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Leland Stone Inner circle 1204 Posts |
Thursday afternoon I had a Strolling gig for a client's 45th birthday party, and there were a dozen or so kids present. For most of the hour I was performing, I had a troupe of children following me, offering "explanations" and revealing the next phase of the routines they'd seen a couple of times (watch, the coins are going to be over there!).
Appealing to the kids' desire to be included failed -- it didn't help to ask them to imagine they had Magical powers needed to make special things work, etc. These kids were seriously upset by something they couldn't understand, and equated being mystified with being stupid. Usually the sort of belligerence I saw takes a good forty years and a couple of beers to acquire! Needless to say, a less than satisfying experience. So, is it just me, or are the stalkers getting younger and more brazen? Handling hecklers and stalkers while still putting on a good show and getting paid is the problem...what's your solution? Leland |
chichi711 Inner circle 5810 Posts |
I have never had that happen with kids. How old were they?
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blink_inc Loyal user Hamilton 278 Posts |
I had the same problem at a family function.
The group of kids, 7 of them, were all 6-10. I performed nutty nut for them and handed them the nut and bolt and tube so they could go and try to figure it out. It occupied them for 30 min at least. They love a puzzle and some of the self working kids gimmicks are great as a distraction. Will//
I am a Sankey addict....please, help me!
My name is Will, my company is Blink, an experience in transposition. |
Josh Chaikin Inner circle Kansas City 1430 Posts |
I had a similar thing happen while table hopping, I basically told the kid to simmer down and let everyone else enjoy the magic. The mother applauded me and told the father to "Give him a good tip!"
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Bill Citino Special user Doylestown, PA 837 Posts |
I don't get it a lot in my restaurant, but there are some times that I do. When it happens I usually say to the kid, "You think you know how it's done!?" Acting a little excited that they do and then I continue, "Cool, well I'll tell ya what. Don't say anything to anyone else and just keep it to yourself. That way you and I will be the only ones that know and we'll have keep it secret from everyone else so they still have fun too ok?" That usually works, I've never had a kid say anything after I've said that to him/her. It kinda makes them feel special cause they think they know how it's done and they think they're in on it with me.
-Bill |
mc_magi Special user Vancouver, BC 949 Posts |
Children running after you with explanation?
Try children sneaking up on you with a chair while you are performing at a birthday party. Scared @#$% out of me, thank god for the poker face. |
AndyComic Loyal user 211 Posts |
Yeh kids at strolling gigs are a pain. Usually there isn't much for them to do except watch you...so they follow and reveal all. I usually give them a good talking to in between groups not to reveal any thing or tell them how to be quiet so we can fool these new people. If that fails I tell them to go away. Harsh...yes but having all your tricks pre-emptied is a lot worse and make you look really bad.
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Magical Dimensions Inner circle 5001 Posts |
This happen twice to me. Once at a Party in a home and other time at a club! Both were boys around 15 years old.
I think that they are afaird to let on that they really have no idea how we are doing our thing. Another reason I feel is that they lack self esteem. It may make them appear smart and all knowing (in their little brain), when in fact they are just azzzzzholes! At the party the kid kept on telling people that he knew how this and that was done. When he really didn't have any clue at all! I could tell by the look on his face and his eyes that he was dumb founded. Finally a man next to him told the punk to shut his mouth and just watch the show. I have never had kids follow me around at a gig. I never do walk around that has kids. Lucky me! Ray |
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