Hi everyone,

in my experience very few magic tricks make the kids applaud by themselves.

One time I performed the trick dynaswitch where you transform a piece of paper into a bill - and the kids started to applaud because they really loved this effect.

Which tricks brought you spontaneous applause?

Daniel

It does depend if kids KNOW to applaud when they like something. You would be surprised how many young ones are not taught this. I actually remind or teach them at the beginning of the show.
And still if it is not in their nature, they still can forget. All you need is a few to lead the pack and they will follow.

the more visual the more they are likely to clap.
Like if you produced a bird .

I agree with Powermagic. There no guarantees with kids. A dove production or any color change are your best bets.

The tricks that I get spontaneous applause from are the ones that I say "ok kids it is time to applaud"

Lol Al

don

I find that this not only happens with kids but adults as well. It is not that they do not like the performance, they are just not aware of the proper etiquette or audience-performer relationship. Typically they will watch the effect and then say "ooo","hey","wow", or "that was cool" (which is positive acknowledgement in itself)but won't applaud only because they don't know that a performance is a 2 way interaction. The performer entertains and the audience shows their appreciation of the performer and his attempt to entertain them with applause. This does not mean that the audience need applaud if the performer or performance is poor.

I always applaud a performer who has worked very hard to entertain me while in an audience...and I am usually the first to begin the applause, then others will chime in with theirs kind of like 'oh yeah, I almost forgot to applaud'.

Applause is part of an etiquette, and a courtesy to a performer that has been lost
primarily because live performances aren't as prevelent as they once were and have been replaced for the most part by television entertainment...which you do not need to applaud for.

This being said...if I do get any "spontaneous" applause it is when I produce my rabbit at the end of my performance.

Wolly

One time the MC announced that I was sick and unable to come. I got a standing ovation. Does that tell you something?

Rev Bill that's funny.

The other Al is 100% correct. You can get them to clap anytime you wanted nonverbally if you condition your audience at the start of the show.

Al
I find that once I get going just taking a bow will tell them to applaud.

I love the bit in Whit Haydn's linking rings routine where he tells the victim that spinning the ring that's just been linked will get the audience to applaud. Then he demonstrates. This is a wonderful sublety that tells the audience what to do without just telling the audience what to do.

-Patrick

I almost never get applause from the children. I find I frequently get applause from the adults at the conclusion of my "singing worms" version of Professor's Nightmare.

Kids these days don't know to appluade...and honestly, either to their parents. They feel "I'm not in a theater show or a big money production so clapping isn't appropriate."

The MAIN PROBLEM that I have found is that the adults in the room tell the kids to sit their and be quiet and not be disruptive during a show. So the kids do just that...they sit there sitting on their hands with their mouths shut!

About 5 minutes before my show starts, the host get's all the kids situated and I have a 5 minute pre-recorded WARM UP that get's the kids going. I'm not out in front as I always like to make an entrance, but my warm up takes care of all that for me.

The recording was done for my by a professional radio personallity out here in Dallas who happens to be a good friend of mine. He has turned it into a game he explains how it works, when to be quiet and when to yell and scream and applaude.

It gets the kids ready to enjoy the show and when I come out to take my opening bow and I strike my applause pose, they're clapping, screaming, and eating it up just waiting to see what I have for them next!

My 2 cents...

Christopher

Aaaarrrgh just thought of an old very bad joke...

That would be a "Bow Movement"

no applause for that!

Can you explain how it "gets the kids going"? Going in direction of applause that is. Can you give examples? I have seen something like this with a live person on stage but not just an audio file running.

The only trick I get spontaneous applause from is my Rocky Raccoon routine. It always surprises me, sometimes he doesn't even do much and the people start clapping. Most of my other routines I know exactly where the applause is coming.

Oh I know one ... the Balloon Bag gets automatic applause always.

I created an effect just for that purpose.]

http://www.innovativedeceptions.com/id_magication2.htm

Max

I have got to say I quite often get spontaneous from my routine using Lyles "Papers to Hat". The usual comment is, "How did youdo that", and you know the reply, "Very Well".
If anyone is interested the link is;

http://www.colinjohnmagic.co.uk/subprod/......782.aspx

Harris
I want to make it chrystal clear I did not say that I take a bow movement to get the kids to applaud. LOL

It's more like a bow motion.