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JoeyHart Regular user 130 Posts |
Hi,
I've been doing regular kids parties in a restaurant and occasionally the 'child that know it all' turns up. Does anybody have any lines or comebacks that don't overly offend the parents sitting next to them - you know, the parents that bought their kids all the 'Marvin's Magic' and Mini Pyros as stocking fillers... Thanks! |
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
While "So do I" comes to mind, I really smile (a little conspiratorially) and say "Try it at home.". Who knows? They might be right and it could take them on a path into Magic. What they want is some attention and they get it. I don't want to argue with them (or tell them they are wrong if they are not).
At a Restaurant would be different than most of my performances so I'm not sure how it would work there. Frankly, most of the Kids guesses are wrong but I have had a Kid whisper "I've got a set of those" to his friend as I was performing Linking Rings. As I go on performing the other Kid whispers "So, how do they work?" The first Kids says "...These are different." (mental arm pump, YES!!) These guesses have become less frequent over time. If the Kids are mentally occupied and having fun, they make fewer guesses. Not down to zero yet. -Mary Mowder |
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arthur stead Inner circle When I played soccer, I hit 1773 Posts |
I agree with Mary that if the kids are mentally occupied and having fun, they are less likely to cause “wise-guy” distractions.
If they claim to “know the secret” of a trick I’m doing, my responses include: “Don’t tell anybody, otherwise you’ll spoil the surprise for them!” “Well, then you know we magicians have to stick together, and NEVER reveal our secrets!” |
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JoeyHart Regular user 130 Posts |
Thanks for the input! I suppose some situations are sent to try us
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
So true. And some Kids just have to feel in the know (like some Adults).
But, there are times when they are sent to inform us. If a Kid has us pegged correctly then we have to wonder if we need to up our performance or scrap the trick. I'm not asking them how they think it is done but whispers can give a lot of information if we listen. Granted, some Kids do own or have seen the actual apparatus and such but if they are just guessing and getting it right, We need to know and act on it. I have had to lay out on a trick till I got it right. Lots of nerves putting it back in but it went great. Just needed some love and attention. -Mary Mowder |
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TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
So do I always works for me.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Yup to Mary and Tony!
I avoid "stock kid props". Most of my program uses GENERIC props (silks, rope, golf balls, coins (Misers Dream) etc. I do use an egg bag, and, 3 linking rings, and, for the little ones, the mutilated parasol.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
One nice thing about "So do I." is that it gets a laugh.
Dick is right. Magic that uses skilled sleights or is less ubiquitous is harder for Kids to have seen. Magic as old as the Hills (or Dick) is a good bet. In restaurant strolling I'm sure you go for the easy to carry things. If you do one where the Kid does the Magic, it is obvious that he "would know how he did it" so that could defuse that. Tricks that physically involve them in a demo can be good too. I do the Linking Paper Clips (on the ZigZag dollar bill) as a test of future friendship. Having them safety pin the handkerchief in the traveling safety pin is a good one too. (Wish I knew the right names for these). Presenting something as an optical illusion can curtail some of the "I K. H. Y. D. T." activity as well. You can emphasize how the idiosyncratic ways (OK, special ways) that our brains process info. make them work. Emphasize the fun rather than the fooling. I.E. if it WORKS for them rather than fools them. I don't often work Restaurants but these gambits works very well in Strolling. -Mary Mowder |
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
I hope those desperately searching for comebacks are doing as Mary suggests and searching themselves to be honest about whether or not they need more work on that trick. Blaming your poor chops on a kid is a no-no.
personally, I would never use any of the polite cliched lines like.. "let's just keep it between us" "don't spoil the surprise" etc. those seem far too tame, far too nerdy, and you're basically admitting you just lost a battle of wits with a kid. For those willing to really really really search, the best line I've ever heard was posted here at the Café. But you'll really need to dig deep to find it. You'll know it when you see it because: You'll laugh You'll say "wow, that's a good one" You'll start using it immediately
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Or you could give a link or a quote Frank.
I waste a lot of time here but I'm not trying to waste my time. LOL -Mary Mowder |
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arthur stead Inner circle When I played soccer, I hit 1773 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 7, 2017, TheAmbitiousCard wrote: Different strokes for different folks, Frank. We all have different personalities. What works for you might not work for me, and vice versa. And what works for me has worked very well for many years. |
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
I agree arthur. Those would not work for me. I would not feel good about using them.
I'm sure you and others make great use of them. Mary I have no idea where the link is.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Frank, since you know the quote, do a search of those words in "The Little Darlings" and see if it renders the thread.
-Mary |
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JoeyHart Regular user 130 Posts |
I second what Mary said - I'd love to know!
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Or.... Frank could just tell us the line.
Since presumably, who ever came up with it already posted it. -Mary Mowder |
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CJRichard Special user Massachusetts 542 Posts |
Frank is being that obnoxious kid. . .
"You know some of you are laughin', but there's people here tryin' to learn. . ." -Pop Haydn
"I know of no other art that proclaims itself 'easy to do.'" -Master Payne Ezekiel the Green |
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Yes I am. 4 reasons.
1. I'm not saying this in reference to the OP but... sometimes you can learn a lot from someone that doesn't just give you stuff when you ask. I have. it's frustrating at first. rewarding later. 2. who knows if it would be best for everyone. indeed it would not. it's perfect for me but then again, I'm not your typical nicey-nice, aw shucks, rainbow suspenders, kids entertainer. 3. I'm not 100% sure that what I'm remembering is really what was posted. it's possible that what I use is different and I don't know it. 4. with enough thought put into your character, you'll be able to eventually come up with something even better ... for YOU. And now I'll apologize for being that obnoxious kid. I'm sorry!
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
That's OK Frank. For some reason, I always end up liking the obnoxious ones.
-Mary |
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
YOU: "If you know how it's done, that makes you a magician, and magicians ... (pause)"
KID: "Never tell the secret." YOU: "Right, so ... you and me, OK?" or KID: "I know how that's done." YOU (whispered): "So do I." |
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
I just tell them
“No one asked”
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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