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Czimmerman New user Markesan, Wisconsin 52 Posts |
Does anyone know any escape artist books/dvds that are oriented for younger people?
I was watching the last season of White Collar while playing with my cuffs and a paperclip. My 12 year old asked to try it. So I snap them on tight and gave her the paper clip. Took her 5 minutes to do both side. My oldest is into card work and now I have the find materials for daughter #2. I heard them talking about doing a show at school next year for their talent fair. Thanks. |
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
Check out Wiz Kid Qua-Fiki's "Escapes For Teens" at The Magic Nook in "Qua-Fiki's Corner."
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
The problem with kids under 6.5 is that most are not logical for "size to volume equations".
I was involved with early study's of kids ability a to grasp that two volumes of liquid will equally occupy two different (thin & tall vs short but stout) containers. Most couldn't. I have an under in psychology with 24 credits in developmental psych. 28 in psychiatry (yech) I'm not writing this to brag, just as a way to explain ( what I learned at the university) that kids, 6.5 and under, believe - if they can slip trough a pair of cuffs or a restraint then the performer can too. (Even if it's a kid you put in a large jacket, which fits you) And ... they always want to try the escapes for themselves. This is particularly hard when you have a pair of one -size Hiatts and the kids can slip their little hands in and out Therefore You Can Too. So any escapes you may perform for younger children can not be based on merely escaping a bond but they need to incorporate some sort of non-threatening penalty, which misdirects them from thinking about the size issue (until they are about 7.5). The penalty can be as simple as buying a scoop of ice cream, if you don't get out, or you have to give all if them an autographed promo photo, but you get the idea. (Most of my other credits are in deviant psychology (& psychiatry) and deviant mental process which involve the way the brain was made or specific chemicals that alter the thinking process for better or worse. I also don't bring that up to brag either... Just to say that Birds of a feather flock together and I fit right in, here ) So in this rare case, duct tape works because there is NO size on that. You can wrap an adult or a kid in duct tape (figuratively speaking of course) and all they "know" is how tight is is on each.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
Czimmerman New user Markesan, Wisconsin 52 Posts |
Thank you both for the help.
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
There are, in effect, two sides from which this question can be viewed.
One is that of the performer. Many technical skills can be taught to kids. Some, of course, are dangerous. Teaching them to adults is sometimes a questionable decision, and children are no different. The other question is one of audience appreciation. We all know what it's like to feel stuck. But most kids have not yet solidified their sense of the world and its workings, and of what they can and cannot do. There are a lot of gray areas, and they feel invulnerable. Therefore, to see a performer do something within gray area, will not have the same impact as later in life. Those awarenesses are also greatly influenced by social cues. If a kid is in an audience of kids, their response may be drastically different than if they're in an audience of adults.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
Rook Special user I went to the Magic Cafe and all I got were these lousy 834 Posts |
I have to agree (for the most part) with Harley and Jay on this.
I'll start by backing up what Jay said with my own background as a Clinical Psychologist/Psychology Professor (hey, you guys knew I had to have a day job, right?). Based on certain aspects (identified by both Jay and Harley), very young kids simply don't understand escapes, and many of the older kids need a little something extra to appreciate it. However, I did my first escape when I was 6 and was enthralled ever since. I just didn't play to kids my age. Your 12-year-old daughter could be well-received by age-matched peers in Jr. High, but not the elementary school set. Then, there's the ethical issue (Harley again). Escapes, to the younger crowd (indeed, much of the older set as well), just aren't interesting unless there's some penalty (or fairly distracting comedy, such as in Linden's Suit Jacket escape). As a father, I'm sure you won't want your 12-year-old suspended over razor sharp spikes by a burning rope (or the rough equivalent), regardless of the safety features you've built in. Even if you were okay with it, adolescents are marvelous mimics and "don't try this at home" is an invitation, not a deterrent. Jay nailed it with the idea of a nonthreatening penalty. Among my favorites is getting doused with water or some equivalent (e.g., slime). I've noticed that it's disappointing when the escape artist succeeds in these kinds of presentation, however, so it's often a nice touch for the mechanism to 'malfunction' after the escape is successful and the artist gets drenched anyway. Another option, of course, is to utilize the escape as a component of another effect, such as a quick change (metamorphosis comes to mind immediately for a Jr. High talent show). For this kind of venue, I'd probably recommend something simple played up fairly large, such as in and out loops, Australian bar, or perhaps a Kellar tie.
Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.
-Roald Dahl |
Czimmerman New user Markesan, Wisconsin 52 Posts |
My daughter really liked the slime idea. She is researching recipes for bulk slime.
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Rook Special user I went to the Magic Cafe and all I got were these lousy 834 Posts |
Quote:
On May 26, 2015, Czimmerman wrote: Glad she liked it!
Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.
-Roald Dahl |
Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Now I want to see an autographed scoop of ice cream. Just the idea suggests a sublime routine, though maybe having nothing to do with escapes.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
Czimmerman New user Markesan, Wisconsin 52 Posts |
Autographing ice cream is easy. Just use one of those cake decorating gel pen things.. Limited edition autographs... won't be around long.
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
That's too easy!
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
Czimmerman New user Markesan, Wisconsin 52 Posts |
Autographs can be faked... might have to go with a fingerprint.
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