Scaring People For a Living

Thebushman 1

Now I Know:

David Johnson, pictured, is an allegedly homeless man living in San Francisco. He is also a street performer who makes, in a good year, north of $60,000 per some reports. His instrument? Two branches from eucalyptus trees, with greenery intact, each about five feet high, which he hides behind while sitting on a milk crate. His gig? Scaring unsuspecting passersby.

Johnson’s act is simple — scare people while crowds look on. The audiences cheer in delight when he succeeds, with many tossing a quarter or a dollar into his jug. Repeat often, return daily, and your income grows. He’s been doing this since 1980, and with over twenty years of experience under his belt, Johnson has become very good at it – here are three videos of him at his craft, getting hysterical reactions from his “victims” while scores of onlookers react in delight, and a fourth of him performing his schtick for a video holiday card on behalf of a local advertising agency.

Wikipedia has more on the “world famous bushman.”

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