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Any ideas re Change bag as I have one with 2 compartments & a zip but no idea what to do with it

ok here a good one that will incorporate your zipper, start by showing bag empty the casualy unzip the bag show a yellow silk and say your going to vanish it, casualy placeit in the bag and out the zip and into your pocket to screams of fake and its in your pocket.

take silk out of your pocket and zip bag up turning it inside out as you do so and say ok i'll have to do it the hard way.
put silk in bag as you turn it right side in, say last time i did this trick some kid told me to put a sock in it so i did.
pull out a sock attached to another sock and another untill the yellow silk is seen tied between two socks, ideal for thoughs socks the sock fairy leaves behind.

Following this thread I notice some suggestions are very worth while whilst some come from magicians that appear to be more interested in ‘clever magic’ than being a good entertainer of children with magic.

There is so much written on children’s magic that I wonder why you feel the need to ask the question about what material to use for children. Books galore, videos and DVDs abound on children’s magic are available to buy or in magic club’s libraries. There are also many dealers with first class props suitable for youngsters. There are many props still available, new or these days s/hand, that come from the now defunct Supreme Magic Company. I would think that the best dealer in that style with some real quality stuff is Practical Magic. See relative web sites. However you will soon find that it will mean spending a lot of money to get an act of quality material.

Lets start at the beginning. Have you the personality to be a good children’s entertainer? Remember your personality and your ability to ENTERTAIN are more important than the magic used. These days’ children’s entertainers are expected to entertain the very young, certainly as young as three either at home or in nursery groups. You would need personality and material to suit these. The ages 4 to about 8 can be well catered for with most general children’s props. Ages above that, magic that I will call ‘scaled down’ versions of adult material can be used. You will see that it almost needs a separate act for these different groups. I do know one good entertainer that has several acts packed and ready for each occasion. Personally I have enough to hand in my Magic Box/Table to cover all ages.

I firmly believe in giving the audience a lot to see although I will admit that some good children’s entertainers do present a good show from a briefcase. Starting with the very young some good nursery rhyme type effects are recommended. Frequently these involve large colourful cards showing the cartoon characters and of course pack flat in the case (as they say). There are many versions of Magic Painting available from dealers and this type of effect is always popular.

It goes without saying that audience participation is most important especially the birthday child. There are several versions of producing a personalised Birthday Card for that special person. On your computer it is easy enough to produce such a card. (Your name and contact details in discreet letters will be added of course)

Several effects for children will have some movement within the prop and this is very good. Well known props here are ‘Run Rabbit Run’ and 'Bonzo' by Jack Hughes. Other dealers produce modern versions of these standards. Some effects will involve a ‘sucker’ element as mentioned in an earlier posting. However do remember not to over do the sucker element, or movement within a prop just to get the children over hyped up.

A routine using some nice coloured silks is well worthwhile, as already mentioned in previous postings. Much can be made of a simple changing bag with some silks. Don’t make the mistake of some by using several ‘change bags’ within one show. Children aren’t daft you know.

Vary your effects. To you all the tricks may be different but - relating to adult card tricks - one four ace trick to an audience is that same as dozens of others. Make sure your effects are varied.

Consider using a good puppet in your show. Try to get one that is not the same as all the other entertainers in your area are using. This will either mean paying for a more expensive one or having one made for yourself. You and your show will be remembered more by having such a popular character. Don’t be afraid of doing vent. Keep the puppet moving and the children will be so enthralled it its antics that they will forget your lips might be moving a little.

Productions of any sort are nice but can involve somewhat large props. A nice opening routine could involve producing lots of silks from an empty woolly hat. The hat and silks all pack flat and weigh very little. Walk around collecting invisible colours from the children and then you make their colours appear in the hat by magic.

A ‘Cut & Restored Rope’ routine is good but many children are ahead of you in that so do the C&R Skipping rope and within this you should be able to weave a good story line. The Egg Bag is something I use all the time but not with the usual black bag but a colourful one made like a hat and a funny egg that is multicoloured. This enables a comedy routine to be created. Good entertainment can make the simplest of effects last a long time but beware of overdoing this and time wasting. The adults will soon notice you are padding it out.

Read lots of the books and get the ideas for routines and the ‘bits of business’ that are the lifeblood of being a good children’s entertainer. Just a thought . . . whilst being loud and boisterous is fine for the older children you should adopt a quieter and more gentle approach for the very tinies as they can easily be frightened by ‘over the top’ antics of a strange character.

Try to see some good children’s entertainers working. Not so easy when the majority of shows are private events. Why not visit a children’s entertainer friend who is NOT in your area to see him work and discuss his material. Dealer dems. at magic clubs and conventions are a good source of inspiration and enable you to see and handle suitable props. Always operate brain carefully before opening your wallet.

You will notice that I have only mentioned a couple of tricks in passing as there are just about thousands, however if you were to ask me for the name of a perfect trick for youngsters I would say ‘3 Little Pigs’ by Supreme Magic. (Other dealer variations are around) It has colourful props and story well known by children. Audience participation but getting all to sing ‘Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?’ A clever vanish and a ‘sucker bit’. It must take all of one second to reset and if you can’t manage a simple DL then you are in the wrong business.

Balloons? Well of course balloons aren’t actually ‘magic’ although most bookers seem to expect balloon models and they are very entertaining for most youngsters. However you will occasionally get a child who will scream the place down at the first sight of a balloon. Have you the courage to remove that poor child from the room?

A rabbit production is a very good climax to any show – I always use one – but there are some ‘do good’ people who object so I always ask when making the booking if the rabbit is required. Psssst. A photo call with the birthday child and the rabbit is always a winner.

Oh yes . . the ‘Card on Ceiling’ at children’s parties???? I assume the author was taking the Wee Wee? That’s enough from this old fella - for now anyway. Mark

RussellMagic: You've had an encyclopaedia of practical ideas.
Forget the dvd's for the moment till YOU have learned HOW to handle and entertain children.
READ Open Sesame by Wilfred Tyler & Eric Lewis.
Positive Magic by Poz.
Laughter All The Way by Ron Bishop
For starters.
Then for very funny routines with ALL the business you'll ever need get hold of
Specialised Children's Routines with Funny Patter & Situation Comedy For Children by Eric Sharp. It is TOTALLY practical.
Allen Tipton

Good tips Alan. So there we are RussellMagic. From ‘Open Sesame’ I still use the Linking Ring Routine with set of 8. This being the children’s version of a basically adult effect. Try to see the recorded Paul Daniels version with the little girl and the Linking Rings – just pure enchanting ‘magic’.

From ‘Laughter All The Way’ I still use my own version of The Wish. A truly ‘magical’ effect with a great “Ahhhhhh” factor. I have these two books to hand even now along with Eric Sharp’s books.

I can sense that some younger magicians will comment that books like ‘Open Sesame’ (published 1946) ‘Laughter All The Way’ (published 1968) and Eric’s Sharps ‘Specialised Children’s Entertainment’ (1981) are very dated and ‘old hat’. Admittedly some of the props described in the earlier books may not be appropriate for today but it’s the words of wisdom, bits of business and general advice that are priceless in any age. Read, mark, learn and inwardly digest!

There are so many publications from way back. For instance there are the volumes of ‘Kid Stuff’ by Francis Ireland Marshall. All packed with practical advice that would take a lifetime to learn by (bitter) experience.

We would all love to hear back from you on your progress and experiences. Mark

thanks guys for the advice and where do i find these books as i don't belong to any clubs.

andy

Russell: Open Sesame( it was once the Bible for advice etc) from Magic Books By Post £17:50 ( 154 pages)
laughter All The Way. Goodliffe Publications Ltd., Unit 3, Guild Rd., Bromsgrove, Worcs. B60 2BY. 01527 872246. About £10 :50
Eric Sharp ( these are wonderful ideas) 132 A4 pages. Was £24.
Eric Sharp, 'Abracadabra', Tylagarw,Pontyclun, Wales. CF72 9EZ.
01443 225443
Allen Tipton

I am a childrens magician!!!

Just remember

-Go big- Small close up items like cards, coins and sponge-balls do not have an amazing effect on children. Go for large productions, balloons and lots of colour!!!

-Comedy- Children like a laugh. Try the breakaway wand, change bag, don't keep it too serious!!!

-Be yourself- Keep the show unique and just enjoy!!!

Russell,
Why don't you join a Magic Club? Some magicians advise against it but I can tell you with authority and experience, as I first joined the Staffs Magical Society at 14 years, in 1947, it brought great joy, and tremendous help to me. And I am still in a Magic Club
There you'll be surrounded by other magicians who are passion about our Art ^ who no doubt will always be helpful with advice etc.
I'll send you a pm with a very well known magician in your area. Contact him about Magic Clubs.
Allen Tipton