talkmagic.co.uk

Hi guys

A while back a family friend who is running a charity fun day asked me to go and show a few tricks to the adults. But as the old story goes Im now the kids entertainer according to several sources. I dont practice kids tricks and I dont really want to be honest.

Should I just stick to the adults or should I buy myself a colouring book
And some sponge bunnies. My problem is I know
Kids magic isnt technically difficult but there is a lot
Of skill involved in presentation and working with children.

Do I dissapoint by saying I wont be doing the
Childrens magic show or do I risk it and maybe (deffinately) put on a poor
Show for the kids. I normally wouldnt think twice about this but it is for a family friend and a good charity.

Thanks x

If this friend has asked you to go there and entertain the "adults", why have you just become the "childrens" entertainer?

If you want to attend the event and entertain them, so long as the children are 9yrs and above, I would just perform my usual routines, If, however they are much younger then im sure your friend will understand that you are not a childrens entertainer and will have to book someone who is.

Best of luck with it, and please make sure they all get a business card.

All the best

Steve

Be clear as to what it is you are expecting to do, could you perhaps do a bit of both?

Kids props don't always require the most practice but my they can be expensive! I don't really understand, you have been labelled a "children's entertainer" yet are asking about buying Colouring book?!

When asked to do a show for the Jubilee weekend by the neighbours I did 5 acts for the children, and 5 for the adults, was a nice mix, the amount of people the Milk Pitcher routine fools is may as well be part of an adult set anyway!

But is he just asking you to do walkaround or does he want a stage show?

What sort of magic are you doing? It's quite easy to present routines in a family friendly way that both the adults and children are going to enjoy without becoming a children's entertainer.

Grab yourself a set of sponge bunnies, honestly they're not just for kids but can really work for adults too. A few years back I worked an officers' dinner for the Royal Artillary Regiment and the sponge bunnies went down amazingly well with the soldiers, probably better than any other routine I had.

Hi thanks for the replies.

Basically I do close up magic; cards,bunnies and spongeballs and coins and I was asked to go round the adults at the barbeque which I am fine with. But after speaking to a couple of people going they are saying "the kids cant wait to see your magic" etc. I dont mind performing for the children but my act is quite heavily cards and they could get bored and I dont want to seem rude by seemingly leaving them out.

The reason I mentioned the colouring book is I just went to the childrens magic section and looked at a few things I could carry around with me that would appeal to them also. So I seen a pocket colouring book effect that I thought would be good for the younger ones. Got that and a breakaway wand so that I can give them it when performing the tricks to make them seem involved and part of it.

Even though I bought the stuff I am still undecided, going to speak with her tonight just to clarify.

If you want I can PM you my breakaway wand routine, it always goes down quite well

Some children aged 9 and up enjoy card tricks, and even just messing with some tranpo effects for younger children they can go down well

If you think getting a colouring book will make you a kids entertainer you are missing something. It is a different art. I think every colouring book in the country should be tossed on a large bonfire.

If you are not a children's entertainer then tell the organiser honestly that you were asked to entertain the adults, and that is what you will be doing. If you decide to entertain the children put together a proper routine for them, and don't waste your money on colouring books and self-working props. Get a good book or DVD on entertaining children (book preferably) and do it right.

If you could pm the breakaway wand routine that would be great.

Yes Tony that was my point I know that the skill is not in the self working props but the management of the children the routines and the patter that childrens entertainers have. I know buying these props wont make me a childrens entertainer but is it worth bringing them along to keep the children entertained aswell just this one time?

TonyB wrote:If you think getting a colouring book will make you a kids entertainer you are missing something. It is a different art. I think every colouring book in the country should be tossed on a large bonfire.

If you are not a children's entertainer then tell the organiser honestly that you were asked to entertain the adults, and that is what you will be doing. If you decide to entertain the children put together a proper routine for them, and don't waste your money on colouring books and self-working props. Get a good book or DVD on entertaining children (book preferably) and do it right.

+1 Great post Tony

We may always disagree on the Colouring book issue as the way I present this and let the children feel they are doing the magic always goes down well BUT yes, doing children's entertaining is an art

I actually believe that certain people can do children's entertaining and certain people probably aren't cut out for it

craigie wrote:Yes Tony that was my point I know that the skill is not in the self working props but the management of the children the routines and the patter that childrens entertainers have. I know buying these props wont make me a childrens entertainer but is it worth bringing them along to keep the children entertained aswell just this one time?

No, I don't believe it is worth bringing along the kids props. You will be diluting what you are good at, and making a haems of what you are not good at. Better to tell them you will do what they asked you to do, and no more. Just my view, and no disrespect intended to your skills. But if you were a plumber, would you paint the house while you were there?

just too throw the perferbiable hammer into the works, as a childrens magician and adult entertainer..... see how I worded that statement, I use a colouring book in my adult shows a lot its great for convincing one audience member that they are colour blind and the other is totaly blind, adding some derren brown esk word trickery, works for stiff rope and cut and restored.
plus i do a lot of coin work with or without okito box for kids, recycle those missmatched halfs and shell with bunny stickers and give them a new lease on life, haunted key works just as well for adults as kids, perhaps I'm just that great but i don't see any diference between my adult set and my kids set with the exception that some of the props are bigger. .

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions guys. I think Im going to go with Tony and the rest and just leave the kids stuff out, by that I mean the idea of using a colouring book etc and just stick with the cards sponge and coins. I will let you all know how it goes

Craigie, I think you are wise. If you have a light touch the kids will respond well to a lot of your regular set - particularly coins and sponges. But play to your strengths, and entertain the adults.

And if you ever decide to really tackle the kids stuff, we will all offer any advice we can.