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Seriously Silly by David Kaye

The Effect
A miraculous transformation of wooden party magic hacks to seasoned children's entertainers. Or at least that's the plan.

Cost
About £29

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

Could be a 1, or could be a 5, depending on whether or not you 'get it'.

Review

Seriously Silly is not a collection of tricks. Author David Kaye makes lots of references to established tricks and routines, but begins with the assumption that you're already familiar with the fundamental tools of magic and what to do with them. This isn't a book that will teach you new routines or new magic. It's intent is to focus the reader on the needs and expectations of his or her spectators - specifically, kids aged three to thirteen. Kaye's offering covers a brief history of children's magic, emphasising the differences between its evolution in the UK as opposed to the USA (a little too liberal with his use of the words 'England' and 'English', methinks, but that's probably just because I married a Scots lassie). There's also an introduction to the psychology of children - what they find funny, how a child's sense of humour differs from that of an adult, and how different age groups respond to magic and comedy in different ways.

Kaye's approach to writing this book is first rate, and it all plays out like one huge newspaper report. You're presented with basic ideas and concepts, which return again and again, being embellished and developed with each repetition. It's stupidly easy to read, and amazingly easy to digest. A lot of good points are made, and David Kaye's enthusiasm for his subject is very evident throughout. Most useful is his guidence for building routines for young audiences. A lot of this stuff should be self-evident common sense, but as with all aspects of magic, the most obvious solutions tend to be the most commonly overlooked.

Overall

I bought this book on a whim. Since taking up magic again, I've been looking at a number of different avenues to take and styles to adopt. Children's magic isn't something I've been considering at all, but I bought the book out of sheer curiosity as a text on presentation rather than secrets - and also because I've got a little boy of my own that needs entertaining daily. What I found was one of the most engaging books on magic that I've ever read. I know that seasoned kids' performers will almost certainly disagree with some of Kaye's opinions and assertions, but from an outsider's perspective, this was a real eye opener. The litmus test for me is that Seriously Silly makes you want to go and do it yourself, and I'm seriously considering developing a kids' act of my own.

Rating: 9/10 with obvious wiggle room in either direction, as I've yet to put any of Kaye's theory into practice!

Excellent review. Most magicians rate kid show magic as the last thing they want to do. Cruise ships, stage magic in Vegas, nightclubs and even resturants are more desirerable then being a kidshow magician. I did birthday parties for quite a while being booked three shows on Sat. and two on Sun. Most parties I went as a clown and not all children like clowns. You must learn how to make children at ease with you so they will have fun. David Kaye said that must like children or at least pretend to. I think if you have to fake it the children will know it. They know sincereity and will see thru you. I made a good living doing kid shows and it was a great learning exoerience. The book is very helpful to anyone wishing to start a career in kidshows. I like the book very much.
Al

excelent reveiw of an excelent book
a must for kids show guys. I still reread mine from time to time and it's not easy seeing all the simple things I've fogotten.
It is more of a getting into the right mindset for kids magic than kids magic itself. But the routines in there are very good and show his reasoning for proper kids magic construction perfectly.
I would rate this book 9/10 myself

The only problem I have is the 'this is me with madonna', 'this is me me with...celebrity'....etc. Anoying but ignorable

PS When lots of magicians have told you kids shows ain't proper magic, it's nice to read this book to get a more enlightened perspective. Thanks Mr kaye and thanks Al Doty for posting