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magringo Veteran user Sad that all I have is a scant 326 Posts |
I'm vp for Ring 50 in Washington, DC. Our youth group has two or sometimes three members and we're trying to grow that group. I've tried social media, local bulletin boards, fliers at our annual magic show and still we cannot seem to grow. Any ideas out there? Maybe we can all share ... my fear is we won't have a future without new, younger members.
Thanks Danny |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
You can't "baptize 'em with a fire hose!!!"
Years ago, on an average of once every two weeks, when I played a Jr. or Sr. High School, a young lad would come backstage after a program, and introduce himself as a beginning magician. Sometimes, I would only have a few minutes (due to another booking "down the road". Sometimes, it was the last program of the day, and I could spend an hour getting acquainted. Most of them were polite and obviously very interested. With only a very occasional exception, when the visitor had an obviously bad attitude, would I brush them off. In fact,a number of them have become very avid amateurs and a half dozen or so, are now full time professionals. I was only returning the courtesy that older pro's had extended to me when I was a teenager. By the mid 80s, there was a marked decrease in such backstage visits, and it slowly tapered off, until the visits stopped! I finally decided that the teens today have more opportunities than we had when I was 16! Computers, and electronic gadgets seem to be more interesting! So, don't panic! You are not alone. When a youth does take the initiative to visit your group, make him/her WELCOME! If you know of a youth that is seriously interested, INVITE HIM/HER PERSONALLY. I'm a 63 year IBMer and a 38 year SAMer. I visited, when I was on the road, many Assemblies and many Rings. In many of the meetings that I attended, young visitors were virtually ignored.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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magringo Veteran user Sad that all I have is a scant 326 Posts |
What you say is correct and there are those at the Ring who do ignore our younger members and that's sad. I've tried to include them in all Ring events and encouraged them to participate in competitions and other shows... But you're right ...these days youngsters have so much available to them.
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Check out all the great articles in our own T.L.R.
Lots of good material already in print. Harris still 2 old to know it all.
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Don't give up!
Of course, don't be over anxious to 'baptize 'em all'! A couple of years ago, the father of a 17 year old young man phoned me to ask if I gave lessons. He had heard I had moved back to my home town after over 40 years on the road, and was interested in his son learning magic. To me, it was a curious situation. Why had not the son called? I suggested we meet for coffee and discuss the situation. We met. The lad was a neat appearing young man, and very polite, but not particularly enthusiastic about getting involved in magic. (I've been "around for awhile", and I'm not interested in exposing magic for money.) I explained a little about magic: performing, history, etc. and suggested that they think it over. Two days later, the father emailed me that his son was "no longer interested". --I don't think that he ever WAS interested! With my background in Boy Scouting (65 + years) I've always been willing to "invest" time in youth. As mentioned in my earlier post, I've mentored a number of magician "wannabees". When I was a teenager, I eagerly saw and met every magician that I could. They ALL were hospitable and encouraging. They tipped me information that I've used ever since. But, I had to make "the first move"! I read the books, practiced, rehearsed, and did shows. There were no magic clubs in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan! I joined the IBM at age 18, so I could get the magazine! I made enough money doing casual shows while in the Navy (I had two agents) that I could send home my Navy salary. I lived on the show money, bought a car, a new tux, and was a "happy kid" During and after college, I booked dates. TV had "come in". Club dates were few. I spent 9 years working for the Boy Scouts (magic was part time). Finally, I showcased the program for a School Assembly Agency, got work, and I stayed with it until I retired. I would do it all over again!!! It appears to me that most young folks today are only interested in close up magic. Few care to do stand up shows. I have no quarrel with that. Of the few who do stand up, some are very good. Magic will continue! I've begun to think: "Magicians are born, not made!!!!!"
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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magringo Veteran user Sad that all I have is a scant 326 Posts |
Many thanks ... all of you... good suggestions and thoughts.
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Bill Fienning Special user 635 Posts |
When a new person attends our Ring meetings, I try to use that person as the spectator to assist me if I am performing at the meeting. There is a certain risk in this if I am performing some of my more bizarre material. Routines like my "I Can Tell When You Will Die" (inspired by Christian Chelman's The Immortal) or The Outcast Dead may be disturbing to some people.
Bill Fienning
"It's More than Tricks" |
vinh.giang Regular user Australia 132 Posts |
I hope you guys don't mind me jumping in here. I am from Australia and where I am from the IBM group is 90% older magicians which is great because they are full of experience and knowledge however when a young person joins they may not think of that in the same way. The way the club is run is quite old fashioned and doesn't appeal to the younger crowd. I really believe in the value behind learning from the older magicians but I have a group of young magicians that learn from me and they all don't see the value that I do. Maybe IBM can make the meetings a little more "sexy" to attract the younger generations? Just a thought!
"Rather a mind opened by wonder, than one closed by belief."
_________________________________ www.vinhgiang.com.au www.facebook.com/askvinh www.twitter.com/askvinh |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
IBM Rings have the freedom to structure their meetings any way they like. There is no set agenda. We host our youth meeting before the Ring meeting. This allows interested adults to observe and, if interested, jump in as mentors. Youth members and their parents are welcome to attend and observe the Ring meeting. They may perform for the adults if their effect passes an audition during the youth session. The youth and their lay parents are often called up as volunteers for effects adding to that "moment of astonishment" that many jaded magicians seldom experience, yet cherish in their audience.
We then host a midmonth magic workshop for accomplished magicians - advanced youth are welcome by invitation to keep the skill level high. There is nothing to restrict any Ring from hosting a beginner youth session, advanced youth session, and an adult Ring session. While making these sessions appealing is up to the local members, the National leaders and your TVPs are there to help and offer advice. One other point - Nametags. One key to making new and veteran members feel welcome is using their names.. Every member and guest should have a nametag. Officers and committee chairs should have their offices listed on their nametag. This makes it so much easier to adrress everyone by name.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
Michael Taggert Special user Fredericksburg Virginia 656 Posts |
Hey skip Ill jump in at this point. would you be interested in a kids only convention coupled with a contest in the mid Atlantic? Im thinking a Saturday Sunday event with a contest. I can Host it here. catch up with me at Kapital Kidvention and we can talk. Michael
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
I saw the youth offer from Magi-Whirl, Michael. Nice! A one day Youth convention may be very workable and beneficial. My question would be - would it be profitable for your Ring. These kids don't have the money to spend like most hobbyists and pros. Let's look at it!
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
magringo Veteran user Sad that all I have is a scant 326 Posts |
Michael ....love the idea!!!!! BTW -- great holiday kids magic show at Ring 50 ... more than 150+ kids with gifts for the Salvation Army... to make the holidays a bit nicer for those less fortunate than us.
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