If you get a call to do the same party you did last year, do you use 100% different illusions?

The kids seem to forget about most of mine. The only time they remember is when someone recorded on a video tape.

I always try to make every repeat performance 80% different then the last show. The only things I may not change are my opener (warm-up and my closer). Everything else in the show is changed around.

Because I often get repeat gigs each year, It has forced me to create about 3 totally different kids type shows. With these 3 shows and effects, I can do several repeat performances without having to worry about the kids recalling what I did last year.

It also helps me to push myself to create new material and helps me to grow as a performer.

Hi,
I would not perform a different show unless asked. people book me act as seen and that's what I give them.
I remember once I did the same children from a public school 13 times in 9 months and I asked several mums if they wanted me to put some different stuff in the show all said "Oh no they like the show as it is"
Phillip

PB:
That is fine if you feel you want to do that. I just feel that your not pushing yourself to be more cretaive if you never try and change the show around. By creating different shows or changing the effects in the show, you force yourself to learn.

I feel a different show performed for a repeat client, shows them I am professional and that I care enough to present a new performance for them. I gain their respect and possibly have a better chance of getting another performance from them in the future.

It also helps me in that I have a less of a chance of children having seen the effects before and therefor not enjoying the fun. Children remember far more then we sometimes give them credit for.

I do mixed.

There are two theories here.

Both have positives to them.

One is related to kids (and kids in adult bodies)

watching the same video(listening to the same song....)

27 times and loving it more each time.

The second goes to wanting to be fresh and creatively stimulated,(and ing)

I go for a combination of both.

I have been doing some of the same schtick I was doing 25 years ago. (funny is funny over time)

In fact I have been going back to some of the gags and songs I used to use when I did Singing Telegrams.

Keep growing and glowing and enjoy the journey whether the routine is used for the 20 th time or the
20,000 time.(Make it fresh for you and your audience.

Harris Deutsch
Laughologist

Harris said it well when he said to make it Fresh for you and the audience. I also like what he said about being creatively stimulating.

If you do want to do the same effect, then try something different with it. Try the routine with a different twist or different story. Make it fresh the next time around and learn from your experience.

Just my opinion, but I would feel bad going to a house where I did a show 4 months ago and they want me back to perform with the same kids. I would not feel right giving them the exact same performance with the exact same patter and reactions. I want my audience to experience new joys of wonder everytime they see me. I want them to be suprised and delighted.

I also do this because it does push me to be more creative and it allows me to keep growing and learning in this hobby that I so love.

I change my show annually, but some kids see it loads of times over the year.

As, 1, I never know for sure how many kids at a party have seen me before, it could be 1,3 or all of them. and 2, I often do 2-3 in one day. It would be arkward to take 2-3 different shows out on one day, quality would suffer for one thing. it's the same reason I don't change my show for different age groups.

I think changing the show annually is a good idea as it still gives you diversity and repeat performances. It also helps you to continue to grow creatively in the magical arts.

One thing that I do, that may be of help to some of you, is to always write down the show that I performed and the order of the effects, on the back of the booking sheet. This happens when I get in my car after the event and while everything is still fresh in my mind. I also write down any important notes for myself in regards to how the show went, unloading, loading, and any problems I may have run into.

When I get home, this sheet gets filed in my past show binder by date. This way if I get a call from the same person, or in the same general area, all I have to do is look up the past show sheet and I have all the information at my fingertips. I can find out what I performed and all my notes on how it went over. This allows me to fix problems or to change effects if I need to.

It is a nice system that seems to work nicely for me. Does anyone else have a similar system?

I've found for kids that it is less desirable to change too much. I did that on my first repeat years ago and had the kids disappointed that I didn't do the "so-and-so" routine. My birthday party show evolves over time, but it doesn't change (as far as effects and presentation) more than 10% - 30% over the course of the year. The way I have it structured, however, makes it unique each time. It depends a lot on the birthday child and any volunteers. I set the situation so that they can take the show in different directions, so no two shows are the same.

For adult shows, like corporate holiday parties, I find I have to change those more. Even having set up the "flowing situation", the attendees are by and large the same people from the year before. So that show is updated 80%-100% each year. For example, for one I did my comedy magic show the first year and my mentalism show the second. This year will be a comedy magic show that will have maybe 25% of the first year's show.

Another variable to this are the routines themselves. The more the effect of the routine relies on surprise, then the less likely I am to repeat it.

As far as creativity, there are many ways to exercise that muscle. Exercise the way that you enjoy.

Mike

Mike:
Thanks for your response. It was full of great information and thank you for sharing it with us.

I get a lot of calls from parents saying "You were great...do you know any who is like you for next years party?"

Should I be hurt they don't want me or pleased they like the show

I get a lot of calls from parents saying "We were at another party and saw a magician there. He was fantastic & all the kids loved it so much... That is why I thought I'd get a magician & call you"

It is true people sometimes assume we just have one act & never change it. That is one reason why it is good to do themed shows like a Christmas or Halloween themed show. Obviously you would not be doing the same Christmas themed show for Johnny’s party in April.

Actually my show is like Granddads axe, the one that’s had 4 new handles & 3 new blades. It is still the same axe. I’ve got one show but change & improve it bit by bit all the time.

Also in the Thank you letters I explain that I change my show regularly as well as do different types of shows for different age groups. One of the aims of my thank you letter is to encourage referrals. I don't want my past clients saying things to their friends like, "We hired that magician Andy Walker & the kids loved his show so much. I recommend hiring another magician or clown that can do a show like Andy's."

Nick, Just say "Sure I'm just like me." I have two grown kids and and now have a 3 year old! The pattern I find is that kids love playing thre same video's over and over, the smae songs and play the same games, so changing your show is not nearly as important as staying fresh.

Every show, by its live nature is different. We play the crowd differently, honed our jokes, schtick and pieces of business over the course of a years time. As long as we don't get in a rut and do our show by rote memory. What they call "phoning it in" we can't help but have a new look.

A decoration here, a new bit of costume there, we are always doing a new show. If you aren't, you're not much of an entertainer. Kids love consistency, predictability and good natured humor, parents like having their kids happy. I think we can do that with a solid act.

I did enjoy all of your comments. I really have nothing to worry about now because The Magic Café did help guide me to newer tricks.

PB:
That is fine if you feel you want to do that. I just feel that your not pushing yourself to be more cretaive if you never try and change the show around. By creating different shows or changing the effects in the show, you force yourself to learn.

Hi Kyle,
I do not change my act so that I become really really good and I am (modesty aside) If you have not done the same act hundreds of times for 10 or 15 years it is hard to explain. My act is far far more polished now than if I had done it for a year then dropped it. on Monday I did Jameston Fayre (a local event) and several people commented as to how I get better every time they see me. Terry Herbert, Terry seabrooke Alan Shaxon and Ali Bongo gave me the advice to stick with the same act where ever possible so I have. It does work I know the act inside out, I do not have to think I can put my full attention into presentation which is what makes each show different the kids reactions comments ext which I react to. if someone books me they do not mind paying my high fees because they are getting someone who has 20 years + experience of performing that act.
......................

I feel a different show performed for a repeat client, shows them I am professional and that I care enough to present a new performance for them. I gain their respect and possibly have a better chance of getting another performance from them in the future.

Hi,
In my opinion the booker re-books you on how well you did with the audience they saw you at/ booked before



It also helps me in that I have a less of a chance of children having seen the effects before and therefor not enjoying the fun. Children remember far more then we sometimes give them credit for.

Hi,
on Occassions where I have changed the show I have had children come up and say "Oh you never did the .... today. why not I like that one"

Phillip

I did the same playgroup 6 times in a 2 month period, I took a different show the 3rd time and all I got from the kids was "you havn't done this, and when are you going to do this" Etc. They love familiarity and sometimes laugh more the 2nd or third time than the first, they know whats coming and the anticipation builds up inside them waiting for it to happen.

Though I hold very little regard for Silly Billy's talents after I saw him in blackpool he did say something in his lecture I agreed with. He said that when kids say "I've seen that before", they're not saying "Oh no I've seen this BOOOORRRRRING" they're saying "I'm familiar with this, I really enjoyed it last time and I can't wait for it to happen again."

Im with PB on this one. I too get booked because of "The Act" a performance I've been honning for a lonf, long time.
I've been performing virtually the same act at a local fair for over twenty years. Invariably if I drop a bit someone will comment that they came all this way to see it and I didn't do it.

Nicholas:
Your comment is the one reason why I do indeed change my show and tell them about that. I want the client to book me for next year and continue to use me as their magician. If they know I am versatile, then they are more likely to want me back next year because I have already proven myself and because I can perform a new and wonderful show for them next year.

i do not think it is a bad thing for someone to stay with the show they have been doing. Just make sure to improv it a bit and improve it where you can. I just find that if i change my show's around every year, it keeps me more excited, allows me to learn more and I get a lot more repeat performances.

Andy:
I love your analogy of the axe. Nicely said and that does make a lot of sense. I also agree that thank you notes and letters are very important.

*Kyle professional magicians have their own ways of doing things. If a magician does not change his show around, maybe he wants to be creative by doing the same act and not trying to be like other magicians who do change their show around. It's best to be yourself, not like someone else.

**It's possible for magician's who keeps the same act might travel nationwide. They can still learn more about the same tricks they perform by repeating them.

***Kyle, if you read the post of the "repeated shows" above closely, they said they got "repeated shows." How could those magicians do a repeated show if they were not called again? I look at them in a professional manner.

Kyle, always remember: Positive thinkers will get more from their clients.

Mike:
Thank you for your response. I am not saying that changing your show around each year is for everyone, or is even the right way to go. I am only trying to say that it is the right way for me and has really worked quite well, especially in the kid show realm that I work in.

I can understand a stage performer not wanting to change the act around. That makes sense as the magician wants to be well known for his one style of act and he/she can tour with this to different locations.

In the children's party world, I get a lot of requests for repeat performances or for a performance where the kids have mainly all seen me at a different party already maybe even 3 weeks prior.

For me, it makes sense to offer the client a different show, should they request it. I always tell them that I have different shows that are all entertaining and fun for children. I let them decide if they would like me to perform a new show or if my standard show is ok for them.

The client appreciates me being honest and upfront with them and likes the fact that I am being versatile enough to care about the entertainment value the second time around.

I am not saying this is for everyone, it just works for me. I guess everyone has to do what works for them. If your getting repeat gigs and the kids are still having fun with it, then by all means continue doing that one show.