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So yesterday was my Son's 4th birthday party and I did a 25-30 minute routine, and here's a brief write up of what occured...

1) The letter routine - I think someone on this forum may have come up with this , and although he can sometimes appear like the David Brent of the forum, "yeah I am the best", "I wrote a book, it's the best" etc! A massive thank you as this went down a storm! Really got the children into the spirit of things, the children really seemed to like "ITS UNDER YOUR ARM!", "THE OTHER ARM!!" - t'was a nice start and certainly relaxed me for my first performance

2) Magic bag - A quite beautiful piece of work, a blue paper bag is shown as empty, and then 3 perspex appearing boxes with flowers in are produced, I also had three different coloured silks produced which led into...the children were quite into this and by the third time showing the bag around were really trying to see if there was anything in the bag!

3) Tied silks through tube - the green, yellow and red silks are pushed through a tube, and on the count of 3, the children all shouted ABRACADABRA! The silks are then blown through the tube and come out tied - the parents seemed more impressed by this one!

4) Colouring book - Introduced a book with empty pages, then explained to the children that a magician can put pictures into a book using magic! The children then started shouting magic words and we produced some pictures. They then started shouting different colours and on flicking through the book again the book was now filled with colour!

5) Mouth coil - A had a child come up and explain he was going to learn how to be a magician, so I explained how important this wand was to me, then handed him the (breakaway) wand then walked away, laughter and shouting from children! Told him not to worry then did a little "do as I do" tearing a piece of paper, the children then all shouted colours out and we both removed the paper - well I removed a mouth coil, to some amusement. - After discussing my act afterwards with my wife, sister and Mum, they said the little boy looked really disappointed that he wasn't producing a 20 foot colourful piece of paper as well so will change this for next time!

6) D-lites - no real introduction as such but went over to a lamp and produced a red light, this was then inserted into mouth, ears, eyes, etc . Walked around some of the children and started producing lights from behind their ears - this was a real success, everyone really enjoyed it and the children were mesmerized!

7) Comedy Egg Can - one of the older girls came to help me with this one and I also had my Son help me. Egg was cracked into can, and placed onto a card which was placed on girls head. I then explained I had forgotten how to the trick but the instructions should be around somewhere, card was then removed which showed the words DO NOT REMOVE - My Son said some magic words, and I also had the children shout some, the can was then removed and was filled with chocolate buttons that were handed out to the children!

After getting over my initial nerves I really enjoyed myself, as did the children. And one of the Mums has asked me to perform at her daughters birthday part next weekend

Well done - sounds like everyone had a great time!

Well done, that man!

Sounds like you had a blast.

Cheers guys, enjoyed it loads, am looking forward to next weekend now as well

And a big thanks to everyone on the forum, there is so much knowledge to be found here and it is certainly helping me on my journey

Well done. It was a nice routine, with plenty for the kids, and a good opening and closing. The Letter is a bit of genius, isn't it?

TonyB wrote:Well done. It was a nice routine, with plenty for the kids, and a good opening and closing. The Letter is a bit of genius, isn't it?

The Letter is a thing of beauty, I can't imagine opening with anything else now!

It settled my nerves and really got the children into the spirit of things

My Son's teacher wants me to do a show at the school as well so plenty to look forward to!

Any advice on the mouth coil mate?

Was a bit upset afterwards when I was told of little Bobby's reaction, he's a really good kid and usually game for a laugh! My Mum and sister who both work with children said at 4 years old he would have just seen himself as "failing" so to speak

Alfred Borden wrote:Any advice on the mouth coil mate?

Was a bit upset afterwards when I was told of little Bobby's reaction, he's a really good kid and usually game for a laugh! My Mum and sister who both work with children said at 4 years old he would have just seen himself as "failing" so to speak

I've never performed for kids so certainly don't take any of the comments below as gospel, just some ideas/thoughts based on what you've said....

Am I right in saying you also used the breakaway wand on the same child as the mouth coil? That could have been the first point where he thought he had "failed"? Is it possible to reverse this in any way, have a broken wand that when handed to the child fixes itself?

I imagine the mouth coil would be hilarious to young children maybe use them in a different part of the act rather than when a child is copying you, to save that feeling of failure?

Maybe as the last part of this section have some self worker that the child can do without knowing how they did it, but have it not work for you therefore making them feel happy with themselves and a 'proper' magician.

That sounds sensible Ace, I think he saw the funny side of the breakaway wand but was genuinely disappointed he couldn't produce a colourful ribbon when we both had the same piece of paper in our lips (ahem!)

I have another idea for the mouth coil whereby when the children are shouting colours for the colouring book and I say something like "oops, they have gone into my mouth!" - produce coil...

Sounds like it went well. The Egg Can sounds like a perfect finisher. The reason I suggested producing sweets is not only because it's always considered a good way to end a kids' show, but also because it fits in with what Richard Osterlind says - isn't the purpose of magic to do something great? As he puts it, who would use magic to make a little handkerchief change colour? However, if you're four years old, making sweets appear out of thin air is pretty cool. That's probably the real reason why it's considered a good end to a kids' show.

As to the mouth coil, there was a reason I had some reservations about using it in the usual way; it can make the spectator look like a failure or stupid. Adults can laugh it off, if you don't milk it, but a small child might not get that this is just a bit of fun (the rest of the kids will love it). If you let the child do something magical afterwards, then you can probably avoid any issues.

It's easy to turn it around. You tap a wand on the magic paper he has. Nothing - your trick hasn't worked. He taps your paper and suddenly you produce all these streamers. Be careful not to get an over-exicted kid, unless you have very strong teeth. Maybe just wave the wands in the general direction of the paper.

Part-Timer wrote:Sounds like it went well. The Egg Can sounds like a perfect finisher. The reason I suggested producing sweets is not only because it's always considered a good way to end a kids' show, but also because it fits in with what Richard Osterlind says - isn't the purpose of magic to do something great? As he puts it, who would use magic to make a little handkerchief change colour? However, if you're four years old, making sweets appear out of thin air is pretty cool. That's probably the real reason why it's considered a good end to a kids' show.

As to the mouth coil, there was a reason I had some reservations about using it in the usual way; it can make the spectator look like a failure or stupid. Adults can laugh it off, if you don't milk it, but a small child might not get that this is just a bit of fun (the rest of the kids will love it). If you let the child do something magical afterwards, then you can probably avoid any issues.

It's easy to turn it around. You tap a wand on the magic paper he has. Nothing - your trick hasn't worked. He taps your paper and suddenly you produce all these streamers. Be careful not to get an over-exicted kid, unless you have very strong teeth. Maybe just wave the wands in the general direction of the paper.

Very nice. Thank you, thats what I'll be doing this coming weekend. Much better to let the child believe they have been a success as the magician. Also means that leaving the breakaway wand in this segment of my show won't do any real damage as the child ends on a happy note!

The saddest part, when I was loading the tube up with silks early on, the same boy, Bobby was shouting "I have seen this before, I know this one" etc, "we saw another magic man do this at another party" - was all good fun and I was just playing along with "lets hope I can do it as well then" type stuff

After the show I asked him who the better magician was, and he still pointed at me!

Alfred Borden wrote:After the show I asked him who the better magician was, and he still pointed at me!

Job done!

I second the idea that the child taps your papers, and so he has done the magic to produce your mouth coil. Then lead a big round of applause for him for being so clever. That approach works very well in those situations. I think you might have got the bug. Performing for kids, if it is right for you, is addictive. They are a great audience and it is a fun way of doing your magic.

TonyB wrote:I second the idea that the child taps your papers, and so he has done the magic to produce your mouth coil. Then lead a big round of applause for him for being so clever. That approach works very well in those situations. I think you might have got the bug. Performing for kids, if it is right for you, is addictive. They are a great audience and it is a fun way of doing your magic.

Yes, have the bug big time. Can't wait til Saturday. Should have some time today to brush up my script a little and hope to practice balloon animals this week

I doubted at first that the act had too much magic and not enough clowning around but I think the balance might be okay

To me the balance reads okay. The clowning grows over time, so don't worry about that.

Really well done. Hope you go from strength to strength now. Glad you used The Letter as it never fails to win them over at the start. Well done again.