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aheller5 Regular user 185 Posts |
Can someone please recommend any tricks that can be used in a library/school magic show...thanks
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
You need to learn how to use the various forums in the Café!
Scroll UP to the "sticky buns" at the top of "The Little Darlings" (this forum). You'll find some fundamentals! School programs today (I worked schools for over 50 years) need to be a bit different then when I started out. Most schools, now, want programs (not "shows") with some "educational values". For years, school assembly bureaus would book a tour for performers. There are now, only two bureaus operating.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Anatole Inner circle 1912 Posts |
In one very important sense it's not so much a question of "_tricks_ that can be used in a library/school magic show" as it is a question of "_presentations_ that can be used in a library/school magic show." In my library shows, I use a magic number to make the pictures in the "Magic Coloring Book" become colored. What magic number do I use? 793.8
One routine from my show is a simple book test using a dictionary. For very young audiences, I do a book test using a picture dictionary and I slowly reveal what pictures are on the "freely" selected page. Or for older kids, slowly reveal the guide words at the top of a dictionary page. That kind of presentation goes over great with librarians and teachers because it's educational. Ken Scott is currently the guru of library magic shows: http://www.kenscottproducts.com/_p/prd1/......cd-notes ----- Amado "Sonny" Narvaez
----- Sonny Narvaez
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
There are several performers who sell DVDs of their school shows or library shows. And some performers sell tricks or routines from their shows.
Ken Scott was mentioned above, with a link. Here are a few more: Doug Scheer - http://www.dougscheer.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Tommy James - https://www.tommyjamesmagic.com/store/ Jim Kleefeld - http://jimkleefeld.com/JWKbooks.html Mark Daniel - https://www.spsmagic.com/collections/vid......ok-magic Steve Taylor - http://stevetaylorpro.magix.net/products/ David Ginn - https://www.ginnmagic.com/ Samuel Patrick Smith (aka Sammy Smith) - https://www.spsmagic.com/collections/tricks (Book Worm is one obvious fit.) Tim Sonefelt - https://www.wonderimagery.com/ Barry Mitchell - https://www.barrymitchellproducts.com/ Dick Oslund - http://abbottmagic.com/DICK-OSLUND-ROAD-......book.htm (his book and his DVD are also available elsewhere... do a search) Etc. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Right, Sonny!
PRESENTATION has always been THE factor! --Whether one is presenting a "straight" magic program, or any kind of "educational" program, the PERFORMER, and, his PRESENTATION, are what PRODUCE a PROGRAM that PLEASES. At the annual auditions (for School Assembly Service) one year, a "magician" presented his "anti-drug program". He started with a C&R rope trick. Then he said, "Don't do drugs, kids!" Next, he did the linking rings, Then, he said, "Drugs are bad for you!" Next, was the hippity hop rabbits, followed by a similar one liner! IIRC, the bureau manager closed the curtain on him! I have produced, successfully, both kinds of programs for school assemblies. (Once I affiliated with the various school assembly booking offices, I WAS NEVER AT LIBERTY. --for FIFTY YEARS!) The various managers would send me in to a school that had had a program that hadn't "satisfied". My mission was to "square the beef", by presenting a program that would restore our "good name". My function was to be somewhat like the "patch", years ago, on a "grift" carnival. I was also the "play doctor" to any talent's program, that,somehow was not "clicking". I tell a story or two, about that, in my book. Believe it or else! Presenting school assembly programs, is a "part" of $how bu$ine$$! I like your using the Dewey Decimal system (793.8) and your dictionary book test! I've "read" many dictionaries. I found them very erudite, but the story plot wasn't much! I remember that one of the early dictionaries (IIRC, it was Webster's) defined a "net" as, "anything reticulated or decussated, with interstices between the intersections." I also remember Dr. Rudolph Flesch's "Why Johnnie Can't Read", getting me an A- on a research paper in college. The prof. had never "given" any mark higher than a B, before! I had thought of a "Reading is FUN" program, but, I retired before I got it "put together" End of sermon!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
BTW, aheller5, if you want to listen to a great podcast (free) about educational shows, I recommend this one where they interviewed Doug Scheer:
http://magicianbusiness.com/educational-magic/ - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hi! Donald Dunphy, our "north of the border" neighbor!
Thanks for mentioning the dvd of my school program. It was "shot on location" by magician friends who were visiting. Duane Laflin forgot his tripod. Every time he laughed, he got a brief picture of the ceiling! The other program was the fourth program of a busy day! In my book, "Dick Oslund -- Road Scholar", I described in detail, how school programs "began" (Lyceum, Chautauqua,etc.) I wrote up a "hundred +" anecdotes of "things" that happened while doing about 20,000 school programs. I included an "autobiography". I talked about almost all of the magicians that I met and knew "along the way", including notes about tricks and routines that they did. Finally, I wrote up most of the tricks/routines that I had used. I gave full presentations of them, and, in many cases, sources of the tricks in various books like Tarbell.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Donald!
I hope to find time today, to check out Doug Scheer's podcast. Thanks for the link! Over the years, I've mentored a "whole bunch" of young guys. Some are now full timers, some are avid amateurs, one has died (diabetes complications) at 52. He had just finished a tour for Dakota Assemblies, and was found dead in his motel room. When I "came on this show" (i.e. joined the Café) Doug Scheer sent me a copy of his "Diversity Circus" with a thank you note. He had seen me somewhere (lecture, school show???)and, I had unknowingly influenced him. It's nice to get thanked while you are still alive!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
Library Show Tips:
My Library shows are designed to do one thing: To Get the kids who come to the shows to get excited about reading! This is a GOOD thing! I use this prop whom I call my companion..."Bookie"....the kids (and their moms and dads) truly enjoy our reparte....it's FUN: http://www.axtell.com/puppets-magic/bookpuppets-ideas/ ....and in my 40 minute Magic show I reinforce that the kids who are there can become magicians too if they just start by reading the right books on performing Magic and take the time to practice....Needless to say, I have a good selection of book on performing magic available on display from that library. Not all libraries have an entertainment budget......so here is a tip: Spend a little time finding a local civic-minded organization who will underwrite your performances......perhaps a prominent, community-minded Bank, Hospital (you get the idea)..... This way, when you present your "library show entertainment concept" to the head librarian, (who will LOVE it) if he or she says..."I love it but we don't have any money"......no problemo.......you're covered!! MY library shows are underwritten by The Green Bay Packers Foundation, and I do the "circuit" of all 10 libraries in the county. |
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