:mellow: Ok people, I'm not sure if I post at the right place but as I was doing busking today at lido (I'm selling balloons) I actually overheard Ong (the lido magician) saying this after his acts:

Ong: Can you get $2 from your father? :blink:

He did his effect - yes, he took out his hat - yes, he asked for token of appreciation - yes...but when the kids didn't give him anything he said "Can you get $2 from your father?"!!!:angry:

I tell you how I feel - FURIOUS!!! :angry:

He's making all performers/buskers/magician LOOKS LIKE BEGGERS!!!

If any of you happens to pass by him do try to do something about it, I believe non of SMC members want to be quote by others as a begger...

Hey Alan, dun be so frustrated abt it.. Nothing we could do abt him. But i really doubt he could do his busking well with the very good human statues that is right beside him.

Anyway i never approached him, because he dun carry the entertainer essence. Smile.

My friend did gave him 2bucks because he wanted it so much! like felt cheated for 2 bucks. HA. btw , he tricks were bad. no offence -_-

is ong a member of smc..?

He's not a member of SMC. But he's a friend of mine. I think he makes a living by busking. He's friendly, why don't you guys talk to him to know more about him?

I give him some money when I walk by to show him support. It's not wrong to ask right? If we don't ask, people might not give. I know it's up to them to decide whether or not to give him anything, what's wrong with just asking?

While we appriciate and encourage free discussions in the forums, it would be best if we all avoid any mud slinging.

While we all have opinions, let's try expressing ourselves ambically and with mutual respect yes?

The posts so far are not very helpful but hopefully following posts will not turn into accusations, name calling and/or angry words exchanges.

Let's turn this thread into something more constructive ok? Like suggestions about how to better approach the subject or how to successfully busk in singapore.

Be nice all :)

Cheers all

sorry dude. yes. he's kind and friendly ;) get more tricks and stuffs.

Hmm i will really hope that he move his area from that dark place. Cause when there is such a strong competitor beside him, how you going to survice, juz move to another zone and do it. it might help him alot.

My 2 cents worth.

Just my personal experience, i think it was about a year ago, i was kind of new to magic, so i just want to see he if he could perform something nice, i asked him if he could show me some card tricks, guess what, he say no, i want to show you coins, well, i told he i am more interested in cards, and then he give that angry look and start performing his card tricks, 2 effects clean but not really very strong. So i was kind of disappointed, the worse part arrived when he asked for money, and actually i did nto prepare to give any. So i dig into my pocket and took out a $1 coin, he gave me that "WTH only $1 face" and then after i place the money, he just ignore me...

Not really a very good encounter with him, so i just cant imagine how friendly can he be? :blink:

hey there was once (before i learn magic), i walk past there and saw him... did not went up to see but i saw from a distance that he was doing the floating ball trick.... even i did not know magic at that time , i can see the gimmick :g:

lol.. you mean you saw exposure?

hopefully that wasn't what inspired you.. rofl... joking joking. :P

LOL! :lol: HAHAHA, come on... i was a poker face when i started magic!! :off:

Sorry to bring up the past post, but while i am working as human statue today (050306) at lido, 2 kids come over and ask me to teach them magic, I got a shock when they show me the "thumb breaking" trick, they said they learn it from Ong for $1.90!!! :angry:

One of them told me she ask Ong to tell her the "lite flight" secret, Ong offered to tell her for $10!!! (she did not manage to know cos no $) :angry:

I feel that this is exposure and hopefully some SMC members can come up with something to deal against this problem. Anyone have some ideas how we can better translate the message to him? :angry:

-Alan-

Well, we can try to invite him to some of our meetings, and we can see if we can be friends and we can discuss this in a cordial and constructive manner.

Personally, i think that behaviour is unprofessional and selling out on integrity for (a very few) quick dollars. But unless he is a man of reasons who is interested in magic in the long term, or else we cannot force him to do anything at all.

....however.....

unless I am mistaken, this person you are talking about is operating on the same busking scheme license as you are Alan.
If i remember correctly, one of the clause of the license is that the performer is NOT supposed to sell anything or set a price for his performance/service/products/secrets/etc etc.
i.e. it's not a businese license, it is a public performance license.
e.g. The balloon twister interviewed a few days ago on the chinese current affairs TV program was complaining that some people took a balloon sculpture and only gave like 20 cents and he couldn't stop them. Because that's the nature of the license.
So by that token, what he did in asking for a specific sum for his performance/secret is against the conditions of the busking licence as stated here, which NAC (National Art Council) takes pretty seriously. They were talking about changing the image of buskers in Singapore to be more than just some kind of charity.

But having said that, before everyone decides to go running to NAC to complain about him as a busker and get his license REVOKED, I STRONGLY SUGGEST that we should only do this as a LAST RESORT. Singapore magic scene is lacking enough for us to further tear it up with strifes among ourselves.
People dun care what you think until they know you care.

Maybe you can try approaching him Alan, and even exchange some tips with him, and try to broach the subject GENTLY and ambically. Maybe he didn't realise what he was doing and thought that was part of how he can make mony as a busker. Maybe you can change his mind about what it means to be a busker Alan. :)

Keep us posted abt how it goes yah?


P.S. Good interview with the TV program B)


Cheers

Hi Guys..

May i know the time and location this busker is usually at?

I would prepare 2 dollars..but more importantly, i am interested to personally encounter his performance and people relations.

Regards,
Chris

Hi Aloy:

Thanks for your suggestions, but we once had a quarrel before so I don't think it's appropriate for me to talk to him, I had told him since he started busking but I don't think he remember it now...

Yes, he is having the same endosement as me and the rest of the street performers, if such issue gets to NAC all buskers will recieve a warning letter.

As you probably know the rules by now, he has break the rules and regulations of NAC as well as the magician's code, a few of the street performers are taking such issue very seriously now and most are ready to complain him regarding solidicating of money from the public.

Singapore's magic scene is lacking of magician, that where I believe some SMC members who are interested in busking will be of help, other than that I can start busking magic rather than Ong reveling the secret of magic.

Hi Heartsofclubs,

Ong is usually at Lido basement (end of orchard underpass) on fri, sat and sun. He'll usually reach there about 12pm and end about 6pm, he always do "Lite Flight" so I think you can easily spot him, if you need help can always contact me cos I usually go busking on weekend also.

P.S: I'll try to talk to him again, if he still remain stubborn I hope some of you can help me talk to him, if such case happens again from Ong, then I think the rest of the buskers will take actions so please help.

-Alan-

is he a busker or beggar?

he's even willing to sell a trick for $1.50?! :angry:

Hi people of SMC,

I've talk to Ong over the phone regarding his "asking for money" issue, currently we have make ourselves clear about the rules and regulation of NAC and also the "selling magic secret" issue, I'll be inviting him to join us on this coming 11th March meeting so please be nice to him.

About the "asking for money" issue:
Ong had agreed to change his way of asking money from the audience, I believe this is a good news for all the buskers and anyone who had mistaken him for some time.

About the "selling magic secret" issue:
He had apologize for such "selling", his idea of teaching magic is to tick people off from learning secrets, also the secrets that he reveal are those "thumb breaking" or beginner tricks that can be found from books.

Currently we had apologize to each others for all the misunderstanding cause, now on neutral terms I hope SMC members and anyone who have had bad experience with him before will give him another chance to prove himself.

-Alan- ^_^

haha actually i was thinking to have a gathering at where he is busking but well the issue is no solved :D

Well DOne MT for your effort! There you see it, if you remain positive and reasonable everytihing can work out so STOP Bickering.

Alright, since there's a request we'll fix this coming jamming session at Lido's Macafe (it's at the end of orchard underpass, the place where Ong is performing), I've talk to Ong regarding this jamming session that we'll be watching his show, he'll be happy to show us something. Any disagreement?

-Alan-