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dave.m New user 65 Posts |
I have been asked to do a kids party 10 years olds. I have done them before, but this one is only going to be for four kids. I know the Mom. She is in college with me. Do I do the show? What sort of things should I do. Do I charge the full price?
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Joseph_Then Special user 747 Posts |
Four kids! Forget it. Do an adult show. Since they are 10 years old, treat them like adults and get the parents to join in the show (INSIST that the parents join in the show).
That means no Run Rabbit Run, Silver Scepter, etc. Unless you can pull it off with the adults. It happens to me once, and I only have kids' materials. Poor parents. They invited 12 kids and only 5 kids (three 2-year olds, 2 7-year olds) turned up when I arrived. I have to get the parents to join in and tell them, "Behave like a kid! Let's bring back good old days!" Luckily the parents were playful enough, and in the end the show was good. |
Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Teach them magic as part of the show. Let them go away with one or two decent pocket tricks.
Dennis Michael
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Joseph_Then Special user 747 Posts |
Cool idea, Dennis. Since you mentioned it, I remembered that there was one performer who taught the guests balloon twisting too.
You can add that in. |
PROFED Loyal user Chicago,Illinois 229 Posts |
I agree with Joseph---the show must go on. Do your regular family show. Yes, you should charge your regular fee.
Ed Gilmore |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I disagree with Joseph (nothing personal, my friend) =). You are hired for a particular reason. If they booked you to entertain the kids or because one of the four kids is having a birthday party, then you are obligated and hired to meet their needs. After all, are we not in the industry to bring solutions to the customers that pay us?
Regardless of if there are 150 kids or just four kids. If I am hired by the parents to entertain the children, then that is exactly what I intend on doing. I am going to solve their needs the best that I can. Now I certainly would also try and get the parents involved in the fun in some sort of way, but the main part of the show will be geared towards the children. Now since there are only four, what I might do is to adapt the show a bit as Dennis pointed out. Instead of standing up, I may actually sit down and do the performance more on a personal level by getting them all to help me with the routines. I might teach them a trick as well. Just my two cents worth. Kyle ________________________ For four year olds you want to keep in mind that they enjoy the journey of the trick rather then the end result. So when choosing tricks to perform for this age, make them giggle, and laugh, use storytelling and keep it visual. If you want to teach them a trick, keep it very simple to do and show them tricks that are self-working. This will empower the children. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Four kids and a few adults would react differently from a room of 100 - 500 people.
In similar situations I have done programs at dining room tables as well as just sitting down on the floor with the family. Ten-year olds are an interesting group to work with. Find out as much about them to personalize your patter and to draw them into your program. As far as price, the number and props do not necessarily equal price. It is you that people are paying for. You have to decide if you want to give a friend discount. (I do.) Be safe and creative. Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
That is so true. What a great comment that Harris mentioned above. That they are paying for YOU not the props you bring or the tricks you perform. They truly are paying for what you can do to meet their needs and solve them for them. They pay for you to exceed their own expectations. Nicely stated, Harris.
Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Billy Whizz Special user Plymouth, UK 576 Posts |
I wouldn't take the booking. Here in the Plymouth area, if you turned up to entertain four 10-year olds, you wouldn't have a chance. What happens if on the day, one child is ill, another one or two is shy, and the others aren't that bothered. Your show wouldn't go down that well I don't think.
If I turned up and there were just fiur kids like that, I'd probably do as Den says, and do a magic work shop of some sort and maybe teach them some balloon modeling. As for the fee, it makes no difference. If there are 400 kids or four kids, I charge the same fee. |
RonCalhoun Special user Independence, KY USA 599 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-01-08 09:47, dave.m wrote: NO Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
Founder Heroin Doesn't Care. Find us on https://www.facebook.com/heroindoesntcare
www.heroindoesntcare.com |
Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
Should you do it? No.
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
stu-di-doo Regular user Cumbria, UK 160 Posts |
Even at this stage of my full-time entertaining, I would also turn this job down.
It's been said before but EVERY show is an advertisement for your business. I can't see much benefit in taking this booking. Your show should be involving the audience, taking them on that magical journey and you can only be as good as your crowd. For the standard party package I offer, an audience of four just wouldn't work (especially 10 year olds ) and I certainly wouldn't create a completely new show just for one booking! Stu Di Doo |
Rupert Bair Inner circle ? 2179 Posts |
I would do what Billy suggests. Do a balloon workshop and possibly a few close-up tricks.
Hows being a full-timer going Stu? Matt |
stu-di-doo Regular user Cumbria, UK 160 Posts |
I actually have 16 days left in the day job, so ask me in a couple of months.
Bookings are going really well, and I am looking forward to having more time to organise myself and establish the business properly. Oh, and keep up to date with the paperwork! Stu |
dave.m New user 65 Posts |
I think I will do the ballon work shop. That's a graet idea. I will also do a few card ticks. Thanks for all your help. Nice one.
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Joseph_Then Special user 747 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-01-08 12:26, magic4u02 wrote: OK, Kyle, I may have read it wrong. I thought he have already been booked for the show and realised that there are only 4 kids. Well, if I knew there were only 4 kids before a contract is signed, I wouldn't want to do the show. But I do speak from experience where I really see only 5 kids when I arrive. |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Not a problem at all Joseph.=) My personal feelings about it is this. If a lady calls me up and is sincere, ( I say this cause I have performed over enough years to determine those who just want a babysitter)I will do their show. This means that I will do a performance mregardless if there is 4 kids or 150 kids. The amount of kids at the party is not a determining factor for me whether I do the show or do not do the show. Just my own personal opinions and everyone is certainly entitled to theirs on how they handle it.
My feeling is that if the lady or client is sincere in their approach and honest with me about the number of kids, then their is no reason why I can not come and entertain those 4 kids and have fun and make their day special for them. Afterall, isn't it my job as a magician to entertain people? It is also my job as a solutions provider to solve the needs of any client I perform for. If this client's need is for a magician to entertain her son's b-day party but the son only wants several of his friends there, then I have no problem with that at all. I still get paid my amount and I still deliver on all my promises to that client. Now I know there are times when you can just smell on the phoen that something is just not right in their tone of voice or what they are asking of you. In this way I always have questions set up that really help me pin point exactly their real reason to hire me. If I feel that they only want a baby sitter or if I do not feel right about what I am hearing, I can always turn down the gig. Even if I turn down the gig, I still must remember my reputation as a performer. I still want to meet their needs in some way. This means that if I can not do the show for them, I try to find alterntaives for them that they might be able to use. In this way I am still servicing them and they will appreciate me more for doing so. Just my 2 cents is all. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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