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I've been asking a lot of questions lately, and I certainly appreciate the input. I keep running into things that don't jive with what I've experienced in my short career, like this next scenario.

I've got a mentalism gig on Saturday... A friend of mine in the area I'm performing caught wind of this and asked if I could do some close-up magic at lunch for his sister's 25th birthday, to which I agreed. He then told me she's mentally handicapped with a mental age of 3. I'm a fool.

I do not do Children's magic (and magic for this girl is going to have to be visual and entertaining--children's magic) and I have no interest in doing so. I routinely perform for well-to-do adults or college students. I'm at a loss. Would a three year old, for instance, be able to understand something as simple as a sponge ball routine? Impromptu cups and balls with come coffee cups and balled up napkin? How would a professional experienced with this situation approach the scenario?

Thanks,
Rob

I would stick to color changes and maybe sponge balls as well. No Cups and Balls... even people my age find that confusing sometimes. Too mcuh to follow.

Remember, even if the gig doesn't go well.. you still get paid

Rob - I did a gig not long ago and there was a table of downs syndrome kids. It was one of the best audiences I have had.

Its true you may have to adjust your repetoire to fit, but if you stick to visual magic like sponge balls (in my case the sponge bunnies went down particulatly well) and avoid complex effects where they have to remember cards etc - it will be a real treat to perform.

good luck with it and let us know how you get on..

Mike,

Would I three-year-old be able to follow a card effect? Doubtful, but I can give it a shot.

I'm not getting paid for the lunch gig, though I am getting a free lunch and some quality time with a good friend, so that's good enough for me!

Bananafish, I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. I'll come equipped with sponge balls and maybe a couple of silks. I don't need to do much, which is good because I don't have much that fits the situation!

Thanks, guys.

Michael Kras wrote:Remember, even if the gig doesn't go well.. you still get paid

I think it best to ignore Michael's advice in this respect.

I didn't want to be a total jerk... I in fact did follow his advice.

Acknowledge, then subsequently ignore.

I'd perform it like any other show for small children. Do some silk and sponge magic, which has already been said here. But I do also think you should do some little coin effects like vanishing a coin in your bare hands, or be as cliche as you can and (can't believe I'm actually going to offer this advice) pull a quarter from behind her ear. It may not be much but it does entertain three year olds.

RobLaughter wrote:I've been asking a lot of questions lately, and I certainly appreciate the input. I keep running into things that don't jive with what I've experienced in my short career, like this next scenario.

No matter Rob its not as if your asking stupid questions.

All I'd say is keep things simple and try to keep things flowing with mostly visual things. But I don't have any experience so don't take what I say as golden.

But try to enjoy it anyway it should be very rewarding. (Well afterwards anyway, I'm sure you'll be nerous as hell before hand).

rob try misers dream with chocolate money thats a real hoot or chocolate coins from cards.
cut and restored rope sliding not version were she keeps the knot will work well.
sponges well der.
spellbound changes silver to gold coins see above.
even just sneeze a coin.

colur changes with cards will be ok if the other audience members go oo and ah at the right moment, usualy saying i'll make this card change colour and the growd will go wild.

basicly keep it bold and bright with lots of colour changes and get the rest of the table to help with the apreciation bit.

I thought about cut/restored rope, too. I watched the Dr. OZ's kids magic DVD some time ago and I remember that he did an egg bag routine that went over pretty well. I could sew one of those together tomorrow night, I suppose. Get her older brother to look for the egg in the bag, then have her pull it out when he can't find it. It's all about her, so he won't mind a little bit of stereotypical kids stuff or a bit of poking fun, I'm sure.

Ciao,
Rob

Mandrake wrote:I think it best to ignore Michael's advice in this respect.

Why? Like he said, it was good advice and he followed it. As for the last line... note the . Doesn't that signify a joke?

He was saying that he followed suit, as you so often do, by acknowledging advice and then not taking it. It was probably the best thing he could have done in that situation.

Do anything you want. It doesn't really matter.

Make her the center of attention, show her love. That's all. Truth is, it doesn't matter what you do, she's going to love it if you make her the center of attention and show her love.

It will be her special day and she'll know that you are there for her. Make her the center of attention, show her love. Do the most intense of sleight of hand or make a coin disappear. She won't care what you do, she'll care that you are paying attention to her and she'll care that you are showing her love.

So, do anything you want.

Mike.

I'd go with sponge balls, they're very visual and I've never found anyone who didn't enjoy them from ages 2 - 82.

Keep it bright. visual and most importantly, as has been said make her the centre of everything and make her feel important.