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Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts |
About 10 years ago, The Little Darlings was buzzing with activity. There were so many great threads on here, which can still be found in the archives. Enter Facebook and other social media sites, and sadly there is not as much interest in this little corner of cyberspace. However, all that can change in the twinkling of an eye, and I have a feeling it will! So...here is my question. Do you think that children's entertainment has changed in the last 10 years, and if so, in what way? I have been performing kids shows non-stop for over 50 years, and I have some thoughts on this, but I would like to hear from you all first. JR
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Russo Inner circle So.California / Centl.Florida / retired Florida 1165 Posts |
Entertained all over So. Calif. 1950 - 1973, then New Jersey/Manhattan 1973 - 1983, - central Florida 1983 to 2000 (then simi-retirement). All pretty good experiences, though with ALL the Violence - Immorality 24/7 on TV and in Schools - Don't know whats the climate now. ??????????
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
I think you've touched on something I discuss with many here all the time. Both the Café Little Darlings have changed, as well as the industry.
Unfortunately, all anyone wants to talk about here in this forum these days are tricks. Nearly every post is about tricks or something to do with tricks. There is soooo much more to being a kids or family performer than tricks, many which used to be discussed here but are all but gone. There is a stereotype about kids performers and I firmly believe stereotypes come from a place of reality, which seems evident here. Magic has changed. It is not as it once was. These days many people have never seen magic live or a magician perform. There are not magic specials on T.V. like there used to be, schools have cut magic entertainment shows (expect year-end events) drastically over the last decade, and the days of kids or teens wanting to grow up to be magician are long gone. For over 30 years I have spoken at schools and career days about job and career opportunities in love entertainment. I take the top 40 jobs, careers or business opportunities in live entertainment. At literally every school I went to I would always win the award for the most popular well-attended presentation (for many of these career days there may be 25-40 different job/career specialists there each to conduct a class/presentation - student must each sign up for three of them) and these created the most interest. Today, few even think about or are aware of live entertainment as a job, career or business possibilities. I think the trend ended with Djs being the last type pf performer that people were interested in. So across the board, interest in being a magician or kids magician has waned. The results are being seen here, in social media and elsewhere online. If people today have any interest it is in simply learning tricks, secrets and how to do things rather than any real interest. I will tell you what I have seen an increase in is older adults 45, 50 and older who have a casual interest as a kid, teen or young adult who are suddenly now revisiting magic again as an adult. Some with an interest in kids performing others in just trying to pick up where they left off. I'm curious as to how the dynamics are different in AZ than form when you were in London. What are the main differences and what adjustments did you have to make to succeed and remain relevant? |
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Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts |
This is turning in to a most interesting discussion, I will have more to say on this in due course, but I have a busy weekend of shows as always. Besides what has already been mentioned about the whole party with games and magic, versus the one hour or 45 minute show, one of the big differences I have found in the nearly 30 years of performing stateside, is that the American children are far better behaved, but have to be educated in the way to react to certain things, because of their lack or knowledge of pantomime. The scene has also changed a lot over here with the advances, not always healthy, of social media. I miss the Yellow Pages! More to come.....JR
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Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts |
For those not familiar with me, I thought you might like to see my website, with recent video clips of my show, filmed at a library last summer. www.comicmagician.com JR
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Ken Northridge Inner circle Atlantic City, NJ 2392 Posts |
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On Jan 11, 2020, Jolly Roger wrote: It always does with Mindpro! Just to throw in an alternative opinion, I honestly think very little has changed since I performed my first children’s magic show in 1974. There were times when I would have a few bad shows, kids misbehaving, not interested, etc. Then I would go through a period in which the kids hung on my every word. You could hear a pin drop if I stopped talking! Of course, from a marketing standpoint things have changed. Roger mentioned the Yellow Pages. But still, the best way to market yourself has always been to do an outstanding show and be ready to hand out your business card. 80% of my business comes from referrals today as it has for many, many years.
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com |
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Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts |
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On Jan 11, 2020, Ken Northridge wrote: Absolutely Ken....referrals is the way to go, and that is how I get virtually all my shows these days.....plus repeat clients. I note you have not been in the business long, Ken, with your first magic show as recently as 1974. My first was around 1960!! |
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danfreed Inner circle West Chester PA 1354 Posts |
The audiences don't seem to have changed since I started in 94', except for teens who are glued to phones, but I don't do shows just for teens anyway. I guess I have a British style of performing, but that wasn't intentional, I just do what works. I haven't seen other kids show forums that get much action, except for Roger's FB group, which I left cause they were discussing religion or politics or whatever too much, which is fine, but not my cuppa tea. Are there forums like this one here on the Café that gets used more?
Dan Freed
AKA The Amazing Spaghetti https://www.magiciandanfreed.com/birthday-party-magician-for-kids http://thecaricatureartist.com http://danieljayfreed.com |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
It would be so nice if more here discussed operations and what it takes to be a kids or family performer rather than just viewing everything in terms of tricks. Many of the pros have left here and along with them this type of thinking. Now its just newbie and amateurs and a few of us leftover (Donald, Dan, Howie, Curt, Ken, and now JR) that remember how it used to be.
I've always had trouble understanding why this is accepted here. Do you feel you have nothing left to learn? Nothing to share? I know its hard to want to share when the information offered isn't appreciated or valued properly or in the right perspective. I do see a trend of more and more people leaving FB and some coming back here to the Café, not specifically here, but in other forums as well. I hope this can be a favorable trend that can get things back to what it once was, and that the newer guys and the wannabes that think they're better/more experienced than they are don't run off the pros again as they did in the past. |
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Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts |
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On Jan 12, 2020, Mindpro wrote: Good post Mindpro....and I agree 100%. The tricks that are performed at a children's show are the least important factor when it comes to entertaining children. |
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noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
I began performing magic for children starting 18 years ago. One change I've noticed over the years, is the spread to the U.S. of what has been referred to as the British, "silly" style of performing. You see this very clearly in the works of Silly Billy, Christopher T. Magician and Tommy James to name a few nationally known figures. I put my performing style in that category too. One of the reasons for the change, I think, is simply the proliferation of instructional videos show-casing this type of performance, starting with Terry Herbert's, with many others to follow both from the above performers and a host of British performers.
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Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts |
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On Jan 14, 2020, noland wrote: Hi Noland.....good to see you posting on here. You make an interesting observation, and you may be correct. Personally, I don't believe I have seen an instructional magic video in my life, and I really have no interest in doing so quite frankly. However, being brought up in the British traditions of Pantomime, the silliness you describe comes naturally to me, and seems to be a big hit when I introduce it on this side of the Atlantic. |
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Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts |
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On Jan 12, 2020, danfreed wrote: Indeed, Dan, my Facebook groups seem to be extremely popular for all sorts of reasons. However, I totally understand you wishing to leave for the reasons you state. These days, my poetry group is exploding with talent, and numerous posts daily. However, we do not allow political posts. |
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Gerry Walkowski Inner circle 1450 Posts |
So Roger, what are your thoughts on the future of Children's Entertainment?
Gerry |
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danfreed Inner circle West Chester PA 1354 Posts |
I have no idea what the future of kids entertainment is, but maybe more people doing a combo of things such as magic, games and disco, or whatever. Axtell has an interactive video background thing that is pretty cool, I saw an elaborate human/puppet show done that way at KAX a few years ago. I don't think that's something that birthday entertainers will use much, but good for bigger higher budget shows. As long as we do a very entertaining show, there should be room for all of us to do our thing.
Are there other kids entertainer forums on FB or whatever that discuss our craft (and get used a lot) without getting into politics and religion, etc? Maybe I should start one?
Dan Freed
AKA The Amazing Spaghetti https://www.magiciandanfreed.com/birthday-party-magician-for-kids http://thecaricatureartist.com http://danieljayfreed.com |
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Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts |
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On Jan 20, 2020, Gerry Walkowski wrote: Please forgive me for not having responded yet, but I have not forgotten. I still have much to say on this, but I am non-stop with my busy life right now, so it may have to wait a few days. Thanks for your understanding!! |
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Gerry Walkowski Inner circle 1450 Posts |
Thanks Roger
If we take magic completely out of the picture, generally speaking most people are totally wrong when making predictions about the future of anything. Still, I think it's a fun topic. Gerry |
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danfreed Inner circle West Chester PA 1354 Posts |
That's true Gerry, though I predict I win the Super Lotto next week, that is definitely going to happen. My best guess is just that more magicians will mix in other stuff to their offerings, such as ventriloquism, games, disco, balloon twisting, etc. I know a guy that does origami in addition to magic on request. Plus with the easy access to so many instructional videos and books and online forums, maybe the average magician will be a little better in some ways. When I started in 94' I either didn't know about videos for kidshow magicians, maybe there wasn't much at that point, and those VHS tapes seemed like a fortune to me at the time. I never had to patience for magic books very much.
Dan Freed
AKA The Amazing Spaghetti https://www.magiciandanfreed.com/birthday-party-magician-for-kids http://thecaricatureartist.com http://danieljayfreed.com |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
I find this discussion quite interesting. It always amazes me how magicians think. As Dan eluded to and others have essentially said similar things, is magic not enough these days?
I understand that multiple offerings can have a greater appeal (agencies have been doing this for decades with in-house acts) if presented properly, but what about just a magic performance? No balloons, no face painting, do disco (I can't believe we are calling it that here), no games, what about just magic? Is it not enough value on its own? Is it not appealing enough on its own? As you guys are getting older (sorry) isn't the idea to work smarter, not harder? Especially for the same dollar and a smaller prospect pool? I too have been waiting to hear Roger's take on this. |
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danfreed Inner circle West Chester PA 1354 Posts |
I do a variety of things, sometimes just 1 thing, it depends on what the client wants, how much time they have, how many kids, etc. For me, in general, I make more money per year than if I just offered 1 thing. Also, adding balloons, caricatures or strolling magic is easy, very little extra stuff to bring, very little extra prep. So instead of doing 3 or 4 shows a day, driving all over the place, and resetting my show, I do 2 or 3 gigs a day, so it's less work, and tends to be the same or less total time in my day when including driving. Plus I like the variety, keeps it interesting. I actually used add on face painting and game leading, but cut those out cause I don't like doing it. Working smarter is good, but there are a bunch of factors to consider. One of the reasons people hire me is cause they can get more stuff, more things to keep kids busy, if they want.
Dan Freed
AKA The Amazing Spaghetti https://www.magiciandanfreed.com/birthday-party-magician-for-kids http://thecaricatureartist.com http://danieljayfreed.com |
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