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I just saw this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFztutv5ud0.

I did a quick bout of rope magic for some 6-8 year olds last year. It's simple to understand and very clean. Don't do anything complicated that they have to follow, magical visual gags are perfect.

Start to finish was 15 minutes and went like this.

1) Rainbow Ropes.

I used 3 rope of the same colour knoted together. I had an assistant blow on the rope to make the knots fall off.

2) Sliding knot off rope.

I offered to show how the last was done by tying a large knot, sliding it up and down the rope before pulling it clear off the rope.

3) Professors Nightmare

I added a little and medium sized rope and got another assistant to pull on the 3 loose ends till they were all the same length. Best moment of the evening was one child calling out "they're elastic", with the assistant looking very worried replying "no they're not!".

The best part of this whole routine is that it's completely clean, you can hand out all your props when you're done!

One thing I would suggest is get everyone todo a "do as I do" trick at the start so that they're all paying attention and enjoying themselves. A round of "simon says" would work. I think I did my stuff after pass-the-parcel where the winner got a large stuffed toy which they found more interesting than me. I don't think eveyone noticed the first knot fall off in the first trick.

Went a bit mad with the old credit card and am now surrounded by silks, ropes of various lengths, gazillions of balloons and an excellent trick called Stratosphere. Am sitting down with my copy of Mark Wilson and working out a routine. Thanks for all the tips.

flashman wrote:Hi Folks,
I mostly perform close up coins 'n' cards magic. However I've now been asked to do 'something' at the kids xmas party at my fire station.
Has anyone got any recommendations for suitable tricks that I can work on for the next few months? There will be between 30-40 kids (help!!!) all between the ages 5 to 9 (give or take). I reckon on hopefully doing about 10-15 minutes (before I pass out with the strain...).
Any tips, ideas, gags, etc.. will be gratefully received!! Oh and I don't mind spending a bit of dosh and I've done a good bit of puppeteering in the past if that helps...

Hi there

we have just joined talk magic so only just got to see your post.

We are a new up and coming magic dealer specializing in modern magic tricks for children's entertainers (also some unusual card magic)

If we can help mail us.

www.razamatazzmagic.com

Kindest regards

Andy & Sue
Razamatazz Magic

ah fire station christmas parties. You gotta keep all the tricks short to keep the attention of the kids as they're all going to be hyped up on sugar. Tt's vanish's appearances, svengali, pen through paper, some flash paper, sponge balls, cups and balls, and so on. Oh and the lota bowl as a running gag goes down well. And make sure to make lots of silly mistakes to keep them laughing. Also use the other firemen, waterbombs, flour etc. etc. You know the usual every day fire station pranks. That always gets a good reaction.

I've mentioned before that I work a lot with children on a non magic basis, but I'm often performing tricks on them.

Check with the parents first but from my experience, go with BLOOD AND FIRE! Especially fire. Kids of that age want a strong visual effect and if you do some that seem violent or dangerous they wont feel patronized.

For the love of god don't talk down to them, even if you talk down to adults don't talk down to them. They will do everything in there power to destroy you if you do.

Just a friendly warning

One kind of magic, that always works well in this age group is something with the Change Bag, if you have one. And even better, if you let the kids do the magic themselves. You pick two kids, hand one of them 3 silks, red, white and blue and the other a magic wand. Then you bring out the Change Bag. Show it empty. Ask the one with the silks to pick any and put in the bag and the other one to say the magic words. When the last silk goes in you ask the one with the wand to say the magic words and make a + and also an X over the bag. Finally you ask the other one to pick up what the 2nd one has created and the kid reveils the Union Jack. Very visual and you got two kids to do the magic for you and give them all the credit. Of course you can add to the fun by acting silly while the one with the silks tries to put them in, by moving the bag and even by moving it up when the last silk goes in, trapping the hand in the bag, but at the same time pushing all silks deep inside the bag.
If you have fun, the kids have fun!