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wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
OK, lets say you just did your regular show today for 4-8 year old's. It was a fantastic show. Afterward, a parent wants to book you for their child's birthday party in a month. Will you do a show exactly the same or a little different, or totally different?
For me, I'm guessing I would keep the most important tricks and change up about 30-35% of my lesser tricks. |
MagicB1S Inner circle Knoxville Tenn. 1039 Posts |
This has been discussed before, If you do a search you will find past threads on this, There is no right answer, you will find some say, stay the same others say, change your show. I guess it depends on what you have at your disposal. if you have a different show then why not, Change it up. But keep in mind you where hired based on the show you just did so they may want that show at there party, I guess you could always ask the person hiring you what they want. maybe as you said do the show with just a couple of the effects changed.
"There are Tricks To All Trades.... My Trade is all Tricks"
"An amature practices until he gets it right. A Professional Practices until he can't get it wrong" www.Themagicchest.webs.com bobswislosky@yahoo.com |
TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
I say change very little. They wanting what they see.
If you change and it's not as good, you disappoint those who hired you. If you change and it's better, you disappoint the first party that hired you. Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
TommyJ Inner circle Foxboro, MA 1750 Posts |
I agree there is no right or wrong way. Me, personally, I have a completely different act. In fact I have three totally different acts for birthdays. You can argue that kids like repetition, but if they know when and where that rabbit is going to appear, they WILL let you know. I actually pitch a different show to moms and dads that come up and ask for my card after a show. I will let them know I have an entirely new show, including the bunny appearing out of a whole new place to keep the kids on their toes.
If you HAVE enough material for a second show and you are comfortable with the routines and they are entertaining and audience tested, I say take a new show. (My opinion . . . but I am a firm believer there are no rules) Tommy
"Keep the Kids Laughing!"
https://www.tommyjamesmagic.com/store |
jimhlou Inner circle 3698 Posts |
A completely different show is great, BUT when booking the show, ask the parent to ask their child if there's any tricks that they want to see in THEIR show. That way you don't dissapoint the child by leaving out something that he/she is expecting to see.
The last show I did for a "repeat" audience surprised me - the child wanted to make sure I did the coloring book trick. If I hadn't talked to his mother, I would have left this out for sure. Jim |
Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
I would change about 1/3 of my show, but those changes would not effect the quality of my show, and of course I would wear different colored clothing.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
I'd do pretty much what Al said. They liked what they saw, why mess with it TOO much?
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Jay Ward Veteran user Flowery Branch, GA 328 Posts |
I agree with Al as well. 1/3 is perfect for a change. And asking the kids their favorite from the last time can be important. Remember that the kids watch the same movie over and over. I know that if I had Lance Burton at my birthday, I'd be very disappointed if he didn't do his dove and candles routine. I've seen it many times, but that's what I'd want for my party.
When I made lots of changes, kids would ask "where's the other trick", and I've also had kids request to see a trick again and when I do, they play along as if they've never seen it before. But you also want the client to know you have more material. 1/3 is dead on! |
themagiciansapprentice Inner circle Essex, UK 1381 Posts |
I'd ask the parents first and stick with the majority of the polished show if that's what they want. One-liners and opportunities for humour can be different each time if you listen / react to the audience.
Have wand will travel! Performing children's magic in the UK for Winter 2014 and Spring 2015.
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I agree with most. A lot of times I will nto change the show that much. The reason is that the client is buying and paying for what they saw me do at the other event. this is the show that has been tested and proven a success every time.
I may also ask how many of the kids at show 1 will be at show 2. I can not always assume it will be the same kids. if it is, I may change it up a little it by only adding in routines I know have been proven and tested. if I find out that the majority of the kids will be new, then I keep the show the same. Kyle
Kyle Peron
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
I have three shows that are for ids:
-Family Magic Show for libraries and schools -Birthday Magic Show, was originally based on the Family Magic Show, now only contains two of the same routines and will contain only one when I finish making my magic visual painting -Birthday Magic Class for 8 years old and up I try to be adaptable and if there is a theme I can usually either make some references or change the focus of the routines, or add a new routine that will fit. I also have a few shows for adults that I can use material from if it seems appropriate.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
M&M Magic Regular user 116 Posts |
If I were you, keep the key tricks that get the biggest reaction and switch the others.
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TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
I'm with everyone else here. Keep the showstoppers that have made your reputation, change the fillers.
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
For my Birthday Party Show I kind of keep one of the best parts.
I have a rabbit-in-a-hat puppet that is a big part of both shows. I keep him in the birthday party show, but I do a different routine. It's just as funny and has the same style and feeling, but has some different stuff. I will probably come up with some more routines for him in the future. For me the important part is to keep the same feeling and 'character.' For a while I was doing my multiplying billiard balls routine at birthdays. It's a good routine and I got compliments on it (by adults) but the energy felt wrong. I finally realized that the energy was all wrong for the type of magic I do for kids, so I replaced it with "5 minutes with a handkerchief." BIG improvement, just the right the right feeling and energy.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
The trouble with repeats is that the SURPRISE of the effect is gone. So with that missing, you had better have some ENTERTAINING material that the kids will enjoy even if they know what's coming.
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Hansel Inner circle Puerto Rico 2492 Posts |
They like what they Saw!!!!!!
Probably you change your stuff and at the end the client comes and say: Nice show...but we expect to see the coloring book trick! ( Line from a personal experience, but with the Ketchup Bottle trick ) So, keep your act. Many friends of mine NON MAGICIANS go to Las Vegas and repeat Mac King show to see exactly the same, not expecting a different show! -H
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Gerry Walkowski Inner circle 1450 Posts |
Another train of thought is to just substitue 3 magical effects with parallel magic tricks. For example, if you perform Sympathetic Silks, perhaps you would perform 20th Century (or do we now call it 21st Century?) Silks instead. To many, I doubt if they would even realize you changed magical effects as long as they were somewhat similar. What you'll also get from doing this is the added surprise benefit if everyone has already seen you perform.
However, I wouldn't do this if you have feature tricks that are only identified with your act. You'd be wise to keep these in your show. It's something to think about. Gerry |
Cesar Munoz Veteran user 370 Posts |
Great question--I ask the parent what they expect--sometimes I have them ask the child. Either way--I usually substitute the "sucker trick" and anything that relies heavily on an unexpected surprise. For example, I'll substitute Hip Hop Magician for Run Wolf Run and Stratosphere for Comedy Card on Back.
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
I just re-read the first post. What counts as your 'regular' show?
If the parent saw me at a birthday party I would do the exact same show. A few of the 'highlights' of my birthday show specifically focus on the birthday child and it would be a big disappointment not to include them. If the parent saw me at a library, which happened recently, I would do my birthday show, but I might ask them to let me know if there was any particular favorite that they wanted to make sure I included. So far the only specific request has been for my rabbit in the hat puppet (who is already in the show), but for the most part it seems like people (well, the people that call me back anyways ) like my energy and style and as long as I bring those and do some good magic they're happy. Happier actually, because the birthday child walks away with 4 presents by the end of the show.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
I agree with Al too. I do not duplicate every trick, only about a third. I still include my Miser's Dream,Chair Suspension, Sponge Bunnies, live animals, Linking Rings and a few more.
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