talkmagic.co.uk

OK, let's start by clarifying, when I say "adult magic" I'm not talking about seedy jokes about magic wands that glamorous assistants help make disappear

When I perform on the street the majority of people that approach me are aged 15-30 and I find that my usual brand of psychology based magic goes down well with these people.

However, recently I've found that an increasing number of families with younger children have been approaching me. Initially I simply performed my usual street effects but realised that the children found some of the concepts or plots involved difficult to understand or follow or they just found them boring.

After this I tried using an altered version of my S******i routine that is child friendly (or so I thought) but found that, although the parents generally enjoyed it, the kids weren't as impressed.

Can anyone here give me some advice or point me in the direction of the type of effect that will entertain both parents and children but that also maintains my "suave yet gentlemanly cheeky-chappy" persona that I can use in these situations?

Thanks

The first thing to remember is that kids LOVE magic! And the reason that many adults will stay to watch you is because they have kids with them. I haven't the time right now to advise on the matter. I will merely say that this is something that you MUST find the answer to as soon as possible. It is VERY important. Perhaps someone here may be able to guide you. Keep in mind my first sentence though. If you aren't getting reaction from kids you are doing something wrong somewhere that badly needs to be corrected.
I wish you luck with it.

Young kids don't understand 52 cards in the deck and the odds of finding a card so they won't be impressed.

Stick to colour changes, transpositions, vanishes, appearances, something with fire etc.

All good visual stuff, magic in fact!

Its magic wrote:Stick to colour changes, transpositions, vanishes, appearances, something with fire etc.

Do you think its ok to show kids magic with fire? I'm not having a go like that sounded, but I'm curious. After all when I was young I was often told how dangerous fire was and not something to be played with

ok rope magic is good especialy with brightly coloured rope, rope through neck is good, professors nightmare and cut n restored rope, sissors can be used for ring off rope etc.
sponge balls..... sponge balls, did I mention sponge balls.
coin tricks that involve highly colored coins like chinese coins or regular coins with smiley face stickers on them, kids love okito boxes.
if you have to use cards, force one and use a rising card gimmick drawing board and do a funny characture of the kid.
dicy dots or any other similar vanish / colour change will work well, hot rods.
hope that helps.

Thanks to you all,

I think I've decided I'm going to work out a sponge ball routine, one to a higher standard than the one I currently perform to my 3 year old neice

Where would be the best place to look for sponge ball material?

Jake

Do NOT do magic with fire! And I don't care what Tony B says. (he hasn't said it yet but he will) The Irish are great believers that rules are made to be broken.

I use fire all the time, it gets a really good reactions.

All on here don't do it, its dangerous and irresponsible.

Some classic effects that I've found effective with all ages, from very young upwards:

Cups and Balls (simple)
Egg Bag
Four Coin Assembly (Coin Matrix) - done on the carpet, as suggested by Bobo
Sponge balls
Ring on wand

Bear in mind that children (and many adults) probably won't have seen the classics before, so they'll be as good as new to them.

For sponge balls, egg bag, ring on wand and much more check out the classic textbook that I keep plugging here - Hugard's Modern Magic Manual.


Barry