So my question is obviously in the subject title.
At the Fringe Fest, another busker offered some suggestions on my act that mostly involved including the audience more.
My routine varies a little depending on the crowd, and mood etc.,  but I'm wondering if you guys incorporate the viewers at points.
Do you have them lift cups? Tap with the wand? etc.
I did start handing out invisible balls to have spectators toss them into a cup etc. It sets up a laugh when they miss.
Just wondering.

Jasper... I can only speak about what goes on at my dining room table, yes I have let them wave a magic wand... but never touch the Cups.

Out in the real world on the streets, I would imagine that if you could involve more spectators in the goings on, they would feel they have a stake in the game and would want things to be successful... making all more positive leading to a bigger hat???

Bruce

Jasper, I guess it's usually good to let the audience take part if possible, BUT... With 3 cups, balls, magic wand, and whatever else is on your table, it's difficult to keep someone from grabbing one of the cups or knocking a ball to the floor. I've had it happen. Maybe a one cup routine would be easier to keep an eye on things.

I prefer 3 cups, and I try not to let 'em touch anything.   

Tom

My audiences are mainly preschoolers, its challenging for me to manage the crowds somtimes. Although i do have volunteers for other magic tricks, i find it tough to do so for cups and balls without breaking the flow of the routine. But then, I am still a rookie

Francis

Francis... I would say it’s the C&B and not you... IMHO C&Bs is beyond most pre-schoolers attention span, maybe a CC would be the way to go... oh and use candy as a final load... they will love you...LOL.
 
Bruce

Thanks Bruce, you are right,  now that i look back, cc is easier to engage them

francis

The key to audience interaction is control. You must know exactly what to do in any situation. If you don't you get into trouble. If you are doing a three cup routine, then it's okay to let a volunteer lift a cup or touch it, AS LONG AS YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING or what they might do.

In other words, don't let someone who might throw a cup handle them.

Thanks Bill

Francis

Remember the famous story about Gazzo and the biker. Gazzo learned a lot from that. He challenged the wrong guy.

Well, it really wasn't the wrong guy. It was a badly worded challenge.

may i know what happened then?

francis

Gazzo was performing in Florida, right on the beach. He handed one of his cups to a biker and asked, "Is there anything in the cup?"

The biker replied "No."

Gazzo said, "WRONG! There's AIR in the cup!"

The biker looked into the cup. Then he threw it out into the ocean and said, "Now, there's WATER in the cup!"

Gazzo was shocked. He closed down his show. He packed everything up and went into the nearest bar. He was literally crying into his beer. The bartender asked, "What's wrong, Gazzo?"

Gazzo said, "He threw my cup...into the...sea." Gazzo knew that it would be very difficult for him to get another cup to match the other two.  (set SC 0311 in the Museum)

Another customer in the bar heard Gazzo and asked, "Can you show me where he threw it?" Gazzo said that he could. So they went back to the beach, and Gazzo pointed out where the cup had been thrown. The fellow went to his truck, got his scuba gear and swam out toward where the biker had thrown the cup. Shortly afterwards, he came back with Gazzo's cup.

I think this story is in Gazzo's Street Cups and Balls book.

This is hilarious....LOL

Bill... That is a great story... thanks for sharing.

its good to see you here!

Bruce

Good to be back.

You are always welcome