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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
My son is a teacher and has asked me to come do a magic show for the kids in his after-school program this Friday. He said to expect up to 50 kids from kindergarten to sixth grade.
Here's a list of what I can do: -- Silk vanish (Silly Billy style) -- Red & yellow silks become orange (change bag with 5-foot wand from lipstick case) -- Coloring book (Silly Billy style) -- Marvin the Magnifi-chicken (my chicken can’t find the card) -- Kung Fu Ball (my version of Burglar Ball) -- Jumbo Invisible Deck -- Card tricks: * OOTW (from a shuffled deck) * Magic Number (hands-off four stack aces production) * Do As I Do -- Jumbo Twisted Sister (as mental magic) -- Telekinetic Timber (Not necessarily in that order.) (I might brush the dust off Prof Nightmare and see if it's still there!) So the question is: when the magic shifts to the older kids' tricks, how do you avoid losing the younger ones? In a show like this, do you cleanly divide the show into age group - specific tricks? Or maybe start with the small kid pleasers, and then weave the others in between the older kid tricks, then finish with one or both of the mental effects? Ed |
Mike Brezler Inner circle Waynesboro, Pa. 1114 Posts |
I would use alphabet cards if you plan on doing card tricks for young children because they don't understand regular cards. The two card tricks that I use with regular cards that does play well for young children is the snake basket routine, and Wolf's chicken sword because of the comedy factor.
Mike |
MrGreggy Loyal user 213 Posts |
I would suggest to the teacher that you perform two shorter shows, and split the audience up. K-3, 4-6. It's much easier that way.
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Splitting the show is not going to work in this situation. I just want to put together the best flow to keep everyone's interest - as much as possible, anyway. (Doesn't help much that I'm pretty amateur, which means not yet totally interesting. I envy you guys who can make walking into the room totally captivating!)
Ed |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Ed, from your avatar you might want to consider your face as a prop!
Don't forget other things such as noises, dialects and yes the magic. I still love to use professors nitemare. It can take on many themes. In my programs the ropes even become a cell phone. (another opportunity for me to use a mouth sound) oh yes..puppets, puppets, puppets... Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
When doing a group as diverse in age as this I tend to begin by addressing the older kids briefly. I tell them clearly that I have some really cool stuff to show them, but we will do something first for the smaller kids.
This keeps them on board while I grab the attention of the smaller kids with a suitable routine. I then do something for the older kids, as I promised, and this gets them on board. I find by doing it this way I keep the attention of the older while I capture the attention of the younger. Once the young ones are caught they tend to stay with the show, for a number of reasons. One is that they like to emulate their older siblings and friends, so if the older ones are laughing the younger ones will join in too. I am not sure how sound my psychology is, but I know this approach works very well for me. Tony.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
MrGreggy Loyal user 213 Posts |
TonyB2009, I do something similar when faced with a room full of widely ranging ages. As they are entering the gym/lunchroom/theater, I am scurrying throughout the crowds, doing quick comedy bits and warming them up.
When the older kids come in, I drop my silly persona and tell them in a straightforward manner that they're "about to see the stupidest magic show ever. The younger kids will love it, and there will be some surprises for you also." Works like a charm. |
Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-11-04 16:29, MrGreggy wrote: I like this!! Quote:
Don't forget other things such as noises, dialects and yes the magic Harris - do you know the sound that a cartoon character makes when his head's out of shape and he wiggles it back and forth to get it back? Kind of like a cat gargling whilst coughing up a hairball? I use that for my magic word with my 5-ft wand. "We need the magic word. It's simple - only two letters and three syllables." Shake head, make noise. "Got it? What?? Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have broccoli in my teeth?" I love it when they look at me like I'm nuts! Ed |
Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
Physical humour. Treating them all with the same level of respect.
My straitjacket escape, while may not be fully understood by the younger set, do understand the physical humour. the older children like the challenge as well as the physical comedy. |
John C Eternal Order I THINK therefore I wrote 12943 Posts |
Just do your best.
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stijnhommes Special user 568 Posts |
Quote: Now, I could be wrong since I have no experience with the American education system, but I doubt alphabet cards work with kindergardners. They can't read. While OOTW would work a lot better. They know the difference between red and black. If you ever need them to remember a playing card. Force 2-10 of hearts. Again they can count and if they don't know cards, they know hearts for other reasons.
On 2009-11-03 21:45, Mr Mike wrote: |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Ed,
Not sure of the exact sound...Sounds like a mix of underwater speech and gargling sound perhaps with the tip to middle of the tongue about 1/2 to 3/4 toward the back of the roof of the mouth??? I love to hear new voices and sounds from the middle school students during my nearly normal puppet workshops. (in their drama class) I learn a lot when I teach. Those workshops were when I "discovered" the wonderful uses of duct tape.
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-11-05 09:02, Harris wrote: Anything like the recommendations in Seriously Silly? 8>) Ed |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
I have not read Seriously.
I use duct tape to make puppets. Anything from starting with a pencil holder(looks like a trash can) and it turns into a character inspired on Stewie (FG) to a Kansas Jayhawk...Blue and Red Duct tape used for the later and yellow and red used in the former... I also started with a plastic C/D holder and with yellow duct tape created..don't get ahead of me ...A duck.... Can you say AFLACK! It can also be used to make Nearly Normal Chop Cups, Ukulele straps and.... Both the young and the old recognize Duct tape... well unless it is of the Camouflage colored duct variety.. (overheard at a recent Halloween Party (we were sharing our nearly normal puppets) to a guest in Camouflage gear..."You know we can still see you!"
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
MrGreggy Loyal user 213 Posts |
My stepson (10 years old) and I have a funny routine we do at some shows. He interrupts my show and won't behave. Finally I pull out a roll of duct-tape and tape him to his chair or sitting on the floor, with a strip across his mouth.
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Well, I did the show. It went pretty good, considering as a magician _I_ am only “pretty good”! There were about 30-35 kids, mostly grades 2-3, some grades 4-5, and maybe a couple 6th graders.
A synopsis: -- The opening with the two silk tricks went great! Except I forgot my magic wand bit (lack of rehearsal). -- The batteries were dead in the chicken! (Add “check batteries” to preshow checklist.) -- The Coloring Book also went great. -- The Kung Fu Ball went well, but needs smoothing out (more rehearsal). -- Jumbo ID went over OK with the older kids while narrowing the card, but the younger kids were kind of lost. All were amazed at the revelation, though. I think it would work better for kids of mixed ages if I had a more interactive way of naming the card - like throwing sponge balls into the audience and having them throw them back at me. -- The only card trick I did was Do As I Do with two jumbo decks. Didn’t go too well - it’s just me and one kid, and the rest of the audience got fidgety. -- The TK Timber was a bust. Everyone was excited about the prospect of seeing it move, but it didn’t. I think it’s time to get rid of it and find something different - my prop is too unreliable. -- The Jumbo TS was my finale. Again, the younger kids got fidgety because all they were doing was watching, and there was nothing happening to watch. The revelations were good. So: need to work more interaction into everything, eliminate dead spots, and rehearse the paint off of everything!! (And don’t forget the batteries!!) Ed |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Learning what doesn't work, is more important to me than the A + stuff.
Sounds like you had a lot of bright moments and as mentioned above what to work on. (just recharged my portable P.A. system...need to check batteries for my windshield wiper sunglasses) Red Hot Mama..works well for older kids..(I use a sticker on the card. Anything from Spiderman to Hannah Montana)
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
A Birthday Magician Regular user 191 Posts |
I did a mixed age group show today...I initially do paper to money, rope routine and egg bag to get the older kids onside then I do the rest of the show aimed at 4-7 year olds....it worked well today and has done in the past
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