KIDabra Chapter #3
Atlanta (The 1st Chapter)

The November 2006 meeting was held on Monday, November 6 at 7:00pm at the Crescent Moon Eatery at Northlake Mall. Attendees were Walter Fields, Pat Howell, Joe Mazzola, Jonathan Mazzola, Toni Shifalo, Bob Suhr (Aragorn the Magician), Robin Booth (Bubble Man), and Jean Lewis (Bubble Man's Wife). A very welcome addition was the aforementioned Toni Shifalo. Toni is an officer of the local Juggling Club and a professional Family entertainer for more years then she would admit to.

The following topics were discussed:

Business Meeting
Where next to meet? Aragorn looking for something NW of town.
Dues - Not discussed - We were having too much fun
Guest Speakers - Yes

1. Business Development
Developing Holiday Routines - This should be discussed in the April/May timeframe as you want to start marketing it in the June/July timeframe but we did it now. And holiday does not have to mean just the December timeframe. An example of Holidayable type events are: New Years, Valentine Day, Easter, etc.

Several of our members pick a "Theme" and then develop the show for it using what they have or make/acquire. For Christmas, Aragorn has a kids Christmas show and a family cabaret type show that appeals to a wider age range. The theme Aragorn chose was "The Hunt for Rudolf’s Nose" or "Who Knows Where the Nose Goes??".
It can also be as simple and as effective as changing your outfit to match the holiday and Not change your show (how fickle the public is).

Joe Mazzola developed a birthday bag to accompany his 'choose a card' trick. Wonderful idea that went over very well! And very easy to adapt to Holidays.

. A short list of possible clients for multiple events are: Daycare’s, Senior Centers, Scouts, everyone else that needs Family Entertainment.

2. Product Review & Playing - The French Drop
Both Joe & Aragorn showed and taught their versions of the French Drop. Joe uses the "Side Slide" while Aragorn uses the "Over the Top Drop". Aragorn thinks Joe’s "Side Slide" was so much Cooler and has been practicing it since. Joe gave a very nice demo of all the things you could French Drop including the salt shaker (in every rest and right at hand).

*****BREAK!!!!!****** IMPORTANT!!!******* What makes Kidabra Special!!!!!
About this time Robin ‘Bubble Man’ Booth, who had brought a bucket of suds in with him started playing with bubbles to the delight of the kids of whatever ages in the establishment. This got Pat going (who also has a Bubble Offering). Have you ever had "Dueling Bubbles". It was Great!! Robin produced a bubble within a bubble.
Pat then did a "Bare Handed Bubble Production" (ie - No bubble wand or thing). At this point the Genius of Kidabra happened. Joe of yea old french drop above wondered if anyone reached up into the bubble and produced anything, and both Joe and Aragorn then remember "The Crystal Bubble Trick" (not right name for it). Or a Supper Ball, or a large sponge ball. Several minutes went by as various techniques were tried. Robin would make a bubble and Joe would reach up, pop it but produce something there. Joe would show it as a solid. And then Joe went one step further……he French Dropped It.
So the "Bubble Production" Goes something like this:
1. Produce at least a nice big 6" bubble (or larger). If you can learn to do the "Bubble in Bubble" even better.
2. Have something palmed in your other non-bubble producing hand.
3. Reach up into the heart of the bubble/bubbles lightning fast with that palmed hand.
4. Bubble POPS!!! (it couldn’t help it, it was raised that way)
5. Produce whatever you had palmed.
6. Show it and prove it is a solid.
7. French Drop it Away!!!!

Here we have a nice effect that is useful and a possible reputation builder for both Bubble Men & Magician’s.
Two of the possible items were a "Super Ball" (ie - you can Bounce it) and a large colored sponge ball where Joe suggested that, "All the kids shout out their favorite color, one of which will match the color you have".
The above effect was created by Robin, Joe, Pat & Aragorn.

3. Marketing Development - Passive & Active
Passive Marketing - You wait for someone to contact you through your magazine ads, yellow pages, or word of mouth. You try to reach the largest audience possible for a given $$ amount and the ad will usually be very generic.

Active Marketing - You research and target specific market segments with you actively making the 1st contact and finding out the decision maker and their needs.

Various methods of Passive & Active Marketing were discussed.

Passive Marketing will only take you so far along your career growth. Active Marketing rachet’s it up. Make that call!!!

Meetings are held the 1st Monday of the month, at 7:00 PM. Locations to be determined.

The above was reported & written by Jean (Mrs. Bubble Man) Lewis & Aragorn the Magician

Sounds Like you had a real fun Evening!