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Matthew W Inner circle New York 2456 Posts |
How difficult is it to entertain three year olds? I have never done any magic for anyone under 5.
I was contacted do do a birthday party for a child turning three. I don't know if it something I am currently capable of doing. Also, if I'm not going to do the show, whats the best way to turn down the booking?
-Matt
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Tom Riddle Special user Chelsea, UK 507 Posts |
"Also, if I'm not going to do the show, whats the best way to turn down the booking?"
Try telling them you don't do birthday parties for 3 year olds!
"Yes, Virginia, there really are people named Riddle...isn't that AMAZING! And to think of all the royalties I'm missing out on! SCANDALOUS!"
Thomas Williamson Riddle III Chelsea, UK |
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Matthew W Inner circle New York 2456 Posts |
What would be the best way to word it?
What effects play well for a 3 year old audience?
-Matt
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Scott O. Inner circle Midwest 1143 Posts |
I don't do birthday parties for three and under -- unless the majority of the children will be 4 and older. When I get a request for a birthday, I ask the age of the birthday child. If they say 2 or 3, the red flags start waving for me. I then ask who the party is primarily for and what ages the other children will be.
If the children are all two's and three's, I just tell the caller that my show really isn't suitable for that age group. "At three, everything is magic." Parents understand that, and appreciate the honesty. Then I tell them to call me again next year.
Do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time you will reap a harvest, if you do not give up. Galatians 6:9
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Tom Riddle Special user Chelsea, UK 507 Posts |
"What would be the best way to word it? "
Try this creative line: "I don't do birthday parties for 3 year olds!" It works like a dream! In answer to your second question, try "Freddie The Frog" from Albion Magic.
"Yes, Virginia, there really are people named Riddle...isn't that AMAZING! And to think of all the royalties I'm missing out on! SCANDALOUS!"
Thomas Williamson Riddle III Chelsea, UK |
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Mumblemore Inner circle 1429 Posts |
I told parents that recently ("it's all magic at three") and they insisted, so I took the gig. So what do I do? Humpty Dumpty paper tears, silk blendo Happy Birthday, coloring book, Axtell, and what else? Talk about tough crowd . . . I'm going to have them all pet the bunny, but can I milk that for 10 minutes?
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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
3-year olds are the easiest group of the lot! They love very silly, and familiarity. But at this age, most of your "magic" routines will be meaningless. One of the top items in my arsenal for 3-year olds is "Five Little Ducks", from Albion Magic, who also carry several more items perfect for this age group. 5 Ducks is a song most all 3-year-olds know (at least in the UK). Get them singing along, quacking, and laughing as the ducks vanish and reappear.
Puppets also work great for this age, as do simple action songs and story tricks -as long as the story is either well known to them, or very simple to understand. I think "Freddie the Frog" from Albion looks excellent too, but so far I don't have this prop. |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
We all have our specialties - it all depends on your persona and magic preferences. Like Potty, I love 3-year-olds! I can easily hold their attention for nearly an hour with silly wands, vanishing & appearing story silks, Ralph the Rope, rebellious puppets, sponge carrots & rabbits, and any number of just plain silly things. For children in this age group, silly & funny will always trump the magic.
The trade off - I generally refuse to perform at adult cocktail and formal functions. I CAN...but I'm not at my best there. You have to decide where your specialty lies and draw that line. If your persona is focused on the "Shock & Awe Factor" of magic - three year olds will not be your best audience. If you're so inclined, tell the parents that your style of magic is simply suited more towards adults than children. Explain (if you must) that it's rather like asking a proctologist to perform brain surgery. [Okay - substitute podiatrist for proctologist - but the former is much more visual!] Then help them find a kidshow specialist to take your place.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Shoe maker know thy last....
I too was a I can do it all. One such call led to my learning fire eating..(which I don't do these days. Honesty is a good thing. If you know a reliable person in your area give ask to give them the contact information or other way around. (Make sure the person you recomend is of the highest quality both before, during and after an event.) In my work as a counselor "referal and case management" is as crucial as my direct work with clients. It is the same thing with our entertainment client/consumers. Did I mention Play and Puppets??? I have been known to do shows for the youngsters...literally on my knees or stomach...(quite the stomach..said Nigel the puppet that rocks...////feed me came the distant voice from my stomach area... Happy HOYC.
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
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kimmo Inner circle Sheffield 1193 Posts |
Skip and Harris are correct. Identify what you are best at and play to your strengths. I try to avoid doing things I'm not very good at and that way people think I'm good at everything I do! I do occasionally work for three year olds, but it is not my favourite group at all. I am happiest working for the fives and older age range.
There is a fantastic entertainer for younger children who lives quite near to me and I usually pass all the 3 year old parties to him. He returns the favour by referring all his 8 to 16 year old parties to me.
VISIT MY ONLINE STORE!: www.kimmomagicshop.com
NEW LECTURE NOTES - SHOW US YOUR TRIX NOW AVAILABLE AS AN INSTANT DIGITAL DOWNLOAD! Kimmo DVD available Now! Watch the promo here! Order your copy NOW! CLICK HERE! ENTERTAINER,MAGICIAN AND VENTRILOQUIST'S BLOG - DON'T READ THIS... |
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Brian Lehr Inner circle Edmonton, Canada 1605 Posts |
I once did a preschool show with all two year-olds! Now there's a challenge!
For the 3 year olds, I use the following items to great success: Silver Sceptre Egg Vase Paper Hat Tear Sponge Balls D'Lites Colouring Book Big Red Nose (Christmas routine from Sammy Smith) Blooming Bouquet Blendo Headband Blendo Silly Wands (Breakaway, multiplying, etc.) Benny the Bunny Axtell Drawing Board There's a 45-minute show right there! These are just the items that I currently use for this age group; there are many more out there to choose from. Brian |
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disneywld Special user Denver, CO 614 Posts |
3 is not for me. You are setting yourself for failure. I have done parties for a 3 year old's birthday - but the entertainment was really for the family. Ask for the ages of the people that you will be performing for.
The Magic of Christopher Manos
www.christophermanos.com |
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Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-11-30 02:57, Potty the Pirate wrote: There you have it. Potty has encapsulated it in three sentances. Once you understand what works, three years old is the easiest of audiences. There is so much simple, uncomplicated,, direct, easy-to-follow, straightforward, material available. Find it and use it. Forget anything complicated. Strip away the clever stuff. Pare it down to basics. Make it very very visual, colourful and bold. Break up your routine into tiny, bite sized pieces lasting perhaps twenty seconds or so. Then change direction. Remember repetition. Very young children love that. Especially when unexpectedly you repeat something from earlier. Don't let any routine run more than a couple of minutes. Concentration is limited at this age. Always turn surprises on yourself. That brings a laugh. Surprising a three year old directly can produce tears instead. There's so much material about I wonder why anyone should be bothered by what to use. Find something magical using a big storybook and based on a familiar story or nursery rhyme. Supreme Magic produced so many of these. And I'm still using them! Anything involving colours or counting is always popular. Pictures too and even better, cut-outs. A cut-out of a person, animal or object is even more effective than a card picture. Above all use your imagination.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
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alexa Veteran user NJ 393 Posts |
I think it is possible to entertain a room full of threes. But if the parents aren't listening to your advice on the phone, how good are they going to be with being in control of their kids? Magic starts at age 3, not age 2, age 2 and a half. If they say you're going on for a room of three year olds, be very wary, because they are likely to set toddlers and babies there too who will "toddle" no matter how entertaining you are.
But, as some were saying, it's often that the child of honor is three and all of the parents are watching, older children, etc. Be strict about getting exact counts of guests, so you can understand what you'd be walking into. I once did a Princess party for a three year old girl. She wanted to help with a couple of things, but I also had her five year old brother do most of it, as a "regal act for his sister's birthday." Both kids and everyone else had a blast. Alexa |
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jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
Do yourself a favor and get hold of Andy Walker's DVD. I should be required watching for anybody doing shows for young kids. His handling of the Rabbit in Hat and Rocky is like a college education in entertaining younger audiences.
Usual disclaimer ... don't know Andy, haven't met Andy, but after watching the DVD, I'm a big fan. |
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Loopback Veteran user Lincoln, Nebraska 359 Posts |
I have a 2 and a half year old and I can tell you, I have performed Cups and Balls for him more than a hundred times. He has yet to stick around for the entire routine. They just don't have the attention span to follow whats going on for a long time.
I stick to making money come out of his ears. |
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drhackenbush Special user 686 Posts |
I don't take any birthdays over 5, if that old, and mainly do 1- to 4-year-old parties. Since I also sing, there's something for everyone. But 2-year-olds love taking the egg out of the egg bag when it re-appears, and the Anderson T&R newspaper is easy for the 3-year-olds to understand; "Now, the newspaper is all back together!" "NO IT'S NOT! IT'S IN PIECES!" The P&L Vanishing Wand is great when used with the folktale "Abi Yoyo", and Duke's Dye Version is pretty clear with the 2's and 3's; "Here's the red napkin." "NO, IT'S BLUE!"..."HOW DID THEY ALL GET TOGETHER?" (The italics are the responses of the children, in this case meaning "Where did the streamer come from?")
Even 1-year-olds dance when they hear their favorite song. A 2-year-old just asked me today if I could please sing "Yellow Submarine", that's his favorite along with "The Old Grey Mare". Whether one chooses to work with certain ages is a personal choice; as I said, I personally turn down anything over 5 if I even take that, and only do the younger parties. Other entertainers only work with 5 and above and choose not to work with any younger children. And neither group is wrong, it's good to specialize and that makes plenty of work for everyone. Very young understand much more than many people give them credit for understanding, in terms of magic, music and life in general. |
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Brian Lehr Inner circle Edmonton, Canada 1605 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-12-03 17:39, drhackenbush wrote: BINGO! BTW, one of the great sources of material, inspiration, ideas, routines, etc, for the young ones is Dave Risley. He earned his living in the daycare market. Great stuff -- http://www.daverisley.com Brian |
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
The hardest BP I did was for one three y/o and her 2 y/o sister. It was a bad winter and all the guests got snowed in, but the parents insisted on the party anyway.
For me, three y/os are a lot of fun IF they know each other, but if they are strangers, it can be difficult. I have done a lot of parties for this age where the parents know each other but the kids really don't. Thankfully, often there are a few older kids there to put the 3 y/os at ease. I think Santa & Potty really hit it on the head for this age group. |
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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
There's also the question of whether or not they're used to entertainers. Often kids of this age have never seen an entertainer before, so their response is very muted. You need to know your stuff, because the kids WILL enjoy the right kind of magic/music/puppets, but may not respond as vocally as you would hope. You know you're winning with this age group if they sit there attentively watching. If they don't "get" your show, they'll wander off and find something else to do.
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