Need any and all ideas for the upcoming spring.

I have gotten on at Busch Gardens Williamsburg this summer and will be doing a family stage show in their land of the Dragons area. ( It's their part of the park specifically for kids.) The theme of the show has to be loosely connected to Dragons but there's plenty of room to basically do whatever I want. The general criteria is that it has to pack small and play big, and no animals, they already have an animal show, and the main request is that is is packed full of interaction SO...

Any ideas?


Thanks

Adam

You'll obviously need a large Dragon Silk in the act: http://tinyurl.com/22ufbk
...perhaps a Blendo... and maybe some dragon balloon twist practice.

Jim Gerrish's "Lion Tamer" in Book One of the Hardboard and Duct Tape Magic Show (on my site) could be reworked as a "Dragon Test of Courage."

Dressing a kid up as a Dragon could also be fun (don't forget the "Look out behind you; your tail is draggin'" joke). You could produce the various parts of the costume the kid has to wear from a "Chimney Screen" decorated as a Castle Tower (same Book as above).

One of the puppets companies has a lovely bright dragon that sits on your shoulder and is worked by a lever at hip level. very bright & visual.

Which company am I thinking of? Puppets by Post in the UK sell them..

Cool ideas guys, I'm thinking that I'm going to be the Dragons pet human and, I'm going to show the audience my tricks, or that I'm a dragon trainer and specifically a trainer of magic. That way I could do things that don't all have a dragon specific story like linking rings and stuff.

If you're a "pet human" you should be wearing a leash, which you can penetrate through your neck, do the cut and restored leash, etc.

Also, you might be able to work "Dragon's Breath" fire powder in there somewhere, as if you have an invisible dragon and all you can see are the flames he produces.

No strings my sister and brother in law live in newport news he is a new magi. Are there any magic shops or clubs in the area?
Pete H.

Marketing pointer: give someone something in every show that they can display (accidentally is fine) while they are in the park. These can be balloons, tee shirts, hats, necklaces, pieces of rope, Plastic cup with a drawing on it, box or bag, anything that shows that they have been to see the magician. (The boss will notice!)

Good Luck!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

Steve Axtell also sell a great dragon puppet that spews smoke out its nostrils.

His site is http://www.axtell.com and Steve is also a member here if you have any questions.

OK just focus in on BOBS idea about the give aways. Although everyone of these ideas is great, the leash, the puppet, golden! Thanks again guys. What's something inexpensive that I could give away that would be noticable?

Thanks again,

Adam

Bob is dead on with this. You want to be marketing while you are there and there is nothing better than give aways at the show that people can walk around with and that get noticed a lot by the people who book you. Just remember that sometimes it takes money to make money. Meaning, that you may have to spend a little up front for your good give aways, but the return investment will be well worth the effort you put into it.

Kyle

Adam,

You could get those "Magician" stickers to give out. They can be bought in large rolls and the kids can wear them around the park.

Regan

A little more showy would be a dragon balloon hat, but there's no telling how long they would last. Cardboard Visors with "Dragon Magic" imprinted on them might last longer and be appreciated on sunny days, but they would cost a bit.

Adam,

You can even take a roll of cash register tape and a felt tipped pen and make a sash (like Miss America wears) with titles like "Dragon Slayer", "Ghost Catcher", "Magic Champion", "Magic Knight", "Magic Hero". "Magic Princess" etc. that kids will wear with pride all day long. Make your own color stickers with your PC and labels. You can even rubber stamp the kids hand with parental permission. That will "Dragon Proof" them for the day.

Scheme! You have a great opportunity. Develope it!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

I can't say enough about Axtell's Smoking Dragon. It's beautifully made and worth every penny. I do a routine where...for most of the routine I don't reveal that the dragon can blow smoke...so when he does the kids go NUTS.

Again...worth EVERY PENNY.

--Jon

Adam,

I would be very careful in deciding what item(s) to use as giveaways. I would avoid anything and everything that could be dropped, or that might get hung, or otherwise cause a problem on any of the amusemnent park rides. Also, I would avoid balloons or anything that might become a choking hazard.

I like Bob's idea of the stamp and the sticker idea the best.

Regan

Unless The BGW Olde Country has changed DRASTICALLY since I performed there in the 70's, they don't pay a whole lot to their roaming and area performers. Certainly not enough to give away a 5 or 10 cent gift to each of the hundreds of children who will pass through your zone in a single day. It probably isn't much better today. They were also VERY protective about giving things away. We had an arrangement for giving away one or two wizard hats, wands and magic scrolls during the show...which all the other "envious young varlots could purchase at yon shoppe of gifts for a 'mere' pittance." My supervisors always commented on how happy they were to see lots of children carrying these overpriced goodies after my shows. Please check your agreement with the park to protect your job.

That said, I REALLY like the "Wizard Charm" hand stamps, stickers and Dragon tattoos. Visibility, low cost and V.I.P. treatment for the children...a Busch Gardens value. Good luck. When I was there, it was a fun place to work!!

COOL STUFF!!! Ok Apart from Bob's iead of giveaways what else would you do for a family show with LOADS of interaction with both kids and the partents both with the audience as a whole and with individulas for specific routines?


Thanks guys,


Adam

Anybody else?