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David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
I'm with Steve. I was doing a birthday event and there were SIX kids...and two of them were aged two or less.
You spend more time with the kids -- not less energy. But there's an opportunity here too: you can really spend time featuring the birthday child, you can do serious kids close-up that wouldn't play to a bigger group. I find with the small groups I work very differently than with the larger ones. David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
This is all fine and good. However, do you just switch gears on your own or do you communicate with the client to figure out their needs first? That is my point here. I think changing the show form what you agreed upon with the client, without discussing it with them first, is a possibility for heading for failure.
Sure there is something to be said about doing the best you can to provide a show the best you can do. the show must go on. Hwoever, you are also there to solve the needs of the client. I think it is easy enough to talk openly with the client when you see this situation occur and simply discuss an alternative that you both agree upon. It takes the guess work out of it. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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Gerry Walkowski Inner circle 1450 Posts |
Thanks Kyle,
I greatly appreciate your input. Gerry |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Always my pleasure. If it helps even once person to avoid some of these problems, then it is well worth sharing the advice.
Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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Paul Rathbun Inner circle Michigan 2543 Posts |
[quote]On 2011-01-30 12:04, magic4u02 wrote:
This is all fine and good. However, do you just switch gears on your own or do you communicate with the client to figure out their needs first? That is my point here. I think changing the show form what you agreed upon with the client, without discussing it with them first, is a possibility for heading for failure. Sure there is something to be said about doing the best you can to provide a show the best you can do. the show must go on. Hwoever, you are also there to solve the needs of the client. I think it is easy enough to talk openly with the client when you see this situation occur and simply discuss an alternative that you both agree upon. It takes the guess work out of it. I agree Kyle that if you offered a standup show and then suddenly switch to close-up because of a small turnout you could be asking for trouble. Especially if you haven't discussed the issue or reasoning with the client. Problem solving with the client is always going to be the best solution for everybody. However, I have no problem performing my parlor show as if there were a lot of people there and making the best of it.
https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/9160
Sleightly Better Magic Reviews - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9rkXnNp8CxftN-rxU_WcbQ |
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drosenbe0813 Elite user Long Island, NY 405 Posts |
I might get pounced on, but when I'm hired to perform for the 'children' and there are only 3 or 4 kids...and many adults, I try to turn the show into a 'family' show. I have several routines (e.g. linking rings, a very funny version of BWave) that get adults or teenagers involved, but are still lots of fun for the kids. I don't pull out my heavy mentalism stuff. and I probably wouldn't do these if there were 10 or more kids.
One last thought is that unless you've given the client a trick list of exactly what you were planning to do, they have no idea what your 'act' should be. So your normal 'act' might be sponge balls, and glorpy. I think the client is (or should be) more concerned that the kids and the adults have a good time during your show, rather than how 'big' your effects were. |
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LMLipman Elite user Falls Church, Va. 443 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-01-29 22:49, John Long wrote: I also had a show with three 3-year-olds and about a dozen kids. I did most of my regular show, nothing special for the adults, but playing it on two levels for the kids and the parents. And I did most of it either on my knees or sitting on the floor. The mother of the birthday child was extremely appreciative of my efforts to make her child feel special that day. |
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adamferrucci Regular user Newfield, NJ 169 Posts |
I didn't want to start a new thread so I dug this one up.
The last 2 shows I had an extremely low kid turnout. The 1st was a 6 year old and there was supposed to be about 15 kids there within the child's age range. I planed my show accordingly and when I arrived there was only the birthday child and her 2 older sisters. By the time I was ready to go on only 2 other kids showed up. I spoke with the person who hired me and he told me he didn't think anyone else would make it. I did the show and, although there were only 3 kids in the age range I planned for, I think it still went over pretty good. The 2nd show, which was yesterday, was supposed to have between 20-25 kids there. This was for an 11 year old birthday so I had a lot more "magic" and a lot less "silly" planned anyway. It was almost the same situation. Just the birthday child and her two older brothers. The show was to start at 3 and the mother told everyone to be there a 2. I told her I didn't mind waiting but only 3 more kids showed up.(Lots of adults though) I waited until 3:15 and I started my show. I think it went over pretty well even with the low turnout. The part I was most nervous about in both shows was that they both chose my "deluxe package" which includes balloon animals for all the children for $XX more. I tell them I twist balloons for 30 minutes. The first party went over well because the adults wanted balloon animals as well. The 2nd party was different. When I broke out the balloons all the adults went inside and only 3 kids stayed outside. At that point I'm thinking that this is only going to take a minute or two so after I'm finished I'll just tell the mother to pay me for the Basic Show. I didn't have to though because once the birthday child got her balloon the rest of the kids came out (even the older ones) and some that weren't there for the magic show arrived. So in the end it all worked out but I was much more nervous at both of these shows because of the small amount of children. |
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Mr. Pitts Inner circle David Pitts 1058 Posts |
It sounds like you handled these shows just fine Adam. Next time you encounter a show with low turnout, you'll have the confidence you gained from these, so you won't be near as nervous. Nothing builds confidence like handling a potentially bad situation successfully.
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wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
I do not understand why parents now-a-days can not RSVP that their child will not be able to attend the party.
At least that way the parents of the birthday child would know what to expect. Even though there were a number of kids at the show I did last night, I could tell by the place settings that there was only about a 25% turnout. Between booking me and the DJ, and the rental hall, and a cop that was there on detail, and the food, I bet the mother spent at least $1000. Maybe people do not have the money to buy a present? |
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
Chris;
I would say, if you don't ask for a RSVP, you won't get a RSVP Everything is sent be email nowadays and not as formal. In my business some clients I deal with have told me to email them only and don’t bother calling |
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wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
I'm not really sure if the people ask for a RSVP or not, except for one show I did in the past year. The parents told me they asked for RSVP's and out of 25 invitations only 2 responded that their child would not
be attending, and 1 said their child would be. Nothing from anyone else. Only 3 other kids were there besides the birthday child. Now there was about 10-12 adults there. I think we live in a different time now, and a lot of people are inconsiderate. These shows with low turnout only happen about 5% of the time I guess. |
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Baz94 New user Kent/Eng 91 Posts |
Ive had this a couple of times. I tend to always put in some nice visual effects that work for both adults AND children.
the 3 I ALWAYS have are hippety hop rabbits, Die Box and the vanishing milk jug. All three get the kids screaming with laughter, All 3 are very visual and all three have the children amazed and as an added bonus, you tend to hear some gasps from the adults too! I adapt a "waky funnyman" type of act with my work in order to get the kids laughing and then no mantter how few there are, they think you are funny and that's most of the battle won for me. as for the rest of the party, dancing games or anything which the children feel theey stand out (as there are few of them), become difficult so I simply try to join in. I tend to keep away from "pass the parcel" as it is messy at the best of times. I have a ball that they trow around to each other and when the music stops, the child holding the ball comes and collects the prize. This gets them running about and then psyched up for some more energetic games, but I try to keep them simple and get them to get an "adult helper" involved. NOTE: Adult helper! Not mummy or daddy as nowadays, that can be a sticky situation sometimes :S |
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
Much of the material in my family show is what I also perform for adults, with some changes. I'm not into a mushy style of performing, so the adults like watching the kids' reactions and the material is also stimulating. There's plenty to keep the kids involved. It's solid situation comedy. The problem is that these shows take years to write, in order to meet my standards and appeal to a broad audience. Even if the party isn't well attended, it has never presented a problem for the show.
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dandydimartino New user Brooklyn 12 Posts |
I always do a show that would appeal to all ages. The patter can range from just plain silly to the double entendre. The Kids might not get the older jokes but if I involve the adults the kids still have a ball. I have never seen a child laugh harder than when "Uncle Joe" winds up with the sorcerers aprentice plunger on his head. You would be amazed how many adults want to be a kid again. The kids, on the other hand, now feel like one of the adults.
I am always prepared to do things not asked for. I have a small face paint kit on the side. This is usually extra because of the time involved, but when there are only five or six kids, time is not a problem. When I make balloons they get the four or five balloon sculptures rather than the single twists. Some of my Santa visits are for a family with two or three kids. They always ask me back because I do crafts (construction paper x-mas trees or santa faces) and even teach the kids to do a simple balloon twist, like a dog or sword. While these activities need to be planned for I can usually guess that if the parent says "up to 10 kids" I am going to need a filler and pack accordingly. |
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TommyJ Inner circle Foxboro, MA 1750 Posts |
I did a show last year where NO kids showed up for a 5 year old boys party. They rented a hall, catered food etc. The parents were very upset. The show must go on. I did the show for the 5 year old, his mom and dad and his two aunts and one uncle.
The kid had a blast as he helped in all the volunteer skits. The adults played along as if they were kids. yes, this is a true story.
"Keep the Kids Laughing!"
https://www.tommyjamesmagic.com/store |
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TrickyRicky Inner circle TrickyRicky 1653 Posts |
Right on Tommy.
I've been through that quite a few times. If there are only 1 or 2 kids I asked the adults to sit in on the performance. They all want the birthday child to have a good time. They will cheer, clap and make more noise than the 2 kids. Tricky Ricky |
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Jason Johnson New user Houston, Texas 50 Posts |
I can bring a different perspective on things. I'm also a musician (my better talent) who's been playing in church bands forever amongst other types of groups. I use to play drums at a church that had a small Saturday night service as well as 2 or 3 big Sunday services. On Saturdays, we would remove chairs to bring the people closer, and we would play softer music for we didn't want to blow a small crowd away with heavy rock music that we would do for Sunday mornings.
That's why I do 2 kids shows. One for bigger audiences and one for small house parties, and I advertise the small one for up to 20 kids. I charge less for the smaller one. If only a couple of kids show up to the small one, I don't have to change my routine at all, and I could by request do some close up stuff. If they want close up magic, I charge more. |
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TheGreatNancini Veteran user Ohio 373 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-08-01 14:54, Alan Munro wrote: I can totally relate to Alan on this one. Our family show is created from the ground up to appeal to a wide age range from toddler to adult, and Matthew and I spend a great deal of time scripting and polishing our performance. We are comfortable with any size audience, however we do feel bad when we get a party that no one shows up for. Like Tommy J and several others said, we make it a point to go our of our way to work with the few people we do have and make their party as special and memorable as possible. Many have commented about having extra props on hand and that is excellent advice as well. We always try to have a couple of back ups "Just in case"......... As for preventing a low turn out from happening, we try to give the parents tips like email and text reminders to everyone invited 1 week , 48 hours, 24 hours and 12 hours before. This has worked amazingly well for several of our birthday moms and they have came back and told us how much they appreciated the advice. I have actually heard people say to the mom on their arrival, "I totally forgot about the party until I got your text." ~Nanci |
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danfreed Inner circle West Chester PA 1354 Posts |
I've dabbled in stand-up comedy a bit, just for fun, but even the best stand-up comics will tell you performing for a small crowd is really tough - a big crown is much easier to get laughing and get the energy up. The same is true for kids parties and events. It sucks, I usually just can't get the same reactions from 4 kids or whatever. The same stuff that usually works may not work well for a really small group. So you may need to switch gears and do more close-up stuff. Also, have other stuff like face painting or whatever.
Dan Freed
AKA The Amazing Spaghetti https://www.magiciandanfreed.com/birthday-party-magician-for-kids http://thecaricatureartist.com http://danieljayfreed.com |
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