VIDEO CLASS

STREET ENTERTAINERS

BEFORE YOU WATCH

1 A Some people use their talents to entertain people in the streets and earn money that way. With a partner, match the words in the box with the pictures, and make sure you can pronounce them.

juggler street musicians acrobat mime artists/living statues unicyclists fire eater clown

1 B Discuss in small groups.

1 Which of these street entertainers have you seen, and where?

2 Do you like them? Why/why not?

3 Do you give them money?

4 What other kinds of street entertainer do you have in your

country?

5 Can you do any of the activities above? If so, which?

1 C Use a dictionary to check any underlined phrases that are new. Then discuss with your partner whether you think the sentences are true or false.

1. If you want to learn to juggle well, you have to take it seriously.

2. They have also got to know that we take it seriously and we try to put that across in the shows that we do.

3. Most acrobats go on a course to learn their skills.

4. It’s easy for a street musician to gather a large crowd.

5. You need a strong personality to hold the crowd once you’ve gathered them.

6. It’s difficult for street entertainers to persuade an audience to pay for the performance.

7. If you’re shy, it’s not hard to develop confidence as a street entertainer.

8. You may be the world’s finest seven-ball juggler, but a personality that doesn’t go with that fine juggle will not hold the audience.

9. A lot of people think that street entertainers are just begging for money.

10. In order to commit themselves, they’ve got to do something.

WATСH THE VIDEO

2 Watch the whole sequence about street entertainers and discuss the questions below in groups.

1. Which entertainments do you see in the street in Chester or in the school?

2. The school teaches street entertainers to develop their skills (to become better jugglers and acrobats), but what other things does the school try to teach?

WATCH AGAIN

3 WORK IN GROUPS

Watch the first interview with David Alexander who runs the school, and tick the two correct answers to each question. Watch the section twice if necessary.

1 David wants the public:

a to take street entertainment seriously.

b to relax and enjoy street entertainment.

c to understand that the Street entertainers take it seriously.

2 He says that street entertainment:

a has a long history.

b is a form of begging.

c is an art form.

3 In the school, he wants to teach the street entertainers:

a to look after their financial affairs correctly.

b to improve and develop their skills.

c to earn a lot of money.

4 Watch the interview with David and unicyclist. Fill in the gaps.

UNICYCLIST	Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! 1) ___________ ______is I 2) _______________________________ _____________because 3) ____________________!
DAVID	Once 4) _________________, you’ve got them ______________. A lot of people think that it’s what you do in that 20 minutes that will hold the crowd there. 5) _____________________________. Although the skills that you may have are terribly important, they’re not as important as who you are. You may be the world’s finest seven-ball juggler, but a personality that doesn’t go with that fine juggle will not hold the audience.
UNICYCLIST	6) ________________________________________ I do is under the leg. Right, here we go, here we go, under the leg, here we go. Right, I’ll do it. I’ll do it. Here we go, here we go, here we go.
DAVID	In order to commit themselves, they’ve got to do something. They’ve got to do something physical, they’ve got to do something that actually says, ‘OK, yes, I shall stay here. I shall, I’ll go with you this little way, I will stay.’
UNICYCLIST	Torch number 1! Right, Hugo, torch number 2! Yes, indeedy! OK, here we go, here we go! Torch number 3! Yes, yes, yes. Stay where you are!
	Finally, how do you get their money? The best way of getting money from your audience is to make them laugh about it. 7) ________________ that really at the end of the show the hat 8) ______________________ ______________ and they 9) __________________ to be asked to put money in. If you can make them feel good about that process, you’ll get more money. The most important thing is that 10) __________________ ____________________________________, and that they’ve got good value for money.

5 David gives his class a talk on how to present a show. Watch the extract and write notes for each of the headings below in the notebook.

How to present a show

1 How to gather a crowd_____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How to hold the crowd______________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 How to get their money_____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Look at the notebook again. Answer the question.

Does the juggler-unicyclist follow David’s advice?

AFTER VIEWING

VOCABULARY & GRAMMAR

6 Fill in the correct word from the list below. Use the words only once.

Rome attitude things show gentlemen juggler

Street a course Tower traditions players

Street entertainer

1 go on ________________

2 Clock ___________

3 long—standing ______________

4 Troubadour ______________

5 Ancient ____________

6 lawful _______________

7 wonderful ___________

8 amazing ___________

9 ladies and ________________

10 seven-ball ____________

7 Fill in the correct prepositions, then choose any three and make sentences.

1. This unique centre in North Wales offers courses to help in other areas such as finance, advertising and communicating ______ an audience.

2. They have also got to know that we take it seriously and we try to put that ________ in the shows that we do.

3. I’ve always enjoyed performing ___ _______ ___ people, and this is just an extension of that.

4. I’m hoping to develop a little bit more my street, my street character and develop confidence ____ the street.

5. Not be afraid ____ people when I’m performing.

6. Today we are going to be looking at some more important aspects of how to present a show ____ the streets.

7. Most importantly perhaps, the audience has got to know why ____ earth you’re there.

8. You may be the world’s finest seven-ball juggler, but a personality that doesn’t go _______ that fine juggle will not hold the audience.

9. The best way of getting money from your audience is to make them laugh _________ it.

10. If you can make them feel good _________ that process, you’ll get more money.

8 Divide into two teams and fill in the blanks with the proper particles. The first team to do this task is the winner.

1. …But I do think there has to be a feeling of, you’re there and you’re enjoying yourself, this is something you’re, you’re OK with.

2. Roll up! Roll up! In a few minutes’ time, here on this very spot, I am going to present to you an amazing show.’

3. They know that really at the end of the show the hat is going to come off.

4. They’re going to be asked to put money in.

5. There we go, just drop it in there, thank you very much.