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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
What are some considerations in scaling up your normal birthday show to a school show on a stage? What plays and what doesn't, etc? Thanks for the insights.
Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
I have found that the same tricks play but if you don't already have them consider:
a) a GOOD backdrop b) a GOOD sound system c) do you want an illusion in your show? It looks good and might help sell the gig. (but is it needed....) d) what ages will you perform for? Some kid's party guys don't go over 8 but primary schools can go up to 12. e) How can you use school shows to promote the kid's party market? Colouring in etc. f) Most effects will play except REALLY small ones like mini sponge balls. But even they can work. g) Insurance...gotta have it? h) Educational content SELLS your show better then good magic |
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Jim these are two different venues. Obviously, the birthday focused effects like the birthday cake silks, do not work well on stage, that is, because it's no one's birthday.
School Shows are (for most schools) required by state law to be educational in nature to perform during school hours, however, PTA can sponsor after school magic shows (can conflict with bus schedules) or evening shows that focus on magic (Family Entertainment). Ideally, effects like the 20th Century Silks, Vanishing Bandana, Fantasy/Instant Magician work at both venues. Remember, Kids are Kids, whether they are in a living room or in an auditorium. Keep to effects that cross multiple age barriers and stay away from effects that focus on the younger crowd when doing schools stage shows. Productions play well, and so do vanishes. What really works is kid approved larger visual effects, and there are too many of them to even list. I personally like the stage of school shows better than birthday parties. In addition to the larger pay (not a reason for doing them), it is the stage persona that appeals to me. For most people, birthday parties are a training area for learning audience management techniques, and learning to ad-lib on a variety of unique situations that these parties present. School shows expect an experienced, seasoned magician, who produces a 45 minute show, with non-stop laughter, fun, audience participation, music, backdrops, etc. A little more in props than a one suitcase birthday party show. (Yes...I know it can be done well with one case...It's a personal thing with me "Pack BIG Play BIG" while so many others pack small and play big.)
Dennis Michael
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Andy Wonder Special user Auckland, New Zealand 747 Posts |
You need a lot more structure to your show for schools. In a home party you can allow a little candid banter between yourself and the children. You can't allow a group of 300 children to talk back.
In a school environment children have a lot more discipline than at home as well. I believe they are easier in many ways. Any distractions are much less likely. There will be no gifts, no late comers, no wandering babies, no bouncy castle, no food or whistle blowers. The children all come in quietly and sit in rows. They know they can't play up like they do at home. Their teachers are watching and they won't be hyped up on sugary party food. You have the benefit of meeting on neutral territory. I once did a school show in a large Gym with a tin roof during a hale storm. It was like an echo chamber. I had no PA & could not hear myself shout. You really should be using a PA system for school shows. Many will be in large rooms with a high ceiling. With a home party of course a PA is optional. Also in a school show I feel a lot more pressure to behave professionally. The adults watching are in work mode not party mode. A high degree of professionalism is always expected where home parties are a more casual. You are a role model when you perform in a school. (eg. I would not use a fart joke in a school). Your props of course all need to visible from a greater distance.
Andy Wonder, Auckland, New Zealand
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Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
I do the same show for both, the only difference is there's no reference to a birthday and therefore the patter is changed slightly for some effects. Plus only the helpers get balloon models instead of all the kids as in a birthday party.
As I always use PA so I don't have to add that, and when I get employed by a school it's as an end of term treat, or for a fund raiser so I don't have to be educational. <<<<<<Also in a school show I feel a lot more pressure to behave professionally. The adults watching are in work mode not party mode. A high degree of professionalism is always expected where home parties are a more casual>>>>>>> I disagree. A high degree of professionalism must be shown at all times and standards should not be relaxed for different shows. When a booker books a professional entertainer for their kids party they don't expect a lower standard of behaviour than you'd give to other people.
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. |
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Shawn D Elite user Hughson,Ca 465 Posts |
I pretty much use my same show also for school and birthday shows. I don't use the cake pan for a school show though. The biggest diference is I use a PA and a back drop that looks like a castle. To me that justifies charging more for the show.
Shawn D |
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kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
I would say my school show and birthday show are totally different. Jim if you are going in and doing just a fun MAGIC show which is rare in schools today, then yes the birthday show could work. However, the schools today if youare going in during the schools hours you have to bring in a show that is edcational for the students.
Again the show is different from the look of it with spider backdrops larger sounds system. I even dress different in the school show than I do in the birthday show. Have fun ken |
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flourish dude Inner circle from ? But I know where I am going! 1195 Posts |
Do you feel that every routine in a school show has to have a lesson?
Nothing of the same will bring any change, take action today!
Just taking a step, is a step in the right direction because when you stop working, your dream dies. www.magicalmemories.us |
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kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-10-08 15:13, flourish dude wrote: Well perhaps every one however, it should not be like for example: "Ok kids drugs are bad for you. Do you guys want to see a trick?" A while later, "drugs can hurt you. Do you want to see another trick?" The above is example that happens time and time again in the school market. This KILLS the business because they are hiring someone to come in and teach the children a lesson. At the end of a school show you have to look back and ask yourself did the students get more than laughs from my program or not?? If at the end the students just got laughs and good time then the program is not a teaching program.. I think the routines all should go together with the theme of the show. Best, Ken |
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NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
In terms of education you need to think about what you can teach them that their teachers CAN NOT (or will not).
I remember an anti smoking show I saw as a child with lots of colourful props related to the theme and even pictorial aids etc. I agree with Ken, if you are going to be educational, go for quality. You can be not educational at schools at: a) school fetes and fairs b) fundraisers c) school holiday programs d) after school care e) Lunchtime shows (for high schools) f) At Christmas or end of year. |
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Andy Wonder Special user Auckland, New Zealand 747 Posts |
Emazdad, I thought someone might disagree when I said that professionalism is more expected at schools. I know where you are coming from Clive & I also am equally professional regardless of they type of venue. The type of things I meant was schools run to stricter time schedules than home parties. Grannies won’t offer you cups of tea during your show at a school & no one will offer you a beer there either. At a home parties, the adults won’t be jotting down notes during your show and if you accidentally say 'bum' instead of 'bottom.' You won't raise so many eyebrows (Just as some examples of what I meant). Emazdad if you only do fundraisers or end of term events you might not have really noticed much difference because those types of events are more casual anyway. Maybe there is a cultural difference in what we have experienced as well but the laid back atmosphere of a home party is not something I expect in a school environment.
I am like Ken now in that I use a small PA for home parties & a larger one for big venues. The same PA I use in a living room would not be suitable for a school gym with 300+ kids. I used to wear a different outfit in schools, but recently made a branding decision to keep the yellow suit for all performing situations. Marketing to schools & adding educational content to your show are a whole other can of worms. Several cans actually.
Andy Wonder, Auckland, New Zealand
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kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
[quote]On 2003-10-08 17:10, Nicholas J. Johnson wrote:
In terms of education you need to think about what you can teach them that their teachers CAN NOT (or will not). Actaully I do a reading show that I perform. The teachers teach reading and they bring me in to keep hammering in the students mind how important reading is. A lot of times students tend to listen and watch a little closer to a vistor in their school rather than their teacher who they are with every day. Andy I like how you are branding yourself with your cloths. VERY COOL! My costume will change year after year as it changes with my show. This year's theme is BOOKS AHOY so I am wearing a beach shirt. Ken |
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flourish dude Inner circle from ? But I know where I am going! 1195 Posts |
Duane Laflin has a good outline where he talks about how the first few routines are for fun. The end of the show is where he drive home the point. Ken, do you a structure such as this?
Nothing of the same will bring any change, take action today!
Just taking a step, is a step in the right direction because when you stop working, your dream dies. www.magicalmemories.us |
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kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
Very similiar thing that I do. I start with a warm up explain who I am and what we are going to talk about and then go into a trick to show. I have a new trick that I have now called the "Book of Treasures." Bascially it is a color book effect but using a picture of a treasure chest that on every page and then the pages change into books and then change into picture of gold and then the booked is rolled up and gold coins is poured out of the book. I use this book as a warm -up and my patter is great for the schools with this prop.
I use my Fantasy magician in my show and I have a book that I use to lead into the routine and the booked is called "the magical coat". I tell the story in the book and then show them the fantasy magician coat. A lot goes into writing a school show because I want it to be the best show out there. Also I DO NOT call myself a magician in schools. The word magician is the KISS of death in schools. Our friend Tim Hannig who is featured in last month's Magic mag talks about their school called PRO Kids. I have learned a lot about schools talking with him. Duane's struture for his school show is good and works great. Ken |
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Mike Robbins Elite user Anchorage, Alaska 447 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-10-08 22:13, kenscott wrote: What do you call yourself?
The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
Shakespeare |
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kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
Magical-story teller for the reading show.
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Great discussion, guys. Thanks for all the points and insights. Guess there's more to this school show venue than trading in my happy birthday silk for a "keep reading" silk.
What books and other material would you all recommend to become better versed in the school show. Thanks. Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
<<<<<<<I meant was schools run to stricter time schedules than home parties. >>>>>>
Hi Andy, I don't do educational shows for Schools. When I'm booked it's for the fun show as a treat. More often than not the show starts late because they don't start bringing the kids in until the show start time. It's usually timed to end just before lunch or hometime so I have a bit of lee way if the show over runs a tad, which if we're having fun it can do. If I have to run to schedule I just leave out certain bits of business through out the show to make it fit. The booker knows no difference. The only difference I notice from home parties is the kids sit in nice rows on the floor and are more disciplined than at home. They don't tend to jump up so much when they get over excited. If they do, teacher is there to sit them down again, and the noise level when they shout when I don't see something during the show or shout the magic word is amazing. The teachers don't jot down notes, but they do have their hands on their ears. Granny doesn't give me tea during the show, but I often get one while setting up.
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. |
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
The only difference I notice from home parties is the kids sit in nice rows on the floor and are more disciplined than at home, they don't tend to jump up so much when they get over excited
HI Emazad, I often wish we had a school show market like the states. I would stop kids parties tommorow and just do them like David Ginn and others. No hassels, just walk in do the show. No worries about disipline. It would be great! I always love school shows I think that they are the easiest shows of them all. Phillip |
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Phil there is a little more to it than this. From kids birthday shows, the transition is a good one and not to difficult if you get that "in." There are laws to contend with when doing schools shows.
By the way, not too many persons are aware that there is a federal law prohibiting entertainers from giving balloons to kids under 4 and under the same law, you must dislay appropriate visible warning for the 4-8 year olds related to balloons being a choking hazard. Yes, schools are much more fun, more displined, and a lot of teachers like it when you quiet the kids down in the last routine, and leave them in the same orderly state they arrived!
Dennis Michael
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