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I have just started out performing magic shows for all age groups (2 to 14 years of age) and I'm sure am experiencing the same problem as everyone starting out - JUST HOW DO YOU MANAGE DIFFICULT AUDIENCES?!. The mechanics of the tricks are OK but does anyone have any tips on the following:

1. How strict you should be to get & keep their attention?
2. Whether to use a killer trick at start to get attention?
3. What sorts of things I can try to get everyone watching me?
4. Do you go quiet until they start looking at you?
5 Do you just perform to the group paying attention?

Any ideas would be really appreciated. Hope you can advise. Cheers.

1. How strict you should be to get & keep their attention?
I wouldn't say you should be strict, just confident. Kids can smell fear! Their behaviour and keeping control is the responsibility of the parents, although your confidence in what you are doing and how you are doing it will help.

2. Whether to use a killer trick at start to get attention?
Killer is a different kettle of fish with kids than with adults. They will be more attentive with good, visual story based magic than just "killer" illusions

3. What sorts of things I can try to get everyone watching me?
Again, story based magic could help, as would visual gags. Balloon modelling could help too. Don't get into a volume contest with them, just be more interesting than whatever else has their attention. Maybe Sankey's advice of "if in doubt, be wierd" could help too, depending on your act.

4. Do you go quiet until they start looking at you?
No, probably the opposite

5 Do you just perform to the group paying attention?
No point in performing directly to those looking away. Hopefully The above and other possible suggestions posted after this will help gain their attention anyway. If those not paying attention are being disruptive to your act, it is not unreasonable to ask nicely for the adults to keep them under control.

Hope this is of some help.

Many thanks for this (very reassuring!). Ideally I would call on parents to help manage situation, unfortunately recent shows have been parent free zones - they obviously feel they are paying for some free time to relax (not unreasonable really?). I have ordered DVD showing a childrens performer (I'm sure it had a ref to Sankey). I'll work on the confidence to manage the "smell of fear".

When I used to do childrens parties the most useful thing that I did was to go out with a couple of kids magicians from my magic society. Talking with them and watching what they do saved me a lot of heart ache,

If you can find a mentor in your area that should give you a big boost.

There are also several books on managing behaviour for child magicians.
All so one book that I found useful is a book that is aimed at teachers and called "Getting the buggers to behave". Though aimed at the class room situation, the tips and techniques apply, Looks at planning, room layout. Managing kids etc.

A//

it's not unreasonable at all for the adults to have a while to relax as they have had these 20 or so "little cherbus" running rings around them all afternoon, however, it is not your responsibility at all to keep them in order and they should be fine about chipping in if they are becomeing a bit unruly. Most would be nearby as adults enjoy a good show just as much as the kids and often help them get involved.

I'm intruigued by the book "Getting the buggers to behave"

check these threads for more info:

Tricks to use -
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic15387.php&highlight=children

Just general info(which you might find vaguely interesting)-
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic15379.php&highlight=children

More info-
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic12987.php&highlight=children

Even more info-
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic13527.php&highlight=children

Hope that helps!

have had a few problems myself, but most of the time looking back I would say 90% of it's in the set up.
If your in a room with distractions, ie moving pictures, coloured flashing lights etc then you will loose the kids. Set up so that there are no windows to look out of. Close the curtains. Put toys away or behind them. It's harder to work outside with kids because outside you have less influence over the surroundings. Ask the parents to keep the little crawlers on their laps or ask an older child to do the same. If one starts crawling ask for a volenteer, choose the oldest and get them to look after it.
But do this from the start, before you begin. Sitting cross legged in school was so the teachers could see you getting up before you could get up.
If you want them to be quiet get a bag and look into it, say nothing, put your finger to your lips. Eventually everyone will want to know whats in the bag and stop talking, wisper 'it's a note.......what does it say.......it says.....'now it's all quiet you can start the show' '
Same goes for adults talking over you. It distracts the kids so make the audience of adults involved. If one keeps talking bring them up the front and do a trick like 'milk in cone' over their heads and make them look foolish, say 'thats the quietest you've been all show it must be the shock' The other mums will laugh and so will the kids. You should always ask parents beforehand to 'look out for the adult that always talks at shows like these, you know the ones (they all nod, even the ones who know it's them), they will cause a distraction and the show won't be as good for kids if they can't hear what I am saying.'
I still ignore the above advise myself, and immediatly regret it.
Hope this helps, have fun.....
Recomend seriously silly by david kaye. It's all common sense stuff like the above, but boy do I need reminding from time to time

Involve them early. Teach them the magic words and get them to shout them out. Then get them to use them for most of your tricks

Make something disappear. TT and silk will do. Making things disappear is real magic.

2-14 is quite a range.
under 4 years old you'll be doing more of a clown thing as that age group doesn't really grasp what you're doing - although you may be amused at the adults trying to tell the kids how to react.
4-5 You can do a bit more magic - but you need to keep it really visual and simple - lot's of laughs
6-8 are a great age group - they really seem to appreciate magic and you can do pretty much any kids stuff with them - but you need to win them over first. If you can get them laughing within the first 30 seconds you're on to a good thing - and then build on that.
9-14 that's a tough age in that they really want to figure out what you're doing - or at least be seen to know what you're doing. What works well here is to treat them like adults - abd do more of the stuff that they would see on tv. Perhaps even a card trick or two.

Your opener is very important - if you don't connect with them in the beginning you'll have a hard time throughout the show. They MUST like you and you need to present yourself in such a way that they want to see your show (easier said than done). This way difficult people in the audience can be dealt with by peer pressure.

Don't be like a teacher and be quiet until they are - you don't want to come across like that (or perhaps you do - but I have no idea why)