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zapito12 New user 8 Posts |
Ok, So last night I had a magic gig which was more of close-up magic at a carnival type setting. I normally do birthday parties (for the past 5 years), so this was very different for me. And for the first time ever, I would have kids yelling out at me claiming that they "know the secret" and that it wasn't "real magic" and I had kids come up and try to grab my props from my hands and try going through my magic case and trying to get into my props....These were truely the worst behaved kids ever! I was not being paid for this gig, because I offered to do it for free for a family member's school carnival. I ended up cutting the show about 15 minutes early just because I could not control the crowd from all the kids yelling at me and trying to grab my stuff. It was no fun at all....what could I have done, if anything???
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Magic Pierre Loyal user 212 Posts |
Sawed one of them in half for REAL!
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parkjisung33 New user South Korea 11 Posts |
As I performed magic to a lot of different people, I did learn that it was probably the hardest to perform for little kids.
In their mind, magic would probably something really extroardinary.. something like flying, disappearing, or even suddenly producing something they like from the air. I recently noticed that there are some books that explains what you have to be aware of when you are performing magic to kids. Even though they have a great reaction, and their thoughts aren't to developed as adults, they don't really concentrate on something for a long period of time. Especially when there is nothing to watch for continuously... So probably the only advice I could give you is to study about kids, how they act, how they think, and etc... Also research about those books that I mentioned above, and that will probably help you a lot.. The last thing will be experience. As you perform more and more to little kids, you gain knowledge of what to do up stage. Hope it helps. |
Magic Pierre Loyal user 212 Posts |
Actually, something else I read (in The Amateur Magician's Handbook, by Henry Hay) is that, with adults, you have years of conditioning on your side. When you toss a coin in the air three or four times and then pretend to the next time but don't, we grown-ups reflexively follow the previous path of the coin every time.
Kids haven't learned that habit yet. Consequently it is much harder to fool kids with misdirection because they haven't been habituated to the cues we have just yet. So you have to work a lot harder to get the misdirection to happen. |
djurmann Inner circle thinks time to practice and stop writing 1481 Posts |
I would post this in the children's entertainers section - they probably have the answers you need.
Danny |
ssibal Veteran user 352 Posts |
Do you do childrens birthday parties or birthday parties for adults? If the former, you should have already experienced some of those behaviors.
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Robin4Kids Veteran user Lower Alabama 396 Posts |
Sounds to me like you were destined for disaster just by the setting you were in. I would guess that many of the children did not have their parents, teachers or someone in charge present to control their behavior like you normally do at a party or school show. I think that the only way that I would attempt to entertain at an event such as that would be to have a raised stage where you would be a little less approachable. The hecklers (or know it alls) are something you have to learn to deal with. There seems to be at least one of those in every crowd, especially when you have older kids present. I just look at it as a challenge to shut them up without being rude or mean to them. If it was easy, anybody could do it!!!
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Robin4Kids Veteran user Lower Alabama 396 Posts |
Sounds to me like you were destined for disaster just by the setting you were in. I would guess that many of the children did not have their parents, teachers or someone in charge present to control their behavior like you normally do at a party or school show. I think that the only way that I would attempt to entertain at an event such as that would be to have a raised stage where you would be a little less approachable. The hecklers (or know it alls) are something you have to learn to deal with. There seems to be at least one of those in every crowd, especially when you have older kids present. I just look at it as a challenge to shut them up without being rude or mean to them. If it was easy, anybody could do it!!!
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zapito12 New user 8 Posts |
Thanks all for your insights!
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Bodgit New user 89 Posts |
Setting a stage as Robin4Kids suggested is a good idea. It's rare to have one provided in these sort of functions so make your own. Take some rope and lay out a semi circle in front of your table/setup. Let the kids know they only enter this area when invited. If necessary reinforce the message as the show progresses and more kids arrive.
If conditions allow have your front row seated...."Don't worry about dirt on the floor, it'll be clean when you get up." This should compose and "control" school age kids pretty well,they've been preconditioned. If you are being mobbed by toddlers with no sign of parents then panic, you're not allowed to shoot them |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Booking this kind of date without having experience was your first mistake. I broke in this business working in a carnival side show. I did about 15-16 8 minute shows per day.
When you charge an appropriate professional fee for a date, you can specify what your physical requirements are. One of the requirements is that the committee must have at least one adult IN THE ROOM at all times. You are NOT A BABYSITTER! With this sort of show, you need to get an advance non-refundable deposit. The committee must provide an adult who will "line up" groups of kids outside in the hall. Consider the size of the room. DON'T OVERCROWD. It's better to do one extra show! The adult lets the first group in when you open the door. He/she immediately starts lining up the next group. When you finish, you dismiss the kids (it's good to have an entrance and an exit door!) THEN, you open the entrance door for group #2. I could easily do 8 10 minute shows in 2 hours. Putting a rope on the floor for this type of date is virtually useless. When the kids enter, YOU MUST WORK LIKE THE OLD SPOOK SHOWS IN THE '30s and '40s. You seat the audience on the floor. (Allowing room for you to work) You tell them that you're going to have a lot of fun, BUT, EVERYONE MUST STAY SEATED, SO THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE. IF SOMEONE STANDS UP, THE SHOW WILL BE OVER. "WE" ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME FUN, BUT, IF YOU START MAKING NOISE SO THAT OTHERS CAN'T HEAR, THE SHOW WILL BE OVER. I do this entire operation in about one minute! This may sound a bit "hard", but you must set some "ground rules". Don't yell, don't preach, just set the rules. I used no prop case. All props were in my pockets. Three tricks or routines in each show. My criteria for tricks was: Visual prop, visible effect, versatile effect, angle proof, no set up (or re set) no table, recognizable prop (no change bags, foo cans or other "obvious" magic shop props, spot adaptable, pack small (in this case my pockets)play big. A sample set would include: COLOR CHANGING SILK THRU HAND (3 minutes) -- ROPE ROUTINE, several knots and a cut & restore, or Professors Nitemare (4 minutes) -- EGG BAG (3 minutes) with girl from audience participating. Another sample set: SILK VANISH (using the Burling Hull TT technique,(3 minutes) -- TORN/RESTORED NAPKIN with the sucker explanation (3 minutes) MISERS DREAM using a #10 tin can in those days (4 minutes) I had the can sitting on a chair behind me. I also have used a short routine with GOLF BALLS (no multiplying!) The routine had several juggling flourishes, the ancient PERPETUAL BALLS & a visible ball penetrating a silk (3 minutes) A routine with a girl from audience that used the ancient SQUARE KNOT VANISH USING TWO BANDANNAS Young magicians perhaps will recognize the Slydini SILKS (3 minutes) the CECIL LYLE TORN PAPERS TO HAT (3 minutes) Note: I made my own paper hats. Buy tissue after the Christmas Holidays--the stores will discount rather than carry stock over for a year. (Hint: check the "dollar stores". REMEMBER: THERE AINT NO SHALLOW END IN THIS POOL! BE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO SWIM, B E F O R E YOU JUMP IN!!! You cannot be a shy performer to do this type of shows! You must know your material. You must keep the show moving. You should never use long winded patter stories. Keep the patter brief, humorous. IN GENERAL THE RULE IS K I S -- M I F (that's an acronym for KEEP IT SIMPLE -- MAKE IT FUN!)
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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bowers Inner circle Oakboro N.C. 7024 Posts |
Dick you said a mouthful and all true too.
Take Dicks advice Zapito and good luck. Todd |
55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
Listen to Dick! He's got a World of experience that most of the time you would need to pay for in a lecture, DVD, or book. Don't miss this opportunity!
Hudson |
Wizard of Oz Inner circle Most people wish I didn't have 5150 Posts |
My God Dick, that was an entire book of great advice in a single post. I wish I read this when I did kid shows in my teens. Would have saved me a lot of sweat and rashes.
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
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zapito12 New user 8 Posts |
Great advice! Much appreciated!
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merlyn2001sh New user Poconos, PA 5 Posts |
I have to agree with Dick and I always make sure there is an adult present. I make it a requirement for my shows and stress to the booker that I'm the entertainment and not the crowd control. They need to be sure someone is there to control the scene. I also start my shows by giving them a chance to scream and yell and then be really quiet and repeat. I use a stiff rope...When the rope is up they scream. When I drop an end they are to get very quiet. I do this two or three times to get there energy levels down a bit and then the last time I make the rope stiffen to get on with the show.
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merlyn2001sh New user Poconos, PA 5 Posts |
I have to agree with Dick and I always make sure there is an adult present. I make it a requirement for my shows and stress to the booker that I'm the entertainment and not the crowd control. They need to be sure someone is there to control the scene. I also start my shows by giving them a chance to scream and yell and then be really quiet and repeat. I use a stiff rope...When the rope is up they scream. When I drop an end they are to get very quiet. I do this two or three times to get there energy levels down a bit and then the last time I make the rope stiffen to get on with the show.
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