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The Great Dave Loyal user My Wife said "It's Me or that Stupid Magic Website!" this many times. 205 Posts |
What is the best way to keep young children at a birthday or other party at an orderly distance from the performer during the show instead of having them rush the performance area and tug at all the props?
Pepper spray, flame thrower or perhaps a foul odor? How do you handle this? Your book is well written and a good read. Best, Dave
Academy of Magical Arts
Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat! Whoops, wrong hat ... |
*Mark Lewis* V.I.P. 1325 Posts |
Out of curiosity which book was that? I actually have four one of which is one of those horrible e-books which I consider to be against the laws of nature. I will never have another one. The e-book is "The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Lewis" and consists of internet posts, believe it or not. So naturally I felt it should be an e-book. The two pitch related books are "The Long and The Short of It" and "Marmaduke the Wonder Mouse" The latter is my slowest seller which has always puzzled me since it is the best instruction ever marketed with the Mouse. And of course finally is my latest memoir, which is a hard backed book of 322 pages called "The Lives of a Showman"
But to your question. It is an excellent one and just the sort of question that I am looking for. I want to educate as well as entertain this week. The first thing you do particularly at a birthday party is to send out a little leaflet with your confirmation. It is headed "Hints, Tips and Suggestions" This will give all sorts of suggestions to the booker which will make your life easier such as advising parents not to serve food during the show, or give the kids presents to open etc; One of the suggestions will at least take care of toddlers. You strongly suggest that parents hold on to their two year olds and not put them into the front row. Anyway that takes care of the toddlers but you have to do something to hold back the rest of the hordes. One good technique is before your show is to move your table forward at the beginning before you start. Once the kids are settled you move it back. That will give you a little more room. However the best suggestion of all is to have a "magic line". This can be a bit of tape or rope, coloured or otherwise which you lay across the performing area. You tell the kids that they are not allowed to cross the magic line otherwise the magic won't work. The only exception is if you invite a child up to help. Now the odd kid or two will cross the line so you simply stop, and say with an agonised look on your face, "You've crossed the magic line! The magic won't work if you cross the magic line" Look mock frustrated and the kids will love it but don't overdo it otherwise the kids will look at it as a challenge and cross the line just to annoy you. Now to be honest I personally don't lay a tape or rope down. I simply indicate an invisible line and call that the magic line. The rope or tape idea is probably better but I can't be bothered. One thing I must emphasise is that you should NEVER lose your temper with kids. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER! I always cringe when I read about magicians storming out of houses and telling the kids to be quiet or yelling at them. The very second the magician gets angry is the very second he is a bad magician. If they keep crossing the magic line or behave badly otherwise and you get angry over it then you should not be entertaining children. Now although it is not the question you asked I am going to make another post advising how to control children. I really believe this alone will make it a good thing that Steve has invited me here this week. Get ready class and pay attention. |
*Mark Lewis* V.I.P. 1325 Posts |
Hold on to your hats. This is going to be a long post. In fact I will probably have to make two posts to cover it. I have a lot to say but I believe it to be vitally important. Here we go:
The most important thing you do is beforehand before you even get there. Always send out a little flyer to the parents who book you. This advice will also work to a lesser degree to a larger group, but is especially good for birthday parties. The flyer is sent with your letter of confirmation. It is headed "hints, tips and suggestions" Actuallly this is a polite way of saying "rules and regulations". Here you put all your requirements such as "no presents opened during show" or "no candies or food given out during show" That sort of thing. You word it more politely than given above but you say what you require and put it in a "suggestion" wording rather than a direct order. What you put in the flyer is up to you. I usually have some hint about the parents yapping in another room or shutting up if they want to watch the show. I word it more politely of course. If you hate being videod during your performance this is where you put it. (personally I don't give a ***!) If you don't perform outdoors you put in the flyer also. In fact anything you want which could make the show easier for you. I make sure that there is a proviso about 2 year olds not being allowed to wander and wreck the show as already stated. When I first started doing kid shows I would get quite a bit of trouble settling the kids and controlling silly parents who would distract the kids during the show giving out food plus the kids playing with squeakers and noisemakers etc; Once I used this flyer idea all this crap stopped. It also works with bigger venues but to a lesser degree but send it out anyway. As I explained in my previous post the next thing I do is to have a "magic line" so that the kids don't come across it and enter the performing area. Some performers use actual rope or even duct tape. I don't bother. I simply draw an imaginary line and if the brats even put a leg over it I say "you've come across the magic line. The magic won't work if you come across the magic line!" I have even had other kids reprimand their friends if they come across the line! On the odd occasion when you invite a kid up to help the other kids might remark that they have crossed the line. No doubt these brats will grow up to be Government bureaucrats. At any rate you simply say "they are allowed to cross the line if they come up to help the magician" I have used a technique of Clayton Rawson's saying "the quietest one can help me do the next trick" and the "when I count to 3 will you all say shhh........." These two techniques work like magic in controlling the kids. The last one is more for the adults chattering at the back but will also work when the kids are getting out of hand. Sometimes it is better to follow a rowdy trick with a quieter one to calm the kids down. I will admit that here I do not practice what I preach. I have very good control techniques personally and can turn the noise tap off and on at will. However as is well known I am a genius and this option may not be generally available for lesser mortals. If the magician isn't Mark Lewis then it might be a good idea to look at the routining of your show if you find a "rowdy" problem. In other words perhaps alter the sequence of the tricks. If you have too many rowdy items together like I do then you may be asking for trouble. I break the rule but I am saying that you should do as I say, not do as I do. I do not practice what I preach but here I am doing the preaching and not the practicing. A good plan may be the one I read in an old Gen magazine by Wilfrid Tyler. (VERY old! Even before I was born). Wilfrid (who incidentally was the co-author of my favourite book on kids magic "Open Sesame"). had a system which is a very good one. I will let you all have a rest to digest the above information and then all will be revealed in my next post _________________________ |
*Mark Lewis* V.I.P. 1325 Posts |
Now that you have absorbed the above lesson I shall now continue.
A good plan is the one I referred to above concerning the GEN article by Wilfrid Tyler. Wilfrid (who incidentally was the co-author of my favourite book on kids magic "Open Sesame") suggested a rolling stone approach of starting off quietly and gradually building up to a point where the noisy participatory stuff is nearer to the end of the show. A bit like a rolling stone gathering moss. Wilfrid recommended not charging in like a bull in a China shop in the beginning and you slowly build the show up to a frenzy. This keeps the kids from going nuts too early. I use this technique once in every 5 shows. After three minutes I make a judgement. If I deem the kids to be too rowdy then I use the Tyler system. If I think they can be handled by my usual techniques then I just do what I normally do. Another tip. If I am doing something where the kids are to call out something or other and if I find they are getting a bit rowdy I will ask them to whisper it. I get a lot of great mileage out of this whispering business and in fact I have a bit of a routined sequence for it which I can't be bothered describing. It does have the advantage of keeping the brats quiet for a few moments. One very important point. Never ever show irritation at the kids. NEVER EVER! With the greatest of respect I think only mediocre performers say things like "show consideration and be a little quieter" Something like that can be the kiss of death. Once you say something like that you are done for, more often than not. You have admitted defeat. Professionals NEVER admit defeat. If you are going to die a death you might as well do it with dignity. Kids are like a pack of wolves. As soon as you tell them not to do something they will sense weakness and tear you apart. If you order a kid about they will do all in their power to disobey the order especially when you are supposed to be entertaining them. That is why my "promise you won't laugh" gag with the Bongo hat works so well! When you step out of character to tell the kids off you are breaking the illusion. I never reprimand the kids or show the slightest irritation even if I am seething inside and want to strangle the little brats. I am the pro and I am supposed to be able to handle anything. I absolutely hate it when I see videos or witness live performances of so called "magicians" telling the kids to behave themselves. I cringed when I once saw a performer on video tell the kids that he wanted them all to be quiet because he didn't tolerate his own kids misbehaving. So how do I control the kids without telling them to shut up and behave themselves. Simple! I con them into behaving! Bribery and corruption goes a long way. They want the magic money (Ed Harris giveaway) They want to help the magician. They want a balloon animal. They want the attention of the magician. There is only one person present who can give them it. Me! So they had better bloody behave themselves otherwise they aren't getting it. Carrot rather than stick. However the greatest key of all in handling kids and stopping them acting like brats is a metaphysical one and hard to put into words. I will try though. Sincerity. If the kids sense that you like them they will like you. And if they like you they won't want to screw up your show. You are their friend. They won't want to upset a friend. Leipzig's famous advice about audiences apply more especially for kids than any other type of audience even though Nate himself probably didn't have kids in mind when he said it. He said "if they like you, they will like your act" You can get by as a kids entertainer if you don't like kids. I have seen it happen. However if you actually love the kids it will be a tremendous and actually obvious advantage for you. If you love them they sense it and will love you in return providing you can make them laugh and have fun. If they love you they are very unlikely to make your life a misery. Sincerity is the key to entertaining kids. They will sense it and be the most rewarding audiences you will ever have. However if they sense that you don't really want to be there and you don't really like them that much then may God have mercy on your soul. One thing though. My good friend (sometimes!) Danny Doyle once told me that in his early days he did a kid show and decided very rapidly that it wasn't his forte and gave them up faster than greased lightning. He used a line at the show which I found terribly amusing. He snarled at them, "Hands up those of you who want to leave here alive" He told me the parents were not pleased. I think perhaps it is advisable to say something else to control the children and I hope the advice above will help you all to do it. |
thebeaky New user 14 Posts |
At the same time as saying a lot of useful stuff, your writing gives the impression that you lack respect for the kids you are performing for.
Calling them brats, even in a forum, has a greater effect on you than you realize. Be careful about that. |
*Mark Lewis* V.I.P. 1325 Posts |
Beaky old chap. They ARE brats! I bet you were a brat when you were a kid. I get a psychic vibe about it. But that makes no difference. You really must read the opening chapter of OPEN SESAME. It describes the principle of SINCERITY. No matter how grumpy you are with the little horrors they instinctively know you like them. Kids are sharper than adults where this is concerned. They spot SINCERITY. If someone who didn't like kids called them "brats" they would know the fellow isn't fond of them. However, if I called them "brats" their ESP would kick in and they would know within a nanosecond that I didn't mean it. Now do go and study this opening chapter, there's a good chap and don't take life so seriously.
Incidentally I don't call them brats when I work. No point telling them things they already know. |
MagicMason Loyal user 300 Posts |
That's good Mark... good blend of honest understanding of human nature and a passion to love them and bring them some happiness. That is a hard combination to achieve but you describe it well.
Tom Mason |
Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
A great lesson, there, Mark. Here's a little tip for anyone using puppets: after your puppet has "done a trick" or similar - especially if it's something you - as the performer - disapprove of, the kids will probably be sitting mesmerised, unlikely that they are applauding, etc. You say: "See...they thought that was rubbish....if they thought that was good, they'd be clapping and cheering". the kids will start to clap and cheer. You say "No, don't encourage him!"....etc.
This is a guaranteed way to get a huge reaction to puppet routines - at least when the puppet is being naughty! ;) |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Ok. Just to clarify YES I did use that line. Here is or was the deal. You may think you have seen bad childrens performers before, but if you have not seen my try it then you have not seen the worst ever. I am dead serious here.
I stopped doing kids shows (even though I saw potential to make money at it easily.) because not only was it "not my forte" I was horrible. Now to be fair to me I took that "be sincere" advice to heart. I meant it when I said "Raise your hands if you want to leave here alive". I think they spotted my sincerity and cut the show short. I do not recomend the line delivered with such sincerity by the way.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
James Munton Inner circle Dallas, TX 1199 Posts |
There are far too many words to read on this page. Is it possible, Mark, you could make your answers a little more succinct?
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*Mark Lewis* V.I.P. 1325 Posts |
James. If you are too lazy to read all that then you don't deserve the information anyway. People can look at it for reference and I would recommend they print it out and read it at their leisure.
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James Munton Inner circle Dallas, TX 1199 Posts |
Yes, but the average magician has great difficulty reading. And there was a tremendous amount of repetition in the above posts. I hope you are getting sufficient rest.
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*Mark Lewis* V.I.P. 1325 Posts |
Well if they can't be bothered printing it out then it is their own bloody fault.
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Destiny Inner circle 1429 Posts |
Mark,
I love this video of your friend Jolly Roger performing for kids - he seems to have no problem controlling them at all - they are too entertained to be a problem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQBmu0rRU......ed#at=11 |
The Great Dave Loyal user My Wife said "It's Me or that Stupid Magic Website!" this many times. 205 Posts |
Jolly Roger has the secret ingredient - a school format with a teacher sitting up front. Try doing this show at a unsupervised birthday party and see what happens. Chaos ...
Academy of Magical Arts
Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat! Whoops, wrong hat ... |
Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts |
Great advice, Mark!
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts |
I am just now getting read to get back into birthday parties, etc, after about 30 years away from it.
As a kid doing them, I really didn't have any issues with "kiddy control". It may have been because I was "one of them"...who knows. My biggest fear is a kid becoming unruly and spoiling it for everyone. I like the advice you have given, and will incorporate it into what I do. Thanks again!
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
*Mark Lewis* V.I.P. 1325 Posts |
Dave. I have actually seen Roger do this at a few unsupervised birthay parties when he lived in Kensington , London. He does not seem to have any trouble at all.
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