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MikeBent Regular user Boston, MA 174 Posts |
Hi,
I'm working on my lecture for KIDabra: The Worst Case Scenario Survival Guide to Kidshows, and I want to pin down what the top 10 problems we face are. Can I get your input, with everyone's personal top ten lists? Thanks, Mike Bent |
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derrick Inner circle I dug holes for 1044 Posts |
I don't have a top ten list but I can tell you my top problems.
1. Rude loud adult guests. 2. A disruptive child that loud adult guests won't control. 3. Cramped performing area. 4. Surprise! The show is now outside in the backyard. It's only 90 degree plus weather; you don't mind doing your show in the back yard do you? This may be #1. If you perform in the South, you understand. |
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
So right, Derrick! Allow me to add:
You're booked for 1pm - it's 1:15 and there's only the birthday kid and one friend, and no sign of anybody else. |
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The Great Smartini Inner circle 2280 Posts |
You might check out David Kaye's thoughts on this in his book Seriously Silly. He covers this in quite a bit of detail.
My vote...kids who call out. |
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DanielSteep Inner circle 1409 Posts |
When the kids won’t shut up.
When the parents won’t shut up. When the parents aren't there. When you don't have enough room. When the house is so old fashioned they don't even have a plug for you to plug in the sound system. |
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mc_magi Special user Vancouver, BC 949 Posts |
I have yet to have a problem with a loud kid (that goes on to tell you how inexperienced I am!) But I absolutely don't like it when they are unresponsive.
Mother: "OMG my kids LOVE magic" At the house: "...The kids are unresponsive to any question) Am I doing something wrong here? They are fine after I do my 1st trick so I'm assuming they had some bad experiences before. Maybe they are anxious, but I don't know for sure if there's something I'm doing. |
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Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
Hi Mike,
Perhaps a mention of how to handle a situation whereas your showtime has been confirmed and yet they ask you to "wait" to start. This causes problems if the entertainer has to keep on a time schedule if they are booked for other shows. Another possible problem situation is payment. Easier to collect the money at the start instead of trying to track down the person at the end of the show. Chrystal |
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derrick Inner circle I dug holes for 1044 Posts |
I thought of another one: Kids grabbing props, before, during or after a show. You have to keep a sharp lookout for the little devils!!!!
Finally, building upon what Chrystal said, getting paid in cash!!! It seems that I have gotten more hot checks from what I have assumed are wealthy clients. I wonder if it has to do with the price gas? Derrick |
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trixy Veteran user sweden 320 Posts |
I think magic for children demands a lot of psychology.
It’s easy to perform in front of a lot of adults, but few can perform in front of children. I think its magic just to learn to handle kids. You must work with kids in a different way like you do with adults. I think the biggest problem is: You have to understand and ENTERTAIN every child at that party. That can be a big challenge for you as an entertainer. Get them interested so no one disturbs each other. When the parents leave the children alone at the magic show and walk away, they don't hear when the children get sad. |
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Michael J. Douglas Inner circle WV, USA 1645 Posts |
This could be what MagicalOdyssey meant by "when the parents aren't there" and Trixy's "When the parents leave the children alone at the magic show and walk away so they don't hear if the children get sad," but....
Mine is: Parents who think that it's your job to "baby-sit" a room full of the sugar-filled ankle-biters.
Michael J.
�Believe then, if you please, that I can do strange things.� --from Shakespeare�s �As You Like It� |
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todd75 Inner circle 1277 Posts |
1. Rude and loud adults that simply will not keep quiet during the show.
2. Not starting on time. 3. The wrong age group attending the party. 4. The birthday child being shy and not wanting anything to do with the show. |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-15 02:08, derrick wrote: My intention is not to step on Mike Bent's shoes by answering one of your questions. However, here is my answer to Derrick's question. The answers to some of these questions have been discussed here before. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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MikeBent Regular user Boston, MA 174 Posts |
These are great! Thanks for your input. Keep em' coming!
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derrick Inner circle I dug holes for 1044 Posts |
Donald - Your answer to my question is that "some of these questions have been discussed here before"? Probably so, but I didn't discuss it. I'll bet if we decided to skip any topic already covered in books written by David Kaye, Sammy Smith, and David Ginn then we wouldn't even need this forum at all. Derrick
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Hi Derrick -
I think you misunderstood. My answer was not that "some of these questions have been discussed here before." (That was a comment to some who are looking for answers now, or who can't attend KidAbra.) My answer is the linked post, not in the sentence that follows the link. Did you click my link, in my post? (My sentence is a link.) It explains that I have had a cash-only policy for my birthday show payments for over 10 years, with no problems. That's hundreds of birthday shows, everyone paying me in cash with no hassles of getting paid at the show. I just clearly and politely explain my request to the customer. I was just trying to be helpful by posting a link to an older post that you might not have been aware of. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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derrick Inner circle I dug holes for 1044 Posts |
Donald - OH!!! I'm sorry!!! I see what you mean now. I really really misunderstood.
Derrick |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Thanks for the apology. All is well. Sometimes misunderstandings / miscommunications happen around here.
- Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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itsmagic Inner circle middle earth 1117 Posts |
1. Shy b’day child who won't participate.
2. Not enough room for performance area & audience area so some adults are getting "backstage" views. 3. Not enough guests arriving at specified performance time 4. Too windy or hot when performing outdoors. It's good to know the problems we all face beforehand. It would be also helpful to know how you've successfully handled these problems. So if anyone likes to share solutions, we'd all benefit, like Donald's solution to bounced checks. |
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The Bonnie Kids Loyal user Sweden (Västerås) 267 Posts |
Hi Mike,
Something that has happened, at least to me: - One kid starts to cry and all the other just follow him. How to stop the chain or, better, how not to trigger it. Sometimes it is not you that are triggering it. (Small kids <= 4 years) - You pick one kid that is usually mobbed. You cannot be aware of that but observing the other kids you have to understand the situation and turn it into a good educational moment. - Kids only want to know how you have done it. They don't want to be entertained but just want to catch you (older kids, let's say 12 ... 13 years old). - Kids do not want to see you. They didn't know that you were supposed to come there and they had other plans for the party. // Andrea |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Mike
There are many kinds of kid's audiences, and having "the right stuff" can make or break your show. The right stuff in this case is age appropriate tricks. Between the ages of 4 and 12 there are several different levels of age appropriate material, so bringing stuff that will work for your audience, from your arsenal of tricks is a constant challenge to me. My second biggest challenge is WHAT WILL I WEAR? MY 2 CENTS Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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