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tmoo New user 2 Posts |
Hello! I am new to magic in that I haven't practiced in about 20 years (!), but I am teaching a 1-week long beginners' magic and optical illusions camp for kids aged 9-15 in July. I have done some research, but I'm having a tough time picking out a kit for them -- which I think is the route I want to take -- mainly because many kits are toy sets and geared toward ~8 year olds.
If you have any advice, it would be greatly appreciated: Is there a kit that might be exciting for kids 9-15 years old? Any advice about specific tricks (with household items) I should teach? Any advice about what I should NOT do or tricks I should avoid? Right now I'm thinking the first (of five days) will focus on meeting each other and creating a persona, and maybe watching a magic video and/or performing some tricks for them. The rest of the week is up in the air until I have a kit picked out. Thank you in advance! |
mlippo Inner circle Trieste (Italy) 1227 Posts |
What about a book?
Nicholas Einhorn's beginners book, or Joshua Jay's or the old time classic Mark Wilsons Complete course? And teach effects from there ... Mark |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
NEMO DAT QUOD NON HABET! --(No one can give what he does not have!)
The "week" is a month away, and, you still have no idea of what you will do!!! Fail to plan, and you plan to fail! Barring a miracle, how can you expect to be successful in this project? Now, it's the 'last minute', and, you come here and beg for "advice"! You expect, I'm sure, to be paid for doing this, but, you want "US" to do YOUR WORK FOR YOU! The Café "masthead" says: "Magicians helping magicians". It does not say: "magicians doing your work for you!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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M. Tesla Regular user Coral Springs, Florida 154 Posts |
The Amateur Magicians Handbook by Henry Hay...
While the amount of water has remained static, the amount of Tequila and Triple Sec available for making Margaritas has expanded enormously. So you see, we have made progress after all. ~Anonymous
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Wizard of Oz Inner circle Most people wish I didn't have 5150 Posts |
Not sure what your budget is per child, but for the most part, magic sets are a whole lotta nothing. Even the best ones only have a handful of decent props, and the rest of the pieces are just filler.
I second mlippo's advice if you have the budget to purchase one of those books per child. If not, a week isn't very long to teach magic, so I would narrow your lesson plan to teach some basics. Teach them one effect a day max, and have them practice, work out a presentation, then demonstrate to the rest of the class at the end of the day. I'm not sure what the cost is per child for this camp, but they would love to come back with a prop or two...what kid doesn't? A set of inexpensive cups and balls would be cool, and provide a lot of opportunities for creativity. A Svengali deck? Anyway...I say no the magic sets. You are far better off determining a budget per child, and assembling you're own kits. Good luck. It sounds like fun!
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
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bowers Inner circle Oakboro N.C. 7024 Posts |
Im with Dick on this.You don't have
the time to get ready and make this successful. Magic kits for the most part just suck. Books And videos would be better. Good luck Todd |
friend2cptsolo Elite user Spent all this time on the Cafe' and all I have to show for it is 445 Posts |
Tarbel's
I wish I would have started out with some better material like that. Videos are great as well because you actually get to see professionals perform. Skip the kit because all you get is fancy packaging |
friend2cptsolo Elite user Spent all this time on the Cafe' and all I have to show for it is 445 Posts |
Maybe a set of sponge balls and some sort of material on that would be part of a good package for the kids.
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friend2cptsolo Elite user Spent all this time on the Cafe' and all I have to show for it is 445 Posts |
And Dick Oslund is right on
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tmoo New user 2 Posts |
Thanks, everyone. It is a fairly informal and basic camp -- a camp within a camp, really.
I have been watching some videos of beginners' tricks and decided to put together my own kit and teach 1-2 tricks per day: a regular card deck, a Svengali deck, a cups and balls set, and sponge balls. I'm sure it will be fine. I will do some demonstrations and also utilize youtube videos, and give plenty of time to practice. I'm hoping we can do a small show for the rest of the camp at the end of the week. Cheers and thanks again! |
Russo Inner circle So.California / Centl.Florida / retired Florida 1165 Posts |
This all remindes me of Jose Frackson - who lectured on 'small' magic-(Holywood SAM #22 in the 60's) he told of the time he went to a night club he was booked in - all he had was a small case -small as a lunch box - the Mgr. said NO WAY- will you do a gig here- Jose asked try him for just a night - Jose did a complete routine/show using coins-cards-thimbles-sponge ball and cigeretts(kids can use tootsie rolls) - when finished- the Mgr. gave him SIX WEEKS at TOP - Billing and $$$$$$$- KIDS don't need to do Illusions - plus it less expensive (for the Dad L-O-L) Ralph(russo)Rousseau
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RogerTheShrubber Veteran user 301 Posts |
I have to agree with everyone who advises you to pass on a kit. You could get yourself one of those "complete course"-type books (Harry Lorayne, Mark Wilson, Joshua Jay, etc.) and just teach out of that. Those books contain plenty of tricks using household objects, and if you get more than one such book you can have everyone in the class do one trick apiece during the show. I saw this with one of my kids in camp once - all the kids listed which tricks they wanted to do, and the instructor used those lists to figure out a way to assign each kid one trick that the kid likes. If some of the kids already know some magic, they might make your job easier by doing tricks they already know, perhaps even tricks you're not teaching - which means the other kids performing might see something new just like the audience will.
My son did "The Blindfolded Deck" from the Karl Fulves book on self-working mental magic. And he crushed it. One of the parents in the audience offered him $100 for the secret! |
ColtonRaelund Regular user COLTON ZOROASTER RAELUND 116 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 7, 2016, RogerTheShrubber wrote: Did he accept?! |
Aus Special user Australia 996 Posts |
Nicholas Einhorn has some great books published for the public that have a strong theme of DIY props or things a round the house that would make a great resource for a magic camp.
Magically Aus |
ColtonRaelund Regular user COLTON ZOROASTER RAELUND 116 Posts |
It is funny that you mention that. I learned most of my old act through Nic.s "Stand up magic and optical illusions".
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Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Hello tmoo
From a practical standpoint--to benefit BOTH you and your students--I suggest you track down the two excellent and well-illustrated books by Bill Tarr: NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'T and THE SECOND NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'T. Julie |
Wizard of Oz Inner circle Most people wish I didn't have 5150 Posts |
So right Julie. When I was just getting into more serious sleight of hand magic, those books had just come out. They were revolutionary in their step-by-step approach to rather complicated moves and routines, but the easy to understand direction and illustrations put everything into perspective. I suddenly found myself trying magic I never dreamed of, because I could finally understand how to do it. I believe Mr. Tarr took magic books to another level with those publications.
https://www.amazon.com/Now-You-See-Dont-......94722027 https://www.amazon.com/Second-Now-You-Se......ill+tarr
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
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RogerTheShrubber Veteran user 301 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 13, 2016, ColtonRaelund wrote: No, and that's what made me proudest. So after the show I gave him $100 myself to reward him for turning down the offer. If someone had offered me $100 for a secret back when I was his age at the time, I can't be certain I wouldn't have jumped on it. Granted, $100 back then was a lot more than it is today, but at his age I didn't have a concept for respect for the art, magician code, etc. All I knew was "It's cool to know something others don't and to be able to do something other's can't," but I probably would have given that up for a handful of cash. My kid knew better. I couldn't have been prouder of him. |
ColtonRaelund Regular user COLTON ZOROASTER RAELUND 116 Posts |
That is AWESOME! I was only joking, but obviously your son had a good grasp on the magicians code of honor!
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FunMagic! New user 52 Posts |
I think the Criss Angel Magic Sets are really good.
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