Ive been in and out of magic a number of years but willing to wade into the performing pool at least waist deep....A small background first I graduated high school in 1970 my high school was a few blocks from Tannens in Manhattan NY so I hung out there often and rubbed elbows with dome of the best (NO NAME DROPPING)but anyway....

I LOVE table strolling walkaround close up magic doing coins, cards (mostly self workers) sponges, rope, etc..i like to jump into the performing pool (waist deep) by performing at hospitals, nursing homes and the like (FOR FREE OF COURSE) NOW I JUST NEED TOME SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO PERFORM......I used to enjoy Dots incredible the white metal board with the magnetic black chips....Needle through balloon...Professors nightmare, cut and restored rope...i used to take a rope out of my bag with clothes hanging on it, just saying my wife is going to kill me for this and do the cut and restored.....I used to do a small shot card routine with an old bang gun gimmick..have a card selected have it lost in the deck produce the gun....shoot the deck and produce one card with a bullet hole in it....Maybe also do an insurance policy routine.....ANY OTHER THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ON HOSPITAL (KIDS WARD MOSTLY) AND NURSING HOMES???

Not much wrong with what you listed. Why add?

Knowing why you’re doing it and who you’re doing it for seems like a pretty good way to go. And a darn nice thing to do.

If you used to enjoy doing those routines, there is a reason for it. They probably got good reactions. I'd start with that. Kids also love any kind of sponge ball/sponge bunny routine.

I wouldn't mind some name dropping from Tannens from that era!

I second name dropping for nostalgia!

Ring and rope or ring and ribbon.

- Mary

By the way I wasn’t being flippant about not adding. You have a good deal of material you enjoy and are comfortable performing. It would leave you relaxed to have time to spend concentrating on your chosen audience.

That was why I mentioned it. With the material you have mentioned you are spoiled for choice! It should all play well.

I’m sure it will be a success.

AT THE REQUEST OF A FEW.... they requested a little name dropping from Tannens in the early 70's 9now we have to see if my memory behaves....I do recall meeting Frank Garcia ( I believe he was the original creator of Wild card, but I could be wrong....I used to LOVE watching Tony Spina work....and I rubbed elbows once or twice with Doug Henning...Carl Ballantine from McHales Navy fame...those are just a few that immediately jump to mind ad of course Many members of S.A.M. Assembly #1 would drop in often.....I almost lived there asfter school in the late 60's very early 70's....i attended a VoTech school called the NY school of printing where I learned a trade..went from being an Offset Printing Press operator to an A mechanic Printing Press Technician.......Now My travels have taken me to San Antonio Texas where I hate it....BUT it has a fairly active S.A.M. assembly #52...

Since you asked for suggestions for the kids ward... Whenever I did hospitals the kids loved ambitious card to wallet. Hot Rod. Color Monte. Invisible Deck if they were older and knew cards.

I did a chop cup routine back then that used a magic hat chop cup from Bob Solari. The white balls were imaginary rabbits. I ordered tiny stuffed rabbits from Oriental Trading to use as final loads and giveaways.

I had a small folding table I could set up next to their bed and they could get a 15-20 minute mini show.

No sponge magic since they can carry germs.

I bought a maroon lab coat and had a crazy top hat from Party City that I put a false bottom in and could use for productions. For the really young kids I would produce a rabbit puppet from my hat.

One thing to keep in mind with kids in the hospitals: you're also performing for their parents. Sometimes they haven't seen their child have fun in a long time and the joy you are giving them through watching their child smile is one of the most powerful things you can do in magic.

You're gonna do great! Please tell us how it goes.

You just brought up a very good point about magic in hospitals. Germs.

So a good practice might be using interactive routines that don’t have them touching props. I seriously never thought of it. Duh. It is obvious and I missed it.

I don’t do these types of shows, which is no excuse!