The term Street Magician can be misleading. Firstly, because it has two meanings, and secondly because the second meaning doesn’t really exist.
The ‘real’ (and by real, I mean ‘came first’) definition of a street magician is a street entertainer that performs magic. You know the people who get a big crowd around them in busy cities, perform their show, and then go around the crowd with a hat for you to fill with money? I don’t perform that sort of magic. I don’t have a hat and I don’t like shouting.
The second meaning of Street magician has happened since David Blaine started performing on our TV screens. Before he started doing big publicity stunts, he used to do some great magic on the streets of America (Dynamo has done TV work here in the UK in a similar style). The reason why I say that this magic ‘doesn’t exist’ is because magicians don’t tend to wander the streets showing random tricks to strangers. There’s a term for any that do, they are called beggars. The thing that makes the Street Magic TV shows of David Blaine and Dynamo so great are the camera crews stood behind their shoulder. Without them, it would all just be a bit be weird!
That said, the Magic that people are talking about when they mention the David Blaine, Dynamo ‘Street Magic’ is more commonly refereed to as Close Up Magic. It was such a relief when David Blaine appeared on TV. Finally, someone was doing the sort of magic that my friends and I had been performing for years!
If you are looking for a ‘Street Magician’ to perform for your event, I like to use the term Mix and Mingle Magician.
If you would like a ‘Street Magician to perform at tables during a dinner, you’ll be wanting a Table Magician
If you are looking for someone who tries to hustle your guests for tips, I’m afraid you are on the wrong website.