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Cliffg37 Inner circle Long Beach, CA 2491 Posts |
Last night's show was an excellent venue.
A nice wide stage with good sound and light. Three steps up to the stage running the entire width. Sloped auditorium so all could see. I was the last of four magicians to hit the stage. When the show Started, the audience was mixed seating parents and kids, as it should be. When I took the stage, the three steps were littered with children between 5 and 10 years old, or so. I asked them to back up to make room for volunteers, and they did. This lasted till about halfway through my first effect. They were back. In my second effect, the volunteer was someone's mother, who (b)itched at the kids to back up. She wasn't nice, but thankfully I did not look like the bad guy. I am thinking there must be an easier way to handle what must be a very common issue. I suppose I should be grateful that the kids were so into the show, but a little breathing room is welcome too.
Magic is like Science,
Both are fun if you do it right! |
Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
I've done house parties where several adults went to the bath room so they could stand behind me in the hall way for the rest of my show thinking that if they were behind me they would be able to figure out what I was doing. Fortunetly my show works just as well in the round, and they saw nothing. Perhaps they thought that I just fell off the back of a turnip truck.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
Daniel Ulzen Elite user Berlin/Germany 490 Posts |
David Ginn wrote in one of his books that he instructs one or two adults before the show to take care of kids who make problems during the show.
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Ken Northridge Inner circle Atlantic City, NJ 2392 Posts |
I feel your pain. Although not a common occurrence, it has happened to me. It’s a group mentality among children. If he’s doing it, I can do it. Sometimes the parents are worse. They think if that parent is not going to tell their child to sit down, I’m not going to tell my child to sit down either.
You have two options. 1. Interrupt the show and demand all children go by your rules. 2. Continue with the show in the best way you can and hope for the best. I almost always go for option #2. Unless there is a danger of someone getting hurt (or me getting hurt) I try to be an entertainment, not a disciplinarian. I know, and you know, the show would go much better with the children sitting down where they were. But is it worth it? What do you want your audience to remember? Its just one of those things you have to put up with as a children’s entertainer.
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com |
Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
I always ask several cub scout leaders to keep the kids under controle at a blue and gold banquet, because if you don't the kids will get close enough to you to put their hands in your brief case.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
Wes Holly Special user Cincinnati, OH, USA 644 Posts |
For bigger venues, if given a choice, I prefer to have the children seated in chairs or with their parents, primarily to keep them from "creeping" up to the performance area. Aside from me not wanting to feel crowded, kids think it's funny to reach up and grab your pants, props, etc and there is also the safety concerns should a prop go flying out of my hands.
Have you noticed that not only will the kids behave better when seated next to their parents, but they also help keep the parents from talking during the show This also elevates the perception that my show is not a "kiddie" show. So, I will ask the emcee to make an announcement, or I might make it myself at the beginning of the show, but that's all I can do. I'm not going to interrupt the flow of the show trying to get 50 kids to go back to their parents. -wes holly- |
rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
It makes not one shred of difference if the parents manage to maneuver behind you "to see how you do it." They won't remember it 5 minutes after they leave. But it does indicate that you're just that one step farther from complete control, and they're a distraction from the show ("He's over here, but Mommy's on the other side of him, think I'll go see Mommy.")
You might want to be the one moving the kids: sit on the edge of the stage and move 'em closer and speak softly ... then get tall and move 'em back ... stand 'em up, sit 'em down, get them doing actions. It removes the "bad guy disciplinarian" factor and makes repeated re-seatings part of the fun. |
ya4davecox Regular user Los Angeles 124 Posts |
When I was but a boy magi, about 25 years back. I had a lot of trouble controlling my crowd - often of kids just a few years younger than I. So, when I started, I made a little speech about this area being the stage, and that area being the audience, and how grateful I was that they were in MY audience that night, and that I would be lucky enough to have several of them up with me onstage that night, And, so it was clear, I would put something down to show them exactly where the edge of the stage was. Then, I pulled out my bullwhip.
*CRACK!* This is the edge of the stage, right here. *CRACK!* I like to make sure everyone knows, so when I ask them up, and ONLY when I ASK them up, no one will get confused and get hurt. *CRACK!* Now, are you ready to start the show? *CRACK!* I can't hear you! *CRACK!* I can't hear you! *CRACK!* Let's start the show! |
Bob Johnston Inner circle Philadelphia, PA 1251 Posts |
Great fun.
*CRACK!* Bob |
Bob Johnston Inner circle Philadelphia, PA 1251 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-05-08 09:49, Al Angello wrote: Actually, Al does look like he fell of of a farm truck, it part of the joy in watching him work. His demeanor is warm and folksy and disarming for any audience member that thinks he does not know what he is doing. Bob |
DrGoodkin New user 99 Posts |
In the past I have brought a role of blue painter's tape with me. I lay a line of tape on the floor and tell the kids that the must stay behind the magic line. Anyone behind the magic line is a magic helper. If they see anyone move in front of the magic line they are supposed to tell that kid to move back.
This little bit of peer pressure has worked wonders for me. When you leave, just pull up the tape (it's not too sticky and does not leave a mark). Cheers
- Sincerely,
Dr Goodkin |
magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Here's an old thread you might find useful:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=17 |
Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Bob Johnston
You're the greatest. Thanks
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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