talkmagic.co.uk

I have decided (as a slow way to build up my confidence on performing to the public) to do a few free shows at my local library. I have a few routines (visual ones because kids really belive it is magic if you make it visual)but I was wondering if anyone had any good routines to use. I don't really want to spend loads of money on gimmicks and big kids tricks because I'm only doing it to get used to performing in public , so I would be really grateful for any effects without the use of gimmicks (little gimmicks like TT don't really count). From what I have experienced , children like routines where something vanishes , reappears or changes (Which is why a simple "Wild Coin" routine is great) but does anyone know of any other types of tricks that really catch peoples attention , without the risk of spending lots of cash on gizmo's. I would be really grateful...thanks

if you don't mind spending £5, I'd recommend the 'disappearing card case' look under the review section, as you will see there are quite a few routines possible with this...

as a bonus it works just as well for big kids as little ones!

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1616

Yup. I already have that , but thanks anyway

I am in the same boat as I am going to do a little routine for my daughters birthday party in December.

I have a few things which I HOPE will keep four year olds attention. A magic colouring book, which is great and I reckon the kids will love it. A couple of DeeLites. Some rope for a cut and restored rope, TT and silk, sponge balls, a paddle and a cup and ball.

I though I would go for stuff that isn't too complicated to watch or perform but would hopefully be fun enough for them to enjoy...I better get practicing I suppose!!!

Beer4Dolphins - you should check out the multiplying bunnies. They would be great for a 4 year olds party.

(I think I am becoming obsessed by my rabbits)
(Which I guess, is better than being possessed by them).

I do Childrens shows on a regular basis - here are some of the cheaper items that I find work well:

Egg Bag
Comedy egg can
3 way colouring book
Stiff rope
Slush powder
Paper hat tears
Crystal silk cylinder
Water in newspaper
Production box - Mark Wilson's "Complete Course in Magic" book shows you how to make one out of a shoe box - great cheap way to make the b'day child get a special gift from the magician / silks / props for the show

Hope this helps

Cliff

Try and get disney or Harry Potter cards as these appeal more to kids.
Get hold of a drawer box, if you don't already have one, and show the box empty then produce sweets and you'll have friends for life.

Performing for Children is far more complicated than most people think. I agree that we shouldn't just buy effects and do them as per the instructions and expect that it will be ok. Many people have tried this - paid the price - and then decided that children's magic is not for them. For me the key points to a good performance are:

a) The Magician's Personality

b) Understanding the feelings of the spectators ie - how they feel before a show / their expectations. Knowing what you want the audience to feel during the show and when you want them to feel it -Do you want to appear as "able to perform the impossibile" - "to be just as suprised as the audience"? It is a fact that Children will get bored after 30minutes of "Jaw dropping miracles" one after another with no interaction with the audience. It is also important how they feel when the show is over and they. (eg. Never do a dissapearance at the end - it leaves them thinking "what happened to the X" instead of "Wow - that was great!")

c) The material - unless you have seen lots of different people doing children's shows it is hard to know what material you can use. There is so much out there - both good and bad - cheap and horrendously expensive. The ideal thing is to go to as many children's shows as you can and see material in use. What you read in a shop description may not quite be the way it is perceived when performing. Tricks for children aren't always tricks that children will like but what is perceived as being what they will like.
That's the good thing about sites like this - you can use the experience of fellow magicians to help you get one step ahead

d) Practise, Practise, Practise

Cliff

Hi

Cliff and anon above are the first sensible postings i have seen so far regarding childrens entertainment.

I back Cliffs remark about the routines that you get with the tricks when you buy them.
Read the instructions and get the trick working but do not even read the routine.They are generally a complete waste of time and were probably written 60 ish years ago when certain gags may have worked ( although i doubt it ).
I would advise to stay away from cards and coin tricks though with 4 yr olds.
involve a puppet of some sort ( even a sock monster will do) but make the routine funny. Not clever funny but silly funny and i guarantee you will keep their attention longer.
Children love to laugh especially when you( the entertainer) gets hurt, get it wrong or get cream shoved into your face etc etc.....
The more colouful and visual the better.

Cliff writes: "Performing for Children is far more complicated than most people think."

And is THAT ever an understatement!

Far too many wannabes figure they can pick up a few easy buck by doing kids' shows.

Wrong!

Doing kids' shows well (and why do anything, if it's not WELL done?) is probably the hardest thing you will ever do in magic, bar none!

Very few people can do it well and hold the interest of the young and the very young; Cliff is absolutely right when he says not "to buy effects and to do them as per the instructions and expect that it will be ok."

I doubt that there is one trick in my show that I do even closely to the manufacturer's instructions, because those instructions are invariably TERRIBLE!

The most important magic gimmick you have is that pound and a half of gray matter between your ears.

You can use it, so do so!

Cheap and works well with kids? Misers dream, you can buy a cheap bucket at a craft store and take off the handle, also a hand full of marti gras coins make a great sound without weighing too much.
Cut and restored rope (and I can't stress this enough) with assistants. Use assistants in as many tricks a possable, even if all they are doing is standing there holding a magic wand.
Bongo Hat or anything silly like that, children have to be engaged to be entertained.
Good luck

Peter

I think that your post was absolutely spot on the mark!

When performing for adults, one of the greatest forms of misdirection is the alcohol that they usually consume Children are much more observant than adults, they don't make assumptions as adults do, and they're sober.

Children are much more observant than adults

When I was a seven year old kiddiewink, my magician Uncle showed all the family a trick where the 7C and 9S on top of the deck mysteriously dropped through all the cards and were revealed on the bottom of the deck. I was the only one who spotted that the revealed cards were actually 7S and 9C and said so - very loudly!

Having ruined his trick, Uncle was kind enough to show me how to do a few simple tricks and eventually bought me my first magic set. His only words of advice were 'practise' and 'don't do tricks for kids'!

I don't really show tricks to certain people my age, as they always try to ruin it.

The girls don't notice but