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Fast Eddie P. Veteran user Maryland 323 Posts |
I've got my first strolling gig coming up at the end of May. Don't laugh, but it's for about 50 eight graders. They are having a graduation dance and the theme is "A Magical Evening". I've been hired to do 45 minutes of walk around in a hall prior to the actual dance. Here are some of the ideas I have..I need to narrow the list down to about six or seven:
CMH Ring Flight (only when/if someone has a ring) Deja Vu Deck (Regal) patter advice needed Sponge Balls Doc Daily's last trick NFW Dishonest Abe Re-Cap Hopping Half -no gimmick Vanishing deck -the easy one w/black case $100 Bill Switch Prof Nightmare -I really need patter for this one since I normally do it for 5-6 year olds. I've only done childrens shows (ages 4-9) so any help/advice from everybody would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance. |
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Andrew E. Miller Inner circle Southern California 1428 Posts |
Why did you take a job you weren't prepared for? That is the most important thing.
Andrew |
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Fast Eddie P. Veteran user Maryland 323 Posts |
Well, I don't know if anyone is ever prepared for their first gig. I do all the above routines pretty well. I'd like to pick about 6-7 and really concentrate on my presentation. I think I can polish them up in seven weeks, but I help deciding which ones to concentrate on.
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Andrew E. Miller Inner circle Southern California 1428 Posts |
I know that I was prepared and had been studying psychology, theory, and working on presentation for a long while before doing my first gig.
Andrew |
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Fast Eddie P. Veteran user Maryland 323 Posts |
That is wonderful Andrew, I'm very happy for you. Your advise has been so helpful, thanks.
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Andrew E. Miller Inner circle Southern California 1428 Posts |
No need to get mad at me. Here is my advice....
First of all you have a great list. Good effects on there. For the Deja-Vu Deck, you might want to go along the patter that David Regal uses. You did lose the instructions, I hope. For Professor's Nightmare, you might want to go along the optical illusion type patter. Either that or play a little game with your spectators. Have them tell you what they just saw and then stretch the ropes. Have fun with it. The Vanishing Card Case is good to have have sitting in a spectators hand or off to the side and then as your close you do a switch in the pocket or beneath the table and do the trick. Just make sure things flow and that you are not just pulling out one trick at a time. Have things tie in. Sort what you do in a performance out so you don't skip through effects such as: cards, coins, sponge balls, cards, coins. Have the different types of tricks together to make it flow well. Hope that DOES help. Andrew |
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Shawn D Elite user Hughson,Ca 465 Posts |
Hey Eddie,
Seeing you only have 9 posts, I take it you are pretty new to the Café. So welcome! Sorry you got pretty much capped on when asking for advice. This is one reason I left other message boards and came to the Café because 99% of the people here are very helpfull with tips besides just don't take the gig if you aren't ready for it. I am with you when you say not everyone is prepared for their first gig.Even though they might be prepared just some hepful tips and some encouragemnet is needed. Sounds like you are pretty much on the right track with your tricks.With 50 kids 45 min is going to fly by so I would take about 6 tricks that reset very easily so you can move around and get most all the kids. I would start out with your sponge balls.Lets the kids know that your not there to fool them but have fun with them. I always start out with my sponge rabbits. Use your pen for a magic wand with the sponge balls.get a bic with a black cap.Then do recap with it during or right after your sponge balls. I do this all the time and gets a great reation.I get the pen out to dith my small rabbits and get a big one for my finish. Then if you want to go into a rope trick put it into a card box and ask the kids if they like card trick. Kids that age love them.take out the card box open it and say something like oh well this is for my rope.Go into your rope routine. Then do a few card tricks that reset easy or don't need resetting.if someone has a ring finish with your ring flight then move onto the next group.be ready to have about 10 card tricks you can switch in and out of becasue at that age you will have groups of magic groupies that will follow you all night just to figure it out or tell someone what is going to happen before it happens. Hope this was helpful. PM me if you have anymore questions and don't want to get capped on. Shawn D |
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S2000magician Inner circle Yorba Linda, CA 3465 Posts |
Eighth graders are a very, very tough audience. I've performed at several graduation parties, and they're amongst the most challenging shows I've done.
The best advice I can offer is to avoid gimmicks. If you're lucky the kids won't be grabby, but very likely they will be. The next best advice I can give is that if one of the kids wants to show you a card trick with your deck, let him. You get paid whether you're doing the work or he is, if he shows you something good you will have made his evening, and you can follow it up with a killer of your own. Finally, be sure to show some magic to the adults; if the person who hired you is there, make sure you show them something special. Remember, these are the people who can hire you again. |
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Fast Eddie P. Veteran user Maryland 323 Posts |
Thanks for the advice guys! I'll use the sponge ball to re-cap, great idea! The advice on letting them show me a card trick will probably save me alot of undue aggravation.
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flourish dude Inner circle from ? But I know where I am going! 1195 Posts |
[quote]"On 2003-04-10 00:46, S2000magician wrote:
Eighth graders are a very, very tough audience. I've performed at several graduation parties, and they're amongst the most challenging shows I've done. The best advice I can offer is to avoid gimmicks. If you're lucky the kids won't be grabby, but very likely they will be." I can second and third this!!! I don't want to scare you but it will help if you are ready. Most likely they will grab stuff out of your hands, dive into your pockets and try to bust you on everything. As long as you ready for this you should have not problem. here are my thoughts (I have worked for this age group also, so I know): Recap (G.Wilson) Mental effects like predictions. Cards where they can shuffle the deck!! or even they find the card (counting cards in a pile). String through finger. Rubber band break restore or crazy man (in your hands). ESP deck. Sponge balls (be carefull they will grab your hand or open theirs early). Card to pocket (palm and get rid of it fast If they think the card is in your palm they will grab your hand and look). Here is a tip that might work for you: If they are really grabby then give each of them a wand to hold. (small wands the cheap plastic ones) tell them to hold on with both hands and DON"T let go or this won't work. I do this in restaurants if I have a grabby kid. This is a hard age group, 7 and 8 graders. You might come away feeling like you just been mugged!! Don't worry it just this age. They're out to look cool with thier friends (alone they are a fine audience). Just be ready for the above and you'll be fine. Try not to use gimmicks.Another thing: if you have a group, show a few of them the bottom card, and tell them to be quite by putting your finger over your mouth. Then force the card on someone on the other side. Mis-call the card a few times, then go into the "picture your card above your head". Then have the group you showed the card to yell out the card. If you get them to be a part of the show then you'll win them over. Just do a few things and move to the next group. You don't need all those effects you listed, only 4-6 or so. You'll do fine....
Nothing of the same will bring any change, take action today!
Just taking a step, is a step in the right direction because when you stop working, your dream dies. www.magicalmemories.us |
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Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
Hi Eddie,
Congrats on getting booked! I'm sure you'll do fine just don't forget to take a couple of deep breaths every once in a while. I agree with Shawn that you probably don't need as many effects as you have listed. When I'm hired by the city to do special events, I only use 3-4 effects for the couple hours I'm there. Granted the crowd I work may be bigger and it's easier to show a few things and move on to the next group.(I only show new stuff if I run into people whom have already seen me..always carrying extra just in case) I would start off by only using 2-3 effects at the most and making the rounds. Once you covered most of the space that you were working...then I would perhaps only bring out another three effects and start again. However, I think you'll find the 45 mins goes by so quickly. You may find some kids enjoy you so much they will keep saying "show me more!", but you don't want to spend too much time with one group. You may want to say "you'd love to but have to make the rounds and you'll try to return." That way everyone will have had the opportunity to see you before you run out of time. I'm not sure how many people are attending this event but if you have a group of 4-6 people and show them 2-3 things..how long will that take? Decide how much time you will have to spend with each group in the 45 mins. This is not a hard and fast rule as some are more receptive to you while others may try to be grabby and you move on. For example if you have 45 mins and 45 people you would only have 1 min per person..in a small group perhaps just a few mins before you move on. Do you see what I'm trying to get at? Let us know how it goes and best of luck! |
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Bobcape Elite user Rapid City, SD 470 Posts |
Good points Chrystal. One thing I have had trouble with is when you have a budding magician that decides he or she will be your new "helper" and follow you around the whole time. This has happened to me several times and since I am repeating a few routines many times, this is not a good situation. Here's my solution. I have the Pride & Joy cards printed with my info on the back. I show that trick to my new "helper" and give him/her several and ask them to show it to the adults and hand them out for me. It's an effect that is hard to mess up, I get my card handed out (it's one that the adults usually keep for a long time) and my "helper" is now actually helping me. It works for me and it may work for you. Good luck and congrats!
Bob
Be Amazed! + Enjoy The Magic!
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Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
Thanks Bob and you've made some good points too.
Seems every strolling gig you get someone that likes you so much they follow you around. As you repeat effects at these types of events it can actually be annoying, but you don't want to cause ill feelings. Your suggestion was really good!! |
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cardboy18 Regular user New york 128 Posts |
I am going to give you some information here about the age group, because I myself, am an eight grader, and I regularly perform for them.
To start, the no gimmick idea is a VERY good one, these kids will try to grab anything. Also, be carefull who you perform for: the more "popular" (tough people who will most likly give you a problem) might be hecklers, mostly because they aren't in the spotlight. Lastly, don't worry too much about patter and presentation, they most likely will be amazed just by the effect, although patter helps. All im saying is don't kill yourself over it. Lastly, just have fun. I think teenagers are the best audience yet also the most difficult. It's a challenge to work with them but the rewards are worth it, you'll get some grreat reactions. |
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Fast Eddie P. Veteran user Maryland 323 Posts |
Now, I'm thinking maybe I should have charged extra for hazard pay. The advice I'm getting is fantastic - thanks to all. Bob, I think I'm familiar with the pride and joy cards (with the bottles of "pride" and "joy" on the front). Is there a trick involved with them, or are you talking about just using the "punny" lines?
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Eddie,
Don't try to do too many things. And take the advice of several posters and stick with ungimmicked effects: Crazy Man's Handcuffs will be a smash; they'll all want to try it all night long so bring lots of extra bands. Sponge balls: You might consider sponge rabbits or something else that's less likely to roll off a table or hand. No-gimmick Hopping Halves: Is that my routine? Professor's Nightmare: Here is a site with a ton of routines and routine ideas for the Prof. Nitemare, my personal favorite trick! http://www.ring2100.org/ropes.html Good luck! |
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impossible man Elite user 403 Posts |
And...if you can routine a few things together, like 2-3 coin tricks using the same coins, you can bow out early when a group isn't watching and sticking around a little longer for a group that is, and it will never look like you just stopped and walked away! Also, greet them and ask them how they are, and if they are having fun at the dance (they might WANT a diversion). If you are truly interested in them, they will repay you with much more attention. But if they get up to go over to their friends, wave to people while you're revealing their card DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY!!! I regularly get compliments on my magic from high school groups who have been very distractible (not a usual problem for me). It's just that they're at a party, with their own agenda. Relax, like them, and they'll like you! By the way, lots of magicians accept their first show then start feeling they're not ready. It's part of stage fright. It will probably go away for any period of time you are performing regularly. And there are other ways to beat it.
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MAGICTOM Veteran user Dallas, Tx 354 Posts |
Good luck Eddie!
Let us know how it goes! Tom
No Man is his craft's master the first day!
J.B. Bobo |
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Fast Eddie P. Veteran user Maryland 323 Posts |
Peter and Impossible Man, thanks for the advice. I borrowed the hopping half routine directly from Carl Andrews close up tape, it's an easy no gimmick routine that just uses one extra coin. I'm not familiar with your routine yet Peter, but I'd be very intersted in it if you can guide me in the right direction. Thanks for the Prof. Night. information. It sounds like I picked a hard age group for my first strolling show, but with all the advice given here I feel a little better prepared.
I understand about not using gimmicks, but what about NFW with a switch out at the end for real aces? It's such a cool trick I'd really like to use it. The only problem is that it is not an automatic reset. Thanks again, Eddie |
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impossible man Elite user 403 Posts |
Professor's Nightmare patter idea:
Show all three sizes hanging from your left hand. Wave your right hand under the uneven ends. Ask, "If all the ends were in the same place, would these ropes be the same size?" Make the arrangement, then answer "Yes, they would!" as you pull the ropes and show them as equal. Yes, I am into minimalist patter, as I talk too much offstage, and I don't want to carry this fault onstage (or into the Magic Café!) |
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