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Of course he picked up on that and heard me and made me feel like a right fool much to everyone else's entertainment.

Thats not good. He shouldnt have done that at all!

I really cant stand kids entertainers that do that!

in the past 50 shows i have only had to leave once to a badly organised party whith security present who did nothing to stop some kids kicking in my speakers and stealing my magic gear.

Ooooh! Nasty!
Well done for leaving.

i can't have kids gargling the bubble fluid

haha
- Sorry, this isnt funny. But it made me chuckle!

youd be surprised how often the kids stand infront of the bubble machine and eat the bubbles.

or stick ther face in the smoke machine so much so that i now mount them on the lighting pole out of the way.

Or when druken parents stagger into your performance area and proceed to start acting badly

here is why i quit children's parties

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic6630.p ... ons+retire

i like the terror feeling of not knowing what to expect when you turn up but then I'm a gluton for punishment, iv'e been married.

i don't script my shows for this very reason i like being flexable its one of the things that get me rebooked, that said with the condition i have I'm leening towards more easy jobs so we'll have to see how it goes.

Of course, being the young child that I was I fell right in to his trap and whispered "how it was done" to my mother. Of course he picked up on that and heard me and made me feel like a right fool much to everyone else's entertainment.

I think that comes under toms comment about humiliation.

Coming from a stupid number of years as a professional childrens and youth worker, both in a mega rich area and on a rough council estate, I would go for the rough kids anytime.

My wife once told a young person off in the rich area for being rude to her. The father turned really nasty and we had to apologise!

However, though the YP was smug at the time, a year later she came back to the work we were doing, and did a d of e, and then stayed on!

that was an aside, sorry. Tom I am impressed with your evaluation of the situation - it takes years sometimes for someone to get that much under their belt, congrats!!(this is meant to be none-patronising but seems to have come across badly - do take it in the spirit its is meant!)

I love working in schools - clowning, magic, story telling. music. Its a school rule that a teacher has to be in. Limits such things as anythnign to do with fire or large steak knives but not to worry. Its a safe area and its a chance to chear up the teaching staff.

i was in a school today and performed some escapology for the whole school, then at lunchtime
a few rope tricks for year 3 and 4 kids in the playground.

Then tonight a pizza hut entertained my 4 year old by pushing the tabascoe source through the table.

I love kids work, but it is harder than adults. as has been said before, they are harder to fool - perhaps as has been said it has something to do with how they process information and that adults look at things and make assumptions as tohow they got their from experience. Children dont have that experience.

A couple of close friend's kids who I rarely can get a trick past aged 8 and 10 respectively (they have a healthy interest themselves in magic and know some moves, so i don't feel that i am revealing anything) think it has something to do with playing computer games and needing to watch the whole screen for enemies, which makes them more observant.

Actually, the 8 year old is a nightmare (in a nice way!). He has ADHD and one of the side effects for him is the ability to absorb his enviroment. The downside is that he gets destracted easily as he can't differentiate between important information and non-essential in the world around him. The upside is that it is almost impossible to misdirect him as his attention covers every angle. Its crazy (he can even read a computer strategy book or wargames rules book and memorize the whole lot in one go .....they both can read at rates that would put adults in the dark)

Tom I am impressed with your evaluation of the situation - it takes years sometimes for someone to get that much under their belt, congrats!!(this is meant to be none-patronising but seems to have come across badly - do take it in the spirit its is meant!)

Thank you.

MagicTom wrote:Kids Shows!

YES

For kids..its not about using your best magic trick to baffle and impress them.

You must entertain over all. Your number 1 priority is to entertain.

You need
Character,
Fun magic tricks that relate to them (its useless trying a complicated card trick on them...)
and anything else that will make them laugh.

Making a modelling balloon hit you in the face will make them crack up!

Yes, kids love to catch you out. So use a sucker trick. Such as Die Box or Peanut butter and jelly where they think they have worked it out and then smack bang, you do something thats semmingly impossible!

You need to have a kid inside you to be a kids entertainer.

If the kids dont like you, (they shall make you know) and yes they shall give you hell! (I did when i was little!)

I always meet and greet kids as they walk in. Shake thier hands and talk to them.


If you dont like performing for kids...dont do it.
If you prefer adults...perform for adults! Make your mark here.
Dont go and wreck your magic career by being a naf kids entertainer.



As for kids giving you hell,
I know that some kids do it without meaning too.
I once had a kid, who was a pain throughout the show. I was finding it hard to cope.
At the end, he was the first to come and say "Thank you, you were really good! Can i take one of your leaflets?"

What not to do

Give them sweets - i once made the mistake of giving naughty kids sweets to shut them up. OH DEAR - I learnt very quickly from that. I tend to avoid using any sweets now (after an article i read)

Humiliate that child - I have watched kids entertainers use kids as volunteers just to get a laugh from the adults. It really doesnt work. Kids will take a dis liking to you instanly! Kids must like you from the very start of that party!

Wise words from one so young Tom

LOL!

I try...