talkmagic.co.uk

I am doing a gig at a wedding in a little while and have been told that there may be a number of children present. The stuff I normally do for strolling isn't usually very kiddy friendly. Any ideas/suggestions for things that would work well would be appreciated. Especially if they didn't include sponge balls

Kids respond well to close-up, providing it meets the following requirements:

1. The magic is about them. Not you. Kids don't like to see a grown-up show off. If they do the magic, they'll be delighted.

2. Keep it visual and simple. Long-winded convoluted plots with too many instructions will lose them early on. Younger children don't get playing cards, and the older ones that do understand cards don't have much interest in them.

3. Make it fun. Chase laughs rather than applause. Remember that the kids are the stars. Not you.

4. Do only your most watertight material. Older kids are hugely analytical. If they get so much as a whiff of the secret, they'll unravel the whole effect. And even if they get one small part of the secret, they'll take it as the whole story and crow about it reletlessly. You'll avoid this if the routines are sufficiently funny, but kids are merciless when they go hunting for secrets.

Other than that, have fun. Thet's the most disarming form of misdirection at your disposal. keep it simple, keep it visual, keep it funny. If all those boxes are checked, it doesn't matter what tricks you do.

Cheers,

Pete

As long as you have a couple of routines that are simple, visual, and easy to follow you will find that the children will be able to get involved and follow along with the adults just fine.

I just make sure that I involve them, but I always perform my standard close up set.

... or just do balloons.

I belive Practical Magic are releasing a DVD on Childrens Close Up at Kidology this year if that helps any?


Mark

How old are the children? Card magic works fine with children from 7 and onwards as long as the plot's kept fairly easy to follow.

Thanks for the ideas and advice. I am even more worried about the prospect of competing with a disco - possibly in the same room as me - so I think I need to get back to the client and clarify a few details...

as i have said many times, the one thing children cue up for and demand from me, over, and over again is....

the finger trick.


Secondly they demand......

the ear trick


First the finger trick. It's my child friendly finger chopper routine. There are a couple of things that make this child friendly. Firstly you do it on Daddy or mummy first. Secondly, you dont use a finger chopper. I use an impossible penetration. It just looks unlike anything that the child can lay their hands on, and is wood. No metal blades at all, and therefore child friendly.

the Ear trick, is my own presentation of the classic silk vanish. The silk re-appearing in a childs ear.

another effect they like , because of the routining and the simple, visual plot is, believe it or not the 4 burgulars card trick.

I have an assortment of routines for this classic of simple magic, some involving having the kids sign the 4 cards.

They love signing cards.. because it's something they will never be allowed to do at home.

so acr also works, providing you keep it siple. But then, if you think of it, the burgulars is in effect a 3 phase a.c.r.

philipsw wrote:Thanks for the ideas and advice. I am even more worried about the prospect of competing with a disco - possibly in the same room as me -

Balloons. Disco friendly and always a hit!!

philipsw wrote:I am doing a gig at a wedding in a little while and have been told that there may be a number of children present. The stuff I normally do for strolling isn't usually very kiddy friendly. Any ideas/suggestions for things that would work well would be appreciated. Especially if they didn't include sponge balls

The Disco will only be an issue if you are gigging at the evening doo.
You will find that in most venues,the bar area, is away from teh main hall, and therefore if Volume is an issue, concentrate your efforts there. Which makes a bit of sense, since at every wedding Ive been to, thats where the audience hangs out. Cuing for the bar.

Also, find out if other forms of diversion is planned. If for example they have booked a casino thing, as many do, then they will be setting up in a quieter zone.

and also dont forget to get there a little bit earlier than you are expected.. Weddings have a habbit of going off track. they never run to time. They hit lulls when least expected, and the father of the bride, or the best man will remember that at least one of the entertainers turned up on time.. and will reccomend you to others.

Two Words,

Baloon Swallow.



Kids love it, with one liners like:

Dont try this at home, doing it at school makes you cool.

Only 3 magicians in the world can do this , and im not one of them.

(then just before you swallow) play up the fact that no one is trying to stop you.

MagicalSmithy wrote:Two Words,

Baloon Swallow.



Kids love it, with one liners like:

Dont try this at home, doing it at school makes you cool.

Only 3 magicians in the world can do this , and im not one of them.

(then just before you swallow) play up the fact that no one is trying to stop you.

Or alternatively don't! Not unless you've prebooked an ambulance to take away the kid who tries to copy you!

1) TT and silks with a variety of reappearances, preferably from somewhere on one of the kids.

2) Pocket sized magic Colouring Book

3)sponge balls, a two in the hand one in the pocket routine is good enough but if you have more do it

4) Still on the sponge theme sponge rabbits

5) If you can carry the needle somehow, needle through balloon

As has been said much depends on the ages of the kids, you will probabaly have all sorts at the same table. Over 7 simple card tricks like the ACR go down well, also Transpos.

My regular gig is Sunday lunch in a pub restaurant and it has the sort of mixed clentele you are going to find at the wedding. The difference is that I have to make a pitch at each table just to get started, at a wedding everyone will be up for any amount of fun

1) TT and silks with a variety of reappearances, preferably from somewhere on one of the kids.

This works really well with kids if you also incorporate a D-Lite into the effect so a vanished silk becomes a red light, catch in the other hand and reveal the silk once more. Very visual and captures the attention of most kids.

Above that they love visual comedy magic so whilst you may have a few thought provokers in your routine these are generally going to work best on 14+. The more visual and funny the routine is the longer they'll pay attention.

Oh and don't forget that kids love to think they've either twigged the trick or that it's all gone horribly wrong for you so try a trick of 2 with you failing but coming out triumphant (I have an effect called 'Magicians insurance policy' that I nearly always use when doing any magic for kids).

This works really well with kids if you also incorporate a D-Lite into the effect so a vanished silk becomes a red light, catch in the other hand and reveal the silk once more. Very visual and captures the attention of most kids.

Good shout Jordan, I had forgotten D Lites. And if you have the D Lite bag or the D Lite Bug they are also popular.