Looking at other posts here recommending that working a figure in a routine with younger children would be a ten minute program, after ten minutes the children lose interest.

I have added more tricks to lengthen the show to twenty to thirty minutes; I want to test the timing and reaction of my routine before I perform my first show.

I have tricks consisting of the French Arm Chopper, the Run Rabbit, Axtell Magic Drawing Board and the FX Board, music and a few little tricks; along with a ten minute routine with Dan

Since I have no children, and I have no friends with small children, I have no way to test my tricks; I was thinking of taking some of this stuff to a park and testing it out with kids.

In California, near San Francisco, men with no children going to a park with a box full of magic tricks would be an invitation for a court appearance to discuss with a judge the possibilities of wearing an ankle bracelet the rest of my life.

Does someone have any suggestions for other possibilities to test tricks with children without getting arrested?

Buzz,
You can fly my wife and I, and my daughter and son-in-law, and our 4 grand-daughters, ages 3,5,6, and 10 out to San Francisco. We would make for a great audience.

No good; they would be comparing me to you, I need little kids with no experience

Aw Shucks, It was worth a try.

Actually Buzz, the busking thing isn't a bad idea. Just make sure you look like a busker, you know, costuming, a little street set-up for the act. If you look like some kind of performer, people will recognize what you're doing. I don't think you need a permit to busk in San Francisco. I'll tell you though, busking's a tough thing to do and it might be difficult to gauge how your material plays because it's just so hard to stop and hold a crowd. Only a really experienced busker can hold 'em for thirty minutes. My street act runs about 15 and that's almost too long.

Busking at Fisherman’s Warf is an excellent idea, I think it can work if I use one or two tricks, do them and take a break; I am particularly interested in the reaction of the Rabbit Runner, I just received one and in trying it out with a mirror and video, I look really stupid; the videos I see on youtube has a very positive result.

Wizardpa has a video on youtube that I looked at; he did a good job performing it and the kids were very engaged with the routine.

Thanks for the good idea

Buzz

Children's hospitals.

-Philip

Good idea; I will call on Monday,

Thanks Philip

Wizardpa.

I would have gladly paid to fly your wife and you, your daughter and son-in-law, your 4 grand-daughters, ages 3,5,6, and 10 out to San Francisco and put everybody up in a hotel.

I would have rented a meeting room in the hotel; set up my entire set, including my Magic Background and PA System and every trick I own, so you and your family could critique my show.

In reality, I can never measure up to your ability and experience as an entertainer and I would fail as a performer to properly entertain your family.

Sadly I must pass on your generous offer to come to San Francisco and I have got to look locally for normal Ventriloquist and Magic Show deprived children that have not been so skillfully entertained

Buzz


Voted best Ventriloquist, in San Francisco

Please order and read Buzz’s latest book, Humility and how to obtain it; the definitive book on modesty.

Gee thanks Buzz for the compliment. I have no doubt that will succeed as an entertainer. You have the will and the means to succeed. All you need is the experience.
This brings me to another thing I wanted to ask/mention to you. I know you have an outstanding PA system, but if you had to, or wanted to busk outside, does it have battery power so that you can do this? I actually have 4 PA systems. One is a belt PA so that I can walk around with my puppet, and 2 are 35 watts, really portable units that can run on battery power, both are rechargeable. Lastly I have my large PA system, with 2 135 watt speakers, but this has to have electricity. I'm going to be buying a portable Happie 50 watt PA really soon because my other units won't hold a charge anymore.
I find that I have to have a PA system to do ventriloquism. If I try to talk loudly in my ventriloquist voice I tend to move my lips more, and if someone is close to me it appears that the sound is coming more from me then my puppet.

Wizardpa,

First you don’t need to purchase new PA systems because the battery will not hold a charge.
Unscrew the panel that covers the unit look at the battery, if it’s installed without solder connections and can be removed, call the manufacture for a replacement battery; or Google batteries and find a company that can sell you a replacement battery.

I spent a lot of time researching the PA system I purchased; the PA has a battery in it; what I didn’t completely research was the Tech3; my MP3 Tech needs electricity to work, I purchased a combination inverter with a battery installed and I am having a small cart built to transport it in one unit.

I don’t know yet if I am going to need a PA system for testing my routine at Fisherman’s Warf; I am quite confident with the Ventriloquist segment of my routine, I don’t feel it’s necessary to test my Ventriloquism act; it’s the other parts of my show, like the Magic Board and the Rabbit Run that I want to test for timing and presentation.

I need to get a bunch of little kids in a group, like you had in your video and see the reaction as I work the gimmicks.

Actually, I found out my other 2 portable systems are really 20 watts of power. One is a Nady WA-125U and the other is a Hisconic AUR210. For some reason the Hisconic, even running on AC power just isn't very loud anymore. The Nady only needs a rechargeable battery. I'm a very paranoid person always worried about something not working. If I buy the Happie amp I'll have 50 watts of power from a truly portable PA system. I could use it as a back up to my big system and as a primary for my outside shows with my Nady with it's new battery as a backup.
Ha! I'm so paranoid I even started to bring my Axtell Hands on look-a-like toucan puppet just in case my Axtell Hands free toucan puppet didn't work for a show.

Wizardpa,

You’re not paranoid, you’re making sure you come through for your client; backup equipment is always good insurance of a successful assignment.

As an event photographer on location, I have always carried extra equipment, including carrying a second camera on me, just in case something happens during a shot and the camera or flash does not work.

If for any reason you no longer trust your PA system, or any piece of equipment, replace it; there is nothing worse while you’re working and having the nagging thought in the back of your mind that the equipment may give out any second.

BTW if you’re looking for high-quality equipment at an excellent price, call Joe Lefelr at MagicAndSoundSystems.com; he came very highly recommended by this forum.

He treated me very well and sold me top notch equipment

Ditto on Joe Lefler. He and I have done business for many years!

Mark
markwade@kidshowvent.com

Another ditto on Joe. When it comes to sound systems he "is the man who knows".

I'm going to check out MagicAndSoundSystems when I get ready to buy another really portable unit. I saw a couple that I'd like to talk to Joe about.

You can go to Joe’s web site and look under PA systems to get an idea of his inventory.

The prices are not correct. The final price Joe quoted me on the telephone was lower than the advertised price.

Buzz,
I can't wait for you to do your first shows. I think you are going to really have fun. Do not let this get out to the general public: I have so much fun at my shows, I would almost do this for free.
Oh sure, you just might get those weird type of shows, where things just are weird.

I am excited as well, I want to do a show, but I feel I need to be completely prepared and completely confident in my routine; I don’t want to rush into it and fail.

I am taking my time and assembling all my components to produce an entertaining show that I will have fun performing.

I have the Ventriloquist segment of the show complete; I am working on the magic part to complete the production and stretch it out to at least 30 minutes.

I will eventually include an additional figure into the show, but now I don’t think I am experienced enough as a Ventriloquist to hold the attention of kids and have multiple figures in one show.