Imagine this. You want to go to Europe to see the world’s art treasures and paint the landscapes. But you don’t have even a few hundred dollars to your name.
Your choice … Skip the trip and wait till you can afford it. Or use every dime you’ve got to get there and work on the streets to make enough money to eat.
As a teen, Ken Salaz taught himself magic and would perform on the streets to make a little extra money to buy painting supplies.
When doing magic on the streets of Europe, he caught some pickpockets trying to steal his earnings. Instead of calling the cops, he got the pickpockets to teach him their tricks. And with some practice, he got so good, he could stand and talk to you while getting your watch and wallet without your knowing it.
I know what you’re thinking ... I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH A CRIMINAL!!
Rest assured, Ken never “picked” for a living — he never stole. But because of his pickpocketing skills, big crowds would gather around him, and he would pick someone’s pocket in the crowd without their knowing it.
It got a big laugh and big tips. Enough that he could live in Europe for a year of painting and doing street magic.