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magicteachernyc New user NYC 7 Posts |
Hi Everyone,
After my birthday magic show, I usually make balloon animals for everyone while they are sitting down and eating pizza and/or cake. If the kids are going to eat beforehand and I need to make balloons while everyone is still in their seats from the show, do you have any suggestions for what I can do while making balloons for 20-30 kids? What can I do to keep them entertained while they are all waiting for their balloons and they remained entertained after they get their balloons? Thanks |
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
I am surprised. Do you only make one kind of balloon animal, like the dog, over and over again? I get the kids involved by having them choose the color of balloon, choose the animal they want me to make, making them "pay" for their animal with a smile (which I drop in my Giggle Bag - http://compare.ebay.com/like/39058392780......var=sbar ), asking their advice when I draw a face with a Sharpie pen, and so on. To speed things up, I often have pre-twisted balloon animals in a laundry bag and I go digging in the bag to see if I can find the animal they want, making animal noises as I do this. Most kids are fascinated to see the balloon turn into the animal and that's 90% of the entertainment. You just have to add the 10% of silliness and fun.
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
It sounds like your balloon making is just part of the show, Jim.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Look up Buster Balloon's Balloon Gag DVD and KIDabra lecture notes. It's chock full of entertaining bits and jokes that extend the entertainment value of balloons.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
Sometimes the balloon making is the only show, especially when I am out at parades and civic events. You soon learn to entertain the long lines of kids (and parents) who are in line waiting to get a balloon. Speaking of lines, I have found that having about 9 hand clappers with numbers painted on them helps to organize the line and keep the kids happy at the same time.
For those who don't know about hand clappers: http://www.orientaltrading.com/mini-hand......isemaker You give out the hand clappers in numerical order from 1 to 9 to the first nine kids who show up, and then as they get their balloons, you make a big deal about taking back the hand clapper and passing it down to the next kid at the end of the line. You can ask them to applaud you by shaking the hand clappers from time to time, or if you tell a corny joke they can put the thumbs on their noses and say "Corn-ey!" It's a great management device and provides some entertainment at the same time.
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
Michael Messing Inner circle Knoxville, TN 1817 Posts |
I always tell the birthday parents that the balloon animals can be made while other things are going on. So, I usually start making them while they are eating the cake and refreshments and I continue making them as they are hitting a piñata or as the birthday child is opening presents. As I explain to the parent, I make each child the balloon they want so I can go to them individually and get their choice. I've been doing that for 20 years and it's always worked fine.
If the kids are playing outdoors or it's a pool party, I encourage them to go on with their activities and I will go to each child on my own. |
danfreed Inner circle West Chester PA 1354 Posts |
You can entertain 20 or 30 kids for a while while making balloons if you make it funny with slapstick and misc gags and silly stuff. For example, letting the balloon snap back in your face and hand, letting it fling off "by accident" and a million other things. You can and should make it funny as much as possible,but not so much that you slow things down too much. They can go off and do other stuff while you do a handful of gigs at a time, or you can entertain them all for a while while you do gags, then send them off while you do mall groups. I'm not referring to a full balloon show like Buster Balloon does, which is great, just funny stuff while you make balloons. You can mix in some pocket magic if you get time also. Some people make it entertaining by doing really fancy stuff rather than doing gags, but I prefer the humor. Just learn to be entertaining and then experiment - there is more than one good way.
Dan Freed
AKA The Amazing Spaghetti https://www.magiciandanfreed.com/birthday-party-magician-for-kids http://thecaricatureartist.com http://danieljayfreed.com |
The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-08-17 11:37, Skip Way wrote: Wow! Wow!! And again....WOW!!!!! I just went to Buster's website & downloaded balloon gags vol. 1, and it was FULL of stuff I cant WAIT to use in my next show at the kids' village! Thank you Skip, and thank you Buster!
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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wa-na-be Veteran user 355 Posts |
Check ou Norm Barnharts website he does a whole show entertaining with balloons.
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-08-18 06:15, The Mighty Fool wrote: What is the link? |
Michael Messing Inner circle Knoxville, TN 1817 Posts |
Here you go, Mike:
http://www.balloon-animals.com/catalog/p......ts_id=72 |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Thank you.
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