Live Course

School of Busking

Street Theatre & Busking Course 2024

Fri May 31st – Sun 2 June

 

Fri May 31st - Sun 2 June

Smoking Mirrors, Bristol, UK

£425

3 Days Training

3 Days Training

This 3 day street theatre and busking course is designed to hand over the skills of a street performer.

The Program

Day one – Theory of Street Performing

Day Two – Street Performing workshops

Day Three – Morning dress rehersal – Open air Street performing

🎭 Welcome to the Ultimate Street Theatre and Busking Adventure in the heart of the UK – Bristol 🎉

Unleash your inner performer and join the acclaimed 3-day intensive training course that has been dazzling the streets since 2006.

Wherever you are on your performing journey, discover your street performance potential at the School of Busking in Bristol, UK! Join our 3-day intensive course led by renowned founder Mario Morris. Dive into dynamic lectures, hands-on workshops, and real street performances in a small, focused group.  Elevate your craft and become a confident busking sensation. Limited spots available – secure yours now!

What Students are saying about the Course 

I loved my time at the School of Busking Street Theatre & Busking Course and can’t recommend it highly enough.

Erin Cunningham

Circus Performer & Entertainer

Read Erins FULL testimony here

The long version: As a hula hooper who had never performed a hula hoop show without fire or LEDs involved, I realised I had a fear about performing without special effects. So I took to the street to both practice and get ‘stage time’. I started busking with my hoops and an amp, just casually hoop dancing in the street, getting my confidence up by performing to people who had never asked to see me perform in order to perform on stage to those that will be paying for the pleasure. At first it was terrifying but after 9 months of this I was totally in love with the street. I loved the raw honesty of it, the genuine interactions and connections I made and the real time feedback I got from people about what I was doing. There was no faking it. If they were interested they stopped, if they enjoyed it they paid, if they were amused they laughed. I was very surprised at how something so scary became something so wonderful that I wanted to get better at and take round the world with me. The freedom in choosing when, where and how to work really appealed. I started researching busking tips and tried to find information online about creating proper street shows and acts. However, frustratingly there was very little information. So when I found that there is a School Of Busking I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was so excited. I signed up immediately and am so happy that I did. The course was perfect. The teachers are so lovely, so knowledgeable and so good at passing on their knowledge. They have an extraordinary number of years of experience to pass on and have divised a fantastic course that does just that. I can’t recommend them highly enough. I learnt so much and had so much fun as well as met some wonderful people on the course. Over the space of 3 days we learnt street performance theory AND devised our own show and performed it to actual humans who actually stopped to watch, clapped and gave us money at the end! It was an amazing experience and a very good use of my time and money. I could spend years on the street trying to figure out through trial and error, and sweat and tears what we learnt at The School Of Busking. But to become a great street performers in much less time and with much less difficulty it makes far more sense to go and learn from the best. If you want to get into or better at street performance then this is the place to go! Erin Cunningham

Working with Mario was a great pleasure.  He has years of experience, and, more importantly, knows how to communicate this experience to students of the art.  Patience and professionalism combine to create an excellent learning environment.  We look forward to continuing our classes and including Mario in our programs

Jeff McBride

Master Magician , Magic and Mystery School Las Vegas

“The school opened up a lot of new opportunities for me. So much so that I’m back again this year, and looking forward to it. If it’s half as good as last year, it’ll be GREAT!  Entertaining in the street for cash requires a different set of skills from other areas of magic, and these skills really help all other areas of performing magic, or even pitching.  Can’t believe there are so many people out there passing up the chance to attend – can’t think where else you’d get so much GREAT info in such a short time. Intensive – sure – but – GREAT! “

Del Boy

Performer

The Venue

We are delighted to be hosting our course at – Smoking Mirrors Magic Bar, Bristol 

This 1920s style bar in heart of Bristol is home to a host of magic shows. This is a unique venue with a bar and small theatre area, ideal to hone your skills.

In the evening enjoy a magic show with your felllow students and the School of Busking Team. 

Getting here, Accommodation, Food and Drink

Bristol has its own airport, railway station and a network of national buses.

Hotels, Hostels and bed and breakfasts are abundant in Bristol.  Accommodation and food are the responsibility of the student during the course. 

Learn how to:

 

  •     Attract a crowd
  •     Turn a crowd into an audience
  •     Keep an audience
  •     Entertain an audience
  •     Overlap your material
  •     Turn your crowd into a paying audience

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What We Do

Immerse yourself in a secure and enjoyable learning environment tailored for variety performers, spanning Street Theatre to Cabaret and Stage Acts. Here, you can nurture and develop your unique act, mastering the art of street performing with confidence.

Who Is If For:

Beginners, Intermediate or Advanced students of Performing art, Magicians, Comedians, Circus Performers, Street entertainers, Burlesque Acts, Story Tellers, Dancers the list is up to you, contact if your not sure.

How do we do it:

Benefit from our extensive expertise in Street Theatre, Cabaret, and Stage performances. We go beyond offering tips and insights by seamlessly integrating theory with hands-on experience. Our interactive workshops provide a dynamic platform to put theoretical knowledge into immediate practice, ensuring a first-class learning experience.

The Team

Mario Morris

Mario Morris

Founder of the School of Busking

Meet your host, Mario Morris—a maestro of magic, comedy, storytelling, and a globally acclaimed outdoor theatre performer. With expertise in busking, magic, and escapology, Mario is not only a seasoned entertainer but also a certified coach and mentor.

Mario’s illustrious career spans events worldwide, showcasing his one-man comedy magic show from bustling streets to grand stages. Renowned for his prowess in teaching Street Theatre, he has lectured and performed on a global scale. The visionary behind the School of Busking since 2006, Mario has imparted his knowledge to numerous students over the years.

A fixture at the Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas, Mario has been hosting the Focus on Street Magic with Jeff McBride since 2010. Join Mario on a journey where entertainment meets expertise, and unlock the secrets to becoming a captivating performer in the world of street theatre.

Veronica Conway

Veronica Conway

Co- host

Introducing your co-host, Veronica, a dedicated artist immersed in the world of the Arts since 2007. Her talents extend to full-time performances and busking, captivating audiences with balloons, bubbles, storytelling, and magic across the UK, Europe, North America, and the Far East. Beyond her captivating performances, Veronica is an English teacher and accomplished writer.

For many years, Veronica has collaborated with her magical partner and husband, Mario, in delivering courses and personalised coaching on motivation, clarity, and life coaching. Her extensive mentoring experience includes working with various organizations in Edinburgh, serving as a support worker and training support manager for individuals facing homelessness, mental health challenges, addiction, and other vulnerabilities.

Together with Mario, Veronica has journeyed the globe, entertaining at outdoor events, participating in alchemical fire rituals, and hosting transformational gatherings in Spain, the UK, and the US. 

Tom Arnold

Tom Arnold

Faculty Member

Tom boasts a  20-year career as a versatile and accomplished performer. His expertise spans various artistic realms, encompassing roles as an established Punch & Judy Man, magician, street performer, puppet maker, prop maker, and photographer. Currently pursuing further artistic knowledge, Tom is actively engaged in studying Art at Gloucester University.

Having embarked on his journey with the School of Busking over 15 years ago as a student, Tom’s dedication and proficiency have elevated him to the status of a trusted member of the School of Busking team.

As a multi-talented artist, his extensive background in street performance, magic, and the arts adds immense value to our team, making him an invaluable asset.