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Daniel Ulzen Elite user Berlin/Germany 490 Posts |
Hi everybody,
the "Bigger Wands"-Routine is great. See for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R9rfCryb-A But I often play performances where the kids are 7 to 13 years old, so there are no smaller kids who are 4 or 5 or 6 years old. I wonder if the basic routine (silk doesn´t disappear, magician in trouble syndrome, wands gets bigger and bigger) would work just for older kids too. Does anybody has any ideas or experiences? Thanx! Daniel |
Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
Bigger wands is great, but I advise purchasing the appearing 8 foot wand for the last one. Its far easier to transport, workable in homes and much more magical to produce a giant wand from an small, empty bag.
As for the routine, you don't have to do the silk act, the prop will work with any trick. I use to do it with my rabbit-in-the-hat puppet, as it was a big 'magic themed' routine. I showed a picture of a rabbit without his hat. Told the helper we were going to make a hat appear on the rabbit picture and did the bigger wand trick (in small shows, I did multiplying wands instead). The last 8ft appearing wand came from inside the rabbit puppets hat. It was very magical. The helper waved the wand and the picture magically had a hat appear on it. I stopped doing it as it was a silent puppet routine and I do a lot of vent now, which I like more. But I have the routine on DVD... Steve |
Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
In a word, no. I still use the occasional magic wand for 7-year olds. But any older than this, and in my opinion, there should be no magic wands in sight! Substitute something else for a magic wand, perhaps. But magic wands are seen by older kids as "childish", and you'll lose them quickly with Bigger Wands. BW plays great for any age up to 7 though. The REALLY big 12 foot wand is a bit too much for 3-and 4 year olds though!
Potty |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
I have to disagree with Doug here - which almost never happens. (Sorry, Doug!) I've used Bigger Wands very successfully in front of daycares all the way up to adult comedy club audiences. I watched Scott Francis roll an all-adult audience out of their chairs with laughter with an impromptu Bigger Wand bit. In fact, the jumbo wand always serves as a favorite prop for group daycare and school photos after the shows. Kids love it.
As with anything, it all depends on your routining and delivery. As Steve suggested, ditch the out-of-the-box silk bit and put your mind to work on a routine that will WOW the age group you're aiming for. Then use the wands to add an extra level of comedic spice to the bit.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
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Daniel Ulzen Elite user Berlin/Germany 490 Posts |
Thanx for the input! Ok I believe I have to find my own way to perform them.
Potty I perform the gag wands like fishing pole wand and break away and wand to flower in every show and believe me they work for older kids too. Act as if you are really suprised and really angry when the wands break - then they will really love it. |
Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Personally, I don't need wands for my older kids' shows. I'm sure you can use them, but I offer a completely different take for older kids. Most of my routines for 7 years plus involve "pirate games" (like "Soak the Pirate", "The Treasure Game", "The Joker" - a card game which pirates have devised, at which it's "impossible" to cheat - though somehow I manage it!- and "How to Be a Pirate" - a pirate test culminating in a light & heavy chest presentation.) Or, clever magic, which is really mind-blowing, or absurd material with farts, danger, and Pythonesque stuff.
I leave behind the childish "magic wand" material, as most of these kids will have seen every magic wand gag, and even if you have something new, it probably won't appeal to them. But, I live in the home of Bohemia in the UK - Brighton. Kids around here are very savvy, and you really have to be on the ball to engage them. If you don't have something different, and downright outrageous, you can struggle! Potty |
derrick Inner circle I dug holes for 1044 Posts |
I know Bigger Wands will play strong for the 7 up to 13-year-old age group. If the magic that is supposed to eventually happen with a simple wave of the wand is anticipated by your audience to be strong, and eventually really is a strong "Wow" moment, then Bigger Wands is a fantastic way to build tention and have a whole lot of fun with a volunteer no matter what the age of the audience you are entertaining.
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Doug, I don't think Skip said he "needed" bigger wands for older kids just that presented well they do work and are appropriate.
I've never seen a wand as childish. In fact, there are very few props that are childish just presentations. |
Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
I really meant that most magic wand GAGS are seen as "chidish". Just my opinion. Of course, with routines like "Cups and Balls", "Dean's Box", "Ring on Wand", and many others, a magic wand is part of the presentation.
But you can still use gags of a certain kind - and of course, if Bigger Wands works for your shows, there's no reason to take what I say as gospel. Again, in my area, several folks now have "Bigger Wands", so 7-year olds are likely to have seen them before. They may enjoy them the first time they see them, but are less likely to respond well if they know exactly what's coming. :) |
Futureal Inner circle 1695 Posts |
You can use them in theory for older kids/adults, sure. Just make sure you treat them as a GAG prop and not as an actual "magic" item that is responsible for the magic.
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-07-12 08:47, Potty the Pirate wrote: Unless you're talking specifically about "silly wands", I disagree. I use a magic wand in all my shows. Even at a strolling gig. They are quite important. If you are talking about "silly wands" then I completely agree.
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