The Kids

[RDChopper]

What up? I know I have not posted like I used to do in the past and I plan to change that, meanwhile I want to share with you guys this

http://www.vimeo.com/8858276

I have seen a lot of threads asking about tips for performing for children, and in my personal opinion I didnt find it that hard, I didn't had to learn new tricks with sponges or bunnies or ropes or things like that, I sticked with cards and it went really really fine .

So any comment is really appreciated and Im looking for comments and feedback.

Thanks a lot guys see you around.

 

[chriswiehl]

yea kid that age can comprehend card magic.
i feel that lots of the kid magic threads may include kids who are 3.5-6 years old. like kindergarten and such. my gf's sister is in kidergarten, and she doesnt like my magic. she only like mouth coils and sparkles n stuff.
so yea
good video

 

[Luis Vega]

I think this kids were older than the ones that I encounter...anyway good job!!

you are somehow right about the kids, but also the kids are the worst hecklers..since they usually touch everything...besides is a whole different world perform for kids, since they are more used to the "cape and hat" style

that´s why when I do a show, in case I encounter 2-3 kids, I carry little gimmicks like the ones sold in magic sets for kids, to be prepared for them..those li´l tricks always hit hard on kids






ó llevo a mi perro labrador, amigo de todos los niños!!!

 

[Justin.Morris]

I generally don't like performing for kids. Unfortunately I get a lot of requests for kids shows. Eventually I will have to start. Nice work in the vid!

j

 

[RDChopper]

Thanlks

About chris comment, I am acctually curious about that, performing for kids around 7-8 years old is one thing but 4 o 5 years? That's definetly not my alley, and thats why I have declined some jobs involving that. What is your oopinion? should you stick to the things that you feel comfortable doing or risk it for the job?

 

[Luis Vega]

Thanlks

About chris comment, I am acctually curious about that, performing for kids around 7-8 years old is one thing but 4 o 5 years? That's definetly not my alley, and thats why I have declined some jobs involving that. What is your oopinion? should you stick to the things that you feel comfortable doing or risk it for the job?

never risk!!
it´s better not to do a show that will probably fail due to those circunstances than do it and getting kick out

maybe you should say something like "My show is for 16+" when you are negociating the contract...just saying

 

[RealityOne]

I am actually curious about that, performing for kids around 7-8 years old is one thing but 4 or 5 years? That's definitely not my alley, and thats why I have declined some jobs involving that. What is your opinion? Should you stick to the things that you feel comfortable doing or risk it for the job?

Kids shows are very different that typical "street" magic. Although you may be able to entertain a group of kids for 5 minutes with a card routine, the whole show cannot be cards. Most kids shows need to be around a half an hour to 45 minutes. Also, the presentation is more like close up or parlor than street. You most likely will perform using a table or stand.

You need a variety of effects such as sponge balls, cups & balls, linking rings, rope tricks and other small stage illusions (zombie ball, magic milk picture, magic candy maker, vanishing bandanna, etc.).

Also, kids shows require a lot more patter and interaction. Also, you have to have a good sense of humor and be able to be silly. The best kids shows have humor that both the parents and kids enjoy (think of how the movie Shrek appeals to everyone from 5 to 75). You also need to have very good audience control skills and lots of confidence. Kids love to shout out during performances, everything from "I know that trick" (which is really funny when all you've done is asked someone to pick a card) to shouting out the name of the card that you are not supposed to know. Also, if you make a mistake, the kids will call you out on it.

Also, as you recognize, there is a real difference between kids in the 3 to 4 range, the 5 to 6 range, the 7 to 10 range and the 12 to 14 range.

My advice is don't do a paid kids show without a lot of preparation and practice. If people are paying you, they expect a professional with a perfect presentation. There really is no room for error... otherwise, you have one unhappy customer.

If you are interested in children's magic, check out "Seriously Silly" by David Kaye (there is a book and a DVD) and "Kidding Around" by Chris Capehart (DVD).

 

[LuseifHo]

youre lucky. You performed for the older kids...
I did 2 shows for kids in total and did not enjoy it as much as I hoped.
Although it went very successfully... I just did not enjoy the whole feel of it. Kids have a lot of energy which needs to be screamed out and basically danced out. Unless forced to sit still, they will crowd and make you feel claustraphobic. They yell out all the time during tricks so unless it is a purely simple and visual trick, which it should be, your presentation will get bombed.
For kids, you just want simple, direct, interactive, engaging, and short. Ever since then, Ive been turning down offers for kid parties... not my cup of tea....

 

[RDChopper]

I agree with the above, all was going okay, I keep it simple, An ACR, then some tranpositioins and hte kids love it.

I even love the imagination they have, for example when I started doing the ACR, one of their first explanations where " so the card that you putted in the middle changes places with the one on top? how cool! can you show us again?".

The thing they don't care about is card location's etc, they need really visual stuff, for example, I started to run out of tricks with a particular group so I decided to perform criterion, it went really good they loved the vanishes, but right when I showed them the 3 cards right between the kings (wich is supposedly the climax) there wast a single reaction.

THey just didnt screamed, or were struck in awe, or asked me about it, I even was like "see they found your three cards" and they were like "mister mister show us the trick were you change the card in my hand!"