|
|
Go to page 1~2 [Next] | ||||||||||
Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
I did a birthday show on the weekend where I tried the new idea.
Lots of kids yelling out colours and all the rest for "look don't see" stuff, and suggesting magic wands etc. As soon as I said "AN now it's time for my special magicial helper" they all started chanting his name and cheered and applauded for him when he got up to help. His mother warned me he might be a little shy but he jumped right and and had a great time. The were encouraging the birthday boy, and were far from jealous or envious. Wow. Maybe it works!
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
|||||||||
esther_scheffer Veteran user the netherlands 316 Posts |
That's nice to hear! Thanx for posting.
And now, are you gonna do it this way more often /all of the time? Or do you prefer to have more different kids on the stage? I am curious. I think for myself I really enjoy the different helpers. (At the other end I also like to make the birtday kid feel extra special...). |
|||||||||
RicHeka Inner circle 3999 Posts |
Esther:I think it is possible to do both..and I do at all my shows.I think you meant that also.Best.
Rich |
|||||||||
Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
I like making the birthday child feel special. It is, after all, their day. I will continue to use lots of audience helpers IN the audience but will probably stick with making the BD child a star!
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
|||||||||
sperris Special user http://www.Anti-Conjuror.com 881 Posts |
I've always focused much of the "on stage" helping on the birthday child throughout the show while still asking questions and making eye contact with the rest of the kids. This makes the parent's feel proud to see their kid up helping the magician and getting involved with the gags, but also lets the kids know its his/her birthday and special day which is why he's the helper. I always have kids coming up to me after the show asking if I can come to their party too and this helps make my marketing much easier too.
DANSPERRY.COM
|
|||||||||
Wayne Brockway Regular user Michigan, U.S.A. 104 Posts |
Neale,
At a birthday party making the birthday child "number one" I think is "priority one" each time we perform! Using the audience members to help from their seats is great everyone gets to help and doesn't feel left out. I don't know about you but I've been to magic shows just wishing to help, but wasn't choosen to come up on stage. Also for the shy children at the party they don't have to get on stage. They can sit in their spot and help if and when they want. Most kids know that it's their friends special day and support him or her getting the special attention. This just makes them want you at their party so they can be next! Wayne... |
|||||||||
Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
Wayne,
By George I think he got it! Thanks Wayne!
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
|||||||||
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Nice to hear it is working well for you, Neale. And congratulations for making yourself non-fungible, and trying something new.
- Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
|
|||||||||
TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
Neale, Glad to hear it went well.
I don’t think kids are as jealous of each other as we sometimes think. Even when they are, they get over it in two minutes. It’s those adults you have to be careful with. Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
|||||||||
Steven True Special user Bonney Lake,WA 765 Posts |
Good job Neal. Sounds like you put the kid in a really "want to help" mode.
|
|||||||||
Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
Donald - Nice use of fungible
Tom - I agree that kids aren't into the greed and envy thing as much as we think. I think we attribute so called adult reactions to kids. I find especially these days that kids are more supportive and encouraging of each other than in "my day" (Oh wow do I sound old!)
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
|||||||||
MagicRabbit Regular user 176 Posts |
I just hope you use him "all at once", I find it quite boring to keep bringing up the same kid, and the audience lacks the enthusiasm to clap for them.
boring show = no call backs. |
|||||||||
Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
Good point MagicRabbit. Yes, I bring the Birthday child up to help with one special routine.
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
|||||||||
Wayne Brockway Regular user Michigan, U.S.A. 104 Posts |
Tom,
I totally agree with your last post! I don't think it even takes two minutes most of the time. Especially when it involves them having fun. Adults it can take many years. Also everyone who performs for the little darlings should own The Daycare Magician by Tom Boleware. Wayne... |
|||||||||
TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
Thanks Wayne.
Yes it is kind of sad that adults can’t keep that strong of a forget and forgive attitude. Yep, no place like the small world. Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
|||||||||
Tom Stevens Veteran user Australia 361 Posts |
It took me a while to get into that groove of making a big deal about the Birthday child.
I found that I've managed to tie it into my keynote for improving crowd control. I talk a little about "birthdays and special days and how we're going to make this a very special for the birthday child. so we can all sit down during the show, so HE/SHE can enjoy it from their comfy seat. And if I drop anything don't worry about trying to help me pick it up, that's my job, and you can sit, relax, we even have servants to bring you drinks, and later on I might even be calling on some of those sitting nicely to help do some cool magic tricks." |
|||||||||
triadsong Regular user Long Island, NY 170 Posts |
I had a double Baptism party this past weekend (infant and her 5 year old half brother both baptized.) I utilized the older boy as the star of the party (yeah, I thought about it and then figured the infant girl wouldn't help too much.) Anyway, I mixed it up with the young man and a few other kids assisting throughout.
The other kids cheered him on and were also very attentive to the possiblity (actually probability) of being able to help out as well. As for the guest of honor he got very used to being center stage and tried to parlay that into extra balloons and give-aways. Peace, Vinny |
|||||||||
MagicOfDamon New user 48 Posts |
I want to thank you guys for posting this experince.
In my bday shows ive always had the bday kid sit on a special chair and help me with making the magic happen cuz "i cant" but I still use others to help when the effect calls for more hands. I have always felt bad about picking certain kids while others got left behind so I normally throw a beach ball to music and whoever has it when the music stops gets to help. At the end, I use everyone for a special effect so thtat they all get a chance to participate. There was a previous post about this and lot of varied thoughts on this went on. This particular post helped me validate taht its ok to make the bday kid the main attracition to the show since after all it it thier day. |
|||||||||
TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
I have my own approach to making the birthday child special. I am not sure if it is a good approach, but it seems to work for me. Throughout the show I call for volunteers, always saying that the birthday child needn't volunteer, because we have something special for them to help me with at the end.
My constant joking with them makes them the centre of attention even when they are not being selected, and at the end I do bring them up for the special trick. My audiences seem to be happy with it. But I am always interested in other approaches.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
|||||||||
Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
So if I read you right, Neale, you do use other kids occasionally during the show to help, but have a certain special routine at the end just for the birthday child?
I used to think that "making the b/d child special" meant I used *only* the b/d child for _every_ routine! Helped my shows feel flat and blah! What would you do to make sure that last routine was the most special one for that b/d child? And do you talk to the child first and tell him/her how this all works, so s/he's not disappointed to only get into the last trick? And is okay with not wanting to come up at all? Ed |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The little darlings » » Update on using only the birthday child (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |