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rockwall Special user 762 Posts |
I was asked by a friend to do a short magic show for her scout troop because the theme this month was Magic. I don't mind volunteering and was thinking it would be fun to put together a half hour routine. But.... I just got a more specific request from her through email today. In short:
"They start at 7:00 and will take about ten minutes for awards. They would then like Mike to do roughly 15 minutes of magic and then take the boys into a separate room for a few minutes and teach them 2 or 3 simple magic or rope tricks that they can then come back in and show everybody. This is one of the requirements for passing something off. They'll then have refreshments and plan to by finished by 8:00 or very shortly after. There will be about 10 to 15 boys ages 8 to 11." Is this really feasable? If so, what type of trick would I want to attempt to teach them in about 5 minutes time? Thanks for any suggestions you can make. Mike |
shpf100 Regular user 146 Posts |
Criss angel showed the floating styrofoam cup on his tv show. Sounds like what you're looking for?
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Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
Get the scout manual that your local pack uses, pick something out of there, demonstrate it, give it a couple new twists, and tell them to check their manual for more!
Steve |
Jeff Haas Special user 929 Posts |
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mrunge Inner circle Charleston, SC 3716 Posts |
Card predictions using the "cut deeper" force. A friend uses this in his summer magic camps for children and they love it.
Also, great link Jeff! Should be able to get an idea or two there. Mark. |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
That is like asking a musician to take 10 or 15 boys into a room for a few minutes and teach them to play 2 or 3 songs on the ukulele which they can then perform flawlessly in public.
I would suggest that you respond by telling the woman to have each of her boys go to the library and check out a book on magic. With her help, each boy is to then choose a magic trick that is different from every other boy's chosen trick. With the help of their parents, they are to then read and learn the magic trick they have chosen. When you get to the show, each boy will have brought with him his book and his props. After your very brief show, you will meet with each boy and his parent(s) so he can show you his trick. You will decide if he is ready to perform it in public or not, and will give him some quick tips on how to present the trick. Let her know in advance that some of the boys may need more time to prepare themselves for a public performance, and if so, they should be given another week or so to work on their magic trick before presenting it in public. Then you can make a list of those boys ready to perform and act as MC to call them up to do their tricks.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
jimhlou Inner circle 3698 Posts |
I teach the scouts the "paper balls over the head trick". I do it with sponge balls, and then pass out Kleenex tissues to everybody. They wad these up and I instruct everyone at the same time how to do the effect.
You could also teach them a simple cut and restored rope (if you have enough rope for everybody) using a small knotted loop hidden in the hand. I also do the mis-made flag for the scouts, using Silly-Billy's routine. This really goes over well. Jim |
Hansel Inner circle Puerto Rico 2492 Posts |
I agree with Spellbinder. IN another thread I talk about the friend who cracks my head about show tricks for kids...i do a LOT of Scouts shows and when I said a LOT its a LOT!!I always make my regular kid show and works well,i never have the situation that you have...The Flag suggestion of Jim is very good!But anyway do whatever you can feel good!
Good Luck buddy, Hansel!
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Jeff Haas Special user 929 Posts |
Forgot to add that what I've done with a local pack's "Magic Night" is that they have each Cub who wants to, learn a trick before the meeting. Then each Cub presents his trick for the group. When they're done, I do my show.
This works out really well. If you want something to hand out to all the kids, there are a bunch of those flyers you can get that explain simple tricks on them as well, like the jumping rubber band. |
Trekdad Elite user Telford, PA 445 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-04-07 21:32, Spellbinder wrote: Great approach, and it's more in-line with the intent behind the boys' scouting requirement. It also gives the kids the right idea about the effort in not just learning the method (simple) but in learning something about performing. Recently, my daughter's Girl Scout troop wanted to do something as a group and present it at a GS fundraiser. We started with performing for them 4 or 5 effects, and the girls decided which ones they wanted to learn. After selecting, they each left with written materials and "props" to go home and practice. In the 2d and 3d weeks, in their run-throughs, they each demonstrated their effects and we focused on the performance. They wound up selecting the cups and balls (styrofoam cups, pom-pom balls, using the simple and basic ball penetration), Thieves and sheep (using the same cups and a total of 7 pom-pom balls), a Jastrow illusion trick (boomerang trick) using coffee cup insulating sleeves (with a story based on Lesley's MagicTales) and silk scarf juggling using lightweight cut-up fabric sqaures and plasctic grocery bags. The girls, and their younger brownie audiences at the fundraiser, loved it and they really did well. The leaders thought it was some of the most productive and well-liked sessions.
Barnhardt: You have tested this theory?
Klaatu: I find it works well enough to get me from one planet to the next. The Day the Earth Stood Still |
James Munton Inner circle Dallas, TX 1199 Posts |
I have at least 3 cub scout shows a week all through April because of the magic theme - it's fantastic. And I've pre-sold my magic books to at least a third of the packs.
I just do my regular show. Most of the pack meetings I've been booked at are one hour long. So most have booked my 30-minute show. I don't think there is time to do a show plus a teach-in. And there is definitely not enough time for each kid to get up and do a trick. If you do teach them a trick at the end of your show, you could suggest they go home and practice it and demonstrate the trick at the next meeting. Keep it simple! Do what you know and feel comfortable doing! Have a great time! |
jkvand Special user Johnstown, PA 658 Posts |
When I do a show for scouts and they want a workshop as well, I teach them a simple cut and restored rope trick using a square knot. The square knot is one of the first knots that every scout learns, and having them use it in a magic trick reinforces it for them. This has helped me get bookings as well, by using this as a selling point. A fun show, and it reinforces their knot tying skills! Best of luck, Jeff
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