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michaelwriting New user Kenosha, WI 55 Posts |
Can anyone tell me the typical amount of space and accommodations that you have when hired to perform most of your kid/birthday magic (type of room, size of the overall room, size of area for performing, indoors/outdoors, etc.)?
I've done a little bit of kid entertaining over the years (mostly balloons, some closeup magic, etc.). The balloons and closeup stuff were typically 'living room' or 'on the spot' type of situations. However, I'm looking to put together a more formal/professional act, sort of a mini-stage show with some lighting, effects, etc. Anyway, I'm just curious how much space most people provide for kid/birthday performances. I don't want to put together a fairly large act and find out that everyone expects you to perform in a 3 foot closet. I appreciate your experience and suggestions...Thanks! Mike |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Smallest was a room about 10 feet deep and 15 feet wide, average a large family room, largest show for kids was for a couple hundred in a large church.
Steve V |
Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
My experience is anything from a three car garage converted into a party space to a three by five foot space with the kids less than a foot away. It is best to make a show thast can play almost anywhere than it is to make a show with lights, sound and backdrops that needs a huge room devoid of furniture.
You will generally have to set up and break down in the same room as the party is with all the kids and perents looking on as you do so as well. Save the big show for those rare occasions where a hall has been hired or you know for certain that the house you will be performing in fits the parameters of your performance. As for myself I prefer to go in with everything in a single valise. I flip open my folding chair, set my case down on it, open it up, do my show, close the case, foold up the chair and leave.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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Cesar Munoz Veteran user 370 Posts |
Michael,
My experience has been along the lines of what Payne described. It gets expecially challenging when they have a small room in a restaurant--and you have fewer options with regard to moving around furniture. When doing birthday parties, communions, etc, flexibility is of the utmost importance. Cesar |
iwillfoolu Special user Upstate NY, USA 746 Posts |
Somtimes you don't even get the 3x5 closet I tell people when they book me that I need 5'x5' of space for my show and additional space for the audience. I tell them that the more space the better. Garages, Family/Living Rooms, Play rooms etc. seem to be the "norm". Also if they mention performing at a restaurant or other "public" location, make sure that they have OKed it with the manager of the establishment. ** Get a seperate room. ** It is not fair to either your customer or the restaurant's customers (or you for that matter) to perform in a common area for a kid's B-day.
Always be ready to show up and not get what you request though. I recently showed up and there was NO space to perform. I was put in a play room that was covered in toys. The parents quickly realized that I would need some space and cleaned the room but there was no space for the audience (10 kids 15 adults) Meanwhile there is a huge living room that would have been perfect, but they wanted me in the play room. Win some, lose some. Finally make sure you make VERY CLEAR any technical requirements you have especially if performing outdoors. Electricity can be hard to come by in the middle of a park Joe |
Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
I had a 3x5 once, but with all of the side and back angles exposed. It was a small "pit" area in the middle of a shopping mall. What a strange place for a birthday party!
Anyways, that's why I always check out the venue a day before the show. I was able to revamp my show to accomodate the limited space and bad angles. The sad reality is that you just can't have one show that will fit all occasions. Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
I suggest to my birthday customers, that I need a 6'x6' performing area. For one of my birthday shows, I suggest a 8'x8' performing area.
For my other (larger) shows, such as for schools, churches, private events, malls, festivals, etc. I suggest a 12'x12' performing area / stage, although I also put that I really prefer 16'x16' or 12'x16'. I cover this information for my customers on my FAQs page, which I mail ahead of time, plus I also tell them on the phone, when booking the show. I do need a bit more room, because for my larger shows (non-birthdays), I have a su-table, a side table, a sound system (on another side table), microphone in stand, a backdrop, and sometimes a larger stage illusion to all fit into that space. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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The Great Smartini Inner circle 2280 Posts |
For the majority of birthday parties I would consider the pack small plays big thinking. If you find you have more space when you qualify the prospect then you could include other effects into your basic birthday show and charge accordingly. The performance conditions will dictate much of the type of show/effects you will be able to perform. I would plan for a very very small space.
If you do have the financial ability to have other effects, sound, backdrop, etc. in your magic inventory then great. You can use these as your performing conditions require them. You might think about upgrading to a medium sized show that can be downgraded for smaller gigs and expanded for bigger shows. Having this flexibility also gives you material for 2nd shows/re-bookings during the year. My suggestion would be to think long term particularly when purchasing props, sound systems, etc. Buy the best that you can and wait if you can't. I would rather buy one really nice piece of magic than several...at least that's my explanation to my wife! You might also consider going through the stuff that you have and selling/trading anything you aren't using. This may provide you with some cash to purchase one or more things. Let us know how your plans go. Good luck! |
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