Hi, my son is 12 and has been performing at nursing homes and school fairs. He usually just does a selection of his best tricks (most of which are card tricks) as a short show but he wants to make the set a bit more structured with tricks that link together. However, he has no idea where to start on this. Does anyone have any advice on how to put a short set together? He particularly likes triumph and permanent record and also often does linking rings and grandma's miracle. Any tips on tricks to link some of those? Many thanks for any advice you can give.

I've always done it through patter. In my case, making up funny reasons to switch to something completely different.

I like working with cards but my Uncle Buck said, "Can't you do anything else?"

Grin and say, "He didn't expect me to bring my rings."

After your ring routine, shake your head and say, "That Uncle Buck. He said, "Can't you do something a little less noisy?"

Hold up your fuzzy strings and beads. "I was ready for him with these."

I'll trust you and your son to come up with something better but you get the idea.

I love the, "but I know what you're thinking" transition. "But I know what your thinking, What if a volunteer tries to ruin my trick" then go into triumph. Or "but I know what youre thinking, what if I get pushed into the water and my cards are in my pocket" then go into linking rings.

I just did my first performance for anyone other than family a few weeks ago, after my opening my second effect was Super Lemon, I just transitioned by saying "Now I'd like to show you some verbal magic I've been working on". It was well received, don't get too hung up on it being "perfect". Just get something to start with and modify it as needed in each successive performance.