The Billet Article - The Gazzo Lecture

This article is taken from The Billet Issue - 391 - Jun 2004, Authored by Keith Pickles

The Gazzo Lecture

Our largest gathering for many a long time turned up on Friday 7th May to watch the antics of ex-British, but now resident in the USA, street entertainer, Gazzo. On a tour of this country promoted by our own member, Simon Jackson, this was obviously considered a meeting not to miss by most of our members. We had a large crowd of 60 people there, only 6 of whom were non-members and paid at the door.

So what did they see? Well certainly not a normal type lecture where all the effects are explained. This was a demonstration of Gazzo's street working style. He performed just as if the audience was an audience in the street. There was very little magic - a rope routine, a card effect and cups and balls. But what we did see was how Gazzo captured and held an audience. This was largely done by his personality - which could be described as being sarcastic, pushy & aggressive - and humorous patter. Gazzo explained that he started in doing magic in pubs in this country, before moving on to street magic, but found that he was always being moved on and decided that he would have a better chance of success in America. Having got over the language hurdle, he has managed to make a fair living on the streets. Amongst the many tips he gave to the aspiring street magician was how to ensure that you get the maximum amount of money from your audience.

Gazzo explained that he had a stroke when he was 36 and that this had led to a loss in his dexterity. Therefore he has to rely on personality to capture his audience. He believes that card tricks don't catch the imagination of large street audiences, so he steers clear of them, mainly. His street performance can last anywhere between 15-60 minutes. He finds that the longer it lasts and he keeps the audience there, the more he gets in his hat at the end.

Perhaps most members will remember the one-liners and other laughs that Gazzo gave us throughout the evening. Whilst it's impossible to write them down and make them sound funny, one or two I remember are:

Gazzo to a member of the audience: "You're wife dressed you didn't she?"
Member of audience: "Yes".
Gazzo: "You know why, she didn't want the girls ogling at you".

Gazzo took the camera from one of the audience who was taking a photo. He "confiscated" it to the end of the show by placing it behind his table. Appearing to change his mind he picked it up and threw it back to the man, the camera fell with a clatter on the floor (fake camera, of course!). I could see Darren laughing at this one, so I expect to see it in his act before too long!

Then there was the Indian Chief who drank 66 cups of tea a day - he drowned in his own Teapee!

In his cups and balls routine he had Lorna hold the three balls. She placed them on the table and when Gazzo pressed one, it squeaked. When Lorna pressed it, it didn't. Gazzo showed a squeaker in his hand and placed it on the table. When Lorna pressed it, it didn't squeak!

Gazzo laid out a deck of cards on the table, with one card in front of the others. He asked Victoria to choose one. As she went to pick a card from within the deck (not the one card in front of the others), Gazzo whacked his stick down heavily on the table saying "not that one", and making Victoria jump a mile!

Gazzo held the audience for 2 hours, with basically the routine he works on the street together with a question and answer session, where he managed to give many further tips for aspiring street magicians. The only thing he couldn't help with was the British weather. As he said, as the rain poured down outside, it was the British weather which was a major factor in helping him make the decision to move to America as a street entertainer, where from May to September he can work outside almost rain free.

Gazzo finished to a rousing reception from all there.

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