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So me and the Mrs were talking tonight about our Son's 4th birthday party coming up

Won't be a biggie, just a few friends round for tea, and she suggests I should do some magic (my Son does love magic)

I tell her I haven't got a routine down yet, she protests and points out my paddle move is perfect, my cups and balls routine needs some work but is nearly there...so I gets to thinking, if I can do a couple more tricks I might actually perform.

Can people suggest any other tricks that might go down well for children aged between 4 - 7

Thanks in advance

PS Jon, I am sorry, but I need some genuine advice on this as I 3 weeks to get ready for this!! - Wouldn't wanna steal your thunder otherwise

it's not the tricks - it's the shtick, where kids are concerned.

Two words.

Sponge. Balls.

Haha no worries mate

You got loads of time to get your cup and balls good !

Your CUPS will have to turn towards kids magic now lol. Redemption wont impress them and they wont have there own wallet yet

Bendy wands and sponge bananas for you my friend

For the love of god, don't forget Rocky Raccoon - seriously!!

tap the back of your hand 3 times with a straw then the straw disappears.....behind your ear.
When you get them to look at your ear, your hand goes into the pocket getting rid of the coin/small toy etc.

It works for kids of all ages.

Alfred Borden wrote:Can people suggest any other tricks that might go down well for children aged between 4 - 7

John Guastaferro does a brilliant "Fairy Tale Frogs" routine Alfred.
Well worth learning, both for children, & adults too.
It's one of my favourite pkt routines at the moment.

CArl...

Thanks for the tips everyone

After some thinking, have got some ideas

Sponge balls (if I have time to perfect it)
Kids colouring book (have to buy but looks a self-worker)
Paddle trick
Cups and balls (only if time to perfect)
Rotten apples
D-lites

Am thinking about Chop cup but might be a little too old??

Rocky Racoon, can you elaborate please Rob?

CArl, I'm going to look into that but already like the idea - will send a PM this evening

Discombobulator - thanks, this is exactly the sort of simple effect that keeps the act moving

Anymore ideas welcome

Thanks

PS Have just been told the theme is Pirates and Princess' and to perform magic I must dress as a Pirate...bang goes the Hugh Jackman from the Prestige image

Lol kids magic for ya mate

They wanna see a pirate not the great Danton

The REAL transported man beaten by sponge bunnys

A word of warning, kids under the age of 5 don't really have an understanding of causal relationships so impressing them with magic can be a bit difficult. To a five year old there is little difference between vanishing a sponge ball and ink coming out of a pen- from they're perspective they're both achieved with 'magic'. You might get amazed reactions from them or they might just get bored and distracted by other things- it won't really be anything to do with your abilities, more with them not viewing what you're doing as any more astonishing as everything else in the room. Flicking the light switch on and off can easily be viewed as equally miraculous as a ball disappearing under one cup and reappearing under another.

They're also really difficult to misdirect! Older kids will quite easily follow visual clues and look where you want them to- the little 'uns will just stare at your hand and then loudly tell everyone else that that's where the ball really is! Of course, like all hecklers, if you do get one over them they will be the first to voice their amazement!

The best idea is to go for short and very visual tricks, preferably ones that you can get a volunteer involved in but don't rely on that same volunteer behaving for you to make the magic work!

The real funny thing about the Prestige references Jon? My mate was talking to me about doing his daughters birthday party next year, and he insists that we open with 2 doors and a red bouncing ball...you have to know him to understand the joke, but imagine someone of 6'4" going into one box and someone of 5'7" and a lot more portly opening the other door

A J Irving, thanks for the advice - reminds me of one of the first magic books I bought, which was a Joshua Jay book with a DVD, and talks about exactly the same thing, kids are amazed that their dinner goes into a microwave and comes out cooked, lightswitches etc, and its all very true

Not being able to misdirect scares me!

Theres a chance this gig won't happen anyway, unless I'm 100% comfortable with my act I won't be performing, and I only have 3 weeks to practice

Lol at least people will know its not a double not a convincing one anyway lol

I've done a zombie ball routine for kids while telling the story of the frog prince. That goes down well. Then magic colouring book and balloons.

Jobasha wrote:I've done a zombie ball routine for kids while telling the story of the frog prince. That goes down well. Then magic colouring book and balloons.

Zombie ball to start, not a bad idea...okay, honest question...have just been shopping around a for an animal balloon and there are a couple going for a tenner

BUT - is 3 weeks long enough to learn how to make balloon animals?

Swallow a balloon mate !