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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
Hello everybody,
I may be doing a week long magic class for a summer camp. It will be 5 days, 1 1/2hrs. per day. They paying very little, but it sounds like fun and good experience. I'm used to doing hour long classes, primarily based on James Munton's DVD so I'm wondering about pacing. I'm thinking of starting each day with a talk on various aspects of magic and performance, doing an hour of learning/practicing and ending with a re-cap and having the kids show something they learned. I want to cover basic cards, coins, ropes, body magic, impromptu and maybe some DIY project. So here are my questions for you guys. First does anyone have any general advice on this format? And, do you think the tricks would be better learned in blocks (ie. all the card tricks, then the coin tricks, et cetera) or broken up (eg. doing on card trick each day, one coin trick each and s on). I really appreciate any advice. I had a similar magic class when I was a kid and I want to make this really great. Thanks Courtney
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
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Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
90 minutes is going to be tough. I suggest getting all the kids actively doing something the every 30 minutes. For some of those class, like body tricks, you can do legs through floor and arms in doorway. But your going to have to get creative with others.
Take a register, it will kill 5 minutes. Maybe do a warm-up dance (cha-cha slide etc.) I could suggest things like building a house of cards but I don't know the children's ages, what materials you have available, how many are in each class and what your budget is. I think maybe if you ended each class with a cardboard box illusion, you might get somewhere with keeping their attention. But as thrilling as magic is, its not something you can learn in an instinct, and I know from my own classes that the kids start to lose attention after 50 minutes due to being unable to do many of the tricks. If there are 30 children in the class, your in trouble. I might be tempted to think up some Magic games. e.g. corners but with coloured magic wands. Whack a mole with an inflatable hammer and a parachute. Different entertainment to break up the monotony of trick after trick. Steve P.S: I like themed classes and felt the children did to. |
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Sam Sandler Inner circle 2487 Posts |
I offer this.
first 90 minutes really is not a problem I have been teaching for 15 years kids of all ages. first things first get your list of magic your going to teach make sure you can perform it flawlessly. the start of each class after role call you do a mini show 7-10 minutes performing some of what they will learn and add in two or 3 of your own tricks jsut so that they can see what can be accoplished when you learn and practice your magic. now at this point you shoudl be 20 minutess into your class. now its time to show them again the tricks they will learn THAT DAY and then show them how the trick works and explain the WHYS. tehn get them started on practicing. if its palming a coin then give them all coins and show them what to do again then go around individually to each one and watch them and offer advice. then move into the 2nd trick you will teach them. I reccommend that you only teach 2 or 3 trcks each day. if you only have a week and I don't know the number of kids but I would reccomend it not be more then 12-15 then I wodul say 2 trciks each day now keep in mind I like to review each trick meaning teh next day I wodul spend 6 minutes jsut going over what they learned the day before then repeat above starting witht another mini show. teh kids really love watching magic and even stuff they are not going ot learn . hope this helps and if you have some other questions let me know sam
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
http://www.samsandler.com http://www.deafinitelymagic.com |
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
That's great stuff, thanks.
I have to remember that even with five days there really isn't that much stuff. I'm preparing a lot of stuff, in case I find my self with extra time (better over prepared than under prepared I figure), but I'll plan on 2-3 tricks a day. There will be 20 kids (again, I'm going to get supplies for 30 ...just in case), but there will be a camp counselor there with me. Thanks
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
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TonyPorter Regular user 180 Posts |
I would definitely advise starting with a 10 minute performance as well. This is in fact how I do classes.
I would just then slow the pace of your regular Munton style show. I usually find that I have to fly through things to fit everything in, I think the extra 30 mins will give you some great time to ensure everyone 'has it'. |
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MikeHMagic Inner circle 1007 Posts |
I teach a summer class @ a local college, and I always show the kids some video of different performers to show different styles.
Mike "Gus" Harvatt
"Bullwinkle that trick never works." |
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Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
Do we have an age on the children yet? I have done magic workshops for 11-16 years olds in a summer camp, and after school club for 5 year olds. The magic you teach is very, very different.
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-03-28 22:16, ku7uk3 wrote: Oh yeah, sorry. It's 20 8-13 year olds. I've worked with this age group a few times and it's gone really really well, but those were all 1 hr. programs. So far I feeling really good about it. I'm planning 15 min. lecture/show, 30 min. on one area (eg. body tricks or cards) and then 30 min. on another area and rap up with discussion and having any of the kids that want to perform a trick for the class. I'm putting the sections in order of importance so that I can easily do only one area per day and still give the kids some great stuff. Time permitting I want to do some balloon twisting and juggling as well, because these are related performing skills and are tons of fun.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Seadog
How would you present juggling to your magic class?
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-03-28 22:53, Al Angello wrote: Just a simple three ball cascade. Starting off with one ball and practicing until they get it, then two then three. Of course they won't be pros unless they practice, but they should have the idea AND they get to keep the balls (I found two places were I can get a set of three balls for $1 each). This is how I learned it, in summer camp. James Merrills has a brief section on it in "Magicians in the making" as well? I'm definitely interested to hear peoples opinions and/or suggestion on this.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
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Gerry Walkowski Inner circle 1450 Posts |
I think James Munton's course is excellent, so you'll have no problems with this. Having said that, I would also suggest that you consider buying some of Jon Jensen's magic course materials. What I like about his stuff is that he had printed directions to hand out to the children. To me, that gives your course more perceived value. Also, he put together a magic course whereby you photocopied the give-away tricks, or purchased them through an office supply company.
Hope that helps. Gerry |
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Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
You need juggling silks if you want to teach juggling. Children need to see success pretty quickly if there going to continue working at something. The balls is something they work up to, but never start on. If you give them all silks first, they can see progression and instant achievement which stops them from throwing the balls at each other.
I did balloon modelling on week 7. It went okay, but again keep the models simple, and prepare some games with the balloons, such as sword fights or something. Its okay to make models for 30 minutes, but then you really need to do something different with them. E.G. Blindfold a child, and give them a balloon. They have to tell you what the animal is, just by feeling it. Have all the children make a balloon duck, write a small message and put it in the ducks beak, then go to the local river and let them float away. Be creative, its not just about 1 on 1 activities, you need to prepare something that the whole group can do at the same time, which isn't simply making yet another balloon. Steve P.S: Take some round balloons and some pens. For the children that cannot twist them, no-matter how hard they try, you give them a round balloons and marker and get them to draw a face on it. They can then make a body to go with it, and put it under another campers bed to surprise them. |
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DeWayne Veteran user Greencastle, PA 361 Posts |
Tommy Johns sells a package for Magic Sumemr Camps that lays out ,tricks, lesson plans, a magic store, and everything. I think it's a well thought out program. I just purchased it about a month ago but have not completely digested yet.
http://tommyjohnspresents.com/contactus.htm |
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
Thanks all, great stuff.
I can't find Jon Jensen's stuff, do you have a link? I'll check Tommy Johns out this evening, thanks again. ku7uk3 Good idea about the round balloons, etc.. Thank You. I can juggle pretty well, so that won't be a problem. I also did learn on juggling balls, in a one hour class. Of course I couldn't do it for long by then, but I definitely had a sense of accomplishment and sense that I could get it soon. Do you have a resource for cheap juggling scarves? I like the idea, but I'm not sure I can afford both.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
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LMLipman Elite user Falls Church, Va. 443 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-03-29 04:53, Gerry Walkowski wrote: I've used James' DVD. Excellent material. Where can one find Jon Jensen's course material? I'm not familiar with it. |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
I do a scarf juggling workshop in the Summer time, and I usually get an 80% success rate, but if you already have balls keep them.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
Scarfs you can buy of eBay. But look around the net, you can pick them up really cheap if your lucky.
James Muntons DVD is good, but lets not forget that its a one-off, 45 minute workshop. Seadog is talking about doing 5 workshops in succession, at 90 minutes each. That is a major difference and takes a whole different approach in keeping children's attention for that long, and on a regular basis. Steve |
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Gerry Walkowski Inner circle 1450 Posts |
Some of you guys need to get out more.
At one time Jack Turk was selling Jenson's course. Try contacting him. Gerry |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Don't overlook recruiting corporate sponsors to place (fund) you in summer camps!
Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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Hay Harrey New user 40 Posts |
The best summer magic camp I know of is the Sorcerer's Summer Safari. http://www.sorcererssafari.com
I have heard great things from guys like Lee Asher, Nathan Kranzo, and Aaron Fisher. I think Michael Ammar was there last year. As was Wayne Houchin. Can you imagine a week with big names like that? I'm Harrey Hay and I'm outta here! |
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