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Wolfgang Loyal user TEXAS 223 Posts |
I was at a festival this weekend and there was an entertainer doing various stuff, riding a unicycle, juggling, etc. At one point he blew up an animal balloon, stuck one end in his mouth, and pretended to swallow the whole thing like a sword.
Usually, I think anything goes for a performer. But there were a lot of young children watching who thought he was indeed swallowing the balloon. And I was shocked that anyone would do anything to encourage kids to put balloons in their mouths. Am I just a Nervous Nelly or do others share my concern?
"Sure, I do Scotch and Soda in every show. What? You mean there's a trick by that name?"
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macmagic Veteran user MA 400 Posts |
Not just you. I am right there with you! Kids will imitate that and choke. A lot of people will say, "Well, it's a family thing, so they should be more mature, etc."
But there is no way that any trick is that good or will get that big of a reaction to take such a risk. I think it is irresponsible on the part of the performer, and if I had hired him I would not be hiring that entertainer again! Greg
"Its a magic thing...........you wouldn't understand"
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
That sort of thing ranks right up there with mouth coils from the mouth: Simply revolting!
And even more so when it's done for youngsters. Not only is it dangerous should youngsters try to imitate the magician, but it's downright disgusting. Kids may like gross stuff; but that doesn't mean we should encourage them by example! |
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Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
I've done the balloon swallow for adults, but there is no way I'd do it for young kids.
Not because it's gross, but it would be dangerous for them to copy me
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
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Rob Johnston Inner circle Utah 2060 Posts |
It is good for those drug smugglers who swallow ballons full of narcotics.
Maybe he was showing the drug smugglers.
"Genius is another word for magic, and the whole point of magic is that it is inexplicable." - Margot Fonteyn
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stu-di-doo Regular user Cumbria, UK 160 Posts |
As a newcomer to the business I would never do that and also as a parent I wouldn't want my kids to see that either!!
Let's remember how kids learn....they mimic others! An entertainer near me has some debatable (?) techniques including when making some of his balloon animals (such as a poodles tail) he puts balloons into his mouth to suck the air into the end. I think this is too close to the mark already! Sorry for ranting, just my opinion! Stu Di Doo |
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
If I was doing a straight show for very young children I most like wouldn't do a stunt like this but I would not hesitate to included it in a family show, especially at a festival.
I have been doing fire eating in my festival show for over a decade and have never had a single problem with it. But then I always admonish the little tykes by telling them not to do this at home.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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flowJuggler New user East Coast USA 71 Posts |
When I first saw it done I though..."There is a great trick I can never do".
It can be a great routine, especially since sword swallowing is sort of mythical. Unfortunately, encouraging by example anything that is so accessible and dangerous for children, I feel, is inappropriate. It is fun and funny until you get the call from a parent that a child choked to death after watching your show. A while back I took out anything that was questionable in for my child performances. I used to juggle a machete in my kids show and gave the "don't do this" warnings. I later found that it just wasn't worth it, I just don't like to get that serious in my show. And besides, the element of danger doesn't really do much for kids. Kids are generally fearless and invincible...the dangerous tricks are better suited for adults that can appreciate the consequences. So in conclusion...Balloon Swallowing Routine...good gag...Too Good. -P
Ãœber goodest signature ever.
VarietyArtsBlog.com |
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Billy Whizz Special user Plymouth, UK 576 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-05-10 16:31, Payne wrote: I would NEVER do this either. I don't understand Payne, IMO, swallowing a balloon is no different to swallowing fire. If anything, swallowing fire is even more dangerous for kids, isn't it? |
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
The shows where I eat fire are mixed audiences 75% adults or more. There will usually be some kids under five there but for the most part they are ages eight and up.
If you are uncomfortable performing such feats if there are children present then by all means don't do it. I personally have no qualms about it and have never had a single problem or complaint about it either. Our Zoo has a big halloween gathering every year aimed at real little kids, six and under and one of the biggest audience draws are the fire circuses where people eat and juggle fire for the amusement of the crowd. I have never heard of any injuries or property damage being caused by children trying to recreate what they saw people doing at the zoo. Maybe we just have a higher caliber of children up here in the Pacific Northwest.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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Scott Ocheltree Veteran user 364 Posts |
That's right Payne,
Out here "All the women are strong, the men are good looking, and all the children are above average." No wait, that's someplace in Minnesota... ;) |
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Scott O. Inner circle Midwest 1143 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-05-10 16:36, flowJuggler wrote: FlowJuggler, you are right. I saw a juggler, doing a show for children, juggle machetes. He had been using a lot of volunteers, and when he took out the machetes he said "I'd like a volunteer to lay down in front of me while I juggle these" He was joking, but kids hands were shooting up all over the place. -- He then told them to put their hands down, and he proceeded with the don't-try-this-at-home speech. Kids are trusting. Scott As an aside. I once saw a female magician perform the balloon swallowing for a family show. The way she performed it was, well... inapropriate for a family audience. Scott
Do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time you will reap a harvest, if you do not give up. Galatians 6:9
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NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
6.5 children per year choke on balloons.
I wonder what percentage of that 6.5 have gone and gotten a 260Q sword and swallowed it after seeing a performer do this trick? I would imagine it would be less then the number of children who got hurt jumping off walls after seeing superman or who played Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles or what ever the latest violent show is. Yet we wouldn't dream of banning these shows. However, this type of logic makes little sense to parents because the perceived threat of an act is more important then ACTUAL threat. That is the reason I WOULDN'T do this trick. It doesn't matter how dangerous it is, it matters how dangerous it APPEARS. I would imagine GIVING a child a balloon poodle INSTEAD of doing this trick would be more dangerous! Moreover, a child with a balloon poodle is far less likely to die then a child in the back seat of their families car! |
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SIX Inner circle New York City 1772 Posts |
I would tell the children that this is very dangerous do not try this at home.
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Wolfgang Loyal user TEXAS 223 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-05-10 19:00, Payne wrote: Having family from that part of the country, I can assure you that is not the case. I agree with Nicholas that the perceived danger of a trick is an important factor. I have less of a problem with people swallowing swords or eating fire because these are not everyday objects and are much more apparently dangerous. But to a kid, swallowing a balloon looks like such a harmless act. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
"Sure, I do Scotch and Soda in every show. What? You mean there's a trick by that name?"
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Mikael Eriksson Inner circle None of your business 1064 Posts |
Someone at this forum said baloons are the number one object children choke to death on. I think it's totally inappropriate.
Mikael |
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
In 2002, eight children ages 2 to 11 died from choking on or aspiration of a toy; three of these deaths involved balloons. Choking and suffocation/asphyxia deaths account for 62 percent of all toy-related fatalities.
This is from http://www.safekids.org/tier3_cd.cfm?con......r_id=540
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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SIX Inner circle New York City 1772 Posts |
I thinks this tricks great it plays pretty good.What I do is I perfom it to music and I produce a sighn that says "DO NOT TRY THIS TRICK AT HOME" and I never do this trick if I will give out baloon animals only if I'm not going to give out ballons I do this trick.
Hope my advice helps. Six |
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Bob Johnston Inner circle Philadelphia, PA 1251 Posts |
There are many things that people are now overly worried about.
This IS NOT one of them. It might be worth noting that Philadelphia’s largest children’s hospital has banned balloon people from the hospital. I am amused (or amazed) that someone would say that they do the swallow, but tell kids not to try this at home. Yea, that will take care of it. Bob |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Bob,
By "balloon people", do you mean twisters? Latex balloons have been banned at most hospitals for many years because of allergies to latex, not because of the choking hazard. In all hospitals that I know of, they still allow mylar balloons for the patients. - Donald. P.S. Yes, I think that performing this is risky, because children copy the performers.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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