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I've read quite a few threads and a book or two on doing magic for kids, personally I like the idea of using adult magic with a Kids presentation, rather than out an out Kids magic.

To date I've not seen anyone comment on using PK magic for Kids.

Like to hear some views on this, is it a good or bad idea, if it's good what would work best, if it's bad, why?

Cheers

Happy

to bypass the question quickly (sorry Toad) - the adult magic for kids thing reminded me of something Andy 'Clockwize' Martin said in his lecture.

He said that he knows it probably isn't politically correct, but if he has a great way of dealing with any troublesome boys in the audience.

He basically does a "baffling Bra" routine - where he says he will remove the boys vest, but ends up pulling out a Bra from under his shirt. He says he only has to keep refering to the boy as "Bra Boy" after this, and funnily enough. no more trouble.

Cruel I know, but I still find myself chuckling.

Lol very good, I'll have to remember that one

yes ive done this myself well actualy the panties version but it works.

okey dokey as the resedent children's entertainer you wont find many pk effects done in kids shows with the notable exception of the haunted key.
why because if you suspend something or float it then the kids will go ok nothing special hear mary popins does it all the time.

even if you have a coat rack follow you across the room they wont see it as magical just that coat racks find you interesting and want to be near you.

stick to apearences and vanishes and most importantly shape and colour changes, again not quite a pk effect but a stiff rope will get you more cudos than floating a briefcase or even yourself (soory blaine).

the haunted key works because it moves logicaly ie turns rather than hovers.

hope this helps let me know if you want any more help.

What age are you refering to?

I can't understand why objects floating or moving shouldn't get a good reaction, are we saying if someone took an umbrella like Mary Poppins and floated off into the sky that kids would go "hey no big deal, Mary poppins does that all the time" Surely not.

its only my point of view and the age range was 3-12 your average party goers for kids does.
ive done levitation's and floating stuff and in my experience its not worth the expense, space in boot and set up when i can get just the same reaction feom a zombie and cloth.

as iv'e only been doing kids parties for five year's maybey i havent enough experience to comment yet.

Well I think it's healthy to come at things from different angles, I've read the exact same views as you've expressed from other children’s performers, so your not alone.

However I also read a very interesting post from a 12 year old that reckoned that levitation had to be among the strongest effect for kids shows, I also have 3 children from 8 up all of whom think levitation is really cool.

Then I read numerous posts from experienced children’s workers who never seem to use these tricks and some even speak against using them, like yourself.

I'm trying to figure out why. I'm wondering if maybe it's to do with the presentation of these effects or if they really just don't work for kids. However I can't accept the Mary Poppins argument as if you take it to it's logical conclusion, it just doesn't work. As I did in part in my last post. In fact if we say that kids won't be impressed if it's something they’ve already seen on TV, we would be in real trouble as we can't compete with the amazing special effects achieved in many children’s films nowadays.

I'm not trying to be disrespectful of your obvious experience I'm just not much good at accepting things at face value, hope that's ok

I'm just not much good at accepting things at face value,

no offense taken.

youv'e hit the preverbial nail on the head, kids are logical to a fault and there perception of the abstract has'nt yet formed to a degrea that they can make sutable adjustment.

sorry slipped into psycobable mode there for a second, if you say to a kid that water pipe is broken, they will think ok its broken, they dont make the spacial leap and think broken means something is wrong.

so if you make a card fly around the room of cause there going to go yeah thats great, but if you make a sponge rabbit apear from a solid sponge ball, you will still get the yeah reaction but also a i dont understand that its not logical flag in there brain, which means that you will be remembered for next birthday.

Ok you seem to be saying that yea they might be impressed but would be equally impressed by a much smaller easier trick. If that's correct I can see that.

So the next point for me to consider, since the parents are the ones that will recommend or re-book, if there is a trick that will be good for the kids but also impress the parents, do you think that would be a better choice than one aimed only or primarily at the kids?

This of course assumes some adults being present.

in my experience parents will remember the big beaming smile you put on there kids face rather than a good trick they saw.
but thats where your preshow close up tricks for the parents come in.

admittedly as i do both the disco and the magic then iv'e plenty of time to hook the other parents, but the principle is the same work the parents, work the kids and then seal the deal ie give out your cards, even better if the party organiser is giveing away goodie bags or balloons arrange to have your cards included for a double wammie.