talkmagic.co.uk

I don't think anyone can really tell you what to perform, depends on what you can do at the moment. You've not really got enough time to learn anything new, I think you're best off sticking to what you're comfortable with.

Lady of Mystery wrote:Kids that age are fine with cards and most 'adult' magic as long as it's not rude or got an overly complicated plot. I'd just stick with whatever you're comfortable with as you've not got all that long.

Good luck, you'll be fine.

Kids that age, I would have thought the ruder the better Try to weave something in there about Akela's knickers. They'll love it.

I meant rude and crude ding dong type magic, a little bit of fun 'Carry On' rudeness would go down fine.

Fair enough... better not ask Lawrence to do the balloon modelling then!

I don't mean to be controversial but all this talk of CRB clearance is a bit of a red herring. The scouts would not have asked Tom to do this gig if they did not trust him, so that should be the end of the matter. Why was this even raised?
Anyway, how reliable is the clearance? In Ireland we have had a police heavy squad in Dublin beating confessions out of suspects, and the force in Donegal using the uniform to settle personal scores. In England the Midland police were not adverse to tampering with evidence to secure convictions. And we had one judge who kept child porn images on his computer. He was pensioned off rather than prosecuted.
When we can't fully trust those in authority, can we really trust the clearances they issue? I worked for a travel company abroad once, with a number of other entertainers. Only one of us had a CRB clearance. He was the one we could not let near children, because he was a paedophile.
Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against some form of background check on performers. I just don't think that the one used in Britain at the moment has any validity.

Lady of Mystery wrote:If it's a one off with a Scout group then I'm sure that it'll be fine not to have a CRB as there will be the Scout leaders there. The Scouts, I'm pretty sure don't recognise any CRBs other than those done through the Scout Association anyway.

Not true......I was going to be a volunteer for my duke of Edingburgh but I could not due to not having been CRB checked. (AGED 16 WT*)
by the time I got it done it would have been to late anyway.


Smithy.

Ah, but there's a difference between "volunteering" (i.e. on some kind of regular basis, and potentially being in charge of them at times) and doing a one off show.

Don't get me wrong, I know how important it can be for some (most) organisations. But as a parent you don't need to be CRB checked to accompany a school study trip away, or do one of those things where parents go into school and talk about their jobs. Some medical students go into schools to do sex education sessions - they don't need CRB checking, and I'm pretty sure the santa at the cub scout Christmas party isn't CRB checked.

Britain hasn't gone that crazy. Yet.

Besides, if he's been asked to do it, and they didn't say very clearly "oh, one thing: YOU NEED TO BE CRB CHECKED FIRST" then I think it's safe to assume they know what they're talking about.

Yet.


Need I say more....

listen people take it from one who knows, it is up to the hirer of you to get a crb check in enough time to get the results and pay as needed.
you can pay for a check yourself but just like an mot it dosn't count once its left the police station.

regarding the kids as long as you do magic that involves as many of the audience, chanting magic words, or participating then anything will do.
sponges always go down well and some basic vanishes and reapearences are easy to learn in a short time and a piece of elasticated bandage made into a sweet dropper under your jacket will give you a misers dream sequence you can do all through the act.
don't forget running gags which you probably know a lot already, cards from mouth for example.

Do ENSURE that the Scout/cub leaders STAY in the room.
One of my proteges, a young professional children's entertainer, last year was booked to perform at a similar event. He arrived. and the scouters were going to hold a 'council/committee meeting' in another room, thus leaving him alone with the youngsters. Luckily I had warned him about this and he insisted that at least 2 stayed.

As you haven't had much experience with youngsters,tell the Scouters that cubs can get over enthusiastic and could they help keep them 'calm' so that everybody will enjoy the performance.
At this stage of experience do NOT feel less of an entertainer because you have to ask for help.

THE BIG SECRET is to INVOLVE the entire audience with biz from waving their hands, to blowing, to echoing magic words, any vocal stuff or gesture stuff etc.

And when you have children out to help the magician NEVER forget the rest of the audience. Direct THEIR attention to the assistants' reactions etc. SHARE ALL THE MAGIC WITH ALL THE AUDIENCE ALL THE TIME.

As they are 8 to 11, and only about 30 of them, try to insist that chairs are provided for all to sit on. Warn the Scouters BEFORE THE DAY.
If they do not have enough then see if, at least the 10 & 11 year olds can be provided with chairs.

If there are parents present have them seated at the back of the audience.
If THEY start to make any noise, then quietly, almost conspiratorially , as though 'WE together are going to spring a surprise on your Mums & Dads'.
Rehearse the children to say, 'Will ALL adults please be quiet'.Then count 3 and let 'em have it, 30 voices full blast.
You and the children ,then say 'thank you' to the adults for behaving SO THAT WE can, ALL, enjoy the Magic.
I haven't used this since Xmas Parties in the old Clubs when the adults would gather round the bar in Xmas spirit BUT they weren't allowed to interupt my performance.

Scouts & rope and knots are pretty well synonymous.
You could even do a grandmother's necklace principle ropes through body
with a Scout Leader 'tied' up in the ropes.

Allen Tipton

I was walking back from the trainstation today and I doen a magic trick in the station for the staff..

As I walked out a gooby lad said your C**P my nan can do that.

I responded can your nan do this....he said wow....anyway I eneded up doing several tricks over and over and hte crowd grew to about 30 secondry school kids laughing away.....

A man pulled up in his car came through the crowd waving his hands in the air saying scram the lot of you go on get away from the (wait for it...)
NONSE he screamed that I was a nonse and openly said that I was going to try and grab one of them......this world really Fecks me off....

I even said to him take me to the old bill and tell them that I am a pedo...Ill put my defence up and then get rich on the compensation you have to pay me.....he replied f**K you you pathetic peadophile.

What is this world coming too.........idiots like him being alud out in public and getting away with drink driving.

So tbh even if you get your CRB or have another adult there some times a P***K will always ruin the fun.

smithy - have you ever thought of making your life into some of comedy/drama series?

Wana be my agent.....


I doubt I will do any impromptu street performances again

I'd have punched the drunken b*****. That's well out of order. Fair play for drawing a crowd and entertaining them.