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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Yesterday noisy adults train-wrecked a kids party for me. Despite asking them over and over again to go into another room if they wanted to talk, they just carried on. Of course, it's happened before. It's thoroughly exhausting, almost impossible to do ventriloquism, and yes, by the end of the party, there were several kids who just couldn't be bothered to pay attention any more. The constant yabbering behind them was SO distracting, and also by stopping my show at least ten times to ask for quiet, the inertia of the show was lost.
So I came up with an idea. I've printed a few dozen sheets with the following message: "Hello, you have been given this message because you were talking during the show. Please understand that most of the folks in the room wish to see the magic show, and would prefer to enjoy it without interruption. If Potty the Pirate has to stop the show to ask you to be quiet, it’s embarrassing for everyone. Your hosts have paid a considerable amount to have Potty at this event, and by causing disruption, you are showing them disrespect, as well as the children. If you go to the theatre or cinema, you would likely find it annoying if there were a lot of people talking throughout the show. And no doubt you’d be upset if adults sat at the back of your child’s class, making lots of noise whilst the teacher tries to educate the kids. Please don’t set your kids a bad example by talking, which suggests that they too can talk amongst themselves when in a cinema, theatre, or classroom. If the noise continues, the children and Potty will find it very hard to concentrate – and almost certainly it will mar their enjoyment of this event. They may even start running about the room, as in their perception the adults aren’t paying attention, so why should they? If you have important things to discuss, please do so in another room or outside. Or watch the show – hey, you might even enjoy it! Your co-operation and understanding is appreciated." Now, if I have noisy adults, and after politely asking them to be quiet, they ignore me, I plan to simply walk over and hand them this message. Do you think it's too much? Is the wording appropriate? Your thoughts will be much valued. Thanks in advance, Doug |
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Yeah, I don't know Doug...?
My thought is, if I'm the type of person as you described in your above post (talking during the show) and you give me this letter, I'd probably be inclined to kick the living crap out of you in the drive way after the show. I'm not saying that "I" am that type of person...b/c I'm not. But in our hot tempered society today, I think your asking for trouble. The thing is, tho' justified, your letter is going to bring about confrontation. There's no way to avoid it. **** Happens! Collect your check and leave. If the party was ruined b/c of the adults, oh well...as long as the check clears. Not much can be done to prevent the inept from speaking during your show. It's happend to all of us... Christopher
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
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Gerry Walkowski Inner circle 1450 Posts |
Doug:
I, too, would think twice about your note idea. There are some techniques out there for quieting chatty audiences and in a subtle way, embarass them into keeping quiet for the sake of the children. Even with that being said, these techniques still won't work 100% of the time. When that happens just collect your check and move on to the next show. Gerry |
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Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
The letter will only be ignored and stop you from getting any repeat work. Handing it out will also damage the show and in most cases the talking parents have been drinking and don't like threats.
If the adults continue to talk, there are a few tactics: 1) Use an adult as a volunteer. Especially the Birthday Mum or Dad. The adults will shut up if one of their friends is involved in the show and they fear that they might be chosen will help quieten them. They are only talking because they believe the show is just for the kids. As soon as the adults see that it is also for them, they will pay attention. 2) Get the children to all go to their parents and drag them onto the floor to sit with them. If the parents are with their kids watching the show, they cannot talk. 3) Get all the kids to go collect a £1 coin from their mummy and daddy. The first one back can win a balloon. This gets all the kids running to the talking parents and makes them apart of the show while sometimes getting a laugh. This is a technique that has to be used carefully. It gets the parents to pay attention and shuts them up for a second. 4) Get all the children to scream. If the children are louder than the parents, they cannot talk. They then turn their heads to see what the screaming is all about. I use to run my hand down a balloon to create the high squeal which shut everybody up. Nowadays I just blow my whistle. 5) Stop the magic show, and play a game instead. Head Shoulders knees and toes is a game that ALL the children can sing and the amount of noise a choir of children make will override the level of noise from the parents. The group activity will also keep the show together and stop children from running off because they are all apart of the show. 6) Make jokes about the adults. I have lots of gags that insult the mums and dads (jokingly). The children don't get the jokes, but the parents do. Its these gags that make them aware that the show is also for them and makes them want to watch. 7) Abandon the magic show and just make balloons for everybody. If asked 'have you finished', just say I'm making balloons for everyone now as the adults are too loud to talk over. There are many other tactics to use, but I don't use any anymore. I am not the babysitter and I cannot tell the adults what to do. If they talk, I just carry on with my show. I still get paid and I no-longer consider it my responsibility to 'police' the adults. I am the entertainer and I am hired to put on a show. Its up to them whether they want to watch it or ruin it for their own children. If you care too much about situations like this, you will start to get bitter about the business and it will show in your current show and the next show. Just do the job and get paid. Whether they heard you or not. Steve |
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alexa Veteran user NJ 393 Posts |
I agree, but I think that if you DO use this definitely take out the part about the hosts paying a considerable amount to have you there. I would turn it into a positive, like making a list of "top 10 benefits of hiring potty the pirate the family entertainer over a children's entertainer" and explaining how these things won't happen because the adults will want to watch! If you start to condition the client in prevention, to not allow the adults to have their own shenanigans, I think it helps. Though, as we all know, not always.
Alexa |
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kimmo Inner circle Sheffield 1193 Posts |
The only way you can win in this situation is to draw the parents in and make them want to shut up and watch the show.
If it's a rare occurrence don't even mention it. Put up with it, take the money and run. Funnily enough, the only time I ever encountered this sort of thing was when I tried doing full parties.
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TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
I have a far more agressive approach. I am just plain rude. I stop the show the tell the noisy parents to shut up. (Not at the start; only if they have ignored my more gentle hints).
I just pause, and in a very loud voice say that I am doing a show here, and if they have to continue their conversation they have to leave the room now. And I stare them out of it until they apologise and shut up, or leave the room. People find it difficult to deal with a direct and rude challenge, and it has always worked for me. And I have got no hassle afterwards; they know I am right. Tony.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
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RJE Inner circle 1848 Posts |
I like the idea Potty. It might be little wordy, but the direct, yet discrete approach, I think has merit.
I would not be afraid of physical repercutions as Christopher suggested. Perhaps if you could edit you message to: "Hello, you have been given this message because you were talking during the show. Please understand that most of the folks in the room wish to see the magic show, and would prefer to enjoy it without interruption. Please don’t set your kids a bad example by talking during the performance. If you have important things to discuss, please do so in another room or outside. Your co-operation and understanding is appreciated." It is short and quick to read. Gets the message across in a direct and polite manner. If you can hand them the paper without making a scene about it, I think it can be rather effective. |
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MoonRazor Special user 843 Posts |
Have the kids turn around and w/ finger to lips, SSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH the adults in question. Then laugh and say to the kids you guys are being very polite but you are going to have to talk to your parents when you get home..... jabber, jabber, jabber, then laugh again to lighten it up.
2. Stop show and look at them like they are saying something very interesting, till they notice. |
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billappleton Inner circle Los Gatos, California 1154 Posts |
Has anyone tried to substitute a clown gag and use it on an adult? something normally reserved for kid comedy. at least this would get their attention...
I like the giant magnet for cell phones, but that is more of a club or stage gag. I think the core problem is that some adults don't think the show is about them, or that they are just bystanders. |
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RJE Inner circle 1848 Posts |
Pat and I do not so house party shows, so I don't know if this would apply the same of not.
However, when we do family shows, at a company party, banquet hall, small theatre of where ever, we always insist that the chairs come right up to within 2 metres of the front of the performance area. We never allow a space for children to sit up front by themselves in a group. We find that when the children are sitting together with their parents it has a number of positive affects on the show. One, you are less likely to get the talking adults since they also are not grouped together. Two, you don't get the "creeping" audience that starts with the front line of kids crowding your space and eventually has them literally at your feet during the show. |
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jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
I like the idea of pulling the offenders up as volunteers, and have a balloon sculpting or a balloon blowing contest with them. Then I would say something like, 'let's give them a big hand and send them back to their seats and ask them to promise to be quiet so we can all enjoy the rest of the show.'
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billappleton Inner circle Los Gatos, California 1154 Posts |
I have been think about this, the gag is a good way to go. It's MY SHOW, and I can call them up. They are supposed to be watching. Absolutely pull them up and do the milk pitcher with a diaper on their head. Its almost worth having something ready for this.
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ColinDymond Special user Gloucestershire, England 675 Posts |
RJE, still too wordy. How about. SHUT THE *%*& UP!!!!!
I always start by telling the adults they can talk or watch the show don't try and do both and if they want to talk can they do it outside then make silly noises with the kids about what they talk about. eastenders, shopping, etc. Then I say if we think they are too loud we will all go Shhhhhhhhh. If I need to, I usually go very quiet, that normally gets their attention! Sometimes especially if its a family do and there are a lot of adults who haven't seen each other for ages you just have to keep going, get paid, go home!
Colin Dymond
www.aceofdiamonds.co.uk |
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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Thanks for all the ideas. I did, of course, try several of these tactics yesterday. My pre-show intros include two requests for the adults to kindly pay attention and not talk during the show. I did NOT get the adults to sit close from the start, as initially I didn't realise how disruptive they would become. That's a very good strategy, and it does work a lot of the time. I tried whispering, and had quiet moments, which highlighted how noisy the adults were being. I stated bluntly at the first indication of noise, that I could not allow talking, and that there was another room where they could talk. The Birthday kid's dad "shussed" them over and over again....but all to no avail.
Though I did consider stopping the show, the majority of parents did exactly as I asked, and I saw that most of them were watching, and enjoying the show. But there were a number of women who just would not shut up. OK, I was still angry about it this morning, and I agree the message I came up with was too wordy....but isn't this a better strategy than constantly interrupting the show? Surely, if they get handed such a message, it's pretty darn clear..... I find it especially frustrating, because at a public event, I easily capture the entire audience. Of course, if people aren't interested, they walk away. I'm going to re-write my message much shorter, and try it out next time it happens. Doug |
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braddevant Regular user 133 Posts |
I always keep a trick in the case for an adult assistant and if a grownup is making too much noise, I bring him or her up for some good hearted silliness. After this the others will be quite. In my case it is the do as I do mouth coil bit.
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
Sometimes you gotta just say your lines, take the check and go home.
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Futureal Inner circle 1695 Posts |
Kimmo is bang-on.
When I was a kid starting out I often used to have adults sitting at the back of the room chatting. Super distracting. Ten years later I *never* have parents sitting at the back chatting. Ever. Why? Because I draw them into the show and entertain them. - Command respect and/or get a better show. |
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Has anyone considered placing a wireless hand held microphone near the parents so when they speak it blasts through the sound system. That would certainly get their attention. Just a thought.
Dennis Michael
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Danny Diamond Inner circle Connecticut 1400 Posts |
Interesting to find this topic, as I had two shows Saturday where I found myself playing the role of babysitter/magician. I haven't had this happen in a while, so it was weird that I had two shows in a row where this was the case.
They were both in larger banquet rooms, and in both cases, the parents kinda shipped off the kids to the corner of the room where I was set up, and then proceeded to socialize and have their adult-time. For the first show, it wasn't a huge issue, since the corner where I was set up, was quiet enough and the show went well. For the second show however, the kids were more hyper, and the room was a bit smaller. So when the hyper, already easily-distracted kids sat down, and the adults all stood 20ft away, chatting full volume, I knew I had to try something. So right away, I had all the kids, on the count of "3", turn to the adults and give them a big "SHHHHH!!!". It worked alright, as far as quieting them down (for a bit). But then I thought "I wonder if that offends the parents - being 'shushed' like that?" I felt like I had to do it, in order to do my show effectively. But I also wondered if I ruined any chance of future gigs through this party, by 'shushing' them like that?
You don't drown by falling in the water;
you drown by staying there. - Edwin Louis Cole |
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