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Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
Some nice ideas as far as printing things on paper can go. But what of those church hall, club (complete with bar), village hall, community centre parties where adults have no-where else to go? Like Troy's point about "let's keep in mind who's buttering the bread here" (you are definitely a veteran performer like us Troy!).
As I said, - talking does become a bit overbearing at times, but my personal dislike is adults SMOKING at parties. I think it appalling that some people can inflict this upon other people's small children. (You can always tell their own kids can't you because the poor little dears smell to high heaven of tobacco). Once again a bit of humour using the kids can work, by just getting them to turn round with their fingers on their noses and say: "pooooh, who's making that awful smell!" |
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Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
It's not only smoking that gets up my nose, it's adults swearing in front of kids, What chance have the poor kids got, when the adults who are supposed to set an example, give them such a bad example to follow.
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
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kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
Emazdad
Your welcome to anything on the letter you like, hope it works out for you. The letter is gold for me and it sells alot of pinatas for me. ken |
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Billy Whizz Special user Plymouth, UK 576 Posts |
I agree with you there Tony, I hate working pubs and clubs where it's thick with smoke. I go home and end up stinking. I've even gone to a party the next day and still smell the smoke on my props like silks etc.
Not much we can do about that though, just have to put up with it. Unless, we add that to our contracts....... 'NO SMOKING in front of the children at parties' I wish!!! All the best, Billy |
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oscar New user Fred 11 Posts |
There are all good info and I will be using some of them. Thanks again guys for your help. I think it is important to have a good show because there are many kids there and they also have a birthday.
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Mago Mai Elite user Venezuela 485 Posts |
Most of the parties I work are done outdoors.I ask the person that contacts me what else they have in the party.Pop corn machines,Little tikes,bouncing castles.I usually visit the place before the party.Look for the best place to set my show and recomend them to rent small chairs for the kids.That helps a lot when it comes to order.
I use a portable sound system(fender passport)to help me with the noise.I also try to set my show far away from the adult tables.I do put some seats for the adults that want to watch the show.When I start the show I talk to them by the microphone, greet them, and welcome them to join us with the show. Mago Mai
I invite all of you to share some of my magic on videos.Please, CLICK HERE
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Ferdinand New user 8 Posts |
I have been using the letter idea for years. It works very well.
However, try this. Say to the kids "Boys and girls, the grown ups are very noisy, aren't they?" The kids reply "yes!" "Well, everybody put their fingers to their lips like this" Demonstrate putting your index finger to your lip in a "shush" position. The kids follow suit. "now when I say three everybody turn around and go shhh!! The kids do and it works perfectly. the adults get the message. I regret to say that this will only work for about 5 to 10 minutes or so and then you will have to do it again. Useful though to a degree. You do get 10 minutes of peace, sometimes longer. Don't worry about the adults hearing you do this and getting offended. They are so busy yacking that they miss what you are up to. |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
I'll never forget my worst time with loud adults while performing at a kid's party. The adults were in the same room chatting loud as I performed. I raised my voice loud so the kids could hear me. The 4 year old birthday girl placed her hands over her ears and ran to her room. I told the adults to step outside because they are too loud. They did go outside. The mother got her daugther from her room to continue watching the show. Ten minutes later the adults came back in during the show. They were all being quiet because they regreted what they did earlier.
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Bilwonder Veteran user Oroville CA 327 Posts |
Parents talking in the background during a birthday party has only happened occasionally for me. Usually, once I start, they get involved in the show also. But here's something I've done on occasion when it happened. My show is very interactive with the kids...Soooo. I just pumped up the volume (no, not the sound system) with the kids...I did it gradually at first. First I got very quiet with the kids and intimate...this caused some parents to stop and realize they were being loud...then I got the kids laughing and soon they kids were and shouting and laughing so loud it the the parents couldn't hear each other talk...so they either quit talking or left the room. Again, by then parents became involved in watching me.
Another technique is to use one of the parents in the the show. This can really get attention. Or you could take your magic right into the nest of adults (such as producing things). Once they realize they aren't invisible, they either participate or move to another area. Here in California, cigarettes are not much of a problem since it's almost outlawed everywhere anymore...but I had a friend who once borrowed one of the cigarettes, vanished it (TT) by changing it to a silk that said, "NO SMOKING PLEASE."
billswondershow.com
"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." Mark Twain |
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Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
There was an article a few months ago on how rude people have become, it's not just at birthday parties, it's at the theatre, the cinema everywnere. They have a big notice come up on the screen before the movie asking for people to turn off their mobiles. They still go off during the film, and the people still answer them and talk.
My worse case was at a birthday party that was in a back room of a pub, there was a table full of mum's talking right next to me, all through the games they were natter natter natter, during the food break I went to them and asked politly if they would mind moving to the other end of the room during the show if they want to talk so it doesn't spoil the show for the kids. The answer I got between puffs was "They won't f345678g mind, we're comforable hear". During the show one lady moved away from the table and sat on a bench seat 5' from me facing out to the room and made a mobile phone call, when she'd finished she went back to the table.
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
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BryanDreyfus Loyal user 293 Posts |
I say, "wow, look at all the kids....great...hey look bigger kids too. You can stay too if you behave!" make a funny face for the kids to laugh and the start the show. I have done many repeats performances and have never heard a word.
I also have an act that that entertains everyone (even teens) so it isn't much of a prob. Bryan
Oh sure, I can spell "Antidisestablishmentarianism", but I can't type t-h-e.
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itsupyoursleeve New user Ingleton, UK 64 Posts |
I tend to find that when i have had the same problems with noisy parents it has usually been at a venue where there is a bar. If i suspect that the venue has a bar when the initial enquiry is made, i specify that a separate room away from the bar be used for the show itself.
If this is not always possible i politely make an announcement to the parents prior to the show starting, pointing out that the children will enjoy the show much more if they werent getting distractions from behind them. I have only had to do this twice and it seemed to work ok on both occasions |
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magicsoup Elite user 461 Posts |
my show usually gets pretty loud. It's not jsut the kids who scream, I scream a lot! Sometimes the kids call me the mean clown (even though I don't wear any makeup). When they say this it makes me scream more because I'm offended at being called a clown ( no ofence to any clowns out there). Anyone who made or got a phone call wouldn't stand a chance in the room. Sometimes I get the kdis to yell louder when someone makes a cell call! I've never had anyone get upset about this.
I hate smoking at shows , but who am I to tell people what they can do in their own home? I make jokes for the parents. I comment on a famous person from the '80's and none of the kids have a clue which the parents will laugh about. They are the ones who hired me and I don't want them to be bored. |
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Ron Reid Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 2732 Posts |
I've picked up some terrific advice from this thread! Another strategy (from Trevor Lewis) is to perform a routine that uses a fairly large number of kids (say, 6 to 8). Most parents want to watch their own kids up on stage, so they'll be quiet and will "shush" other parents who are talking while they try to watch.
I've never tried it, but several of the "biggie" kid show performers like David Ginn, Sammy Smith, and Silly Billy have mentioned this ploy as a solution to adults talking. I remember reading somewhere that Edwin Hooper would have all kids turn to the parents and say in unison, "Parents, be QUIET!" I guess it worked very well for him. Ron Reid |
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