Starrpower ,
I think I agree with you about David ploughing on regardless and not ajusting to his audience phil

Mark Lewis didn't make that comment. I did. What I meant was, as far as I can tell this is what Lewis means when he speaks of a "British style". Maybe I'm wrong, as Mark Lewis never seemed to make a lot of sense to me.

I can assure Starrpower that Mark Lewis is a genius. I have known him my entire life and have always admired him above any other magician. If you go back over this thread he said specifically that David Gin entertains in the American style. He no longer thinks that British magicians are better although they certainly used to be. Alas the standard has gone down dramatically over the last decade or so and nowadays they are all terribly vulgar with awful working class accents and tattoos down their arms. Some of them look more at home on a construction site than at a children's party.

Well why is it he keeps getting banned from the Café and other website forums?

Because he speaks his mind and does not mind dissagreeing with the majority,
He has his viewson things and is not particularly happy if people dissagree
Phil

From the tone of this post, I'm not sure that Markymark read Jeremy's post correctly. Practical Magic gave the Dog routine to David Ginn, NOT the other way around. David popularised the routine in the States, with full permission from Practical.

Im keeping out of this. Ive got my stile and I am happy with it.
I agree with Kimmo David Ginn is a good friend of mine and I'm sure he would be the first to say where he got the routine etc from.

I do not know about the routine. But David admitted to us at a lecture. That is where he purchases the puppets from when he has orders for other entertainers.

I found this old thread, and it makes a most interesting read. JR

I am curious what the current state of play is on this subject. I have lived the last 25 years in America entertaining kids, and before that I entertained children in the UK, so I have experienced both. My thoughts are that children's entertainment in the UK is not what it used to be, and had deteriorated much in recent years with vulgarity from some of the riff-raff performers. Does anyone agree? JR

As a Canadian, and someone who originally began to learn the art of entertaining children with magic from American sources, I felt there was something missing. I didn't want to be a children's magician, but more of a children's entertainer who used magic tricks, along with puppets, story telling and other things children enjoyed.

My main focus has always been about my character. I wanted children to relate to my character while feeling like I was on their level, and not some adult who could do some really cool stuff, or an adult trying to act like a kid with goofy costumes. I wanted to give off the impression that I was the type of person they would love to hang around with and never be bored with.

I believe I have created such a character. It wasn't really hard when I discovered the character I was looking for was already inside me. It was the boy inside of me. I took that boy and applied all my acting skills I had learned and studied in my years and came up with what's been a great character that children love.

I use lots of comedy children relate to. I use puppets, and funny gags, and love getting the children involved in the show. I don't write any script because some of the best material comes from improvising through unexpected situations. I do have an outline though, but feel that having room for improvising can make for some really great spontaneous moments.

It would seem that my main influence is UK children entertainers, but not quite true. My influences comes from years of theater experience, acting classes, and watching cartoons, not other UK children performers. I watch UK performers and see some of what I do to be similar. But, then again, Canada is a place that takes much of it's influence from Britain and the USA.

I'm highly impressed that one of Mark Lewis's threads is here at the top of the "Little Darlings", and that he's also recognized as a VIP.

Last time I was here (several years ago), Mark was banned - and had been banned many times, completely without reason.

Perhaps the MC is once again a place that magicians can talk - and criticise - with reason?

That would be nice. We could open up a "café museum" featuring the ruins & casualties of the arguments over various subjects!

"Here we see the posts of the '10 things to vanish from kids' shows' thread.......this is Chance Wolf's Mark Lewis-disguise....and this is a relic from the great street-magic vs. busking war, and to thios day, NO ONE can prove that the street-magic side ever even actually EXISTED....and this 3-sq. inch case contains all the props ever used by the Great Zucchini"

I am considering returning to the Café on a more regular basis. It is so much better than Facebook. JR

You should send in an application to join the Jolly Jammers group on FB, no riff-raff allowed.

In my wisdom, I decided to close The Jolly Jammers. It was a good move quite frankly!

You must be confused it's still up and running, I was just reading some posts there today.

Me too

I think Mark Lewis still has a lot to give to the magic community. Agreed, he may be outspoken at times but nobody can accuse him of cyber bullying which seems to happen onn an almost daily basis on Magic forums. Bring back Mark Lewis I say. Also, I have heard that Mark Lewis and Jolly Roger are going to do a worldwide lecture tour starting in the UK. My ticket money is ready.

I'm in Jolly Jammers and love it. I thought you'd been quiet recently Roger.