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I posted a while back how naming the first sponge ball in my sb routine for kids had really revolutionised the routine. Well, this morning when i dropped my 3 yr old off at school one of the kids came up to me with a picture she had drawn for Mr Sqishy (the name of the sponge ball). Also the other day two kids asked how Mr sqishy was. I pulled a sponge out one of their ears and they spoke to the ball - imitating what I do in the show. I guess it has more impact than i thought

What I've started doing is starting my show introducing myself and then halfway through the sentance I stop and say "Mr squishy - no, not now" and go forward and take a sponge out of one of their ears. I give the sponge a bit of a lecture that it's only on later in the show. Then throughout the first few tricks "Mr Squishy" pops up again until at the end of my bloomin blossom routine I pull the flower off and when i open my hand it's Mr Squishy. I ask the kid's if they want to see his show and then I go into my sponge ball routine.

I'm actually quite surprised that this is what the kid's remember most about my show..

It's amazing what kids actually remember - usually nothing like what you imagine they'd remember - nice one for Mr.Squishy!

(PS Start selling autographed photos of Mr.S - you'll make a fortune!)

Start selling autographed photos of Mr.S - you'll make a fortune!)

hmm - now you've got me thinking..

Congratulations for making an impact on the lives of the kids Boet - lets hope that alteast one of them moves on to become the next David Copperfield or Houdini

hmm - I'm going to have a birthday card made with a picture of a sponge ball in front and inside it says "Happy birthday from mr sqishy" and of course my contact details. I'll give that to the birthday kid and maybe give away a sponge ball (just add that to my fee). I'll also have signed pictures of Mr Squishy, maybe with a mini tophat on or something and give those to the kids - once again with my contact details ...

Thanks mandrake

What colour is Mr Squishy? If he was yellow, then you could use all these 'smileys' that you see all over the internet... or, if it's any other colour, you could maybe edit the image of the smiley to the correct colour.

Just an idea for making the cards etc.

You've got yourself a brand name now... I'm sure those in advertising/marketing here (no names being mentioned) could help you out with more ideas...

Good thinking! If the kiddiewinks are happy then the parents will be happy and it ought to get you an even better reputation plus repeat bookings on personal recommendation. If Mr.Squishy has now taken on a life of his own (which he obviously has) he just has to be your permanent mascot/logo/whatever. A birthday card opening up to reveal a miniature Mr.Squishy will be treasured by most kids for ages and that's a gift which is beyond price.

Cards4magic.co.uk do a pack of miniature magic wands which are also excellent giveaways at about £3.50 plus P&P for 50 - they're only little plastic items and you'd need to be careful with very young children but they're a novel way of giving participants a small magical memory which they can wave about and show friends later. All the best for your future, it's started already!

I wonder how easy it would be to get some sponge balls made with eyes and a nose.

Actually it wouldnt be difficult to make them up yourself. You could cut up an old ball and use a bit of it for the nose, and eys could be drawn on with a sharpie (maybe - may run too much) or stuck on small bits of white card/plastic...

You could have sponge balls with expressions, and so change happy to sad and vice versa etc..

Come up with a routine with the sponge ball family and we could be on to a big seller...

These are great ideas

Arts and crafts shops sell packets of comical 'eyes' where the pupils wobble and roll - they're just stick on items. Failing that, get creative with the Sharpies - available in Black, Red, Blue and Green!

Blu-Tac some cardboard 'feet' on as a base and Mr.S will stand there looking good.

bearing in mind he may be quished up in a specs hand, the feet may not be such a good ide. Sponge feet maybe. I love the udea of the rolling eyes though.

You could have Mr. Squishy and his evil twin Mr. Squitty. who leaves little brown sponge balls every where he goes..., ie when you load him in the specs hand, you secretly load lots of really small brown balls...

Hey - kids like toilet humour ok!!!

Mr. Squitty. who leaves little brown sponge balls every where he goes

Sick, sick - wonderfully sick! Just don't offer the kids and raisins or chocolate covered peanuts afterwards!

that's funny

I was thinking about the eyes and legs thing. It does make it a little difficult for some of the things in the routine - like cutting him in half, in the spec's hand etc, but I could use the idea for after the show or for giveaways etc. This is really getting a life of it's own - I'm even starting to speak about a sponge ball as if it was a person

If you keep it simple, just draw two eyes and a mouth with a sharpie on Mr Squishy, then you'll have no problems with the effects.

Also, for making a card, instead of putting a whole sponge ball in the card, cut one in half, and stick the flat side to the inside of the card and draw a face on it. That way you can make two cards from one Mr Squishy!

Of course, you may need to ask Mr Squishy's permission first...

Of course, you may need to ask Mr Squishy's permission first...

Nah - it's in his contract that I can cut him in half and it doesn't specify how...