGINNING, INTERMISSION, & END (CLIMAX).

The INTRO needs to draw attention, maybe not too much shit that takes energy, but more of a dope song with something eye attracting like standing still for 5 minutes. or anything it can be dumb jsut catch the audience here.

Beginning is obviously an introduction to your story, show em some skills, but nothing crazy, but make sure you end this section strong enough to where they wanna see more! BADLY! think of a clever way to word "you want money" "but make em feel like they really want to see the rest of the show, even if they maybe arent even that interested." u gotta tell the audience what YOU want in so many words. because in reality they DONT wanna give you money, and DONT wanna waste time. but if your funny or clever enough they WILL give in. at this point your collecting some tips for the show to go on, once your audience paid for what you guaranteed, they WILL stay.

after your intermission, you go all out and end with a bang, or some sort of irony, or very funny thing. or all at the same time. throw your bucket out and make what you deserve!

Now BIG moves always help, im not talking about MOVES as in tricks, but big movements, big frequencies when you wave, open armed tuts, shit where everyone in a circle can see you, whether your facing back or front. Now what i said about TRICKS, these also help, but ones that are new, i know that this shit is the hardest thing to do is to create your own shit, but when people see something they haven't before they go crazy, even if its not that hard.

and last note, be like a clown. facial expression is everything, go out there and have fun, dont go out there to MAKE MONEY. people will see this, and automatically register you as a bum for a tip, or an artist out there for the passion.

now whether you think this is all bullshit or not, this is MY art. i am an entertainer, and learned this shit mostly on my own, or from info passed down from other artists that do this.

now on 3rd st promenade i am honestly going to say that i easily make more or as much as mr animation. and im not saying this to claim anything but just know my method is solid. animation's method is in comedy and aggression. now the two together is hilarious and works. but we all dont have those attributes (being huge black and scary) so this shit wont work unless you got that. now he has the moves the eye catchers and everything you need, but he presents it in his own story. and it works.

now all of us "successful" street performers have years of experience. dont get discouraged after a week or two, cause honestly your not gunna make as much as you may in the future FOR SURE! it takes a lot of trial and error. you gotta know your limits, and push yourself to learn new shit, its not like a battle and not like a cypher. you have to entertain people that have no idea what your really doing. (popping) . you gotta make em love you then make em love popping though it!

this is the one piece of advice that i would LOVE to share with everyone because more than anything putting smiles on peoples faces that DONT KNOW and enlightening them with something they NOW know is the best feeling ever! plus your getting paid for it.

robert muraine | mr fantastic