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Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
Was watching that hilarious scene from The Addam's Family where 'Morticia' (is her name) tells the children a story and goes into great detail about the witch being roasted alive in the oven and writhing in agony! All the kids start crying.
But you know, it's strange how children do sometimes react isn't it? We sometimes get a 'puppet reaction', but very rarely. Probably it's because very few kids have seen puppets that walk with moving mouths and eyes. There is nothing at all in our magic repertoire these days that causes upset. Also, of course, there is the child who is terrified of balloons. Or occasionally a child who needs re-assuring that he doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to do at the party. What do you do to make 'em cry? Tony. |
RJE Inner circle 1848 Posts |
He he, outside of the little one who finds it scarier to be in front of people than they thought it would be, here's one that happened during a New Year's Eve show three nights ago.
We were doing three performances at the same venue and much of the audience was in attendance for all three shows, therefore we took along about 90 minutes of different material for three 30 minute spots. In one of the shows, I was doing my version of the Lemon Game (uses Lemon Game props, but adapted to my own style). I only do this effect with a child out of the audience using their parent's (or whoever brought the child) money. Well, this little girl got very excited when she saw all the potential prizes that were up for grabs, and when she saw the prize she won (lemon) the lower lip started to quake and the dam was about to burst. I sped it up a bit, revealed the dollar and then also magically produced a Mars bar (part of my version) as a gift for helping. In the end it worked, but it was a close one. Only time that that trick did that to a kid in all the times I've used it. Rob |
Joseph_Then Special user 747 Posts |
Do you see the crocodile in my Avatar? Some kids cry because it looked scary but most kids find it cute.
If they cry when they see my crocodile, I'll say, "I know why he/she cries. This croc is a relative of the Anaconda." |
Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
Joseph,
Sorry I don't get it. Two things occasionally set the odd kid off. 1, The noise (when the kids get excited or shout the magic word) can sometimes cause a younger kid in the room to get upset. 2, When Marmite comes out, their imagination overcomes their common sense and although they know he's a puppet they throw a wobbly and run to the back with Mum. If I see the bottom lip start quivering, I just ask if they want to sit with a grown up, and once they are out the way I carry on, they usually watch quite happily from the back.
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Yeah, that Anaconda remark flew over my head, too, I thought you were going to go for a "crocodile tears" line. Neither jokes a particularly snappy though.
I've had a few cry here and there. Some cry at the strangest things, so I think it's impossible to create an act guaranteed cry-proof. I think what's most important here is to be aware constantly of the children's feelings. If you sense that you're being a bit too much hunker down, talk a bit softer, change your patter, so it's a little gentler. Just try and sense there feelings and adapt your posture and act accordingly. And as Clive says, keep an eye on the bottom lip. George |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Sometimes a child will get so excited to help that they are a bundle of energy until you get them on stage and then the fear takes over. This usually happens to the younger age set. I think they see others raising their hand and wanting to help, so they imitate them as well not knowing that sometimes being on stage is a bit scary for them.
I am pretty good at picking out good assistants just from years of practice, but it does happen on occasion. If it does happen, the goal is to make the kid know it is OK and that even you get scared sometimes. Give them something like a flyer and send them back to their seat and give them a round of applause for coming up. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Joseph_Then Special user 747 Posts |
George, in the show, "Anacondas", there is a crocodile.
Anyway, this reply is usually targeted to parents, and they understand this little joke. Clive, what I mean is that when I bring out my crocodile during parties, some children do cry when they see a BIG mouth puppet moving around. |
Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
Joseph, it's the joke I didn't understand, I've never seen Anacondas.
Kyle, I occassionally get a helper crying, On the rare occassion the helper suddenly decides coming up wasn't such a good idea, I just gently get them to sit the back down and pick another helper. You can never always get it right with helpers, nomatter how long you have been in the business, What I hate is when you have a kid in the audience who looks like the perfect helper, they've sat really good etc all through the show, you call them up and when they get 3ft from you all the sugar they've eaten in the last 3 weeks downloads and they suddenly turn into the hyper helper from hell. The ones I mentioned are ones that spontaniously go off in the audience. These can be a problem if there are a lot of younger ones, if one starts the others sitting nearby quite happily, sometimes think "Oh he's crying their must be something wrong" and follow suit. It's the sheep effect again.
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
Ohhh this happened once to me - sheesh felt so bad for the little tot. I was working a Christmas show about 5 years ago with my friend whom was a member of the Puppeteers of America. She operated a very tall puppet named Toonie - the - too tall elf and I was dressed as an elf fronting the show. I was the forgetful elf..the one that always forgot to add one piece of a puzzle when working in the toy department for Santa. Toonie would ask the kids, "how many of you have got a puzzle with a piece missing". It was humorous as 90% of the kids would raise their hands. Toonie on the other hand was too tall to fit into the workshop. (Okay you can stop laughing now).
Santa decided since we had other talents he would send us on the road to make kids happy. I interacted with the puppet and with the children and also did magic. One of the things I often do is the Misers Dream. Well here I was collecting money from behind childrens ears, top of their heads, under their shoes..ect... I reached up and found one in a little guys hair (he was about 2) suddenly he burst into tears and says loudly, "That elf stole my money!!! whaaaaaaa!" Learned a lesson from it..I now always tell the children beforehand I lost MY money and make a big production of how I can see it floating around their heads..then I go and retrieve the coins. I felt so bad for the little tyke although it's one of those things that makes you chuckle afterwards. |
Andini Special user Columbus, OH 685 Posts |
I had a crying experience during the first show I did. After I gave the Breakaway wand to a little girl, it broke and I asked, "Uh oh! Did you break the magic wand?" The little girl's eyes welled up and she ran back to her dad crying. I had no idea what to do.
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Joseph_Then Special user 747 Posts |
Andini, I never like to use Break-away wand/fan on the kid because it makes the performer look good and the children look bad.
This is a popular method for many magicians as it creates laughter but the laughter is created at the expense of a kid. I do know of some people who grew up hating magic because he/she is a victim of a broken wand/fan in a show when they were young. If I were to use it, I will be the one breaking it or my puppet will be the one breaking it. Apologises if I sounded harsh but I do feel for the kid... That may be why I'm in this business. |
Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
Joseph, It's not the wand itself that's wrong, just the way some people use it.
The broken wand is brilliant, I use it all the time, but even though it breaks when I give it to them, the blame is always directed towards me, I don't say, Oh you've broken it, I say something like "whats happened? Oh I must have given you a duff one, it's OK I'll fix it".
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
RJE Inner circle 1848 Posts |
Hi Joseph,
I don't know about "not using the break away" things. I think it has more to do with the atmosphere of the show. What I'm trying to say, is, I think the character that you are portraying and the mood you create can affect the way a trick or effect is seen. My character with the kids is a very silly one who seems always on the edge of loosing control of what he is doing. As a result, even though the wand breaks in the volunteers hands, it is funny because it is just one more thing that has gone wrong for me. I will have my back turned to the volunteer holding the break away wand and they will almost always tug at my jacket or try to get my attention and when I turn around they are grinning or laughing and holding it up to me to either fix it or show that I've messed something up again. I've not had a volunteer cry or think that they have done something wrong with this approach doing the break away wand. Anyway, it seems to work for me. All the best Rob |
Rupert Bair Inner circle ? 2179 Posts |
I blame it on the child! Then I ask the other children did they break and they all shout ‘no’ and I say to the child they told me you broke it. I then say I will get you a real one and give them back the breakaway wand (still broken) You definitely broke it that time!
Matt |
Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Occasionaly, a child will cry. One show which I did for a 4-year old was a halloween party. Everyone who walked in with a mask she cried. What won her over, the bunny rabbit.
Like Kyle, I'm pretty good at determining the warning signs. Since I'm not serious throughout the show, it's tough to cry when everyone else is laughing. Age is also important. 4-5 year olds are the most likely cryers.
Dennis Michael
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Joseph_Then Special user 747 Posts |
I would have to disagree with the idea of breakaway wand. To a kid, if a broken wand is in his hand, it's in HIS hand. It's the same thinking that if they spill their drink and they are holding that cup, it doesn't matter who is the cause of the spill: The spill is from HIS CUP. That's their logic.
If you can make it looks like you are the one breaking it/ remove the blame from the kid, that's OK. If you can't pull it off, don't do it. |
magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
It's just the way you play it. The joke is: The wand has broken and the magician doesn't know about it. So, in fact, the volunteer is one up on the magician. I don't blame the kid unless they're the sort of kid who recognise a little teasing when it comes their way and it will add to the humour.
Having said that, if you can't make it work it's only one prop so dropping it shouldn't be a problem. George |
Joseph_Then Special user 747 Posts |
Maybe I should be glad that magicians at TMC are much better in executing this prop.
I WAS a victim of Breakaway Scissors when I was young and I don't like it. The magician put the blame on ME. I saw another magician (when I was a much older kid) who uses ALL the breakaway items: Breakaway Wand, Breakaway Fan, Breakaway Scissors, Breakaway Box and he routined it as though the kid breaks everything! Good thing it doesn't bring me away from magic. |
p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
HI,
I don't blame the kid ,I just hand them the wand/fan and turn away, when I turn back if they are laughing I simply say "what happenned" if they look conserned I say "oh not agian ... it does that sometimes, smile you are doing a good job " stangely when you tell the kid to smile and they do you will get a laugh from the audience Phillip |
Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
Beware of making short replies here Pointstack!! Always try and pre-empt responses in this Forum and neutralise them before they happen.
Someone will probably now come back and accuse you of making them cry to keep them under control! (hey, no-one helped me out like that!) :rotf: |
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