By: Jon A. Hand
Hello,
Learn a warmup to get some energy out of the kids and weld them together as an audience before the magic begins.
1. Easy to find books with real help in them: kid's chapter in Hay's Amateur Magician's Handbook, 1982 or 1996 edition Doing Magic for Youngsters by Easley and Wilson
2. You need some apparatus magic for color and flash. Make your own Square Circle (Mark Wilson Book, among many others) to close with a big production. Go to a craft store and get 8 gold or silver colored macrame rings, about 8 inches each, and hacksaw the joints as necessary to make a set of linking rings, having someone weld the joints back together and touching up the welds with gold or silver paint. Routines are in Hay's book above and Tarr's 101 Easy-to-do Classic Magic Tricks, among others.
3. Make up an alphabet deck from unlined index cards (2 cards of each letter, and you can use red and blue for "suits"). Force the letter "Y" and you can have great fun asking the kid the letter; when he says "Y", you interpret it as "Why?" and respond accordingly. Play this up, the kids will love it. Then, have the card appear in an impossible place (on your own back, or on the kid's back, in an orange [load only a short time before the show]). There is your one and only card trick!
4. Make up a set of Afghan bands in colored paper (Hay and countless other books). Make one ungimmicked one for yourself, and the two gimmicked ones for a boy and a girl respectively. Tell them it is a race; illustrate with kid scissors by cutting yours down the middle to make 2. Give the kids 2 kid scissors, and set up for a cutting race. Get the boys to cheer for the boy with dog barks, and the girls to cheer for the girl in cat meows. When the paper loops come out "weird", proclaim both to be the winner, and give small prizes (go to Dollar Tree or similar store and get cheap party favors, some for girls and some for boys. $4.00 should get you enough to produce the rest from your square circle at the end and give something to everyone.).
5. Wilson's book has several versions of Confetti to Candy, which goes over well.
6. Basic Sponge Ball Routines work well.
7. Get a breakaway fan and a drooping magic wand, and use them as running gags on yourself! The kids will love it. The "adult in trouble" bit will work for you again and again. On the advice of Dr. Sebastian Who (Richard Ustick -- thanks, Dick!) get a lota bowl or a "little brown jug" lota as a running gag, too. For stage work, a growing, wilting flower will be a great gag; water it with the lota, and the kids will scream at you between tricks to water it when it begins to wilt! Toward the end of the show, make a diving slide to the flower before it wilts again! They'll love it!
8. Choose about half of your tricks so that they need kid assistants, such as Coin in Ball of Wool. Encourage active vocal response. No trick should work without the kids shouting your chosen magic word; in fact, you should have some that fail until you remember to have them shout the word. Have the kids jump up and down, wiggle, etc., to get some tricks to work. Look surprised yourself, or even relieved at times, that the magic worked! Kids love to have you get down on their level in terms of fun and noisy enjoyment. If you have problems with overexuberance, stop the show for a few seconds and say, "Ok, now WATCH carefully!" Afraid that they will miss a climax, most kids will settle down.
9. Don't accept any show longer than 30 minutes, and request that all refreshments be served in a different room AFTER your show, which gives you time to pack up without prying eyes.
10. Lead the kids to applaud for kid assistants after each trick. This will convince adults in the next room, who expect the applause that kids do not know to give, that you are doing a good show!
11. Kids like to see vanished items come back, so do remember to "recover" any vanished items before the show ends.
12. Egg bag goes over great! Make your own in a pinch; Hay's LEARN MAGIC and Bruce Elliott's CLASSIC SECRETS OF MAGIC tell how to make one and detail routines.
13. No mentalism, no fire, no danger, and no trick that cannot reach a climax inside of 3 minutes generally, and that is sort of long, but you can do it if it uses much audience vocal/physical participation as suggested above.
14. Walking through a Ribbon is an easy to make and effective "illusion", or it's rope counterpart, "Cutting the Spectator in Half With Ropes" (Wilson book, adapt to ribbons if you want more color and flash).
I could go on much longer, but I have responsibilites to work right now (I am only online at work).
Good luck, and learn much during the first show that will improve the second show!
Best wishes,
Jon A. Hand
By: WhiteRabbit
First of all let me say I am not the end all be all of kids
shows. Nor am I attempting to sound like I know everything there is
about performing. I am just stating a few things I have learned in
doing kids shows for the last 2 years; When performing for kids I like
to put a long piece of masking tape in front of me and announce that
one of the rules is too please say behind it. This stops the kids from
ending up at my feet.
Always fit the show to the kids. I have diff. shows for boys diff. for girls. I have a show for younger kids as well as older. I have a show for church parties and one for hospitals.
For kids shows use colorful props and make sure they are logical. If you make something vanish, make it come back. Kids are not dumb they know what is going on.
I don't suggest using fire, knives or anything that might cause damage. I pesonally don't like using the finger or arm chopper things. Kids love to imitate. How many of us played superfriends or house.
I suggest having animals either real or fake in your act. How many stuffed animals do your kids have. I don't have live animals in my act but I do have ; a rubber chicken, Roxie, Fur mice, A card duck, pokeman and some birds. I find that if you keep hem moving amd give them a personality they are great. But, be prepared for the kids to want to pet them after.
Avoid sucker effects. A break away fan or wand in good fun but an effect where the kid is made to look stupid or foolish is not.
Avoid tricks that are over the kids heads. One of the main ones are card tricks. Often kids don't remeber the card or it is above them. I do use cards for three effects, the card duck, an effect with furball the mouse, and a shoot the deck trick. But at the end of each I hand out the used card as a momento for my helper.
Use as many helpers as possible. I have one effect where I use 5 kids. Alway have the audience clap and cheer for the helper at the end of the effect.
Use magic words so the audience can help with the magic "On the count of three lets say now. One, two, three..." Use the b-day childs name as a magic word for certin effects.
Avoid crude effects. The baffling bra or such are not good.
Pass out activity sheets with your name on it at the end of the show. Also I suggest having a coupon for a certain amont off your next show. People love to save even if it is for $5.00.
Well thats just some of my thoughts and things that have worked for me.
By: Olde Rabbit
Something I've learned is not to rush things. I do the 20th Century
Silks, using a change bag to vanish the middle silk. I used to show
the bag empty, then immediately reveal the silk between the other
two. But I realized I was getting gasps when the bag was shown
empty. The kids see this as two different effects. First the silk goes
into the bag and disappears. Then it reappears between the other two
silks.
So now I pause a moment after the silk disappears, and let them enjoy that. Then I move on, making it reappear elsewhere.
By: Mr. Christian
I don't see anything wrong with sucker effects as long as the magician
is the sucker!!!
By: Olde Rabbit
There are three bits of business I use consistently in my kidshows,
and they work all the time. They sound pretty goofy to adults, but the
kids love them. You may find them useful, too.
The first is the use of the word "underwear", which is a very benign word to adults, but kids think is hilarious. When doing the intro, I tell them at the end of each trick, I'll say "Wasn't that fun?", and I want them to clap and yell "yay". Then I say "But if you aren't having fun, and you are just really bored, sitting there in your underwear, I want you to clap and yell 'yay'". This always gets a great giggle from them. First from hearing the word "underwear", then from being given the same response instructions for liking a trick, and not liking one.
The second bit is getting my colors wrong. I'm older than you, and performing under the name of Olde Rabbit, so I tell the kids that, believe it or not, I am so old I often get my colors mixed up. And could they please help me with this? "If I hold up something which is white, and I say it's black, could you please shout out 'no, that's not black, it's white!' for me?" then during the show, I refer to my change bag as black on the outside and red on the inside, etc. They take great delight in shouting out the corrections, and often start giggling at my inability to tell one color from another.
The last bit you may not use, unless you have kids come up to volunteer. What I do is, I ask the kid his/her name, age, and what grade they are in. Even tho I know the age and grade, and it's the same for all the kids. Then I introduce the kid to the rest of the audience, saying he/she is 3 years old and in the 8th grade. They'll immediately shout out the correction, laughing a lot. I'll also ask a kid volunteer if he/she is married. They think this is really funny. If I have two kids, one on each side, I'll get the name of each kid, then transpose them when I introduce them to their friends in the audience.
All these bits are dumb, but they really get the kids laughing at my mistakes. I'm far from the best at remembering and telling jokes, but this type of stuff allows me to add a lot of comedy to my shows, and keep the kids laughing. Also, any time a kid volunteers, he/she is nervous, not knowing what is going to happen, worried he/she might accidentally not understand and screw up the trick. So getting them to laugh, at me rather than at them, breaks the ice for them.
Often at the beginning of a show, when I say I'll need help, two or three hands go up. With the comedy bits of business I use, by the end of the show, when I say I'm going to need help, every hand in the room goes up.
Hope this helps. Check out writings and tapes by Sammy Patrick Smith and Dave Risley for tips. Even tho you are aiming at school age kids and Smith and Risley work more often with preschoolers, the same lines and gags work for them all.
By: Jon A. Hand
I don't remember where I got this; probably either from DOING MAGIC
FOR CHILDREN, a classic old text, or AMATEUR MAGICIAN's HANDBOOK.
Anyway, I call a girl volunteer Mary, every time, this way:
"Hello, Mary! What is your name?" Giggles all around. She answers, "Danielle (or whatever)." "Everybody, this is Mary, but she likes to be called Danielle." More giggles...
Then I will call her Mary some of the time, and Danielle some of the time, and Mary-who-calls-herself-Danielle some of the time. I use a different fake name for each girl (Mary, Joyce, Dolly, etc.).
Ditto with guys, using Tommy, Fred, etc. On tricks when I have one of each gender "onstage," I ask each how long he/she has been married. When they protest, I ask each if he/she has a girlfriend/boyfriend, and then I introduce Mary to Tommy ("Mary, this is Fred who calls himself Ben; Fred, this is Mary who calls herself Danielle..."). "Perhaps you two could get married after the show..." Major giggles...
Silly, but it works, and becomes a running gag throughout the show. Sooner or later you will actually use a kid's real name by accident, and you act cool like Pee Wee Herman ("I knew that!"). Slays 3rd graders!
Trick suggestion: If you do Afghan Bands, make them out of paper in contrasting colors, and have a boy and a girl cut them in half in a cutting race using elementary scissors (rounded points). I did this in my Harvest Festival show last week, and it really excited them. During the race, I had the girls shout encouragement to "Mary," and the guys shout encouragement to "Fred." Then, when the loops both come out incorrectly, declare both the winner, and give small prizes to each (party favors, or individually wrapped candies).
By: WhiteRabbit
I was just reading about a magi in AK, who did a school show and the
Pricipal got after the kids for being noisy. I have done kids shows
for a few years now and I feel A few points I have learned the hard
way might help those who are also doing them 1- Always make sure the
parent or authority figue in charge knows you are there to entertain
and not to be the one who keeps the kids in line.
2- Always make sure they know what your show is like. I Tell them the kids will be excited and will make some noise but that is all part of the show. I encourage that they get involved and sit back and enjoy the show.
3-Always tell tell them to schedule you 30 min after they want the show to start. This makes it good for any late people to get in before the show.
4- Always ask the person who is hiring you to PLEASE wait till after your show to do cake or presents. Trust me on this one, it cuts down on distractions.
5- Always "draw a line" not to be crossed. I have noticed that kids get closer and closer until they are around you feet. "please move back". I use a roll od masking tape and tape a long line in front of me about 3 feet out. I tell the kids they need to stay on that side of the line...If they ask why I tell then I have a man eating frog named ralph who will eat them..Oh and he is invisable.
6-Remember kids need to be entertained. Silly Bob will go over better than Serious sam. I suggest getting Books by kid performers. One of my favs. it David Ginn. USe brightly colored silks, Animal, live or Props (Rocky is great as well as a rabbit in the hat).
7- Always remember that you are there to entertain the kids. Forget the adults are there. Have fun.
8- Never do a sucker trick that makes the kids look foolish. The MAgician in trouble is great. Make you the sucker. Some tricks are fine IF they come out with the kids as the hero.
9- NEver do a dangerous trick. Kids love to imitate. Do a rope through the body not the neck. PLEASE no needles through the arms or tounge. No FIRE is a rule to remember.
10- Have a couple of shows at least ready. In the beginning I had kids who would go to a show for someone who had been to my show already. I had one show and would hear "Oh I have seen this...Are you going to do the same show as last time..." I have 4 different show ready.
11- K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple and Short.... Over half of my show is "Prop" magic...Dove pans, Change bag, Die box etc... You don't half to have a giant production to entertain kids. Be silly have fun. Also don't have hour long shows. Kids are active I suggest for 5-8 = 20-25 Min. 9-11 = 30-35 min.
12- If you are doing balloons save them for last. Nothing is worse than "POP" or "My doggie came untied" durring the show. Also have a wide range of animal, swords etc... Just in case. I tie the ones I think the kids will like. Dogs and Dinosaurs are great and alot of kids like Mouse too. You will probable need to rety some but its still fun.
13- Get you money before the show. Do this away from the kids. I have had "TightWads" say "oh, I only have x Dollars will that be ok.....I did not feel the show was worth X dollars"...Etc....
14- DO charity Shows! When not performing for Money charity shows get you seen, most of my shows come from word of mouth, the alow you to try new stuff to see how they work on audiences too.
15-Lastly, Don't make a mess. I clean up after my self. Some use confetti or long Streamers and leave a mess. MOM hates to clean so I keep it clean.
By: Margarette
All good stuff there White Rabbit, but I would like to address your
comment on 'forget the adults...you're there to entertain the
children.' I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to hear a
lecture given by David Kaye. If you are unaware of who he is, he is a
children's performer in New York who performs as Silly Billy. He also
writes a column in Magic Magazine. He has stressed the importance of
getting the adults involved in the show as well as the children. If
the adults are not involved in some way, chances are they will talk
during the show, thus disrupting the show. David's column in the
December issue of Magic talks about this very problem. Also, even
though you are there to entertain the children, if you get the adults
involved, they will be entertained, and thus, when they get asked by
friends and relatives if they know anyone who could do a party for
their child, your name could possibly come up. And, after all, how
much of our business is word-of-mouth? I know a lot of mine is.
Anyway, just my two-cents worth.
By: WhiteRabbit
I was saying forget the adults meaning don't play to them. Remembering
the show is to entertain the kids. I get the adults involved too. By
no means did I mean to ignore or keep them out of the show.
By: Black Wizard
When ever I have performed and been paid for it I always leave
something behind for them to tool around with.
That way if they book you again they will hope for some insight on what you leave them.
A great way is with a silk you fold it in half then you start pulling cards out of it after showing the silk to be bare and not gimmicked. I left the silk and was asked if I could show her how it works.
I showed her 'how it works' You know made some patter up about Silks being made with very stiff fibres which can be manipulated and must be massaged to make the silk so smooth and such. Then I said by rubbing the silk when you stick your hand in it extravts the fibres.
As a finale cover your hand with the silk and lift it with your left hand or right about 2 inches then pull it away to show a fan of your choice.
Also mention to the parent that you can produce a gift in a production box from them if they like. Then tell the children that the persons present is from his magical mom and that you had nothing to do with it.
Makes the kids and adults like you.
By: Stephen M. Sebeny
I am a college student. During high school I had been doing maybe a
dozen magic shows during the summer, and a few now and then during the
shcool year. I haven't done any shows for atleast 9 months now. My
main interest in magic is really close-up, mainly cards, especially
mathematical effects. However, when preforming I'm normally doing
shows mainly for kids and their parents, so that material obviously
doesn't fit. Effects I had been using often were: Vanishing Katchup
Bottle, Ultimate Airborne, Passing the Buck, Collector's Workshop Fire
Flower, a lengthy comedy Arm Chopper routine, "Test w/ the Chest" a
color changing silk routine by Laflin, Hold it Buster the card routine
by Dan Harlan, Bumper Hat tears, and Sketch-o-Matic. There were other
items, but those are the ones I used most frequently. As you can see
the items are not your normal wild kids show type effects, as I am a
more serious performer, and I like to do magic that both the kids can
understand but that the parents will enjoy also.
The reason for my post is that I am planning on trying to do some more shows again this summer. I will be contacting many of the groups that I performed for previously about the possibility of repeat performances, and new groups also. Therefore, I'd like to get some new material. I was wondering if anyone could make some suggestions, in light of the comments I made about my style and types of shows, for me as to what items I might look at adding. Thanks for any help!
By: Alain Aslag Roy
I am not an experienced kid show magician, I've only done a couple of
shows. But I have noticed that Professor's Nightmare goes over great,
Cut and Restored Rope works well, and a good mouth coil routine is
wonderful. My last show, I closed with Anderson's torn and restored
newspaper, and I got a lot of compliments on it. I don't think it is a
standard kid show effect, but it looks quite magical, and the script
you use can make it appropriate.
By: Jeffery S
Hello Stephen , I'm currently scripting a children's show as I too am
more of an "adult" performer, doing more bar and club scene type
venues. I recently have been given the opportunity to expand my
horizons and do several charity events (I only asked they provide some
cash for supplies, coils, confetti, Etc) and I expect to get some kids
shows out of that. (I've already been asked to clear my schedule for
the end of the summer).
That said, I'm doing quite a bit of research concerning a nice 20-25 min. routine. At this point I see myself doing more "colorful" type stuff. Silk transpose, a sponge ball color change routine ending with 30 or so sponges springing everywhere, hat tears, cut & restored ropes, professors nightmare, I'm also trying to come up with a torn and restored comic book routine (I work in publishing) when at the end of the routine I can hand out comics to all the kids.
I think I'll add in a few "sucker" type effects to get them laughing like, silk to egg, where you "show" them how its done, and I'm also considering a children's version of chop cup or cups & ball routine. (I'm still de-bugging that one a bit, but it being visual should go over)
I've been asked to do some walk around too, so I'll have no problem with that, as that is much closer to my normal venue. Sponge rabbits, silks, some ball manipulation, Etc...
PS- Olde Rabbit's essays on the Collected Wisdom really helped me leaps and bounds as well.
By: Bob K
I think almost any trick can be done for kids, even things that
wouldn't normally be considered kids tricks. Silks, confetti, colorful
props and generally better, particularily for kids under 8. But even
card tricks can be done for young children if they can recognize
different cards, as long as it's not an entire routine of card
magic. The presentation makes all the difference.
I usually use one sucker type trick near the beginning of the show. For longer shows I may use a 2nd one later on, but it's important to try and eliminate the 'you're a sucker' aspect.
An exhaustive list of good magic for kids would be pretty long even if you limit it to tricks specifically designed for kids. Everything I've seen mentioned in this thread is good. More are listed in the Collected Wisdom of MT. A few off the top of my head that may or may not be there:
Linking rings
cut & restored rope
Daryl's jumping knot
professor's nightmare
clatter box
coloring book
Super frog (available from Samuel Patrick Smith and other dealers)
egg bag
mis-made clown
shrinking glove
acrobatic silks
color chaning shoelaces
soft soap
color changing silk (or Billy McComb's 1/2 dyed)
miser's dream
dye box (I use a presentation idea that was posted by someone here on
MT a year ago)
I'd also recommend any of Patrick Samuel Smith's books and most of David Ginn's books although many of them were written 20 years ago and the presentation might need changes to stay policiically correct.
By: Tate
In a post below this one, Bob K suggests checking out David Ginn's and
Sammy Smith's books and materials. Here are their web addresses.
These two performers, along with ventriloquist Steve Taylor, present a one day kid show clinic around the country. I think Sammy Smith's website has the calendar of their appearances. You might want to check that out.
Also, although it's held too late for summer shows, let me suggest an excellent conference for kidshow performers. KIDabra (previously known as the International Festival of Children's Magicians) is having its tenth annual meeting in August.
Their website is www.kidabraconf.com
By: Wayne
Samuel Patrick Smith has a whole line of amazing tricks designed
specifically for kids shows but with adults in mind. Look into effects
like Deja Zoo, Magic Party Picture, The Map Trick, Super Frog,
Etc. They're all great tricks and can be purchased from just about any
good magic dealer.
By: Croft
Hi, Bob. I missed the presentation idea for the dye box when it was
posted. I have a Tommy Winsor dye box. Would you mind e-mailing me the
presentation or posting it? Or does anyone else have any other
presentations for the dye box?
By: Bob K
I'd like to credit the original poster but I can't remember who it
was. You might check the Collected Wisdom and see if they post was
saved there (I looked to see if I could find out who had posted it,
but I didn't have time to look at everything there). If it's there,
it'll give a little more detail.
The essence of his presentation was that he'd gone to buy his first rabbit (remove the spots from the dye and put a picture of a rabbit on the sides). You brought the hat to put the rabbit in, but the old magician you bought the rabbit from insisted that you take the rabbits two room house with you. When you got home your wife (mother if you're young) was upset because she thought you had a rabbit. You kept telling her and showing her there was no rabbit in the box and she finally discovered the rabbit hiding in the hat.
I'm not sure that's not exactly as he posted it, but it's very close and that's how I used his idea. For very young kids I include a bit at the end saying that she found the rabbit anyway so it never pays to lie.
A couple other ideas that I have used in the past:
Change the dye to look like a Rubik's cube. You can start with the colors mixed up and just have the cube vanish and appear in the hat, or you can have it reappear with the colors all arranged. This worked pretty well 25 years ago when Rubik's cubes were popular, but it's probably not a great idea now.
Paint the dye gold- it's a block of gold from Ft. Knox and the box is the money vault at Ft. Knox. The gold vanishing is part of the high-tech security system so that anyone breaking in to steal the gold won't be able to find it. I did this routine a couple times at Ft. Knox 30 years ago when I was stationed there for a few weeks. I used the hat to represent my garage- so when the gold vanished from the vault to save it from being stolen it was really transported to may garage. Please don't ask me for a loan!
By: Frank J
Hippity Hop Rabitts - YFD
Confusing Crayons or Tricky Turvy Bottles - YFD
HHR and TTB have been in my kids show for years. They play to the kids, however the adults are blown away at the end. Good Luck.
By: MK
I need help with the closing effect for my children's show (average
ages of 6-9 years old). I am curious about the rationale anyone uses
for choosing the closing effect for this type of performance.
By: phil g
I like the dream bag . I use the largest one . Its colorful flashy and
magical. I put a scarf in between the box loads and use original
patter . Its been my closer for years.
By: Mark B
My two favorite closers are:
Silk to Egg
Vanishing Bandana
By: Steve Peterson
My rabbit-in-the-hat puppet produces a 36 inch "The End" silk.
By: Don Dunn
Great results with "I never end a show without teaching everyone a magic trick -- how to make a paper napkin disappear!" The routine -- which I found in an old Linking Ring, I believe --- involves showing the kids how to make the napkin vanish (first by a sloppy palming, then by a ditching in the pocket, then by stuffing it into the mouth -- all of which the kids see and laughingly point out loudly to you -- and then "well, I have to do some real magic" and pulling a colorful mouth-coil streamer from your mouth. "And that's how you make a paper napkin disappear!" and bow to wild laughter and applause. If you can't figure out the moves from the above, email me privately and I'll give the details.
By: WR
I still like the dove pan to flowers. It is interlaced with the Harry
Potter theme I do.
By: MS
I like ending with "disappearing coke bottle". I tell them that as my
last trick, I want to show them a trick that they can do own their
own..."all you need is an empty glass bottle and a brown paper
bag"...I go through the motions of showing them how to hold the bottom
of the bottle and turning the bag over so it looks like the bottle has
vanished. They are not impressed. "Now for the hard part," say I, "to
bring the bottle back" I explain that all they have to do is wave
their hand over the bag, then reach in and pull out the bottle. As I
say this, I crumple the bag. It usually gets a good reaction.
By: KirbyC
I have a routine I posted on my website that I close my kidsshows with--but it only works well if you do balloons. The kids really like it, and seem to get a big laugh out of it. Check it out at-
http://www.geocities.com/teenmagichome/balloon.htm
By: Jon A. Hand
Several things I have used over the years:
Next to last:
--Big Production Number (silks, cards, jumbo coins, ribbons, latex fruit, etc.) from a Square Circle, or a Tip-over Box, or a Temple Screen, or a Box Load (the bag in a box load from Wilson's Complete Course in Magic). This raises the magic to a fever pitch toward the end as the items come out faster and bigger.
Last:
--Presto Vanishing Clock (has a short routine, and seems to really puzzle people). OR,
--Goodbye or The End Banner (rope version where you drop the rope into the black cloth and it magically forms into the words). OR,
--Vanishing Coke Bottle (pull it out of the production device as your last item, fake a big swig, realize that you don't have any time left to produce more for the audience, and vanish it in the usual way). OR,
--Find "lost" vanished item (vanish an egg or something else early in the show, and look for it throughout the show, finding it at last at the very end).
Hope this is some help.
By: Tate
I'm surprised no one has mentioned producing a rabbit. I've been using
a rabbit for over 15 years. (Not the same rabbit.)
It really doesn't matter how you make the bunny appear, the kids won't care once they see the bunny. I started out with some pretty cheap looking, homemade, production apparatus. But after the bunny appears, nobody is looking at the box, every kid wants to come up and pet the rabbit. I now use something a little nicer to produce the rabbit.
The rabbit is a great closer in a second sense. When I get a call from a birthday mom, I end the description of my show with, "And the very last thing I do is make a LIVE rabbit appear, that all the kids can come up and pet after the show." The mom usually says, "That's just what I was looking for!" And that's the closer!
By: Tom
I totally agree! It is the best closer I have ever used!
By: Steve V
One type of magic I love to do is childrens magic, performing for
children and doing a show w/in the show for the parents. I like doing
it because it really is character driven and though made up of basic
magic for the most part the interaction between magician and children
can be very dynamic. I like kids. I think they have two functions in
their childhood, to learn and to have fun. I enjoy doing magic for
them and for some very odd reason kids like me. I think it's because
I'm a big scary guy and they want me on their side but they do like me
and that is a big part of having a successful show.
The question I have is, and this can be directed to you magical thinkers who don't do kids shows, what makes a good opener and what, and this is the big one, what makes a good closer?
I open by walking out holding a yellow shoe lace in my hand and introduce myself and tell the kids that I'm glad that I have my lucky green lace with me for good luck cuz if not I'd be scared and nervous. Some kid will notice that the lace is yellow and tell me (this lets the kids know that hey are part of the show, not just spectators), I deny it and once I see it's yellow I change it to green and the kids think that I have the yellow in my hand and it isn't blah blah blah.....great beginning in my book. The kids jump into the show from the get go and we rock the rest of the way through.
Closers are a problem for me. I use to close by successfully restoring a torn napkin which I've been unable to restore the entire show...then with Hippity Hop Rabbits until I realized one shouldn't close with a sucker effect. Now I go with the ol' squared circle (I need a new one, larger, by the way) but that seems anti-climatic. I don't know how to end the show! Ryan from Canada, a very thoughtful magician, said that the only closer is to produce a rabbit...I'm starting to think he is right.
What do you thinkers and doers think out there in magicland? What is a good opener and what is a good closer?
By: Ed Gilmore
The purpose of the opener according to Bob Brown, is to allow the
audience (adult or children), an opportunity to get to like and accept
your performance persona If they like you, they will like your magic.
My character is a fumbling, abscent minded professor who only is only sucessful because of the children's help. I start my introducing myself but forget my name and frequently check the wrong side of a shipping tag attached to a button of my blazer. It is usually one of the kids who draw my attention to the name Profesor Ed on the Tag. I then agree that I am professor Ed and that I am there to lecture on advanced thermodynamics and astrophysics. The children correct me. I now do a warmup that lets them cheer, clap and laugh. Next, If it is a birthday party I call attention to the birthday child stating that this is a very special day, because (name of birthday child), is getting married today. The children try to correct me I keep checking my notes (large paper musical notes) and keep quessing the nature of the occasion, finally I use a flat change bag and and bithday silks produced with the help of the kids calling out the correct magic words.
I close with Roger Klause's linking ring routine with poem patter based on Poe's the Raven. My show starts with high energy and noise and ends with the children being silent to watch and hear the linking ring routine.
By: Kevin Wade
A rule that has worked well for me is to begin any show with a routine
using music and end with a routine using music.
My wife taught me a long time ago that there is just something special about a silent magic routine to music. She is usually right!
Regardless of whether or not I receive an introduction when the music starts the children (and adults) will get quiet and watch. It is a great way to warm-up the audience from the get-go. I also feel it allows the audience to know early on that you are a professional and that they are in good hands!
To get the crowd going, my opening routine uses music that is up beat. Throughout the piece many things happen to keep their attention.
For years I have ended my show with the 3-phase Mis-Made Flag Routine to patriotic music. In the end I produce a 3' x 5' American Flag attached to an 8' chrome pole from seemingly nowhere. Not wanting to brag, but this usually gains me a standing ovation. (Okay, a little bragging.) (It's probably a combination of the music and deep patriotic emotions that many people have that brings them to their feet.) (I'll take all the help I can get!)
If it is a large venue and appropriate I also use my confetti launcher (co2 type) to end the show with a big bang!
During the holiday season I end with a "Snow Storm" routine (plus confetti launcher) to Christmas type music.
When traveling light I sometimes choose to begin or end my show with a Linking Ring routine (to music of course).
The moral of the story; performing routines to music is a great way to begin and end any magic performance regardless of age! The music selection can be determined according to your character and style.
By: jb
I performed at a birthday party yesterday and my opener was
conversation WITH the children. That's right, I talked to them. This
served two purposes. First, it allowed me an opportunity to get a few
names down, identify any children that were likely more outgoing and
potential problems for me, and second, it allowed the children to feel
comfortable with me. I did this at their level, meaning I squatted
down so I wasn't a big overbearing adult.
I then asked everyone to get warmed up and began rubbing my hands together. then into the arm twisting routine Copperfield and many others have used. I then mentioned how I like to loosen up before I begin and did a little neck cracker thing. All of this allowed the kids to be involved, respond, watch, listen, think. Basically engage their senses.
Although I generally close with a double load dove pan with the production of candy and small toys, I knew many of the attendees had seen me perform that before so I opted to perform the Vanishing Bandana (we've talked the ethics of this to death, let's not go there). This is done as a tape plays and I put the tape in my player and pressed play only to realize nothing was happening. Noticing for the children that the tape player was not plugged in, I pulled out a pad of paper, drew an outlet on the pad, plugged in the player and it began. I unplugged it and it stopped. Plugged it back in, and the final effect was under way.
A production would have been better than a vanish, but it was still fun for everyone.
Oh yeah, then I did about 15 minutes of card tricks and then folded about 40 frogs from playing cards and gave them out.
By: Steve V
I talk to 'em too, just do it w/ a lace in my hand hanging there ready
for the first effect.
By: Jerry Foster
It's a good topic that you opened up on this forum. I can give you my
opener and closer and use it all the time.
I open up with Garden of Flowers however before doing, that on top of the garden of flowers foulard, I have the Collectors Workshop Fireflower and candle burning. Through the use of that I go into the Kevin James version of the floating rose. Once that is complete, I then go into the garden of flowers and produce four bouquets of feather flowers. It has always been a very strong opening for me. I close with Sean Bogunia's Dancing Hank routine which includes, Ultimate Dancing Hank, Impossible Hank and Animation Sensation. It's a great closing effect and very strong.
By: MartyS
I have been performing Kid'shows for 30+ years... closing the show has
always been a concern to me... I close with the square circle .getting
personally wrapped up in all the silks tied end to end and after this
time they are getting pretty gamey.... then I yell and pull out a
small aligator clamped at the end of my finger... sometimes scaring
the front row a bit ..then a lame ..but old Rice's "That's all Folks"
lame modest no big deal ....
but but but
I would never ever leave without Tony Griffith's Audience Rater... I made mine from Old Linking Ring article .. you might still be able to get one from hank lee... I swear by this. the kids yell and scream at the rater when prompted no matter how well the show went as they are applauding for themselves trying to beat the meter .. it eventually goes to the roof after some fluctuations... then the sign explodes party poppers are pulleed I go for 3 or four and then a flash explosion...
there is NO better way to end a kid's show than that one... it is so satisfying .. parents kids only remember the fun they had at the end ... it leaves on a quiet note after the explosion .. gives you a chance to take a final bow... this guys is just the best... I know I probably have done it about 1000 times..
audience rater is a thermometer ....painted on a stretched canvas.. the meter part is a wide red ribbon made into a loop ..half white and half red.. that upon the cheering I move so the red goes up the thermometer
the headings are
Audience Rater
Excellent
very Good
Just Ok
Not so hot
By: RichardE
Hi there, I don't do kid's magic, although I was talked into doing my
daughters party one time. I have however seen a fantastic kid's
performance, and the guy that gave it has a DVD out. His name is Terry
Herbert, I haven't seen the DVD, and I haven't seen a review, but
based on his show I would recommend it to anyone interested in kid's
magic.
He did a full show followed by a lecture. I didn't actually stay for the lecture part, but my kids helped form the audience for the show. Some of my non magic friends and their kids came too to provide enough kids for him to work to. I've seen quite a few kid's performers, and so have my kids, and we all agree this was a level above what you normally see. The kids and the adults walked out of there with aching sides. All the people I know that stayed for the lecture have said it was excellent. I'd be interested to hear any reviews of the DVD, but based on what I've seen of him I'd say it would be worth taking a chance on.
To bring this post back to openers and closers, his opener consisted of counting with a silly voice, no magic, but tears of laughter- I can't explain why, but if you see it it's hilarious. I'm not sure if this is on the DVD but it set up the whole show.
By: Jon A. Hand
My recent kid shows tie together loose ends with a Dove Pan.
Earlier in the show, I have used a rope, a chosen card (Old Maid for the younger kids), a silk, and a borrowed dollar (from a parent) each in their own effects. I use a Bengal Net to vanish them all at once during the show.
Then I start a magical baking sequence: collecting invisible paper, a spot of magic oil, and audience's blown kisses (to get the "sugar" from them). The Dove Pan then fills with individually wrapped peppermints which I promise to share with the audience, and I attempt to make some more. The second load is the missing rope, with the silk, the dollar, and the chosen card knotted into the rope at various points along the length. I tuck the silk back into my jacket pocket, give out the card and rope as souvenirs to their participants, return the dollar to its owner, and give out the peppermints to each audience member as they file out into the next room, leaving the performance area.
For larger shows, I created a huge SC out of sheet corregated cardboard, making 3 square tubes and hinging the corners together with white glue and 4" wide muslin strips. Attach all but the last corner, leaving 1/4" gap between panels. Paint the intended insides black, and allow to dry overnight. The cardboard will warp, but don't worry. Just turn them over and paint the the three exterior tube colors (mine were red, yellow, and black); when the exterior dries, the previous warp will have dropped out. The third day, hinge the last sides of the tubes together with more glue and muslin, and allow to dry. Paint that last hinge, and you are done. If you allowed that gap, your SC will fold flat into three pieces. I made my base out of scrap plywood and some block feet; the finished SC was 16" square x 16" high on the exterior tube. One that big can really hold stuff, and careful choosing of your load can make a HUGE production.
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