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SpiffnikHopkins Regular user Washington DC 135 Posts |
So I started doing table hopping at a resturant where I'm also a waiter. I let management know about my magic and we've since started a "Kid's night" where I do magic for the kids and they get free dessert. They come with their parents and bring them back again and again. I'm mainly a kid's magician and like that I can focus on the kids.
The problem I'm having now is that the kids keep coming back, and have seen all of my "A material". I have some other stuff but its not as good, and more importantly it doesn't play to kids the way the stuff they've seen is. For instence, kid's don't really go for card magic. they just don't get it. Any suggestions? I'm also a pro juggler and have worked some of that in, but these kids keep coming back again and again. I have a few that have seen most of what I can do! Which is great but becoming a problem. Any ideas? Thanks! ~Spiff |
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Spiff,
Congratulations on the table hopping !! To me it's obvious that you have to expand your repertoire, or at least modify the effects with different outcomes or presentations. I work a restaurant as well every week and I find that children love card effects ( Not the very young ones) ( obviously ) It depends on the effect. Kids love to sign their names or draw pictures on the face of the card then you can produce it via your favorite method. T&R card, or card to impossible location is always a winner. There are thousands of card effects that can be entertaining for kids. Also, Jim Sisti, author of The Magic Menu in the latest Magic Magazine suggests learning effects with items that are already on the table ie: sugar packets for example. Check out Martin Gardner's Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic. Yes, kid's can be tough. I can hear them now " I saw that one already", "I know how you did that", "It's in your other hand". You obviously have a love for kids, so I'm sure you'll put your thinking cap on and come up with some solutions. GOOD LUCK !! David Paul
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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CloseUpMagicKid Regular user Los Angeles 105 Posts |
This forces you to learn something 'new' to keep the return visitors comin' back for more!
Whenever I visit my sister, her husband is always wanting to see a new effect - mostly with cards. So this forces me to find something to show him to blow him away. It builds my repertoire in cards and forces me to learn something new prior to my visit! I don't over show him... I give him one to think about then make him wait for more on my next visit. I think you're on the right path. Keep 'em wanting more means keep em comin' back for more! The restaurant must love you! |
Jon Gallagher Veteran user Elmwood, Illinois 395 Posts |
I always carry a deck of kids' cards, like Old Maid or something. They may not understand that they picked the 3 of hearts, but they do understand if they picked the red dog.
Just an idea. |
Eldon Inner circle Virden, IL 1137 Posts |
Great suggestions here. I'd just like to say that you must be doing a great job if they keep coming back for more.
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nums Veteran user I have a life, or I would have more than 366 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-02-10 14:48, jongallagher wrote: |
JohnCollier New user John Collier 49 Posts |
Two suggestions:
1) get cardtoon. Yeah its a card trick but kids really like it (and so do adults) 2) I got a scooby-do large deck at toys-r-us for a mentalism trick that Duane Laflin showed in a lecture. The kids really like scooby. John |
JoshBlum New user California 47 Posts |
I like those ideas of using cards with pictures on them. That would really help with my little cousins.
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Poof-Daddy Inner circle Considering Stopping At Exactly 5313 Posts |
I learned a couple lessons early on (the hard way)
1) Only do a couple effects for children at any one time 2) Only 1 "A-trick" per table and I try to keep it the same for a while until a couple repeats mention that they saw that one - then I change it. Could be a couple weeks or months, depends on customer flow. 3) If they say I saw that before I ask "What else did we do?", this helps avoid trying to show them yet another that they saw before. Asking what "WE did" gets them involved and they feel on your side. 4) Know more than 5 magic tricks before running out and getting a gig. You need to be preparred for repeats. I worked a restraunt/bar for almost 2 years with basically the same crowd every weekend. I always had "1 new trick" to show the regulars and that sufficed for them. 5) Don't be afraid to resort to the stuff you never do anymore. When I learned ambitious card via slights I put away my svengalli deck (forgetting how powerfull it can be)(too impressed with MY sleight of hand skills ) Pull out that "old" stuff in a pinch. 6) If all else fails, Teach the child a simple trick. They love that and you may have just inspired the next Copperfield Last, and I know this will spark some cotroversey, I do balloons, Yes I said it outloud I have resorted to twisting balloons. They LOVE that too and no one says magicians can't twist a balloon or two. Sorry about the long post but these all have helped me in the past and I hope someone else can learn from any or all of them.
Cancer Sux - It is time to find a Cure
Don't spend so much time trying not to die that you forget how to live - H's wife to H on CSI Miami (paraphrased). |
RandomEffects Veteran user Boston, MA 323 Posts |
If you really want to deal with the repeat kids and have run out "tricks". Try teaching them a basic trick then asking them to practice it and show it to you on their next visit.
Not only do you insure a repeat visit for the management but you have also let those kids in on a big "secret"! The real bonus is that it will take a lot of kids at leats 2-3 visits to master any trick. And if you are ever lacking in stuff to show them then spend th $6.00 and buy the pocket version of Greg Wilson's "Encyclopedia Of Magic" containing 1,000 tricks for beginer to advanced. Mat |
shane_delon Regular user 114 Posts |
Many of us who want to entertain use balloons. Give them to the children to play with and then do magic for the adults. Maybe a sponge trick for the kids.
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jlareau Loyal user Henrietta NY / Chicago Ill 220 Posts |
I do balloons as well. Word of warning: Once the kids see your making ballons...there's no going back. Prepare to be swamped with kids asking for everything from a poodle to a laptop computer! (Yes I actually had a child ask for that.)
Also try to create a rotation for your tricks. Say you only know eight effects and you want to do four effects per routine. That gives you 70 possible routines to work with. (8 nCr 4 = 70 for the math people out there.) Jlareau :bluebikes:
Jonathan Lareau A.K.A "Jonny Card Trick"
"Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Albert Einstein Feel free to check out my website www.jonlareau.com |
tricksite New user Colorado 16 Posts |
Working with kids in a rest. isn't all that much different than working a kidshow. I like to goof off with them, ask them their name, make jokes, etc. In a kidshow if you can get a good rapport with them, you find that you don't have to cram so much magic into 30 minutes to keep their interest. Same with restaurants.
About cards... Yeah kids don't connect to the 3 of spades etc, signed cards help, but I really suggest this: Use the cards as objects and find material that does this. Example, David Williamson's three card trick (williamson's wonders). It's a counting trick, (three card repeat for close-up) the repetition is great, kids love repetition. It also blows away adults. Instead of signed card to pocket, I pull it from behind the Kids head, under their arm etc. You can adapt alot of magic towards kids, I use 2 in the hand 1 in the pocket alot, but it works even better if I have them count along with me. Kiditude: (attitude with kids) Be amazed with them, be more amazed than they are! They love to watch your face and laugh with you. Oh, and I TOTALLY agree with a teach in... I often have kids freakin out wanting to follow me etc. Wanting more tricks. I learned a few old things that are quick and easy from some kid's magic books specifically for this. I have found that if you sit with them and teach them a simple trick they can do, they calm down, and they seem to treat you with a bit more respect. It helps tremendously with those kids that want to harrass you. (suddenly you're their pal!) And the parents appreciate you more. Sorry so long! Cosmo |
Shawn D Elite user Hughson,Ca 465 Posts |
Alot of great advice here. I am with a few of you hear about the balloons.I use to only do magic and got a lot of repeat costomers so I started doing balloons.You don't even have to be an expert at it either. Even though i have had kids name off some unreal things I just tell them I am a better magicain than a balloon guy and have them pick something esle. It also gives you a place to try to new balloon creations so you don't have them laying all around your house to pop.
Shawn |
SpiffnikHopkins Regular user Washington DC 135 Posts |
I defiantly definatly always try and do balloons. They're not the kind of magic that I can impress myself with, but it plays HUGE to the kids. Afterall, that's what I'm there to do. To anyone out there even THINKING about balloons, do it. They're very easy to do (you'd be suprised), and play better then most magic tricks I've ever seen (with kids).
~Spiff PS THanks guys, these are some awesome posts. NO worries about length when you have such great stuff to say! Keep'm coming! |
samthemagical New user Grand Rapids, MI 90 Posts |
I have the same [not really a] problem; I have an orthodontist, whom I visit once a month, and each time he gets his entire staff together and they watch something new. I PLAN for it, so it make a steady trickle of new effects. See if you can't make them WANT to return ,just to see whats new with you.
Good luck!b |
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