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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Although I control the kids well, due to the nature of my show, in the exciting bits they get worked up and noisy. So my show really consists of highs and lows where they get the worked up then I calm then down again.It goes in waves.
My question is regarding bringing them down to earth again. For ages I would go unto the next trick and raise my voice for a while until they all were listening again but recently I discovered this: If you whisper they all quiet down. Especially if you tell them you are going to tell them something important and then whisper ..then some of the kids will quiet the other kids down. This is probably old hat to the old pros here but I was so used to raising my voice a little (schoolmaster fashion) that the fact I could calm them down by whispering came as a bit of a revelation to me. How does everyone else settle the little blighters down? george |
Andy Wonder Special user Auckland, New Zealand 747 Posts |
I have found the same thing but if it is a larger crowd I need to wisper over a PA or it does not work.
Andy Wonder, Auckland, New Zealand
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Leo B. Domapias Loyal user 297 Posts |
I think varying the volume of one's voice is an old technique used by speakers to keep their audience's attention. Actually, you don't really have to whisper. You only have to lower your voice so that the noisy audience can't hear or understand what you're saying. When they realize that their noise is drowning the performer's voice, they should stop or lower their noise to catch what the performer is saying. It's a psychological ploy that works majority of the time. Of course, the opposite (increasing the volume of one's voice) can work equally well. It's just a matter of determining which technique is appropriate to use in a given situation.
Ben Benjay Manila, Philippines |
Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
I do the same; I start to talk quietly, and they start to quiet down, then I build them back up. It's one reason I use a PA for every show. I can go right down to a near whisper (which I do in a couple of routines) and they can still hear me.
I actually find that it works better than raising my voice.
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
Terry Herbert does a nice bit with a music box playing happy birthday. He gets all the kids singing very very quietly. It's very sweet and makes a nice interlude.
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Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
I agree - the whisper technique is powerful. The other technique I use is music. I find that doing a piece silently to music will also settle them down.
I too like giving the audience a roller coaster ride. |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I have also used the whisper technique and that has really worked wonders for getting the kids to calm down and such.
I also set ground rules for how I select a good assistant and I state this in the begining of my show in a fun manner. A good assistant gets chosen if they are sitting down, have their hand raised and have a big smile on their face. By establishing these fun rules at the start of the performance, I can use them anytime throughout the performance when I feel I need to gain more control or calm the children down. All I have to say is that I need a special assistant to help me out work my magic.. but remember boys and girls how I select a good assistant? I look for kids who are sitting down, have their hand raised and have a nice smile. Immediately you see the kids settling down and smiling and having their hand raised to help out. It is just another technique that has worked well for me in most kid oriented performances.
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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