talkmagic.co.uk

Most of the work i do is for children shows - I'm looking for some new material and would appreciate any recomendations from any of you - particulary anything different / special

Thanks

Cliff

Cliff...

Here's some things you've probably already ventured into, but they're here for good measure, anyway:

Multiplying Sponge Rabbits
Always a favourite - cheap, easy, fun

D-Lite
Combined with a good routine (try the D-Lite video) these are hilarous magic items - will keep kids captivated.

Jumbo Card Tricks
Great for kids tricks, as the big cards give them something to look at. Small poker-sized tricks seem to fly by without interest

Professor's Nightmare/Variations
The old cut'n'restored rope trick. Combined with a bit of comedy, this is great!

Balloon animals
Not really magical - except when you 'kill' a balloon animal and restore it! Balloons can be a great thing - as the fascination factor seems to be high.

Silks & streamers
Strange - but the sight of lots of silks or streamers appearing keeps kids riveted.

Basically, you've got to entertain kids HARD. They're more sceptical than adult audiences, and they'll suss out most tricks because they seem to think more logically (i.e. that ball is floating because there's string tied to it).

So, keep it visual and quick-paced. If they have to sit and think too hard, they get bored. Make sure that there's a reasonable level of humour, too - kids love to laugh at silly magic. The modelling balloon tricks normally go down well - especially when you 'kill' the animal with a needle, for some reason... (violence in today's society spreads deep!)

change bags
most of my work is also with kids.
try change bags in particular ones with zipper bottoms you can forget to zip up

mismade silk effects are also good.
i also use a fire to cane with flash wool instead of lighter fuel as an opener.

bunny boxes, animals in general.

production and disapearing boxes you can take apart or build kids need extra convincing it is empty.

mail me for other ideas.

I don't often do kids parties but I did do one a couple of months ago and I did a simple but funny routine called "Don Allan's Comedy Egg Can". The kids were all about five years old and they loved it.

The routine is available and explained on e.magictricks.

As the party was in a hall with a cleanable floor, I started the trick by getting an egg and explaining to the kids how delicate they are. I then accidently on purpose dropped it on the floor, to the kids delight, and this lead me nicely into the routine.

Hope this helps.

is it as good as it sounds

please mail me a description or let me know in the mag only section cheers.

I have not got access to the "Mags only" section YET but have a look on e.magic because it gives a good description.

Personally, my first impression wasn't good when I first started to look at performing it but once I perfected a routine around it it proved a good success. It would probably only be suited to the younger kids though.

There is some preparation involved beforehand but I found that it was worth it.

Once I get access to the "Mags section", I will tell you more.

thanks for the update

its on my list.

with kids stear clear of things that involve slights and palms as they see all

self working or concealed switches are much better, check out my review of the ghost tube which could also be used in a square circle routine

Kids have two built-in magicians nightmares:

1: They have x-ray vision. They see everything. It's almost impossible to use any psychological misdirection, because their attention span is short.

2: They think far to logically - and have a total lack of inhibitions. Expect shouts of 'that's not the same one' or 'you just put it in your pocket'.
You need to avoid these situations!!!

Personally, I can't handle it! I've tried and tried, but I think it takes someone with immense amounts of patience (like Magicdiscoman) and charisma to perform to kids.

I, on the other hand, have limited patience and adult charisma.
Therefore, I stick to what I know!

all this praise will swell me head

your absolutely right kids see and hear all.
when i do magic for kids i take the attitude that im being paid to show you magic wether you like it or not.
that said self working trick work best change bags mismade silks and the like.

if you expect the kids are going to tear strips of you then your prepared.

the classic cut and restored rope trick where the not slides up and down the rope before comming off the end is great, as they see you or have cut the rope themselves.
i usualy give the assistant the knot to take home and practice with, and if anyone asks what it is to tell then it a fraid knot (I'm a fraid not)
i also say to them before i start what is the difference between a fool and an idiot, a fool gets paid

if the kids get narky with you then just stop and say ive already been paid so i can stop now if you want i dont get paid by the hour.
this works for discos as well, its a good way to control the narky ones as it sets the other kids against the problem one (funny they used that taktic often in schools).

remember when working with kids you are in control, you can dictate the speed, you can stop, pack up and go home anytime.
just make sure your paid before or when you arive and your set.

I agree about getting paid *first*.

Although I don't do much major profit work, it's amazing how many times I've been tempted to leave early because some cocky wally tries to knock you down with their 'know it all' tactic.

This also applies to kids, I would imagine.

There's no fun being heckled - and even though you know you're good enough and you know you're in control, a persistent heckler can really leave you cold - and that's where you expose your weaknesses and lose confidence...

And confidence is oh so important here.

okey dokey hecklers

bring them on stage to you where your performing.
hi your name is, everyone this is wan**r is that your first or last name.
this person is an expert at telling every one how a trick is done this involves a lot of study so please give him a big hand as he will be taking over wile i have a coffee break.
ok wan**r hears you piece of rope and your sissors entertain the audience with the seventh variation of the cut and restored rope trick, i'll be over here setting your next trick ok.

leave them to it, 9 times out of ten they drop the props and sit down 1 time out of ten they do the trick, if they do the trick then ask for a round of aplause and hand them something big i have a die for this occasion and say your of course familier with the mending vanish technigue it was on the mask magician show last week off you go

again with a heckler the trick is to engage them bring them to you away from thier position of safty and into the audiences gase, treet them with so much respect and praise that it sickens them to thier stomach as they expect you to be angry as it is this there feeding off.

let the audience decide what is to be done with him for interupting thier show

in short be nice be polite let the jury of his peers convict him for you

B R I L L I A N T !!!!

I've just picked myself off the floor from laughing!

That's absolutely great... in fact, I'm going to pray for a heckler so I can try that one out. I've never heard anything so outrageous!!

Have you actually ever done this in reality? It's great! Maybe start a new thread to see if there's any more...

By the way... let your head swell one more inch... praise is well deserved here!

yes twice

the second time he actualy did a pasable cut and restored rope trick thinking he had foxed me so i gave him my die box and solid die

he threww this on the floor and stormed out to a rouseing apllause, the die box was damaged but was paid for by his parents very red faced they were to.

good idea about an anti hecle post who should start it
i can feel my head starting to sweel again

You may as well start it... and let your cranium do a maximum-capacity swell.

I'm really serious about being excited to try that one... is it your own creation???

By the way, sorry to have steered off-thread slightly - but hey, who's going to chastise us at this unearthly hour!!!

ok next post i will start the thread

back in the eons when i first became interested in ventrilagism i read a book that had a section about hecklers, i have since adapted the views for magic and discos.

i thought i was the only one that haunted this site

i take it your working (careing is not classified as work or you would get paid for it).

I'm on monitoring duties myself hope to soon get afull time paying job so that i can advertise without being crippled by the social.