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Greetings folks.. This Saturday I am making a 2 hour appearance at my friends house for her sons 8th birthday party, so was really after a few ideas ?? There will be about dozen eight year olds, so want to keep it simple.. Materials not a problem, as I've plenty, just a few tips on the best tricks really.. After 10 years in magic never performed for the kiddies so should be a good experience.. Thanks in advance.

basically keep it simple and visual.

production boxes are easy to make and plans are available online like square circles and victory tubes.

cut a bathroom sponge into small squares and you have some simple vanishes and multiplies and colour changes.

look up Svengali book for some easy forces for a prediction and colour changes i.e. colouring book.

a flat change bag is easy to make so are double envelopes (top to tail) many swaps are available too you for basic tricks.

cut and restored rope is a good one.

hope this gets you thinking.

Thanks for the advice sir..

I haven't performed for a children's party since my daughter grew up, but for her and her friends I only ever used classic magic effects with simplified patter. I even did some mentalism which she still remembers - in fact my daughter acted as my assistant several times and still remembers it.

Suggestions: sponge balls, "three in the hand", egg bag, linking rings, chinese sticks, paddle effects, coin matrix (done on the floor)...basically, the classics! They will be "new" to 8 year olds.

Two hours is a very long time. You'll need to fill it with party games and so on.

Barry

Yes. A two hour show is virtually impossible for even an experienced entertainer let alone a beginner. I know you are not a beginner with adult shows but kids are an entirely different kettle of fish. It is a whole new ball game. You will have to split it up a bit. The standard procedure for kid party shows in the UK is to do say 45 minutes to an hour of games. Have a break for tea then do a 45 minute show. Some talented people can do an hour but it is a bit of a stretch for even experienced entertainers. I hate to be pessimistic but I think that for you to go this games and magic route will be a hell of a challenge for a first time venture.

I have a strong feeling that if you are doing it for friends and not getting paid then you would be better off doing a 30 minute show and be done with it. The rest of the time hang out at the party.

Quite frankly if you are not an experienced children's entertainer you will find it hard to maintain their attention for too long a period. And 8 year old kids will not be shy in telling you "THIS IS BORING!". I strongly suspect that if you do more than 30 minutes they will start to get restless and not pay attention any more.

Nice advice Mark and Barry.. Yes your both right, 2 hours in a long time to be fair.. I am lucky enough to be friends of the family, so will be mingling around in between as mentioned, eating plenty of cake and drinking pop.
Regards Garry..

You are setting yourself up for an epic fail if you try to do two hours with no experience entertaining kids. Sorry to be so blunt, but that is the reality.

Cut it down to thirty minutes of magic and thirty minutes of music/games. They are friends; don't lose them by ruining their kids party.

I am not sure if he should even do the games. I suppose a lot depends on if he is getting paid or if it is just a freebie for his friends. In the end he will have to judge his own abilities.

Thanks for the advice Tony B, Don't worry sir, won't plan on damaging the party.. As mentioned they are very close friends, and there will also be a clown at the house also, so I will let him do all the fun stuff.. I'm just there to add a bit of extra to the day.. I shall be eating cake most of the time, just filling in when the clowns having a break.

Mandrake wrote:

mr invisible wrote: I shall be eating cake most of the time

and for my next trick, I shall make this huge bowl of trifle disappear.....

Haaha. And after the party has finished, its adult time. I'm talking about raiding the drinks cabinet,

Many moons ago my late Brother In Law and I used to help entertain the children at the annual kid's Christmas Party at British Steel - mostly slapstick stuff, organising games and so on. One year we were all taken to the pantomime free of charge! After the panto/party when the children had gone home, all the helpers were ushered up to the Directors' Dining room where the drinks cabinet was ceremonially unlocked. This cabinet was about the size of a shipping container and held a bewildering array of booze. Needless to say, we all did our very best to lighten the stock levels - probably one of the reasons British Steel went bust!

Mandrake wrote:Many moons ago my late Brother In Law and I used to help entertain the children at the annual kid's Christmas Party at British Steel - mostly slapstick stuff, organising games and so on. One year we were all taken to the pantomime free of charge! After the panto/party when the children had gone home, all the helpers were ushered up to the Directors' Dining room where the drinks cabinet was ceremonially unlocked. This cabinet was about the size of a shipping container and held a bewildering array of booze. Needless to say, we all did our very best to lighten the stock levels - probably one of the reasons British Steel went bust!

Haha, nice story.

If there is a clown there it is a different scenario than we initially thought. Do a short show and enjoy the party. And don't steal his thunder when the clown is performing.

Entertaining kids is not an easy job. It is not about having a few tricks, or about dumbing down your adult effects. All sorts of presentational skills are needed that don't come together in a week.

As has already been said, two hours is just far too much. Half an hour is as much as you can doe with children under six and build it up above that age.