I am being featured at my daughter's up coming winter wacky day and doing a magic show and have been away from the kid show scene for many years.

My question is based on the other kid show performers out there, does a magician in trouble (aka sucker trick) work better as an opening effect or is it better to lead with something more magical and establish your magic credentials right away.

The audience for the show are 1-4 graders.

Would also be interested in any recommendations of great opening tricks you might have used when performing for this target audience of 1-4 graders.

Thank you in advance for any and all who respond to this topic. Much appreciated.

I think it's better to open with something magical (appearance of something like a cane or a splashy silk trick or Miser's Dream, etc.) and then get to the sucker tricks. David Ginn's Crash Course on Kid Shows is a little old, but offers lots of good validation for this approach. I don't know what other kid show performers think . . . Actually, he recommends some sort of warm-up (applause meter, etc.), then the magic opening to music, and then, eventually the sucker tricks with audience participation. I would say that you can hold younger kids' attention much longer if you've shown them something splashy first. Dennis Michael has some great routing ideas on the "sticky threads" atop the Little Darlings list.

Get them on your good side, make it magical, exciting easy to understand. A production is always good.

There are other like the blooming bouquet, that have beem long time favoriates.

Based on you skill level a one-minute of fast paced magic, leading into to a talking routine is always good.

Excitement breeds excitement, Conflict (Sucker type effect) breeds conflict. Let them get to know your character firsrt before having fun with the turn-it around effect.

dennis

My vote is for a visual, magical opening. That's what I use.

- Donald

Until you have them on your side, it's just not time for "magician in trouble" (David Ginn) or sucker tricks. Once it's established that we are going to really have fun together, it's wide open. But first let's get together in the same direction.

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

PS --- I like big productions immediately. The magician is HERE!

I agree. I would never begin with a sucker-type trick. I like magical, visual openers.

I make loads of sucker tricks but would never suggest them as an opening effecf.........I agree use very visual amd magical opening ....then afterwards get them laughing and shouting
Derek

Sucker effect for opener is a bad idea - that's my opinion. visual things like de'ring are good

I also recommend visual magic to open.

Rob

Well I guess I am onboard with everyone else as I also agree that you really should start with a visual opener. This way it establishes you as a magician and is colorful and fun and gets the kids excited knowing they are going to have a good time. It establishes who you are. With a sucker effect, I feel the children need to get to know you a bit more and build up he trust and fun level before you go into a sucker style effect. I have always done it this way and it works really well for me.

Kyle

So that's where I've been going wrong all these years!

Listen - it's not what you do............................

Your first, and last trick must hit them hard.

I believe I am in agreement with the consensus here but I do use Hip Hops as my #2 routine for young kids. So I must admit to happily using a sucker routine toward the front of my show.

Dan.