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I am looking for some tricks that I can perform for kids B-day parties.

I have watched several videos, and read several posts on several forums but, I have not found much. And much of it is all repeat stuff that most people have seen. Which is not something I want to do, just in case if they have seen it.

I have a $1000 budget, but I am already purchasing a Chair Suspension, which is $650. Unless if I find one used. But, lets not assume I do.

That gives me $350 to get as many tricks as possible.
What would you recommend?

I need about 45min worth of stuff for $350.

* something that would be easy for me to learn
* Something that I can easily make a routine out of.
*NO animals/stuffed animals

Magic colouring book,
Stratosphere
Run Rabbit run
colour changing hank
mouse hankerchief thingy - loads of fun and you can go on forever. There is a dvd kickin around somewhere for it.
Balloon animals.
Prof cheer comedy rope trick.

Okay there are too many to name. In short however it sounds like you are trying to fill time with 350 dollars worth of tricks. Guess what you are looking at it all wrong. You can spend 10,000 dollars and still only get 5 minutes. Learn to routine. spend 150 bucks or whatever it is on run rabbit run, 8 dollars on a colouring book, 10 of prof cheer comedy rope trick, 3 on a colour changing hank, a few more on balloons, a TT and a hankerchief and be done with ye.

Psss, the kids are going to eat you alive! just kidding the will probably kill you first.

stop!!!!!!!


When it comes to entertaining children, the most important thing is routines, NOT tricks.

you can fill 45 mins with ease, if you routine some simple things together, prefferably ending with a production of Candy.
This is why routines like baking a cake in a hat/pan have stood the test of time.
I seriously sugest that you invest in some of the great books, or dvds out there which cover the fundimentals of sucessfull childrens entertainment.
DVDS to look out for, include the Terry Herbert dvds, and Silly Billy.
David Ginn, and our own John Kimmons.

this is a much sounder was to spend your budget, without making a considered purchase like the chair suspension, and will give you an insight as to how to make your show unique.

and you do have to be unique. I guarentee that for every good childrens entertainer out there, there are at least 500 really bad ones.

seriously... do the research first. ( It will save you a fortune)

Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic and then buy me a nice dinner with the money that you've got left.

Seriously, don't worry about spending silly amounts of money on something, learn some basics, sponge balls, sweet productions, vanishing hankies, anything that's big and visual. Mark Wilson's got more than enough in it to see you through.

oh, and the reason people do the classics... Its because there CLASICS.


Linking rings, run-rabbit-run, unequal ropes, sliding die box, some silk stuff, who's who at the zoo, various gag wands, and a couple of rope routines. Standard fare.. what makes them special, is the performer.

and if your that desperate to spend up. buy quality versions of the classics, because they last. Cheep props fall apart very soon in a kids show.

And since your in Canada, have a word with Mark Lewis.He knows the buiseness side of childrens entertaining like the back of his hand..

bmat wrote:Prof cheer comedy rope trick.

I like that! that's a great one. But, when I was searching for it, it was $90-120. Is there a way to get it for less? Do I need to purchase it or can I read it in a book or something like that?

Secondly, do you think that some people(parents especially) might find not funny.. like rude/immature..? Not sure of the word I'm looking for.
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The colouring book and the run rabbit run is too well known. Although I have to say the run rabbit run is GOOD, its very popular, and the kids might have seen it before if they say a previous magic show as this is what most magicians do for kids.

Gag Wands- Yeah. What is the name of the want that multiplies. You give the wand to someone then pull away and they are holding one and so are you. Repeat and repeat. And I believe they get bigger too?

Magicislife wrote:

bmat wrote:Prof cheer comedy rope trick.

I like that! that's a great one. But, when I was searching for it, it was $90-120. Is there a way to get it for less? Do I need to purchase it or can I read it in a book or something like that?

Secondly, do you think that some people(parents especially) might find not funny.. like rude/immature..? Not sure of the word I'm looking for.
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The colouring book and the run rabbit run is too well known. Although I have to say the run rabbit run is GOOD, its very popular, and the kids might have seen it before if they say a previous magic show as this is what most magicians do for kids.

Gag Wands- Yeah. What is the name of the want that multiplies. You give the wand to someone then pull away and they are holding one and so are you. Repeat and repeat. And I believe they get bigger too?

Prof cheer comedy rope for 90 bucks, thats just insane. You are in Canada? Go to perfect magic if you are in Montreal visit the shop if not go to the website, The effect is 19.00 http://www.perfectmagic.com/p-235-profe ... trick.aspx

Tell 'em Brian M sent you.

Multiplying wands are what you are talking about and the only way the parents are going to find it offensive is if you are offensive. Personally I don't think you are ready for this endeavour. But what do I know. Learn to entertain, learn to perform, Learn to entertain with magic. Its not the trick, sorry its all about you.

Okay I just went and read your intro. I'm a little confused you worked with Ted Outerbridge and you are still looking to buy props to fill time rather then learn to routine. Ted is amazing and can entertain a room full of kids or adults for an hour and never even use a prop. Not to be insulting but I think perhaps you should pay a little more attention to what Ted has to teach you it really is an opportunity you don't want to pass up. And what he can't help you with he knows a lot of people that can help you. Plus go to one of the magic shops in TO and ask for help. They are really good people and will be happy to put you in the right direction.

Thanks for the link! I knew the price sounded strange.

Um.. how did you know I was with Ted Outerbridge? And, anyways that was only once.

Secondly, I am not looking to get get tricks and fill up time. I am obviously going to have a good long routine. I wont buy something without having a proper routine. I was just saying I don't want tricks that would be hard to make a routine out of. There are only a few tricks like this, that are hard to find a routine for. Just stating. Its not the way you guys thought it was.

The advice earlier that you need routines, not props, is sound. If I lost my entire magic act (fifty minutes long) it would cost me less than fifty euros to replace. In an ideal situation you are selling yourself (personality and showmanship) rather than your props.

I have written on this before, for a now-defunct Irish magicians website. The article is still there at http://magicireland.com if I am allowed put that here. It saves me rewriting it.

Basically using skills and props every half-decent magician already has you can put together a solid kids act. For instance, to do misers dream you only need a small bucket and about ten coins. How expensive is that?

What has been said above is right on the button. I don't understand why you are looking at spending that amount of money without really knowing what it is that you're after. Go back to the classics, work on them and make them your own. People might have seen the effect before but they've not seen you perform it.

There's no need to spend that much money, all you need is a few well thought out book purchases and some home made props. The most expensive prop that I own cost me £30 but I can still put togather an hours act without a problem.

TonyB wrote:The advice earlier that you need routines, not props, is sound. If I lost my entire magic act (fifty minutes long) it would cost me less than fifty euros to replace. In an ideal situation you are selling yourself (personality and showmanship) rather than your props.

I have written on this before, for a now-defunct Irish magicians website. The article is still there at http://magicireland.com/2009/05/21/kids ... ony-black/, if I am allowed put that here. It saves me rewriting it.

Basically using skills and props every half-decent magician already has you can put together a solid kids act. For instance, to do misers dream you only need a small bucket and about ten coins. How expensive is that?

If anyone computer-phobic finds that the link doesn't work, just remove the comma from the end! (It took me three hours to figure that out.) Like this:
http://magicireland.com/2009/05/21/kids ... ony-black/

Thanks. I'm computer phobic, which is why I didn't spot that!

As has been said, don't put loads of money into flash illusions.

Kids want to be entertained first and foremost. If you're not entertaining, the best props in the world won't help you.

And you can be more entertaining with a mouth coil than you can with a chair suspension!

As Dale has already suggested, your first post of call should be reference material.

For my money, the best purchases are:

Both Terry Herbert DVDs - the man is a genius

David Kaye's Seriously Silly - buy the BOOK, as it's much better than the DVD.

Kid Control by Julian Franklin

Kids Find it Funny by Greg McMahan

Go through that lot, and you'll see just how low-tech a children's entertainer's props can be.

It's all about you as a performer.

Never doubt that children can be the most savage critics you'll ever encounter. While adults will smile politely and put up with you if they're not interested, kids will get up and walk away. Or worse.

Get it right though, and kids are the most fun audiences you could wish for. I absolutely love doing kids shows.

Hope that helps,

Pete

Oh and avoid the Vanishing Bandanna.

It's a lovely idea, and works really well on paper, but in practice, I find that there's no easier way to lose the attention of your audience.

Pete