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T. Sebastian Loyal user Ozark Mountains, USA 223 Posts |
I first posted this question in "The Little Darlings" for insights from the kid's party workers.
I'm trying to collect methods of dealing with troublesome kids. I mean really bad situations where some kid is hanging around and damaging your business. Deliberate sabotage. Anything fellas?
So sorry I soiled your precious eyes.
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
I had one who thought it would be funny to try and reach into my bucket during the show... his friends call him "Lefty" now! !
Is that helpful?
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I read the thread in "The Little Darlings." I understand the problem. I feel your pain. Been there, done that. Could write a book.
I could also tell from the responses that few of the people who responded had ever busked. I actually think that few of them have ever done a paid show, but that's a different discussion. When kids are outdoors, without parental supervision, they can become serious pains in the wazoo. They do need to know the boundaries. You need to get the information across to them without looking like an evil man. There's the dilemma. Method 1 -- Stop your show. Cold. Ask the crowd if anyone here belongs to the kids. If nobody does, then start to auction them off. Method 2 -- which actually works. If you can take the kids aside before you start, ask them where their parents are. If they say that they work in one of the concessions or if they have a booth, then ask them how they would feel if you stood in front of their mother or father's booth and sent all the people away before they could buy anything. They will understand that. Rennie kids understand it at the age of 4. David Kaye's book won't tell you that. I know this from experience. I have used this successfully. If you are working at a festival that has showtimes posted, go over to the posted sign and look at your watch. Come back to your pitch and ask the kids if their name is Sebastian. When they say "no," say, that's good. Mine is, and that's what's on the sign. So it's my turn now. Your turn starts after I finish. Method 4 -- Juggle them. If there are only two of them. Juggle two of them and a machete. No, on second thought, that might be too violent. You might cut yourself. Just kidding. Don't do this. I had a real problem at the last IBMA convention in Nashville. There were two little tow-headed kids that were running through the instrument displays, pinching all the free goodies, and they weren't registered. I knew that their mother was a German immigrant who worked in the food concession. A word to the security people took care of that one real fast.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Hawkan Elite user Sweden 495 Posts |
Silly Billy mentions something about duct tape, and I think a basement was involved.
Seriously though, do you mean when performing in the street? HÃ¥kan :wavey: |
T. Sebastian Loyal user Ozark Mountains, USA 223 Posts |
These are the types of responses I was looking for.
Thanks guys. I really like method 1, Bill. I will be remembering that one. heh And if you wrote that book, I would read it. I also thought of doing the Andy Kaufman gag. Pull out a boring book and start reading aloud.(if I had a group of hooligans) Hakan, I do mean on the street. Or any other open, public space.
So sorry I soiled your precious eyes.
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Kozmo V.I.P. 5473 Posts |
I had these kids hanging around for 4 shows telling everyone what was going to happen next...was killing my hat...i told them nicely 3 times to please stop after each show and they refused...so after the 4th time...they hung around to do it again and watch the next show...i went over to them and grabbed the kid by his shirt and told him I was going to ****ing kill him if he didn't stop and that I wasn't like any other adult that he has ever met and that I wouldn't take naymore of his ****...
that was the end of it....he didn't come around again....its the streets I don't care...i hate those little punks ...now I'm not recommending this method LOL kozmo |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
You should have told him how you really felt.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
tboehnlein Inner circle ohio 1787 Posts |
I am not a busker but something that I had found by accident while doing my C&B routine, when I start the routine I slam the wand down real hard on the table & cause a slight hesitation by nearby spectators including kids & since I have never had a kid grab for anything off my table. I hade since added this to my kid show opener & it works really in preventing the grabbers, it just does not happen anymore. As for the loud mouthes & smart ellecks that is a differant matter all togather.
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TheGiz Veteran user 335 Posts |
I do close up on the street. I've had kids hang for more than 2 shows and they start in. My biggest problem is them grabbing my props. They want to check out the wand, the shells etc. After suggesting they quit twice I slowly grab their hand with considerable, almost crushing pressure, but with a sweet tone in my voice telling them not to grab the props. Nobody could tell anything except us two. They have always gotten the hint. Usually walking away grabbing their hand. Always worked for me.
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tboehnlein Inner circle ohio 1787 Posts |
Giz I applaud you, but in this day & age I would be scared to death to lay a hand on a child in a street audience out of some nut case stating I assaulted their child.
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Mark Rough Inner circle Ivy, Virginia 2110 Posts |
Man, they used to teach (in colleges) this stuff when I got teacher certified. I miss those days.
What would Wavy do?
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-07-17 13:19, tboehnlein wrote: My quickie opener and my first real trick incorporate some sucker feints that encourage these types. It makes the show even better having people shout out or point to "the other hand". I try to keep these folks second-guessing themselves the whole time. It's fun. Most just cannot resist being the "smart one" or the "know-it-all" so use it against them. The trick (for us) is to allow them to blurt out their blunders that shows they're an idiot, get laughs from the crowd at their expense, use one of your good lines "do you realize I live for moments like this?", and then smile with them, touch them on the shoulder, slowly befriend them, and finally, at some point, make them some sort of momentary hero or give them a bit of glory, perhaps at YOUR expense. After a while you can predict these moments and you can script them into your act so the lines come out as smooth as glass.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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