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how do you guys deal with kids that like to root around your space and fire off question after question "whats this? can you use this one? what are these? what does this do? are you a magician? can you watch my kart-wheel?" and also overall busking/street performing questions:

do you just turn the music on and go with not much talking?

how do you set up your space so that people actually stop to watch like an audience and not stand 2 feet from you and get in your bubble?

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With people being in your space, I have never had too much of an issue, most people dont want to crowd in on a stranger in my experience, but if they seem to be in your space smile real big and step into theirs with your arms wide. The smile is key, and be polite. Say something to the effect of, if everyone could please take one large step back in case my ball tries to escape I dont want him knocking into one of you in his attempt to get away . The motion of moving into their space will get them to move away and the smile and joke helps ease the awkwardness of it.

As far as kids go, I dont think there is one good answer. You just gota wing it. A big smile and a polite, "please dont touch that" is usually enough to stop them from grabbing at your stuff. I usually just like answering kids with questions. "Are you a wizard?" "Do you think I am?" "NO!" "Really? Then I dont know how it is I am doing this."

Kids are tough, you just gota be patient above all else, and polite, and smile when dealing with kids. Getting on their level and showing them closely what you are doing will usually make parents happy and maybe will put a few extra bucks in your hat.

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O right, I guess winter is here now.

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Hecklers. I'd suggest handling it the way magicians do.

First step is just a small acknowledgement (For magicians you can sometimes skip this step, as that is mainly what hecklers want. When the kids bug you, they are trying to get attention. Yours, the audience, anyones.) A simple hello (Without answering their question) will often express to them that you cannot answer the question.

Step two, if they continue to be a nuesance IGNORE THEM. Often times either they will get the hint or the rest of the audience will and hush them so you don't have to.

Step three, if they continue to be a problem, politely tell them you are conducting a show and to please hold all questions until the end (Really this depends more on your style).

Final step, if someone is STILL being distracting, it's time to stop performing. If your audience paid for the venue, it's easy to kick them out and refund their money, but if you are in a public and free environment you don't have this option. Simply telling the audience you can't continue untill the heckler is removed, and if you've captured peoples attention they will quickly boo and shoo off the heckler.

Crowd control is important. You run the show, not them.

-ArchAngel_G

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Life is a game that is meant to be played.