Street Magicians Give Street Smarts a Whole New Meaning

What is street magic, you may ask? It's exactly what it sounds like. First, you need a city street, then you need a magician, then he needs to have a crowd gathered around him, then he needs to do magic. Now you have a street magician doing street magic. But the city is a busy place and in order for a street magician to truly capture his audience's attention and keep it, he must perform at a relatively high caliber. Performers such as the UK's very own Dynamo, David Blaine and America's Chris Angel are all prime examples of magicians. At least that's how they got their start. Now they are telly celebs. They will make things appear, disappear, levitate all while playing their own pitch man; some even try to sell their goods to the spellbound crowd. And just like in New York City, coins and paper money tossed into a jar or a box are always welcome. Of course if it's Dynamo, David Blaine or Chris Angel, they need to be tossin' some hard cash into my jar, OK?

Street magicians for hire

If you're trying to hire a street magician for a function, they want you to know that when you're looking for them, you may find them under 'close up magicians' rather than road magicians. David Blaine is actually mostly responsible for the term 'street magicians'. He made it fashionable in the late 1990s. Where would you want a road magician to perform? They can do balls, weddings, banquets, corporate events, trade shows and more. The draw of street magicians, for one, is their ability to use anything at their disposal to create magic. Things in your pocket, things in their pockets and things in the pocket of the guy that's across the room that no longer has it in his pocket... much to his surprise!

And this stuff is up close and personal. No fancy mirrors, no big black curtains, no knives sticking through boxes... this is right up in your face. And it is truly amazing. I've been around long enough to know some of the secrets of magicians, illusionists, experts in sleight of hand and the lot. I'm not easily fooled and am even harder to amaze. But a good street magician can keep me entertained for hours. A good road magician will probably get a couple of bucks from me as I walk away.

London's Covent Garden and Southbank were not only popular with the early buskers passing around the hat to tourists after each performance but are still popular with the street magicians of today. The real, close up, no frills classic street magic has been in existence for literally centuries. Smaller magic tricks used to lead to bigger tricks... and the bigger the crowd got, the bigger the tricks got. Several shows a day netted the early street magicians a meager living. These days, with the likes of the previously mentioned professional street magicians; apparently the sky's the limit.

And I bothered going to college!

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Making A Child Famous: What's The Meaning Of Prosperity Through Music?

Will my child become the next big star?

As a parent, you have high hopes and expectations for you child. That's perfectly natural. You want your kid to do better and to achieve more than you did. Basically, you want what's best for them.

I talk a lot about how music education can bring prosperity to your child's future. I would like to clarify what I mean by prosperity.

What I mean by prosperity is that music education will develop the skills necessary to succeed in life, regardless of what career your child chooses.

I don't want anyone to be confused here. What I don't want people to think is that music education will bring your child prosperity in the form of becoming a famous singer or musical artist. This is not the goal of music education. For me, prosperity is not becoming a celebrity.

The Meaning Of Prosperity Through Music

Prosperity is an advantageous situation where your child will get the most out of his/her education, and enter the working world with the skills that will be required in the future global economy.

It has been scientifically proven that music education increase test scores in Math, Science, and Reading. But besides test scores and grades, your child would actually develop an understanding of those subjects that noticeably surpasses their non-musical peers. I can tell one thing with the utmost certainty: there will be jobs for people that have skills in those areas.

Beyond those three subjects, music education develops social and emotional intelligences, which are highly important in the working world. We all know what it's like in the work place. It can be a tough social environment. It's tough to get along with co-workers from time to time. It's tough to convince your boss that you deserve a raise. It's tough to convince your manager of your ideas and how they can benefit the company. There are a million scenarios where social skills will really be useful in achieving your goals. Developing these skills give a person an advantage to succeed in the work place, not to mention building relationships and friendships.

What Kind Of Mind Will Be Valuable In The Future Economy?

Another huge bi-product of music education is developing the creative side of the brain. Creative minds are needed in today's technology-driven, globally-connected economy, and they will surely be needed in the future. One of the biggest drivers of an advancing economy is innovation. Without creativity and new ideas, an economy would completely stagnate. That means less jobs for everyone. Those who can create will have a place in the future economy.

Your Child Will Succeed In Life

The most important idea that I want you to walk away with from this article is that music education will develop a portfolio of skills necessary for your child to prosper and succeed in life. The goal of music education is not to become a big star or famous musical artist, or even a singer. That's not the prosperity I'm talking about. The skills that music education teaches can be used in any profession that your children chooses when they grow up.

Economic prosperity in the future will be for the people with the most skill sets. Take action in getting your child started in learning a musical instrument. Your child's education will be enriched and he/she will be on a path towards that end goal of economic prosperity that begins with developing a bright mind.

Tony Margiotta is the founder of The Musiconomy, a publishing company advocates musical training as an essential focus in childhood education and development. Sign up for the Free monthly newsletter and special report here:

http://www.themusiconomy.com/newsletter.html

Tony is the author of "A Parent's Guide: How To Get Your Child Started In Music," a step-by-step approach that takes you through the process of inspiring musical interest in your child, to making the correct instrument and book purchases, and finding the right teacher. Full of tips, checklists, and more. http://www.tonysmusicbooks.com/Parents-Guide-Deluxe-Version-Ebook-MP3-201101.htm

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The Renewed Meaning of Success

I have written this article with mature singers in mind, but you singers who are just starting out may also be interested in this story about the struggle to be discovered.

This week I received notice from several older singers (in their 50's and 60's) who were planning to do big-scale auditions and competitions.

Three of them wrote to me with a similar theme. They were wondering why they were still pursuing the wild dream to sing so late in life. One person in particular seemed to be having quite a struggle with her need to be finally recognized for her great talent.

I think it is a common feeling among musical artists.

If you have enjoyed some singing success early in life, you understand the enormous pleasure that comes with performance: the great joy of singing with deep feeling, the thrill of filling a packed room with musical energy, the excitement that comes with the sound of spontaneous applause, the nearly unmatchable feeling when waves of love and admiration pour over you from an appreciative audience. You give your all. And it comes back to you with powerful immediacy.

You imagine that this could be your life! Here is the unique opportunity to do something you love with all your heart, while enjoying some measure of fame and fortune.

It is a powerful and seductive tug at a person's heart. Especially if you are pretty certain that you have what it takes, - if only that big break could come in time.

Few of us ever hit the big time, and it is not necessarily due to a lack of worthy talent. Instead, it could be due to a combination of other issues that were beyond our control: bad timing, wrong location (we did not live in the right city), family pressures, lack of funding, or ill health at the wrong time.

It could also be due to early-made decisions: a reluctance to be constantly on the road, the fear of taking a major risk, the desire to be free of big-time artistic constraints, or even the fear of eventual success.

And one day, perhaps many years into the career struggle, you realize that you must get practical. You shift gears and move on. Your life changes and it may be a great life. You do well in another job, - have a wonderful family. Your life is full and deep. But somewhere inside, the dream of vocal stardom still sits and waits.

Then the opportunity comes once again. Auditions are announced. Other older singers have recently made it big. Your family is grown. You have the time, the energy, and the richness of life inside you. And you wonder to yourself, could this be mysecond chance?

So what now? How do you approach this fresh opportunity?

A Renewed Meaning of Success

I have been thinking about this over the past week. And I spoke with some colleagues who are also singers. As we discussed what it means to seek singing success later in life, we realized that what singers may be seeking at this point is clarity about what success means to them.

Auditions may be absolutely the right way to go for one person, while another may need a more individually unique solution.

Seeking Clarity on a Renewed Meaning of Success
Looking back, what would your life have been like if your singing dreams had come true, many years ago? What did you expect? Try to describe in some detail what you yearned for.Do you want the same thing now? Does that vision make sense for your current life?Is it possible that the person that you are has matured over the years, but your artistic self is still a striving teenager.If you still hunger for dream held by your artistic self, but you know in your heart that it is not right for you now, is it possible that you need a period of grieving in order to let go of the old dream so that a new vision can emerge?If you cannot attain the great fame that you were seeking, what other kind of singing life would satisfy your hunger? Can you describe it in some detail?Can you create short, mid and long-range plans for yourself that do not scare or worry your family?Can you be more creative about the new ways to become known? (Internet-oriented, for example.)Do you feel that you have a message for an audience that is your age? If so, what is that message? What can you offer now through your mature talent that an audience is eager to hear?

Always try to keep in mind that the present is the point of your power. In other words, now is the only time you have. And now is the time to become what you want to be. So if you have a deep need to sing, get clear on your personal meaning of success - and get singing.

If necessary, may you discover a new meaning of success!

If you would like to learn more about the renewed meaning of success, please visit my site at:

http://www.singing-tips-with-barbara-lewis.com/meaning-of-success.html

Barbara Lewis is a singer, songwriter, and performer who has taught singing for 25 years.

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