WHAT IS KID MAGIC?
Kid's magic doesn't mean that the tricks you perform are something that a kid can pull off (although sometimes kids can). When I talk about kids magic I simply mean performing for kids, and if you are familiar with the second episode of Celebracadabra you will see eactly how ruthless kids can be. I am going to write this thread to educate people on how to handle kids when performing as well as what material to use with kids. This is the third in my series of guides. check out the others.
Guide to Street Magic: http://forums.theory11.com/showthread.php?t=7383
Guide to Showmanship: http://forums.theory11.com/showthread.php?t=7412
WHAT SHOULD I DO BEFORE LEAVING MY HOUSE?
Before you leave the house it is important to wear an appropriate attire as it is with any other form of magic. Now, if you recall, in episode 2 of Celebracadabra the competators wore strange costumes based on movie and fiction characters. (Well except for the Ketchup costume and the candy thing.) Anyway, my point here is that a costume like that is unnecessary and it was just part of the show. I will often wear either a white oxford dress shirt and some dress pants if I'm performing for a small group of kids or a suit if it is for many kids. It gives me that classical magician appearance which they probably think all magicians look like. Now that I'm dressed what should I do? Get your material and store it properly.
WHAT MATERIAL SHOULD I BRING?
Well there are many variables that come nto play here. For example if you have a small group of kids then you should bring a deck of cards because a few card tricks would be appropriate. If you are doing an entire alementary school show then a card trick is not the most practical thing, as it is good for a small group of people that can easily see the card but not for an entire auditorium where only a couple kids will be able to see it. If your performing area is dark or dimly lit then D'lites may work but you would have to see. Silk tricks are very handy and visual so they may suit you. If you have a large budget then you may invest in buying a transpo box or you can make one yourself. Rope tricks like the original torn and restored rope have gone out of style which means it is a great time to learn these rope effects because fewer people will know how to do them. Basically anything with animals will enthuse kids just because you produced something cute and furry. ( Do NOT produce a hairless cat with caner and leprecy because the kids won't like it.) But anything lwill work for a small group but when performing for an entire elementary school you should try to invest in larger stunning effects.
STORING MY MATERIAL
When storing items they should be neatly packed in the order you will use them as to avoid useless digging through your trunk. Small effects may be kept in a small box but big effects can be a problem. If you have ever seen a magician at a birthday then you will notice that they have a large wheely trunk. These are useful if you can find one to buy or create your own. You may also keep stuff in the transpo trunk if you have one. You can then remove the items and spread them out over a table to leave the trunk empty. You may also have your own system that works for you and that's good. This just gives you a basic idea of what you could try.
DEALING WITH KIDS
If you are a parent then you already are educated in this feild, (hopefully) and you may skip over this section.
Pretty much every single kid is a heckler. There is no way that you can control them all. and you can't call them out in front of everyone because they will get sad and tell their parents which can lead to you having some issues. It is better just to say at the beggining that any talking will result with you not performing anymore. You can say your throat is sore so you can't talk over everyone and if they are not quite then you won't be able to go on. I also put a line of tape across the floor and tell them that if they go across the line they will be given a warning. If they do it again, i will not go on until they're across the line, on the third time I will make them completely dissapear. Younger kids are generally scared of dissapearing and will give you no problem. these are how I handle them but you are welcome to do your own thng. Also never swear around them and never use innapropriate chokes like: "Ok, so this white guy is in a br, when a black dude and a chinese guy come up to him..." This is innapropriate and the kids may tell their parents leaving you with problems again.
WHAT IF THEY WANT TO INSPECT STUFF
Generally kids will not ask to inspect stuff but the more adventerous and daring kids might. If the item can not be inspected or you are worried about the kid breaking the object, just explain to him that you only have a limited time and want to make sure that they get to see all of your magic so if there is time at the end he can look. If they remember that you said they could look at he end and ask to then you can simply say you have to be somewhere else soon and need to get going soon. If the kid steals the thing anyway then do not get mad or yell, just follow him to his teacher and tell the teache what he did. They will probably return the item and then the teacher will take care of the rest.
TO SUM IT UP
To sum it up kids are the hardest audiance you will ever deal with and all kids raise a threat. However the steps above will help you get over it and overcome their demonic ways. If you handle the children well then you open up oportunities for birthday parties and such. I hope this was helpful and I will post more guides ion the future.
P.S.: If you want something aded to this list or have a question. PM me and I'll be glad to discuss it.
Dylan P.
Kid's magic doesn't mean that the tricks you perform are something that a kid can pull off (although sometimes kids can). When I talk about kids magic I simply mean performing for kids, and if you are familiar with the second episode of Celebracadabra you will see eactly how ruthless kids can be. I am going to write this thread to educate people on how to handle kids when performing as well as what material to use with kids. This is the third in my series of guides. check out the others.
Guide to Street Magic: http://forums.theory11.com/showthread.php?t=7383
Guide to Showmanship: http://forums.theory11.com/showthread.php?t=7412
WHAT SHOULD I DO BEFORE LEAVING MY HOUSE?
Before you leave the house it is important to wear an appropriate attire as it is with any other form of magic. Now, if you recall, in episode 2 of Celebracadabra the competators wore strange costumes based on movie and fiction characters. (Well except for the Ketchup costume and the candy thing.) Anyway, my point here is that a costume like that is unnecessary and it was just part of the show. I will often wear either a white oxford dress shirt and some dress pants if I'm performing for a small group of kids or a suit if it is for many kids. It gives me that classical magician appearance which they probably think all magicians look like. Now that I'm dressed what should I do? Get your material and store it properly.
WHAT MATERIAL SHOULD I BRING?
Well there are many variables that come nto play here. For example if you have a small group of kids then you should bring a deck of cards because a few card tricks would be appropriate. If you are doing an entire alementary school show then a card trick is not the most practical thing, as it is good for a small group of people that can easily see the card but not for an entire auditorium where only a couple kids will be able to see it. If your performing area is dark or dimly lit then D'lites may work but you would have to see. Silk tricks are very handy and visual so they may suit you. If you have a large budget then you may invest in buying a transpo box or you can make one yourself. Rope tricks like the original torn and restored rope have gone out of style which means it is a great time to learn these rope effects because fewer people will know how to do them. Basically anything with animals will enthuse kids just because you produced something cute and furry. ( Do NOT produce a hairless cat with caner and leprecy because the kids won't like it.) But anything lwill work for a small group but when performing for an entire elementary school you should try to invest in larger stunning effects.
STORING MY MATERIAL
When storing items they should be neatly packed in the order you will use them as to avoid useless digging through your trunk. Small effects may be kept in a small box but big effects can be a problem. If you have ever seen a magician at a birthday then you will notice that they have a large wheely trunk. These are useful if you can find one to buy or create your own. You may also keep stuff in the transpo trunk if you have one. You can then remove the items and spread them out over a table to leave the trunk empty. You may also have your own system that works for you and that's good. This just gives you a basic idea of what you could try.
DEALING WITH KIDS
If you are a parent then you already are educated in this feild, (hopefully) and you may skip over this section.
Pretty much every single kid is a heckler. There is no way that you can control them all. and you can't call them out in front of everyone because they will get sad and tell their parents which can lead to you having some issues. It is better just to say at the beggining that any talking will result with you not performing anymore. You can say your throat is sore so you can't talk over everyone and if they are not quite then you won't be able to go on. I also put a line of tape across the floor and tell them that if they go across the line they will be given a warning. If they do it again, i will not go on until they're across the line, on the third time I will make them completely dissapear. Younger kids are generally scared of dissapearing and will give you no problem. these are how I handle them but you are welcome to do your own thng. Also never swear around them and never use innapropriate chokes like: "Ok, so this white guy is in a br, when a black dude and a chinese guy come up to him..." This is innapropriate and the kids may tell their parents leaving you with problems again.
WHAT IF THEY WANT TO INSPECT STUFF
Generally kids will not ask to inspect stuff but the more adventerous and daring kids might. If the item can not be inspected or you are worried about the kid breaking the object, just explain to him that you only have a limited time and want to make sure that they get to see all of your magic so if there is time at the end he can look. If they remember that you said they could look at he end and ask to then you can simply say you have to be somewhere else soon and need to get going soon. If the kid steals the thing anyway then do not get mad or yell, just follow him to his teacher and tell the teache what he did. They will probably return the item and then the teacher will take care of the rest.
TO SUM IT UP
To sum it up kids are the hardest audiance you will ever deal with and all kids raise a threat. However the steps above will help you get over it and overcome their demonic ways. If you handle the children well then you open up oportunities for birthday parties and such. I hope this was helpful and I will post more guides ion the future.
P.S.: If you want something aded to this list or have a question. PM me and I'll be glad to discuss it.
Dylan P.
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