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Gideon Sylvan Special user Deerfield, IL 541 Posts |
What do you do when everyone wants a sword, and all the children start to complain when you try to make something else? I don't want to be known as any old twister; I want to make things that wow people and set me apart. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Gideon
You know you are a magician when you have boxes full of lecture notes you have never read, but still are excited about going out and buying more.
www.gideonsylvan.com |
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TXKEVIN New user 57 Posts |
1) Make something you think will wow them and either give it to a kid or set it up for display....most likely, many of them will want that once they've seen it.
2) I ask the kids what they'd like...generally, swords are only requested by a few. 3) I've never had the situation you describe happen. |
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Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
Unless I'm working a festival and have my menu board out on display (an updated menu board, by the way, utilizing magnetic paint and my balloon designs on magnetic-backed paper, so I can change it at anytime...thinking of marketing this idea, since it looks incredible!)...I usually start by introducing myself and asking the child (girls first!) what their favorite color is, and I take it from there. Usually the line, "I don't do requests, but you're gonna LOVE this!" will work perfectly...regular customers to one of my SEVERAL Pizza Huts are a different story. They deserve and get something special!
I worked both the grand opening of a bank and a festival today...I did probably 500 balloons in an 8-hour period, and the recipients are NEVER disappointed! Really...don't let 'em push you around! It's all in crowd maintenance! SMILE! If every parent sees every kid walking around with a sword, they'll think that's all you can do! I'll do the occasional sword, but I never do the same thing twice for members of the same group. I like to keep it diverse! Steve |
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Cholly, by golly! Loyal user 251 Posts |
Bah!!!
I NEVER do balloon sculptures to please children! I'm an ARTIST and catering to some little brat's whims and wishes would be sacrilage. I won't lower myself to such. No performer should EVER have to sacrifice ARTISTIC INTEGRITY just to make children (((shudder))) happy. If the people who hired me don't like THAT they can keep their money!!! |
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toomuchmagic Special user 534 Posts |
Cholly by golly you hit the nail on the head....hahahaha
making smiles is more important than making balloons |
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
Why would they want a sword when they could be Doctor Octopus? Keep your integrity.
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toomuchmagic Special user 534 Posts |
Balloons are about perception and imagination. a sword can stab dr.octopus in a second. En Garde.
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
Touche!
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Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
Cholly,
Well, by your worldly knowledge and experience then, when a woman at a restaurant has 2 children, one is 6 years old, the other is one...if it would make both her children happy and not cry...I should follow her orders and make a one-year-old a balloon, right? What if I make the 6-year-old a balloon and the other kid cries, and then the mom complains to the management that I wouldn't make the baby (usually WITH a pacifier plugged in) a balloon? Same goes for festival work. I have signs posted all over my tent with "nobody under 4"...and the parents don't read or care. Should I make it anyway if that's what the parent wants? Steve |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Does no one read beyond the current threads? I gently refuse to give balloons to children under the age of 4 BUT I offer a variety of inflatable vinyl toys available for 15-25 cents a piece through Oriental Trading and similar companies. These toys are far safer for the under four age set, the children are more than pleased and the tips I receive for "caring" more than offset the extra cost. Children under four don't need balloon sculptures...period.
You can place all the responsibility on the adult but the fault is always going to come back to the provider...YOU! Besides...fault or no, I don't want a hospitalized or dead child on my conscience.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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Popo Loyal user Valparaiso, IN 219 Posts |
I believe that to be a good sword swallower you should begin at about a year of age. Yet, they may be too sharp so start with balloon swords. If they pop they are just that much more easy to swallow. It would be the same with the octopus/octopi. Hmmm Octo-pie! what a great dish!
I'm sorry to say that I am in a bit of a sarcastic mood. The topic, which we got off of was about what to make. Hey, if the kids want swords even after I tell them what else they can have, then swords it is. Plus they are quick and easy and I am out of there. Gideon, if you make just a bunch of swords but you want to show off then finish by making the host of the party something really special to say goodbye with. That pleases the kids, you, and the host/hostess. |
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Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
For events like restaurant walkaround, I also carry the small plastic toys you can buy from T. Myers by the gross bag. Anybody under 4 gets one of those, and the parents are extremely happy. Basically when doing the walkaround ballooning thing, I try to keep it to simple 1 and 2 balloon creations, depending upon how busy that particular venue is. If the whole place is packed...I can't do a T. Rex for every kid there, cause I wouldn't be able to get to everybody, and somebody would leave unhappy...wouldn't tip the server and might complain. Regulars will get something new everytime they stop in.
Steve T. |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Gideon -
I make balloon swords in one venue only, and that is as a part of my gospel show, and my presentation of the Armour of God (idea from Ralph Dewey). I do not make extra swords, when doing strolling twisting, or as a part of any other show. Here's how I handle the request for a sword. I explain to the child that I don't make weapons -- guns or swords (I say both types, even if they only asked about swords). I offer the child a rattlesnake as an alternative, and this is usually the way they go. You can even make a snake, with the coiled body, interacting with a child. It inflates as it wraps around their arm. (Or you can just coil it on your own hand as you inflate it.) I can't recall which book I learned the rattlesnake from. The reason I stopped making swords is because I used to also work in local child care centres, and the local regional gov't had a policy of no play weapons at the centres... this meant that performers couldn't make the children balloon swords. So I took that as a sign that I would change my show, to not make swords any more. And I took that policy into all of my shows, not just the ones for the child care centres. Most of the time, parents appreciate your stand that you won't make weapons. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Ron Reid Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 2732 Posts |
I read about a routine in Don Caldwell's book "Things That Fell Out of My Head" where Don makes swords for all the kids at the birthday, and has them all go outside in the backyard. He lines half the kids up at one end, and the other half at the other end of the backyard. Then, he yells "GO" and has them charge at each other and at him.
I couldn't believe it when I read that, but...it is Don Caldwell. I don't know how he does it without getting sued by a parent of a hurt child. Ron |
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Cholly, by golly! Loyal user 251 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-05-08 15:16, Stevethomas wrote: Of course!!! I think choking children are hilarious. Didn't you read my post? I must have written eight or nine paragraphs advocating giving balloons to infants. No, wait... My post doesn't advocate giving balloons to infants at all! Ha ha ha! You had me going there, Steve! |
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mtso2000 New user 72 Posts |
I give the kid's what they want. If it's a sword so be it.
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JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
I make em a sword and say "NEXT!".
JoeJoe
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
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paulmagic Loyal user Malaysia, now In New Zealand 290 Posts |
I usually make them what they want. I have found swords popular even with girls because they see the boys having so much fun and they realise it's no fun "hitting" someone with a dog. Kids seem rougher nowadays and so for me, better to give them a ballon sword to "fight each other" than they whack each other with hard objects. :-( This is something parents also request for their kids and seem generally happy about it (based on my rationale above).
But I thank you for all the input ... makes me realisde though that I need to reconsider how I view balloon swords ... On a side note, when I do balloons on my visits to a particular indigenious people group, balloon swords are frowned upon. They are a gentler people and animals are the preferred shapes.
Many Blessings!!
Paul |
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JesterMan Veteran user Maryland, USA 319 Posts |
If I am at an event where I have not asked the booker, I honestly tell the child/ren that I was not given permission to make swords (weapons), sometimes adding about swords in crowds causing problems with others getting hit not in the play battle. If I was told by the booker that it is OK, then each child has to get their parent to come to me to say it is also OK with them. (WHAT, I don't believe the little angels...?) By that time, they kid is usually ready to compromise on a snake, crocodile, or some other nasty creature. Sometimes, I just sigh, and say, I can make HUNDREDS of creations, and YOU want the third one I learned! Of course, that gives them the chance to say, FINE!, Make me a-a-a A DUCK-BILLED PlatyPUS! AHA!, thanks to the "B" balloon Co, and Stretch, I have one of those designs since Twist & Shout! And, of course, the balloon makes contact to their head several times whilst I make it.
JM
Balloons, Magic, Mayhem & More! www.AArdvarkEntertainers.com www.JesterMan.com "... destined to take the place of the MudShark in your mythology... " FZ |
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Jaypoc New user 59 Posts |
I have seen a lot of varieties of swords at different parties I've been to (I'm a magician, not baloon sculptist, but was reading around the forum so I thought I'd comment). I remember the first time seeing a fancy sword, I was impressed. The kids and their parents are often the client and if the kids are happy, the parents are happy, so I would come up with a variety of swords (or at least one fancy one, rather than the generic 1-twist variety that even I know how to make. lol).
I might also make one or two larger sculptures to keep on display before I begin. |
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