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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Restraining Rug Rats or The Art of Children's Show Control
By Brad Burt Copyright 2006 magicshop.com Several folks evinced interest in the subject of controlling the audience during a children's show. It's a good topic and I'll attempt to lay out some concepts that helped me when I was doing Children's Show work. #1- When setting up your show make sure that for the 'safety of the children' you require that there be at least one adult for every 8-10 kids at the party, etc. You can work this out anyway you want, but having the adults simply drop their children off and leave is NOT in the best interest of you or the folks throwing the party. Don't let them do it. Have things like this CLEARLY outlined in your contract. Make sure that they understand what is needed. I NEVER had a problem with this. People who are hiring you WANT the show to be a success and if you make it clear what is needed they will respond. #2- It is a now well established scientific fact in psychology that children need boundaries in order to feel safe and secure within the family environment. I tell you this because it will impinge on an understanding of what is coming up. I never appreciated this until I had my own children. I had read the literature, but not really understood the power of what they were saying until I put it together with the 'SECRET' I had discovered of controlling children in a kid's show milieu. #3- This is obvious and old hat and I have covered it in similar essays, but I will say it again, because I think we all have to hear it again and again: Make sure you have your magic routines down! No hemin' and hawin' around. You want to get eaten alive by small bi-pedal sharks? Look like you don't know what you are doing! I will say no more. #4- What I am going to disclose here is what I call the SECRET of doing kid's shows. This is so cool, so neat-o, so, so, well righteous brothers and sisters that I almost can't stand it. (Exaggeration used just to keep stuff fun and interesting.) I originally found this mentioned in a wonderful book called Doing Magic For Youngsters by Bert Easley. The only thing I got out of this book that was of any value was this one idea, but this one idea was so good that it totally changed that way that I did my Children's Shows. And, it totally eliminated ANY problems that I used to have in my children's performances! I'm not kidding. It took a while to tune it up and figure out how to do the introduction, etc., but once I got it down it was terrific. O.k., here we go…. It's called the MAGIC LINE and here is a sample of how you would introduce it in a typical show in a typical home. The patter will tell that tale and give you pretty much everything you need to understand what is going on. "Hello! How are you kids doing today? Good? That's great. My name is Brad Burt and I'm a magician. Some of you may have visited me at my magic shop or online at magicshop.com. Anyone? Two of you! That's great. Well, I am here today to do some magic for all of you and I have to tell you … we … are going to have a great time! "But, before I continue I have to tell you about something special that will help me do the BEST possible show for you. Want to know what it is?" Generally here they will give an enthusiastic, "Yes", in response, but whatever, just keep going. "O.k., here it is. Boy and girls I have a MAGIC LINE. This line runs from this lamp on this side of the room to this table over here. Now, let me tell you what the magic line does. It helps me make sure that EVERY one watching this show will be able to SEE all the magic today! "Now, here are the rules of the MAGIC LINE. First, no one is go over the magic line unless I help them over. O.k.? I WILL be needing some helpers and when I have someone come up I'll take your hand and help you over the line. "Two and this is REALLY important…if anyone goes over the line, the magic stops. I mean it. I can't do any magic if anyone sneaks up to the magic line and even puts their toe over the line. O.k., does everyone understand about the line? GREAT! Let's see some magic!!!" Do you get the idea? Obviously, you can tune this to your own style, but I recommend not changing it too much. (Yes, you can take out the stuff about magicshop.com….although if you left it in the magic line would work even better!) In other words look closely at the flow of what I say above. You have to be very clear on the two rules before you go into your act. You can't back up later. Before you DO anything magical you must establish the parameters of the performing situation. If you do it with humor in your voice and good cheer the kids will respond. They MUST believe that you are doing this so that they are helping YOU. See the psychology? They don't want to be ordered about, but if YOU need the magic line…..you get the idea. Now, here is the most important part of this: You HAVE to be the line Nazi. I mean if a child puts the tip of a little finger over where YOU see the line then bang! the show stops! Don't blow it here. Gently and with a smile remind the child that, OOPS, you went over the magic line (always the 'magic line' not just line) and that they have to move back. In almost every case they will do so. Remember most kids are not moving up to get in the way, they are KIDS and having a good time and scotching up closer to you the STAR is what kids do. That's why the Magic Line is so dog gone great! It very gently sets a limit and allows you to enforce that limit without being the bad guy. Now, every once in a while you may get a child who just won't obey. That's what the parent is there for and you can go over contingencies like this with them before the show. But, it will almost never happen if you play this the right way. Note: This is not for teens or even 9 and up generally unless there are a lot of smaller children in the audience also. You'll figure that part out, but do think about it. Again, you NEED to enforce the limit. Be nice, be gentle, but BE firm also. All working for children is is having a better time than they are while doing the show. Do that and you'll get a lot of kids shows at top rates of pay. I can't think of anything else at the moment. If anyone has any questions please let me know. I used the above stratagem for years and years and it works. I would be very interested in anyone using it and whether it works for you in turn. In teaching at four magic schools over a 20 year period and introduced the Magic Line to hundreds of magicians-to-be and it was pretty much useful for all of them. But, maybe something has changed? Maybe the poison fluoride in the water has caused children to not be able to imagine the magic line or track where it is on the floor? I don't know. Hope this helps, Brad Burt, owner http://www.magicshop.com
Brad Burt
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NeoMagic Inner circle I have... 2017 Posts |
Thanks. Enjoyed reading that.
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mtso2000 New user 72 Posts |
Very good advice. I have used the magic line before. Sometimes it works and at other times it has not. When I have made ballon hat it seem that the magic line has not worked. For this reason I have saved using ballon till the end of the show.
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
That's a good point mtso2000. And, that is what I would suggest...put it at the end. Another good idea is to have the cake, cookies, etc. right after the show. This will generally siphon off the bulk of the children and allow one to pack up and move on without trouble.
Also, the Magic Line is not really workable with a balloon segment because you are handing out something to the kids and, well, that IS a little much for the little buggers to resist! Best,
Brad Burt
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
I would think that telling your audience that the show stops the instant anyone crosses the line would only encourage them to do just that. This would give the audience power over the perfomer allowing them to make you stop and start at will.
I've never used a line in my programs and have never had a need to. I've had librarians try to put them down for me from time to time but I always stop them. Afterwords they always compliment me on my ability to keep the kids in place without resorting to articfical bounderies. I usually perform very close to the front row which keeps them from moving up. I also move around a lot so I guess they are afraid I might step on them if they got too close which also keeps them in their places.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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jgravelle Loyal user Milwaukee (Head shown not actual size) 270 Posts |
A local performer who tours area libraries sets up his tape line about three feet further out than he should need to, because by the end of the show their imperceptible buttcheek perambulations have brought them into "the zone" a millimeter at a time.
I marvel at anybody who can control kids whose own parents can't control them. I know of only one kid who recognizes "no" as an absolute, and he lives under my roof. Years ago I was aghast at a woman in the supermarket trying to wrestle her kid out of the candy aisle. This is the discourse, verbatim: "Jeremy, no! No! Mommy said no, now I mean it. Jeremy! Jeremy no! NO! ... *Sigh* Okay, but just one..." Several years, and several Jeremys later, I've found this to be standard parenting procedure. Sadly, we're now up to our elbows in 'Jeremys' who consider "no" synonymous with "eventually, if you nag me enough". The aforementioned local magician does one thing that's maddening, and I've seen this advice before: He involves the most misbehaving kid in his show. Predictably, this leads to a steady cascade of ill-mannered-ness among the other kids who want to participate, and leaves the well-behaved kids on the sidelines. As the impromptu "Magic trick! Magic trick!" guy at my kid's school, I (fortunately) only need to control the area for a minute or two. Along the lines of your suggestion, I'll literally pull the plug on a trick and walk if Jeremy gets out of hand, letting the other kids know we might try again tomorrow if they can get their classmate's cooperation. The ensuing "Lord of the Flies" playground politics virtually ensure that Jeremy will behave the next time around. I don't envy the contracted performer who cannot exercise that option. Regards, -jjg |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Just to clarify...the Magic Line is imaginary. This helps keep the kids on their toes. It is also a 'tactic' and not something that every performer needs to use! I work back from my audience and thus can't 'scare' them into line by the thought that maybe I'll step on them. Also, I was not an imposing figure then and when I was using this tactic to control my audience I was less so being six foot one inces and weighing in at a big 135 lbs. Also at age 19-20 I looked like I was about 15.
The nice thing about having a 'tactic' that works is you add it to what you know and bring it out when you think that you need it. For instance despite contract stipulations I was left any number of times in situations with a hundred children and very little in parental oversight. The Magic Line worked wonderfully to grab the attention of the kids and settle them down. They now had something to remember. In this same show a recalcitrant child deliberatly crossed the line and ......about 6 other children grabbed him and hauled him back so they could see the rest of the show. Positive peer reinforcement is grand. Mostly I did not need the 'line', but it was there and it worked for 'me'. I freely admit that it might not work for all performers AND that some may not need it at all. In fact as time went on and I gained confidence as a performer I needed it less and less and did not use it 100% of the time. Tools and options. It is all about having tools at your disposal and options to select from. The more you have the better equiped you are to handle the constantly changing situations that 'novelty' performers are put into. All best,
Brad Burt
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
I've had some nice emails from folks on this...thanks and glad it was of use. Best,
Brad Burt
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Concerning the audience having power over you if they can stop the show. That's true, but only in a very limited sence. If none or most of the other kids do NOT want to see the show then it would be a very bad tactic. But, in every case I have used it most if not all the kids wanted to see the show. The Magic Line acts more as a reminder to the inch worms....they cross the line...show stops, hey guys move back a little....I mean they JET back and show goes on. It's a way to predispose the children to know WHAT TO DO. And, in fact makes it much easier to impose your will on them in a manner that is not onerous. I don't ponderously glower at them and point like a mime of death that they move back. I keep it light and funny and in almost 100% of the cases the kids were happy as punch to be 'in on the gag' so to speak. The magic line also acts in the parlor setting with children to more closely define a 'stage' area for the performer and this can be very useful in a huge variety of ways especially if you do something like a Chair Suspension, etc.
In only one of two cases did a child not want to move back and in both cases the other kids grabbed him and pulled him back. Everyone settled down and show went on. Parents were always complimentary, etc. Hey, again, this IS just a tactic that some will find useful and others will not need. In fact as time went on I needed it less and less, but it IS a useful tool when needed. I worked a lot of shows in which the audience consisted of 100-300 kids sitting on the ground and this tactic was gold for me. Best,
Brad Burt
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gollymrscience New user 65 Posts |
I have had good success with this tactic.
One thing I do to help enforce the line is if I see somebody slowly oozing forward and not doing it to be a pain. I will involve them in the act for just a second. I will get close to them with the effect and ask them to blow on the ring or whatever. Just as they go to do so I say "Ooops we have to move you back a bit so everybody can see what you do". Scoot them back then they get the reward of doing the magic. For tricks further back I might hand them a wand but before they can do the magic we just have to slide back a bit here. Sometimes I have had a kid with a two second attention span and nobody there to keep them under control. They can't help creeping up. In those cases I have found out their name and periodically I will just say their name and ask them where they are. Especially effective if you see them out of the corner of your eye and then say it whith your back turned. "Jeremy - your on the line again aren't you" "Man the guy's got eyes in the back of his head!" |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Originally the only reason I used the line was because children will 'tend' to scooch forward. Nothing wrong with that. They are excited and having a good time. They want to get closer, etc. It's much harder to stop the show and get 'everyone' to move back than it is to use the 'line' quickly as an aside. I used only to have to say, "Wow guys you are a little close to the line, move back a bit." That was it. Since they knew where the line was supposed to be they had an objective to move back from without a lot of extra coaching. Worked like a charm. Best,
Brad Burt
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