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Lord Anacho Regular user Kessel-Lo, Belgium 157 Posts |
Hi guys.
Those who read my introduction know that, coming back to magic after a 20-year dry spell, I have no real interest in performing. Just study the art, be amongst magicians, and basically fool around. But then again... The teacher of my 4-year old grandson and godchild asked if there were grannies and granddads who 'could do something special'. So his mum immediately contacted me. It was to be a short (free) show for 20 4-year olds in their own classroom. Against all better judgment I accepted. What can I say? I love my grandson. So, here's how it went last Monday. Knock on the door, stick my head in and tell the teacher that I'm looking for a class with only good kiddies. Obviously I've come to the right address. Kids get seated; I get a little table on which I place the briefcase I've been carrying. I introduce myself and try to fuse all these individual kids into a single group by having them do the wizard's greeting with me. (Just some arm-flapping and bowing and saying the magic word). Then I open my briefcase to show that it's... empty. As luck has it, my close up mat fits perfectly in the briefcase. So I can stash all the (flat) props underneath and when I show them the briefcase, it seems that Grandpa Rik has brought the wrong case! It's all empty! Turn case with lid towards them, so no one can see inside, take out the close up mat and I have access to my props. And the first prop I get out is a piece of rope which, I claim, I am going to stand upright in my hand. Of course this fails, and the kids have to say a magic word. A wave with the wand, the rope stands and in a flash I change into a silk. A nice visual quickie. Next I tell them that my grandson likes to play hide-and-seek. And there is someone else who likes to do so and that is Robin. From my inner jacket pocket I get out Robin and he is a rabbit on a jumbo card. (Personalize your props!). I go into a short three card monte thingie where Robin plays hide-and-seek with two top hat cards in which I always misname his position. Kids screaming, 'No, he's there!' And I end up with Robin having vanished, leaving me with three top hat cards. Of course all the kids can shout for Robin and out he comes from my (other) inner jacket pocket. I put Robin on a little stand, 'so he can watch the show'. Robin likes to play. With what does Robin like to play? And thus I go into a sponge ball routine. (Straight out of Mark Wilson's Complete Course, with a different production in the beginning and with a sponge balls to cube finish). Gave me an opportunity to try out (for the first time) some retention vanishes. Not a peep, so I suppose they were acceptable. Robin also likes to color in a drawing book, so this brings me to a magic coloring book routine in combination with a color changing wand. Robin is tired now, so he goes to sleep in my briefcase, it needs to be dark, so I ask the teacher to draw the curtains. But now it is too dark, so Robin needs a night light. And thus I can get into the D'Lites as a finale. It ends with a big 'lit' light bulb which they can blow out, because Robin is now sound asleep. I end the show by giving them a wizard's goodbye (more arm flapping and incantations) and I lead the applause. As a bonus (and to release their energy) I teach them a little magic song and dance. This all plays comfortably for 20-30 minutes (I was a bit to high strung to notice the time exactly.) I never had kids of my own - my grandson is actually my step-grandson (full fledged Godchild though) - yet for some reason kids seem to like me. So the show was a success and the kids had a good time. What I'm most pleased with is crowd control. Of course, I could have simply lucked out and gotten a bunch of little angels... Another pleasant surprise was the material. I was very uncertain about what to bring for 4-year olds. I did ask for advice at my magic society, and that's how I came to use the magic coloring book. I was particularly uncertain about the sponge balls. Would they be able to follow the flow? All this Two-In-The-Hand-One-In-The-Pocket stuff and so. But their reactions seemed OK. And as a bonus, my somewhat subdued godchild, said that his mommy had said that after the show he should give me a kiss. I got my slobber kiss and darn if it just didn't melt me old heart.... Ciao for now Erik P.S. Attended a Gregory Wilson lecture that same night. A fantastic two hour lecture, that was both highly entertaining and educational. Bought his Double Take DVD and very glad that I did. As a beginner I am plodding through volume 1 of Giobbi and haven't even reached the chapter on DL's. A wonderful conclusion to a truly magical day!
"The secret impresses no one. The trick you use it for is everything" (Alfred Borden in The Prestige)
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Josh Chaikin Inner circle Kansas City 1430 Posts |
Sounds like you did very well, congrats. Many people here wouldn't have the nerve to perform for four year olds, much less 20 of them. I'm probably one of them!
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Christo Loyal user Cyprus 229 Posts |
The minimum age I will perform for is 6.
It takes a brave person to take on 20 four year olds! Well done Erik. Chris
"Humpty was pushed!!"
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michaelmystic2003 Inner circle 3062 Posts |
I have to do a show for FIFTY 3,4, and 5 year olds!!! On top of that, they are the children of the teachers at my high school!
Learn more about my upcoming book of close up magic and theory SYNTHESIS & SECRETS: A Magic Book in Four Acts: https://www.michaelkrasworks.com/synthesis-secrets
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Lord Anacho Regular user Kessel-Lo, Belgium 157 Posts |
Thanks guys for the comments. As it happens, yesterday I was M.C. for an full evening show. 472 punters, 5 magicians, a musical clown and an hypnosis act. We were at it for almost four hours. In my presentations I did three effects myself (Ton Onosaka's Jumbo Royal Flush Tonte, a comedy piece with some magician's rope, and a non-magic puzzler). Glitches with a intermittently working wireless mike laid a heavy burden on me as for crowd control, but all in all I pulled it of and the evening was a resounding success.
Yet, I learned something interesting. I liked the kiddie show better. Huge crowds who need visual effects and clownerie to be entertained are not really my thing. I can handle them, since I do have got some stage presence, but I infinitely prefer the more intimate parlour magic. I am a word-guy and need to connect with my audience on a intellectual level. I have no real ambition to perform on a regular basis but if I did and a fairy would grant my wish, it would be something like what Steve Cohen does in the Waldorf Astoria. That's the kind of audience and setting that I would prefer. Ciao for now Erik
"The secret impresses no one. The trick you use it for is everything" (Alfred Borden in The Prestige)
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