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Danny Orleans V.I.P. Chicago 119 Posts |
During the past 19 years, Jan Rose and I have raised a daughter who has been immersed in magic, circus and the entertainment industry since she was born. For Leah, having a father who's a professional magician and a mother who's a professional actress produced a unique environment, quite different than her schoolmates, for sure! We introduced her to magic shows in Las Vegas when she was about 8 years old, traveling to NYC to be the on-camera talent for Scholastic Publishing as part of their Ultimate Magic Club Magic Sets DVDs, and Jeff McBride's classes when she was 10 years old.
And having dinners with magical luminaries such as Mac King, Eugene Burger and Max Maven were commonplace for her. More magic, roles in professional theater and the circus arts were part of her early teen years. Want to see what direction she took after finishing high school? Visit www.acrobatrix.com Here are questions to start things off... As a pro or part time magician raising children, do you let your kids be part of your act? Do you help them create their own show? Do you explain methodology to them if they ask or do you "let them experience the wonder of magic." |
stevegore Loyal user 207 Posts |
Hey Danny, any suggestions on getting more magic shows for our daughter, she's just turned nine?
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Danny Orleans V.I.P. Chicago 119 Posts |
Hello Steve:
I have a 10 year old magic student who has incredible presentation skills and he has the same challenges. Who's going to hire a child that young? Yet, those of us who started performing as pre-teens (I'm included in that group), know how formative those first few shows were in our decision to continue performing. We were lucky to have good performing environments, cooperative audiences, some applause and laughter, and maybe a few bucks pay to give us the encouragement to do another show. I'll give you the same suggestions I gave my student. Want someone to hire you? Build a simple website, and get professional looking business cards. Get a couple of good photos of yourself performing as well. Combine those with your own connections to libraries, parents throwing birthday parties for their young children, church group leaders, ANYWHERE and ANYONE that'll book you. Money is NOT the goal for young performers. Experience is the goal. So leverage your relationships, act like an agent and book her! See the attached pic of me getting ready to do a show when I was just 11 years old. |
Danny Orleans V.I.P. Chicago 119 Posts |
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Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
Hi Danny,
I've got two daughters, but only offered to teach them magic if they really wanted to learn. So far, neither has expressed much interest, but that could change (my older girl has a strong leaning toward the theatrical). Regardless, they each have creative outlets that make them happy, and that's the important thing. You and Jan are very lucky to have a daughter that's so talented and dedicated; and she is equally lucky to have such creatively encouraging parents. How have you been able to make it all work—to make your family feel nurtured and cared for even with all your time on the road? Clearly, you've been doing something right Thanks, Neil
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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Danny Orleans V.I.P. Chicago 119 Posts |
Hello Neil:
Time on the road competes with family time, for sure. But when I was home, I was home. My daughter could access (and did access) my office anytime she wanted to. When I was home, I'd drive her to school and/or pick her up. Jan or I would drive her to dance lessons, singing lessons, her theater gigs and circus school, until she got big enough to take the EL train by herself. Time in the car with a child can be wonderful, especially in a time before smart phones when it's just you and your daughter. I took advantage of it, using opportunities to talk, to teach and to share. When she was 9 or 10 I really started sharing projects with her when I could. She'd pose for photos holding props for my review column in Genii. She played on camera talent for the Scholastic Magic Kit Project in 2005, flying to New York three times for filming. We stayed in NYC hotels, took limousines, and shopped in SoHo (Scholastic treated us well!) She went with us to Vegas when Michael Brandwein and I took our families to Vegas and wrote the article for Genii Magazine on how to enjoy Vegas as a family. I think this sharing of our business with her bonded us more tightly as a family. Those days hold sweet memories, for sure. If I were to add up all my hours, I'd guess that I spent as much time with Leah during her childhood as any professional with a downtown office who commuted and worked 50 hours/week. And frequently she'd join me at my performances which gave us special time together too. She really valued what I did. She thought that I was the "Best Magician in the World" ...until she met Jay Marshall. |
Smarty Pants World Loyal user 231 Posts |
Thanks Danny for all your helpful tips on this thread.
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Smarty Pants World Loyal user 231 Posts |
Thanks Danny for all your helpful tips on this thread.
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Tony Iacoviello Eternal Order 13151 Posts |
Danny:
I remember meeting you and your daughter at the SAM National Convention in Boston. She was blowing all the "old men" away with her floating card box. My children had an interest in magic when they were young, but it faded. I never forced it on them. I think it just skipped a generation because my granddaughter has the bug. Tony Iacoviello |
Danny Orleans V.I.P. Chicago 119 Posts |
Thanks for remembering Tony. Wow, that SAM was a long time ago.
For those of you who live in New York City area, Leah and her partner Etienne will be performing every weekend in August at the New York State Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo Park, just north of the New Jersey border. They will also be performing at King Richard's Faire every weekend from Labor Day through mid October in the Boston/Providence area. You can learn more about them at www.acrobatrix.com |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The May 2014 entrée: Danny Orleans » » How do professional entertainers raise a daughter? » » TOPIC IS LOCKED (5 Likes) |
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