talkmagic.co.uk

I am doing my first kids show in about 10 days and am still not sure what i am going to open with. I've got blendo silks, colouring book, spelling test, afghan loops, rabbits everywhere sponges and an egg bag.
This is the ONLY idea for an opener i can think of, if someone with experience could le me know if they think it is OK or just plain rubbish i would appreciate it.
After tripping on the way in (maybe, thinking of being a clumsy oaf type who knocks things over and trips up) and a quick introduction i go into "Where's my hankie, mummy always told me to carry a hankie" bit of buffoonary (is that a word?) while looking for it "ah here it is" i blow my nose with a big rasberry sound and the hankie flies out in four pieces, "oh no! mums gonna tell me off for that. can YOU help me mend it?" blendo silks with lots of shouting abracadabra wizzy wizzy woo and other kiddy style magic words.
does anyone think this is going to work or can someone who knows better advise the use of another of the tricks i already own, i'va already spent enough on this charity gig.
thanks

How old are the kids chryles?

If you were performing for kids under 10, I'd say that would be a pretty solid entrance.

sounds like a good opener to me too!!

kids are 4 - 8, thanks for the replies.

sounds like good fun, the kids will love it

sounds fine to me you may also want to add a cut a restored rope, were you follow instructions, loose the sissors, etc.
for example you can cut thte rope then read in the instructions that your not suposed to cut it yet so tie it together, the instructions say pull the fake knot off the rope but all you can do is move the real knot around, so you need the kids to chant a spell to get the knot off the rope and make it whole again.
if you use a large handled pair of sossors then you have a great excuse for the sissors somehow get entangled in the rope, setting you up for a ring and string routine.

lots of fun and a whole show in itself and easy to do.

sounds good magicdiscoman i think i can remember the cut and restored rope, will try it later to make sure, but i only know one ring and string trick* and that happens in the specs hand with a finger ring.




*i actually haven't done this trick for quite some time. it used to get really good reactions as the spec could feel the string melt through the ring in their closed hand, especially when you use their ring. haven't even thought about it for ages. I'm going to do it again soon though.

sounds like a splendid idea.

If you can teach the kids it's ok to laugh from the very begining then great.

Most guys start with the colouring book for the following simple reason.
The kids need to be told it's ok to shout out and enjoy the show, Otherwise some may stay sit quietly as their mums have told them too.
Don't belive me.....
In some panto's you can look around for the first two or three 'it's behind you' moments. The kids know what to do, but for these first two or three it's all mums prompting them that it's ok to shout it out. By the fourth of fith the kids have lost there 'home programing'and relaxed (they are always told to behave, be quiet etc for the rest of the year whilst at home. they have to learn it's ok to loose this).
A good panto performance will start with a guy coming on and just getting the kids to shout, all to break this programming. Hello everybody, I cant hear you, hello everybody, I can't hear you etc.
If you don't show the kids it's ok when they do shout out because they can't help themselves they may feel guilty, or feel they are naughty.

With the colouring book you can say all shout 'magic word' .Show the magic has not worked, then say not loud enough etc. get the mums to shout,then 'That was poor. We can do better than the adults 1 2 3... ' get kids to shout even louder and bang the magic happened for the kids and not the adults.
It's THEIR show now, not something mum dragged them too. They are better for the first time in there lives at something than mum and dad. THEY can do magic.
From the very first line you teach them it is ok to shout out. It is ok to be a kid. They are doing the magic. They and you are in control.

Start like this and who cares what happens next

This is not to say that your idea is not good. It's just to show you what the start of a kids show is aiming to acheive psycolically. If your presentation acheives the above then great. At last something different at the start of a kids magic show

But most importantly.... enjoy it

great advice connor thanks. i will definitely try and get them shouting and laughing straight away. really like the idea of getting the kids shouting louder than the adults and being better than them.

connor o'connor wrote:If you don't show the kids it's ok when they do shout out because they can't help themselves they may feel guilty, or feel they are naughty.

Perhaps it's just kids in Sheffield, but some of the kids' parties I've worked at in the past no "de-programing" was required, believe you me. Having a bunch of 8 year olds laughing and screaming at you may sound like a good idea on paper. In reality it can quickly turn into a minature version of armaggedon.

Sure, I've worked at parties where the little darlings have sat and watched like angels. These are the good parties. These are the parties one enjoys working at.

I've also worked at parties where the little darlings are "de-programed" and have run amok. I have been physically beaten, my props stolen and/or broken, and been the subject of some very rude songs. All this while the parents watch. And drink. And smoke. The parents at these parties tend to be "de-programed" themselves. To be honest, I don't think they have ever actually been "programed" correctly in the first place.

One memorable party involved me in a pair of handcuffs about to demonstrate an exciting escaplogy routine, while a hyper-active 8 year old who I'd chosen as my assistant ran around the church hall with the keys to the said handcuffs to the delight of the other kids. An old lady in the audience had to rugby tackle the hooligan to get my keys back. Following that he assaulted Bobo the magical bear in ways that no magical bear should ever be assaulted.

Kids parties. I hate them. Thank goodness they are now behind me. Now if only the nightmares would stop...

LMAO
thanks for the confidence boost magicwand
it's in woodseats not the manor for a rainbows group, which is like a girl guides for the littler ones. i have been warned that there are a couple of hyperactive kids in this group but the group leaders will be there and they have told me these 2 bad 'uns will probably be rolling around on the floor at the back amusing themselves.
at least it'll give me something to talk about at A&E

If you're in need of some cut and restored or any other rope routines, have a look at Karl Fulves Self Working Rope Magic, there's a chapter in there on various cut and restored tricks as well as lots of other ideas you might be able to use.

This is just a small tip, but it might be useful. When doing a certain cut and restored trick, instead of using scissors use your fingers. You can put on a little about losing your scissors so you'll have to make do with your own fingers.

chryles, the magic wand as with all of us has had some bad kid's show experiences

but I also said that they and you are in control.
You gave them that control, so they will respect you for that.
If anything goes wrong there is nothing wrong with stopping the show.
sorting it out
and continuing.

You have an advantage. You are the profesional so YOU and ONLY YOU control the enviroment. If you wish to set up in a coprner to help your angles, do so. You say were they sit etc. No windows behind so they can't get distracted by stuff outside, draw curtains etc. Turn lights on or off as required.

Let the adult helpers there know what you want of them from the point of veiw of child control before you start. Be freindly tell them that you wish for them also to relax, stay and enjoy the show aswell. This stops them running off for a fag and leaving you alone with the kids.

The first thing I do at gigs like this is to have them all file in and sit on the floor behind an imaginary line. This is the responsibility of the adult helpers, but you let them know this in advance, you are the mindreader not them

This has the added advantage of making you look more professional when the show starts.

You only deprogram the kids to shout out and interact. Not run around.
Tell them at the begining that you wish for them to remain seated at all times, unless called up to help. Tell them 'I will only choose helpers who are sitting'
The kids want to participate.
If one stands up. Ask them to sit down if they don't just say 'please sit down, I can't continue with the show until you do as some of the others can't see'.
Also if someone keeps shouting out say 'please be quiet whilst I am speaking as some of you can't here what I am saying and you would not wish your freinds to miss something good would you?'

nip it in the bud

Also they will try to look at your props (glance round the back of your table etc.) So hide the props, take the one you are useing out then put it back into hiding. (some people use two boxes, tricks to do and tricks done) Otherwise the kid you got up as a helper will spend all his time looking in your box of tricks, and not at you.

It is easier at the end to keep the lid on a box than fend off ten kids all of who have a hand each on ten props!!!!!!


Get it sorted before the show and you will have less to worry about during the show.

hope this helps.