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pharcyded New user 4 Posts |
I am looking for a few nice tricks to perform for classrooms as ice breakers, etc. I am obviously not putting on a full-blown show or anything, but magic is something that truly grabs their attention. I was thinking of maybe doing a trick in the morning and if they behave I can show them a few more throughout the day. Basically, I want to treat them with nice effects of magic as a reward for letting me do my job. I am not looking to do card tricks or use a TT (my hands are very small and quite white so the tips always look stupid/obvious). I have the TKO so I can do a pretty simple coin vanish, but my shirt is tucked in so retrieving it is pretty much impossible. I also have sponges and a lot of card tricks, but as I said cards are not what I want to do. I want things that are very visual and gimmicks are welcomed. They are just kids that are sitting at desks so I can get away with more than most.
I thought about getting this book: Teach By Magic and a few other tricks. What would you guys recommend? An ITR? Gecko? etc? |
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Pecan_Creek Veteran user The Nation of TEXAS! 323 Posts |
Rope.
If they get out of line it has a dual use!! But seriously, Professors nightmare is perfect for this situation. Try the WGM series Prof. NIghtmare disc and their Ring on Rope disc. |
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Evan Jay New user 17 Posts |
No TT? Do yourself a favor and reconsider that. A TT is amazing! Seriously, doesn't matter how dumb the tip looks on you, they won't see it if you're using it correctly! It also gets incredible reactions.
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Steer clear of IT. Most schools are well lite with flourscent lights, that is too revealing for most IT.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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pharcyded New user 4 Posts |
Pecan...haha! I will look into some rope tricks and the Professors nightmare routine. I will also look at some TT although I am very...very sketchy about it. A guy at the Disney world magic shop sold me one a few years back and I tossed it because it was just far too large and disappointing.
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pharcyded New user 4 Posts |
Thanks for the heads-up on the IT too. I didn't think about the lighting...good call. More suggestions please!
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bowers Inner circle Oakboro N.C. 7024 Posts |
Rope tricks would be great
professors nightmare cut and restore rope |
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Bob1Dog Inner circle Wife: It's me or this houseful of 1159 Posts |
Needle through balloon! You can relate it to science after the trick and have a lesson about why it works.
What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?
My neighbor rang my doorbell at 2:30 a.m. this morning, can you believe that, 2:30 a.m.!? Lucky for him I was still up playing my drums. |
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donny Loyal user Colorado 263 Posts |
Here's a couple that might apply, in no order, medium to advanced skills est:
THE THING by bill Abbot could play strong to 30-30,000 spectators. One Coin Routine w/ or w/o a silk and Jumbo Coin production then explain difference between fusion and fission via Sol Stone's FUSION FISSION, because you loaded for it and don't need to go to pockets/load etc. - Quick and Casual DVD Pencil Bin/Saltshaker through table. Coins through desk. D'LITE routine EYE OF THE TIGER w/ Prof Nightmare. JUMPING RUBBERBANDS HOT SAUSE. If a Flash Paper effect is okay, and you warm up to the TT. Out of the Box - Kranzo DVD FINGER THROUGH A DOLLAR BILL. Lonnie Chevrie's OFF THE CUFF. Rubberband ‘through’ wrist effect. Off the Cuff – Wilson DVD SELF TIEING SHOE LACE. Play dumb, then fix it! COINS TO CANDYS. Two coins change to two candy’s via advanced sleight of hand. Revolutionary Coin Magic Sankey COIN FROM PENCAP. Coin vanishes, then appears from pen cap. In the Beginning there were Coins - Noblezada CATIPULLAR LOVE. Card Packet w/ Butterflies to Spectator's hand! Item FLIPSTIC MOVE.
It's not their senses that mislead, it's their assumptions.
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desprado2 Regular user Los Angeles, California 119 Posts |
I'm an elementary school teacher and I recommend the Teach by Magic book but Teachbymagic.com is even better. Their site does charge a fee but I think it's great for a teacher.
"Treat others the way you want to be treated."
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55john55 Regular user 137 Posts |
The age of the students are certainly an important factor. Don't totally dismiss close up tricks involving a few students. When I taught, I allowed a few students at a time to come to my desk (after they had their work finished) and see a couple of tricks.
Also, Mac King has some GREAT things you can do in front of a class. If you like the humorous things his "cure for the hicups" is FANTASTIC. There are plenty of light quick tricks such as hanging a spoon on your nose - I could get one on my nose and one hanging from each ear. If you don't mind bringing a prop, you can "fly" using a mirror. If you would like more info on these send me a P.M. I sent you one P.M. and will send you another. |
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pharcyded New user 4 Posts |
Thank you all for the suggestions and the PM's 55john55. I forgot to mention that I am in the Elementary School realm so I can't go to far over their heads. They are going to be more responsive to visual effects that are just eye catching like maybe an appearance of a magic wand, and things I can teach them how to do as well like those from the teachbymagic website (great suggestion btw). I don't mind bringing props at all as long as they can either be worn or fit in a briefcase. Once I finish my degree and get my own classroom I will be able to stock the room with a lot of cool stuff, but for now I need portable solutions as I travel to new rooms and schools on a daily basis.
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rhettbryson Elite user Greenville, SC Not ashamed of his 406 Posts |
IF you can find a copy, Martin Gardner's Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic is a treasure trove of LOTS of things you can do to entertain endlessly with ordinary objects. Amazing stuff in that classic book.
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Wizard of Oz Inner circle Most people wish I didn't have 5150 Posts |
Did you mention how hold the kids are? If they're young, the magic coloring book and disappearing crayons are fun.
And, good old sponge balls.
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
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Wizard of Oz Inner circle Most people wish I didn't have 5150 Posts |
I'm so confused.
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
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Lash Regular user Lansing, MI 161 Posts |
Anything visual is always good-- ropes, silks, torn and restored card or newspaper and pencil through the dollar bill (I recommend Misled). Anything involving appearing money or coins is good as well. Larry Anderson's "Jawdroppers" DVDs have some good ones to use as well.
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Aus Special user Australia 996 Posts |
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Eric the Excellent Loyal user Montana 234 Posts |
I do a bed of nails routine and, because it is one of my strong points, I try to work it in to as many shows as I can. Always, there is at least one person in the audience who will tell me about how their high-school teacher did that trick once, and explained how it worked. Most of the time, though, they don't say it in a smug "I know how this works" way, but rather in a fond and reminiscent way; it's obvious that the experience stuck with them.
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J-L Sparrow Regular user 167 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-02-04 23:40, Father Photius wrote: Ironically, I've found that the TT (not IT) works well under flourescent lights. Of course, it works well under pretty much all light, but it's harder to notice under flourescent light than it is under natural light. At least, that's my opinion when I've practiced in front of a mirror. And I second the use of the TT. However, it sounds like your students might be at the age where some have seen one before, and would recognize its use if you perform a simple silk vanish. But then, even if a student does blurt out that you're using a TT, it's likely that the other students will have no idea what he's talking about, so a simple silk vanish would be fine. You might be self-conscious about using a TT, but every magician is, at first. When you look at the TT from your perspective, you see it with a dark, shadowy ring around it, making it obvious to you. But when you practice in front of a mirror (especially with artificial light), don't draw attention to the gimmick, and POINT your thumbs to the spectators's faces (when not moving your hands), you'll see that you can spot something odd about your thumb only when you compare it to the other thumb. And, seriously, who does that in real life? Magicians who are aware of the TT, that's who. (Spectators won't glance from finger to finger, comparing them. They're too busy looking for the bright red cloth!) |
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volto Special user 603 Posts |
For kids, visual is great. Also, there are a few 'bits' that you'll see in most kids magic shows -
"Look but don't see" - for instance, the stiff rope, for the indian rope trick. Say you can't work out how to do the Indian Rope Trick, then casually hold it out horizontally while you're looking at them. When they howl at you that it's working, let the rope fall, then look at it. And so on. Slapstick - for instance, silver scepter. Be careful if you're having it go up your nose, though, you might actually hurt yourself. Repetition - for instance, sponge bananas. It's an endless production of sponge bananas. Comedy gold. The New York kids magician David Kaye ("Silly Billy") has an excellent book that explains his approach, which has a lot of the psychology of kid's shows in it - it's called "Seriously Silly". Lessons I took from it are that the magic should be about empowering the kids - letting them shout as much as they like, laugh at an adult, have fun, and maybe show off a little. For slightly older kids there's an opportunity for slightly gross and/or rude material, but it should obviously be carefully considered. They like it when the magician is the butt of the joke, or apparently not in control of the magic (although you need to retain status and some kind of boundaries). Never, ever make a negative comment about a kid or make the kid the butt of any joke, even indirectly (e.g. break away wand, "not that one, the clean one", "empty your mind/that was quick", whatever). For props/effects like the breakaway wand where the gag is inherent, make yourself the subject of it and have the kid look good. It's a great book. Sponge bunnies is a great close-up kids trick, but regular sponge balls will do. Pom pom pole is great. And you get to say "pom pom" a lot. For rope, Aldo Colombini's "Rope in" works well, doesn't need scissors and can use two volunteers. A hank ball or pull and a few silks can be good. Duane Laflin's DVD on the hank ball is excellent. This looks nice and flashy. Standard stuff that will work: change bag, drawer box, dove pan. Temple screen. Any of these will let you produce a toy rabbit, and loads of other stuff. Hope some of that helps. A great source for ideas and props is "Practical Magic" in the UK. Check out their video demos: http://www.youtube.com/user/practicalmagic101 and John Kimmons channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/konjuror Their website is http://www.practical-magic.com/ I've been happy with everything I've bought form them, which is a rare thing in magic...! |
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