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Seth Special user 566 Posts |
Hi guys, i'm not a kids magician but i'm trying to learn a few close up routines specifically for them. Which ones would you guys recommend?
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RiffClown Inner circle Yorktown, Virginia (Previously Germany) 1579 Posts |
Color based effects are definite strongholds. Stratosphere with the stoplight or shcoolbus patter play pretty big. Color changes with silks work pretty well. Card magic using Old Maid, Go Fish or other childrens card game cards also work pretty well. Vary your routine timing to maintain interest. Too fast and you lose them, too slow and the lose interest.
Hope this helps.
Rob "Riff, the Magical Clown" Eubank aka RiffClown
<BR>http://www.riffclown.com <BR>Magic is not the method, but the presentation. |
Seth Special user 566 Posts |
Oh i forgot to mention that i was thinking more along the lines of impromptu magic. The card magic with the old maid and go fish sound very interesting, but what effects can you do with them.
Thanks for the info Riffclown |
RiffClown Inner circle Yorktown, Virginia (Previously Germany) 1579 Posts |
Torn and restored, or even card to impossible location -> any effect you do with normal cards that isn't number or suit specific. The cool side is you have 2 of each card in a old maid/go fish deck. You know the scoop here. Use 1 for the force and one for the prediction. Make one dissappear, ............
I think you get the idea.
Rob "Riff, the Magical Clown" Eubank aka RiffClown
<BR>http://www.riffclown.com <BR>Magic is not the method, but the presentation. |
Seth Special user 566 Posts |
Torn and restored is a great idea! I'm thinking along the lines of more visual effects now actually because of that.
Thanks very much RIffClown. |
mysticuk New user 12 Posts |
I am looking to buy kids effects.
Supreme effects, Sucker effects, comedy effects. Please email me if you have any thing I may be interested in: mysticuk@msn.com Thanx Roni |
mysticuk New user 12 Posts |
I am looking to buy kids effects.
Supreme effects, Sucker effects, comedy effects. Please email me if you have any thing I may be interested in: mysticuk@msn.com Thanx Roni |
RiffClown Inner circle Yorktown, Virginia (Previously Germany) 1579 Posts |
Mysticuk,
First, Welcome to the Cafe. No matter what you're looking for (magic related of course)you've come to the right place. Daytona Magic http://www.daytonamagic.com has a pretty decent selection of Kid's Magic. You might want to check "The good, the bad, and the garbage" section as some items read much better than they actually are. "Let's make a magic deal" is loaded with items for sale, for trade etc.
Rob "Riff, the Magical Clown" Eubank aka RiffClown
<BR>http://www.riffclown.com <BR>Magic is not the method, but the presentation. |
WR Special user Utah 945 Posts |
First of all let me say I am not the end all be all of kids shows. Nor am I attempting to sound like I know everything there is about performing. I am just stating a few things I have learned in doing kids shows for the last 2 years; When performing for kids I like to put a long piece of masking tape in front of me and announce that one of the rules is too please say behind it. This stops the kids from ending up at my feet.
Always fit the show to the kids. I have diff. shows for boys diff. for girls. I have a show for younger kids as well as older. I have a show for church parties and one for hospitals. For kids shows use colorful props and make sure they are logical. If you make something vanish, make it come back. Kids are not dumb they know what is going on. I don't suggest using fire, knives or anything that might cause damage. I pesonally don't like using the finger or arm chopper things. Kids love to imitate. How many of us played superfriends or house. I suggest having animals either real or fake in your act. How many stuffed animals do your kids have. I don't have live animals in my act but I do have ; a rubber chicken, Roxie, Fur mice, A card duck, pokeman and some birds. I find that if you keep hem moving amd give them a personality they are great. But, be prepared for the kids to want to pet them after. Avoid sucker effects. A break away fan or wand in good fun but an effect where the kid is made to look stupid or foolish is not. Avoid tricks that are over the kids heads. One of the main ones are card tricks. Often kids don't remeber the card or it is above them. I do use cards for three effects, the card duck, an effect with furball the mouse, and a shoot the deck trick. But at the end of each I hand out the used card as a momento for my helper. Use as many helpers as possible. I have one effect where I use 5 kids. Alway have the audience clap and cheer for the helper at the end of the effect. Use magic words so the audience can help with the magic "On the count of three lets say now. One, two, three..." Use the b-day childs name as a magic word for certin effects. Avoid crude effects. The baffling bra or such are not good. Pass out activity sheets with your name on it at the end of the show. Also I suggest having a coupon for a certain amont off your next show. People love to save even if it is for $5.00. Well thats just some of my thoughts and things that have worked for me. I was just reading about a magi in AK, who did a school show and the Pricipal got after the kids for being noisy. I have done kids shows for a few years now and I feel A few points I have learned the hard way might help those who are also doing them 1- Always make sure the parent or authority figue in charge knows you are there to entertain and not to be the one who keeps the kids in line. 2- Always make sure they know what your show is like. I Tell them the kids will be excited and will make some noise but that is all part of the show. I encourage that they get involved and sit back and enjoy the show. 3-Always tell tell them to schedule you 30 min after they want the show to start. This makes it good for any late people to get in before the show. 4- Always ask the person who is hiring you to PLEASE wait till after your show to do cake or presents. Trust me on this one, it cuts down on distractions. 5- Always "draw a line" not to be crossed. I have noticed that kids get closer and closer until they are around you feet. "please move back". I use a roll od masking tape and tape a long line in front of me about 3 feet out. I tell the kids they need to stay on that side of the line...If they ask why I tell then I have a man eating frog named ralph who will eat them..Oh and he is invisable. 6-Remember kids need to be entertained. Silly Bob will go over better than Serious sam. I suggest getting Books by kid performers. One of my favs. it David Ginn. USe brightly colored silks, Animal, live or Props (Rocky is great as well as a rabbit in the hat). 7- Always remember that you are there to entertain the kids. Forget the adults are there. Have fun. 8- Never do a sucker trick that makes the kids look foolish. The MAgician in trouble is great. Make you the sucker. Some tricks are fine IF they come out with the kids as the hero. 9- NEver do a dangerous trick. Kids love to imitate. Do a rope through the body not the neck. PLEASE no needles through the arms or tounge. No FIRE is a rule to remember. 10- Have a couple of shows at least ready. In the beginning I had kids who would go to a show for someone who had been to my show already. I had one show and would hear "Oh I have seen this...Are you going to do the same show as last time..." I have 4 different show ready. 11- K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple and Short.... Over half of my show is "Prop" magic...Dove pans, Change bag, Die box etc... You don't half to have a giant production to entertain kids. Be silly have fun. Also don't have hour long shows. Kids are active I suggest for 5-8 = 20-25 Min. 9-11 = 30-35 min. 12- If you are doing balloons save them for last. Nothing is worse than "POP" or "My doggie came untied" durring the show. Also have a wide range of animal, swords etc... Just in case. I tie the ones I think the kids will like. Dogs and Dinosaurs are great and alot of kids like Mouse too. You will probable need to rety some but its still fun. 13- Get you money before the show. Do this away from the kids. I have had "TightWads" say "oh, I only have x Dollars will that be ok.....I did not feel the show was worth X dollars"...Etc.... 14- DO charity Shows! When not performing for Money charity shows get you seen, most of my shows come from word of mouth, the alow you to try new stuff to see how they work on audiences too. 15-Lastly, Don't make a mess. I clean up after my self. Some use confetti or long Streamers and leave a mess. MOM hates to clean so I keep it clean. most magically yours, WR
"Tell Em WR sent Ya."
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RiffClown Inner circle Yorktown, Virginia (Previously Germany) 1579 Posts |
GREAT ADVICE!
Remember "Safety First" when it come to kiid's shows.
Rob "Riff, the Magical Clown" Eubank aka RiffClown
<BR>http://www.riffclown.com <BR>Magic is not the method, but the presentation. |
Seth Special user 566 Posts |
I agree, Thanks very much for the advice WR. Not being experienced in kids show there's a lot of food for thought in your post. Cheers!
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Jim Reynolds Elite user Special Guest 431 Posts |
Great post WR.
I would also like to add some great advice from David Kaye (Silly Billy): For kids, it about getting to the magic that's entertaining. Not so much the trick itself. |
Jim Reynolds Elite user Special Guest 431 Posts |
Great post WR.
I would also like to add some great advice from David Kaye (Silly Billy): For kids, it about getting to the magic that's entertaining. Not so much the trick itself. |
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