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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
I recently did a week of shows at the 4H fair. I was in the merchants building, and was allowed to set up a booth to promote my show, as were the other merchants, hawking their wares.
The whole week I performed for the crowds as they passed by, and as I was able to draw them to my booth. All this in the midst of the sweltering summer heat and the crowing of roosters just outside the building. 4H is 4H, and there is not a whole lot of difference from town to town! Anyway, I performed that week for literally hundreds of kids, as well as all other ages that stopped by to see my world of wonder. I employed several of my routines, with certain ones getting a LOT of use (and then there were 4, profs nightmare, linking ropes, Newton's Nightmare, sponge ball to cube, coins across, and several more. Well, it occurred to me, that with a few exceptions, kids are kids everywhere you go, and they began to fall into categories in my mind. I'm not intending to put any child "into a box", but you understand where I'm coming from. So there were the little, shy ones who were really sweet, big beautiful innocent eyes looking through my soul, and they had never seen a real magician before, let alone seeing the magic occur in their own hand. Then there were the know it alls ("I know how that trick is done!) which would make the child incredibly psychic, since I had not yet even removed the cards from the case!!!! And so they did a play by play of my performance, kindly "explaining" each move to their friends as I performed.. There were the young boys who loved magic and wanted to learn, and kept haunting my booths with multiple return trips... There was even a young boy about ten or so, who kept pleading with me to try the ropes for the profs nightmare, so I finally gave in and handed him the ropes, and he immediately proceeded to make them equal, explaining "I'm a magician too." "Well that's pretty good. Where did you learn to do that?" "I taught myself from watching YouTube." I could tell you more about that kid... Anyway, from you guys' experience, what kids would you add to my categories that I haven't mentioned?
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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Russo Inner circle So.California / Centl.Florida / retired Florida 1165 Posts |
One time in NEW YORK CITY (fresh from California) a young girl raised her hand and asked why I ''yawlked so fuhnny" I thought I tawalked funny?? so , told her I just arrived (a couple weeks) from Calif. Fun Fun Fun Ralph(russo)Rousseau
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Did you have a hard time keeping a straight face?
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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Russo Inner circle So.California / Centl.Florida / retired Florida 1165 Posts |
Just a little- the most fun I had,(60's-70's) was with Japanese Kids in Fort Lee New Jersey- giggle-giggle-giggle- learned 'ko-nee-chee-wa-' "Good Afternoon"- also often they would pay me useing a "Japanese" folding paper wallet- had to keep looking to find the $$ - and NEVER tear the paper from any Gift - IT was part of the Gift. HAve Fun - Ralph
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TommyJ Inner circle Foxboro, MA 1750 Posts |
Kids WILL be kids. They all react different to different things.
I had a very young boy removed from a day care show the other day so he could be spoken to. When revealing the die had reappeared in the hat from the die box, he let out a big "Jesus Christ!" lol (First time I've ever heard a kid say THAT!) He was only 4 years old. We all know where that originates from right? And it's not church
"Keep the Kids Laughing!"
https://www.tommyjamesmagic.com/store |
daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Reminds me of my dad when I was a boy.
I refused to pick up his ungodly habits, though.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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Russo Inner circle So.California / Centl.Florida / retired Florida 1165 Posts |
In my gospel program I use the die as "Jesus" and the box as his tomb -they couldn't find him(sucker effect) he has arisen.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Very good!!
The one kid I talked about earlier, who "was a magician" kept asking me questions that frankly, irritated me, although I didn't let on. Like when I did the Sankey effect "burden of proof", where a metal ring on my finger suddenly has a twist tie wrapped around the center after they have personally twisted the tie separately. The kid asked "Is that a bang ring?" (it's not.) I'm sure he meant well...I guess. Or he was just trying to show off his knowledge of magic and that he was in the "in crowd." I could not discern which. I treated him nice, though. No W.C. Fields "Go away kid, you bother me!" Not that I wasn't tempted!!
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Every year that I do this 4H, it's getting where I pretty much know exactly what to expect. One scenario that I can count on is the kids that "hang around" my table and keep wanting more and more magic. And that's probably a good sign, I suppose, but WHERE ARE THEIR PARENTS???
And often they bring back their friends. Another good thing I suppose, but it requires a prolific repertoire on my part, because if I keep repeating the same effects they will catch on to how it's done, as we are all taught so early in our magic careers. And sometimes they are the same kids from LAST YEAR. It is so impossible to recognize repeat faces because I've seen and performed for HUNDREDS of them. So I often ask "Have I met you? Did you see me last year?"
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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Russo Inner circle So.California / Centl.Florida / retired Florida 1165 Posts |
I used to open my kids program with "I know some of you know magic, help me fool your friends by not saying anything - only You and I will know" more often than not - it worked -- also had every one stand up and stretch - at the end, had everyone stand up, telling them to bring their hands together 10 times- "Thank You for a Standing Ovation" L-O-L
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
That would work!
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Oh, btw, how would you have handled/ dealt with the boy I was describing who was "a magician, too?"
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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Russo Inner circle So.California / Centl.Florida / retired Florida 1165 Posts |
Same - "let US keep it a secret - so ONLY YOU and I will know-of course practice - practice practic" usually they don't want to. of course I feel Kids nowdays - are a bit spoiled - and don't respect adults.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Well spoken!
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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