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You should perform to kids sometime in your life.
so so true Asian Copperfield it is just so rewarding. We should have like an EOM day where we all go and perform to those who are disadvantaged all wearing EOM uniform! :D theres an idea! hehe
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Tim
You don’t get into magic…..magic gets into YOU
magictim01 that sounds like a brilliant idea :)
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Don’r rush your illusions, let the audience take it in.
OMG an EOM day? Maybe the day this site was established? Or when the EOM youtube channel was established? Because i think this will work since we are a community :D Great idea mate, hope Vinh an the rest of the crew see this
I haven't performed for children I'd like to try it out! Children will give someone the best reaction he could ever get!
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I am a magician! Wanna see my wand?
I perform for kids all the time. However, when you think of it, I'm also performing for their parents too, because they're watching usually as intensively as the kids are.
A few basic rules do apply when performing for juniors. One thing I've found is that card tricks just don't work with little ones. Whatever the effect, I've determined that the kids just don't have the mental capacity that adults have, and so trying to have a 6yr old remember the card they've chosen and recall it later often falls flat. Simple sandwich, packet or "the only turned over card in the deck" effects will work with teenagers and above, but anything younger (as a rule) just doesn't work out for me.
I've also found that the more ridiculous the patter, the better the effect. My sponge ball routine involves retrieving GREEN balls from a frog-shaped purse. So they're not sponge balls at all, but frog eggs. And it seems almost every magician uses red ones exclusively; this sort of breaks that tradition. With silly patter, I have a ball with it. (no pun intended there!)
Another thing is colour - the more colourful, the more interest by the kids. My "magic fairy dust" is a fine powdery irridescent material, but it beats using invisible dust you retrieve from your pocket. Only need a pinch, but the eyes of the kids really widen when the see it.
I give magic wands away - little four-inch plastic ones I buy in bulk from US. They probably cost me less than 5c each, and if you can leave a souvenir, so much the better.
Being an ex-pat Canadian, I give pennies out as souvenirs when I've done the effect (often a penny out of a pen cap, and of course the pen itself is a Cdn souvenir item).
I believe most kid magic, especially close-up, is done best with everyday objects rather than magical-looking boxes or props - by the mere introduction of such a prop immediately shouts "gimmicked!". Stage magic of course is completely different, and one would expect the magi to have an assortment of somewhat exotic and mysterious apparatii in view.
Keeping it simple will keep their attention. Using silly words will make it even better.
Bottom line? THINK LIKE A KID!
Works for me :)
Dave
A few basic rules do apply when performing for juniors. One thing I've found is that card tricks just don't work with little ones. Whatever the effect, I've determined that the kids just don't have the mental capacity that adults have, and so trying to have a 6yr old remember the card they've chosen and recall it later often falls flat. Simple sandwich, packet or "the only turned over card in the deck" effects will work with teenagers and above, but anything younger (as a rule) just doesn't work out for me.
I've also found that the more ridiculous the patter, the better the effect. My sponge ball routine involves retrieving GREEN balls from a frog-shaped purse. So they're not sponge balls at all, but frog eggs. And it seems almost every magician uses red ones exclusively; this sort of breaks that tradition. With silly patter, I have a ball with it. (no pun intended there!)
Another thing is colour - the more colourful, the more interest by the kids. My "magic fairy dust" is a fine powdery irridescent material, but it beats using invisible dust you retrieve from your pocket. Only need a pinch, but the eyes of the kids really widen when the see it.
I give magic wands away - little four-inch plastic ones I buy in bulk from US. They probably cost me less than 5c each, and if you can leave a souvenir, so much the better.
Being an ex-pat Canadian, I give pennies out as souvenirs when I've done the effect (often a penny out of a pen cap, and of course the pen itself is a Cdn souvenir item).
I believe most kid magic, especially close-up, is done best with everyday objects rather than magical-looking boxes or props - by the mere introduction of such a prop immediately shouts "gimmicked!". Stage magic of course is completely different, and one would expect the magi to have an assortment of somewhat exotic and mysterious apparatii in view.
Keeping it simple will keep their attention. Using silly words will make it even better.
Bottom line? THINK LIKE A KID!
Works for me :)
Dave
I believe that kids are a very good audience because all of them are opened-minded and they are fascinated because they see something amazing and incredible happening in fron of their eyes! Adults are always trying to figure out the trick and not get "fooled". They don't understand that as magicians we don't try to fool them but to entertain them and make them belive in th extraodinary something that kids believe in!
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I am a magician! Wanna see my wand?
You're right, John. And it's all in the delivery, or presentation.
In order to perform magic for children well, you have to think like a kid. You know what makes kids laugh - funny faces, noises (FARTS!) and silly patter to name a few. And while it is often said it's good to involve your audience, this is especially true with children. If at all possible, do the magic right in their hands, not just in front of their eyes.
The only thing I've found that simply does not work with young kids is card magic; just about every other form (well, maybe not mentalist effects...) is fascinating to young eyes. As you pointed out, John, the adult audience is usually burning your hands, trying to catch you or figure out how an effect was accomplished. With kids, they're more wrapped up in the moment, in the wonder of it all.
When I do magic for kids where I work, they'll often ask me to "do it again" or "how'd you do that?". And so I'll make them feel really special by saying, "how about I show YOU how to do a trick?". I'll show them a Penetrating Matches kind of thing, how solids can pass right through each other, then teach it to them. THEN.... I'll bring out a couple of rubber bands and do a Crazy Man's Handcuffs or ring & rubber band effect, telling them it works the same way... leave them rubber bands to try out and it'll keep them busy for hours. I've got their curiosity going with the matches, and then give them a bit of confidence in teaching them how to do it, to try on Mum & Dad or their mates when they get back home.
Now I could leave it there, but by continuing into a rubber band (or similar "penetration" effect), I've kept that old vaudeville rule - always leave them wanting more. And possibly, sparked their curiosity enough to learn more magic.
Dave
In order to perform magic for children well, you have to think like a kid. You know what makes kids laugh - funny faces, noises (FARTS!) and silly patter to name a few. And while it is often said it's good to involve your audience, this is especially true with children. If at all possible, do the magic right in their hands, not just in front of their eyes.
The only thing I've found that simply does not work with young kids is card magic; just about every other form (well, maybe not mentalist effects...) is fascinating to young eyes. As you pointed out, John, the adult audience is usually burning your hands, trying to catch you or figure out how an effect was accomplished. With kids, they're more wrapped up in the moment, in the wonder of it all.
When I do magic for kids where I work, they'll often ask me to "do it again" or "how'd you do that?". And so I'll make them feel really special by saying, "how about I show YOU how to do a trick?". I'll show them a Penetrating Matches kind of thing, how solids can pass right through each other, then teach it to them. THEN.... I'll bring out a couple of rubber bands and do a Crazy Man's Handcuffs or ring & rubber band effect, telling them it works the same way... leave them rubber bands to try out and it'll keep them busy for hours. I've got their curiosity going with the matches, and then give them a bit of confidence in teaching them how to do it, to try on Mum & Dad or their mates when they get back home.
Now I could leave it there, but by continuing into a rubber band (or similar "penetration" effect), I've kept that old vaudeville rule - always leave them wanting more. And possibly, sparked their curiosity enough to learn more magic.
Dave
You're right, John. And it's all in the delivery, or presentation.\thanks for all the information! Very helpful, for me at least because as I said I've never performed for children!
In order to perform magic for children well, you have to think like a kid. You know what makes kids laugh - funny faces, noises (FARTS!) and silly patter to name a few. And while it is often said it's good to involve your audience, this is especially true with children. If at all possible, do the magic right in their hands, not just in front of their eyes.
The only thing I've found that simply does not work with young kids is card magic; just about every other form (well, maybe not mentalist effects...) is fascinating to young eyes. As you pointed out, John, the adult audience is usually burning your hands, trying to catch you or figure out how an effect was accomplished. With kids, they're more wrapped up in the moment, in the wonder of it all.
When I do magic for kids where I work, they'll often ask me to "do it again" or "how'd you do that?". And so I'll make them feel really special by saying, "how about I show YOU how to do a trick?". I'll show them a Penetrating Matches kind of thing, how solids can pass right through each other, then teach it to them. THEN.... I'll bring out a couple of rubber bands and do a Crazy Man's Handcuffs or ring & rubber band effect, telling them it works the same way... leave them rubber bands to try out and it'll keep them busy for hours. I've got their curiosity going with the matches, and then give them a bit of confidence in teaching them how to do it, to try on Mum & Dad or their mates when they get back home.
Now I could leave it there, but by continuing into a rubber band (or similar "penetration" effect), I've kept that old vaudeville rule - always leave them wanting more. And possibly, sparked their curiosity enough to learn more magic.
Dave
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I am a magician! Wanna see my wand?
i mostly aways perform to kids they go really mad for it and their little faces little up like light bulbs lol
i love the sound of EOM day but dont think i'll b there as i live in the uk :-(
i love the sound of EOM day but dont think i'll b there as i live in the uk :-(
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Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen
i mostly aways perform to kids they go really mad for it and their little faces little up like light bulbs lolSame goes for me! I live in Greece :(
i love the sound of EOM day but dont think i'll b there as i live in the uk :-(
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I am a magician! Wanna see my wand?
Children's magic traditionally has at least three other factors no one has yet mentioned. 1) Magician in trouble or unaware of things happening that the kids see. David Ginn plays this up and makes it a running gag that plays well and makes a little magic go a long way. Google or doe a YouTube search for him for many examples. He is a premier children's magician in the Atlanta, Georgia, USA school market. He also works as a magician for Coca Cola. He even sells a line of books, videos, and props for kid's shows.
2) Story themed magic where the story is the big thing. Kids know how to listen to and follow interesting stories, but when magical things happen in the process of telling the story it makes story time fantasy come alive.
3) Sucker effects. However, be careful not to make fools out of any child. Always find a way of softening the blow of the discovery or climax. Congratulate them for getting further, spotting it sooner, or turn the tables on yourself at the end instead, that is, you come to the conclusion and you make the mistake and be fooled by it even though they too were thinking or shouting it. You can always blame it on you rabbit, puppet, or an invisible "friend" who must have changed it, vanished it, or painted it a different color, etc.
PS: Children’s magic is 80% of what I have been doing for the last 50 years.
2) Story themed magic where the story is the big thing. Kids know how to listen to and follow interesting stories, but when magical things happen in the process of telling the story it makes story time fantasy come alive.
3) Sucker effects. However, be careful not to make fools out of any child. Always find a way of softening the blow of the discovery or climax. Congratulate them for getting further, spotting it sooner, or turn the tables on yourself at the end instead, that is, you come to the conclusion and you make the mistake and be fooled by it even though they too were thinking or shouting it. You can always blame it on you rabbit, puppet, or an invisible "friend" who must have changed it, vanished it, or painted it a different color, etc.
PS: Children’s magic is 80% of what I have been doing for the last 50 years.
so so true Asian Copperfield it is just so rewarding. We should have like an EOM day where we all go and perform to those who are disadvantaged all wearing EOM uniform! :D theres an idea! heheI like this idea
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Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen
Not sure if this has been said yet, but watch your sleights with children! I've found that I struggle to misdirect some children correctly and this can bugger up my sleights!
Granted though I don't perform for children... (unless it's family!)
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Tom
Granted though I don't perform for children... (unless it's family!)
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Tom
so so true Asian Copperfield it is just so rewarding. We should have like an EOM day where we all go and perform to those who are disadvantaged all wearing EOM uniform! :D theres an idea! hehe
Wow, great idea TIm!
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“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”
Thomas Jefferson