10 year old birthday party
thefisherman
Okay, yesterday I was at a relatives, and ofcourse, I was doing so card
effects, a few coin etc...Anyway, one of the parents there asked me if I
could work her son's birthday (next year in march). Now, I made it
perfectly clear to her that I don't do balloons or anything like the
clown she was thinking of hiring. She said that was okay. Anyway, I
was just wondering if anyone had ideas for effects I could use
(hopefully not ones I'd have to go buy because I don't plan to do 10
year old birthday parties that often) that would go over well. I was
doing some effects on her son, and he seemed to really like all of them
(except twisting the aces which he didn't get). Anyway, if anyone has
some other suggestions.
I was thinking of stuff like the unbreakable toothpick to add to my card
effects. Any help would be appreciated.
thefisherman
GW
For kids at the age of 10 I guess visual magic is best, although they
might understand some physic effects I'd steer away from tricks with
long patter and too much dealing.
Here are a couple of ideas
-Crazy Man's Handcuff's followed by the levitation of th etwo bands tied
together with your favorite IT reel
-Impossible Card Location. Maybe you can try this: Put a duplicate of a
card you'd like to force in a case and wrap as though it were a present.
When you walk into the party nonchantly drop the package with the other
gifts. Force the card then vanish it.This should be done right when it's
time to open the presents just before he reaches for your package ask
him to call out the name of his card then watch as everyone screams when
he opens the package.
-3 Card Monte Challenge. Use your favorite 3 card monte routine except
the when the child guesses right he will receive some sort of candy or
inexpensive present (dollar store things).This can be some sort of
challenge for the older kids
Thanks Alot
-GW
Kemin
10 year olds... How big a crowd of 10 year olds do you have?
Kill some time with card flourishes... I think the kids will dig that.
pull coins out of their ears... but I think they may be a bit too old to
be completely fooled.
Get a roll of toilet paper. Do the good old toilet paper over the
shoulder gag to one of the kids... that should take a few minutes off
your time... then do the 21 card trick 3 times, and finish with the
invisible deck. What do you think?
thefisherman
I don't really like long story lined effects anyway. I really like the
idea of having the card cound in a box. I think I'll make it humorous
by haveing like 20 boxes inside a box. That should kill some crazy
time. I did Crazy Man's Handcuffs to him the otehrday and he loved it.
Especially when he was holding he elastic. Thanks for the ideas. Maybe
I'll work on a cups and balls routine with candy.
thefisherman
I forgot about flight of the paper balls.
nytro
A good but old kids effect is the magic coloring book. This is a great
effect. Also, If you want to get known well at a kids party, present
the birthday kid with a cheap "easy" magic book. Like self-working
tricks...etc. These books can be bought cheaply. I also find that kids
like the cut and restored rope routine. Get a thumb tip and vanish
silks. They love this. Also, Vanish a half dollar or a quarter with
the French Drop, and reproduce it behind the kid's ear or something. I
get a good laugh with my Pen Through Anything (I bought this from the
guy who made up the idea. He owns Hocus Pocus on 4th and South St.
Philadelphia). I shove this through dollar bills...and end by shoving
it through my tongue, or ear. A gross pen effect is putting it up your
nostrl, and have it going through the side of your nose (boys' like
gross stuff like this).
Hope This Helps
Mkieclown
>one of the parents there asked me if I
>> > could work her son's birthday (next year in march).
> I
>> > was just wondering if anyone had ideas for effects I could use
Sory to ask but what is your exspereance
10 year olds are prity cool. Treat them like a corperet coktale party, do
your reguler stuff. If you teach them a trick too that can go over vary big.
if thay hierd you---do what you do
yojoe
nytro wrote:
>
> A good but old kids effect is the magic coloring book. This is a great
> effect.
Yeah, but way overdone. Anyone who uses a magic coloring book for 10
year olds deserves the beating they will get.
Joe
yojoe
What were you like when you were 10? Think along those lines.
I think the suggestions where you use ordinary objects, that can be left
in their hands, (like the rubber band stuff, cut and restored rope, and
so on), are right on the mark. At that age, they all want to examine
everything anyway, why not give it to em? Besides, you’ll have a lot
less to carry going out, then when you came in ;-)
Not everything has to be examinable, but if you include enough, that
should satisify the little “dears”.
Of course this means you have to have some skills, so the practically
self-working, store bought tricks won’t do you any good.
Joe
thefisherman
Not going to do it. I told the parent I don't do clown stuff and I
think the coloring book is a standard clown effect.
thefisherman
All my card work is sleight of hand. I think I might try Immaculate
Connection of another linking cards routine also.
thefisherman
Lantiere wrote:
>
> Don't do birthday parties for 10-year-olds unless you have a death wish.
Why?
yojoe
Mkieclown wrote:
>Treat them like a corperet coktale party,
Do a lot of those do ya?
Joe
GalloPitch
>
>nytro wrote:
>>
>> A good but old kids effect is the magic coloring book. This is a great
>> effect.
>
>Yeah, but way overdone. Anyone who uses a magic coloring book for 10
>year olds deserves the beating they will get.
>
>Joe
Joe,
Do you speak from experience?
Lantiere
Jim Short
yojoe wrote:
>
> What were you like when you were 10? Think along those lines.
<snip>
We are magicians! What do you mean what 'were' we like when we were 10!
jim
yojoe
thefisherman wrote:
.
> > Yeah, but way overdone. Anyone who uses a magic coloring book for 10
> > year olds deserves the beating they will get.
> >
> > Joe
>
> Not going to do it. I told the parent I don't do clown stuff and I
> think the coloring book is a standard clown effect.
Good for you ! I’m glad you stood your ground.
Joe
thefisherman
Wizard wrote:
>
> hmm...the guy who sold it to me said he did...oh well...he had a bic
> pen...maybe its not the same one
> --
> ''~``
> ( o o )
> +------------------.oooO--(_)--Oooo.------------------+
> | visit us! http://www.nytroweb.com |
> | .oooO |
> | ( ) Oooo. |
> +---------------------\ (----( )--------------------+
> \_) ) /
> (_/
The bic one is a much cheaper one.
GalloPitch
>What were you like when you were 10? Think along those lines.
Cool, you're gonna sacrafice a cat then!
Mike
yojoe
GalloPitch wrote:
> >
> >Yeah, but way overdone. Anyone who uses a magic coloring book for 10
> >year olds deserves the beating they will get.
> >
> >Joe
>
> Joe,
> Do you speak from experience?
Hey, I’ve done around 4,000 kids shows and I have all the scars to prove
it !
Remind me to show you my glass eye from the “arrow” incident.
Joe
Jim Short
Bob K wrote:
>
> On Sun, 12 Oct 1997 19:41:51 -0700, nytro <nytro...@enter.net>
> wrote:
>
> >I get a good laugh with my Pen Through Anything (I bought this from the
> >guy who made up the idea. He owns Hocus Pocus on 4th and South St.
> >Philadelphia).
>
> made up by John Cornelius.
>
> Bob K (delete NOSPAM to reply by email)
As a matter of fact, the Perfect Pen was in direct response to all the
people who stole the idea and said they 'made it up'.
jim
GalloPitch
In article <34424227...@news.packet.net>, bkm...@bigfootNOSPAM.com
(Bob K) writes:
>
>>I get a good laugh with my Pen Through Anything (I bought this from the
>>guy who made up the idea. He owns Hocus Pocus on 4th and South St.
>>Philadelphia).
>
>Strange. I'll bet most of us thought that Pen Through Anything was
>made up by John Cornelius.
>
>
Don't misunderstand Bob...this is only a $7.00 manuscript!
Mike
thefisherman
> >guy who made up the idea. He owns Hocus Pocus on 4th and South St.
> >Philadelphia).
>
> Strange. I'll bet most of us thought that Pen Through Anything was
> made up by John Cornelius.
>
Me too.
Wizard
Bob K
Paul Wilcock
thefisherman wrote:
> <snip> asked me if I could work her son's birthday <snip>
> was just wondering if anyone had ideas <snip>
10 year olds are a great energy of audience. They're still young enough
to want to believe in magic. Old enough to be skeptical about
everything. Think they're smart enough to figure out anything.
Innocent enough to show excitement about something. A perfect audience.
Since you wouldn't want to spend a lot of money on a one time show,
here's a list of some quick and easy effects that would go over really
well, and are either really easy to build, or don't cost very much to
buy. Email me if you'd like more information on how to build, where to
buy, or some ideas on performing for 10 year olds.
Clippo
Silkola
Squared Circle
The old "ropes through the body"
Professor's Nightmare
Vanishing Wand
Twisting Arm (whatever the heck it's called, by Mr. Yetid I believe)
Sponge Balls
Haunted Hank
McCombical Prediction
Animated Matchbox
Mental Epic
Supposing you really wanted to blow them away, have a good time, do some
great magic, and pack in a lot of action, this list could get you 30-40
minutes.
If you only want to stall for time and fill your obligation, just bring
a couple of decks of cards, maybe pick one or two of the kind of effect
in the list, and just go play with the kids. You could spend a couple
of months with Mr. Bobo's "Modern Coin Magic" and keep a group of a
dozen ten year olds busy for hours; no problem.
But assuming you might actually want to do a show, here's how I came up
with the above list:
I believe that diversity of effects contributes greatly to the magic and
amazement you create for your spectators. Without even saying so, if
you can levitate a dollar bill, the message you send is that you at
least have the potential of levitating a woman (no gender discrimination
intended). If you don't levitate anything, it doesn't mean your bad,
but you miss a piece of historical and fantastical magic, a corner of
your spetators mind, that could be filled and leave them with even more
wonder. I'd love to discuss this in huge detail, but this isn't the
place. I'd be happy to discuss it by email, though, or, even better,
read a range of insight like Nelms, Fitzkee, Vernon, Ammar, Harris,
Wonder, etc., and develop your own performance principles.
In any case, the way I came about the above list, is to list some of the
possible effects one could perform:
Restoration
Levitation
Production
Vanish
Penetration
Manipulation
Transposition
Animation
Transmutation
Mental
Then I grabbed a basic effect from each type:
Restoration:
Torn and restored newspaper, Cut and restored rope, Arm chopper,
Zig-zag-woman, Sawing, etc., could all fit here. But Clippo is
self-working, easy to make, and is a great exercise in routining...
because the routine is all that makes it. I remember one show I went
all out in a bunch of my effects, and kind of threw Clippo in there for
filler/experience/fun, and this guy came up to me after the show and
said, I'm not sure where the rabbit came from, but I could probably
figure it out, and that floating thing was kind of cool, but the one
that really kills me is that one where you kept cutting that strip of
newspaper... I just can't figure that out. I just about laughed out
loud, but I learned something (I'm not even sure exactly what it is)
that changed the way I do magic.
Transposition: I picked Silkola because it's so much more entertaining
than the old TT silk vanish/production. 10 year olds love it. I
haven't performed it for years, but if I were to perform it again, I
would build my own, so it didn't look like magic props, but ordinary
items. I might actually drink some soda from the bottle, (or dump a few
drops out), munch the remaining crumbs from a pringles can, cover the
bottle with the can, and treat it almost like an impromptu effect. So
many other transposition effects would work here, but I'll betcha buck
none of them have ever seen Silkola, and it can be (like all effects
can) really amazing.
Speaking of that, somebody slammed the magic coloring book in an earlier
response. I've got to just add that if you hold the magic coloring book
(or any magical effect) as a clown trick or stupid effect, you might be
missing out on something. There is something satisfying about taking an
overly-used / looked-down-upon, or otherwise despised effect, and really
blowing an audience away with it. Making something work for you can be
powerful.
Penetration:
I was once challenged to do a trick from a "kid magic book" from the
juvenile section of the public library. The challenge came because I'm
so passionate about the fact that <come on everybody, say it with me>
"it's not what you do, it's how you do it." So I picked the old Ropes
through the Body trick. It was from a book called The Magic of Alkazar
(which, by the way, is a great book for beginners, focusing on
performance). It's the old Hindu Bead trick performed on a larger
scale.
The response I got was amazing. I was so astounded, I put it in the
next show too, and had the same response. I've performed it quite a bit
since then, and always get a kick out of the fact that it's in just
about every juvenile magic book in any library.
I also almost always (just out of principle) have a part in my show
where I do the ball and vase. Often there are many people in the
audience who have had one (or their brother, etc.) it's great. I just
do ball manipulations and ocasionally vanish it and reproduce it from
the vase, or visa versa. Even those who know how I do the part with the
vase love the other stuff, and feel like they are a little closer to the
magic. The fact that magicians think it's bad because everybody and
their dog knows how to do it, or that it's not professional, doesn't
detract one bit from the show. I used to use a big wooden one with
billard size balls, but now I just use the 2 dollar version from the
magic store.
Cards:
Back to the effect headings, even if your are doing card magic alone,
you can diversify the effects to include each possible magical effect.
If you are really imaginative, you could even call the Ambitious Card a
levitation, because it rises in the deck <grin>.
Coins and other stuff:
I remember as a teenager when I first bought the effect the stack of
quarters and the two brass caps. I was on retreat with a bunch or
teenagers, and I must have spent a good hour with just that. Everybody
wanted to examine everything and have me do this part again or that
part. somehow I pulled it all off, and it was fun for us all. I also
spent a half hour each night for several nights with that little black
tube with red caps and the die inside. I got one of the other boys to
be an accomplice, and they'd run off in a group and put the die inside
where I couldn't see it, and come back in and I'd get to play the
ultimate drama game. "All I need to do is touch the container" or some
other such nonsense, and we could go on and on. The next night a was
just a mostly-different group.
Forgive me for the rash I might get for this one, but you might want to
engage your nephew (or whomever you know who will be at the party) into
being an accomplice, and tutor him/her in the art of saying "how did he
do that?" and smacking their forehead, and being really convincing.
What I know, is that it doesn't have to take away from your other
effects, he would feel special and love it, you could really blow them
away, and it might be a challenge for you on some level as well.
This post is way longer than I intended, so if you want to talk more,
email me.
My final 2 cents is to enjoy yourself; have fun with them. Play with
them.
Good luck,
Paul
Jane G Richmond
yojoe (•yo...@prodigy.net) wrote:
: nytro wrote:
: >
: > A good but old kids effect is the magic coloring book. This is a great
: > effect.
: Yeah, but way overdone. Anyone who uses a magic coloring book for 10
: year olds deserves the beating they will get.
:
: Joe
I agree. Actually, this age is perfect to introduce *learning* a few
easy tricks. Good way to bribe them into keeping still for the actual
performance part.
Just remember, there's a reason theatrical folks who handle kids are called
"baby wranglers."
Jane
Brian Abernathy
> I think the suggestions where you use ordinary objects, that can be left
> in their hands, (like the rubber band stuff, cut and restored rope, and
> so on), are right on the mark. At that age, they all want to examine
> everything anyway, why not give it to em? Besides, you’ll have a lot
> less to carry going out, then when you came in ;-)
I like to use tricks with a lot of misdirection, so that when they want
to see what you used, they will ask for the 'clean' part. I don't like
to use 'sucker' tricks, because kids can be cruel to their peers.
For younger kids, the coloring book is OK, as long as it isn't overdone.
Stick to bright primary colors, and they will be amazed.
Brian
Lantiere
Most 10 year old boys don't give a s- - t about magic. When you try to show
them something, they will try to screw you just to look good in the eyes of
their peers.
Arnold Furst describes them well by his book title "Magic for Monsters". Others
have written similar articles in The Linking Ring and M.U.M.
Bob K
On 14 Oct 1997 03:05:00 GMT, lant...@aol.com (Lantiere) wrote:
>Most 10 year old boys don't give a s- - t about magic. When you try to show
> them something, they will try to screw you just to look good in the eyes of
> their peers.
That could be why it takes more than knowing the secret and/or 'doing
the moves' to entertain them.
Bob K (remove NOSPAM to reply by email)
Raymond Paquin
Brian Abernathy wrote:
>
> yojoe (•yo...@prodigy.net) wrote:
> > What were you like when you were 10? Think along those lines.
>
> > I think the suggestions where you use ordinary objects, that can be left
> > in their hands, (like the rubber band stuff, cut and restored rope, and
> > so on), are right on the mark. At that age, they all want to examine
> > everything anyway, why not give it to em? Besides, you’ll have a lot
> > less to carry going out, then when you came in ;-)
Agreed, the more ordinary and the more examinable, the more magic it will be,
especially at that age, because they could be all over you. Since you do sleight
of hands, may I suggest a routine such as "Cannibal Cards"? It is different than
the "I'll find your card" tricks, and is both immensely enjoyable both to perform
and to watch. I fell that the more you enjoy your part, the more people will enjoy
your magic.
So, have fun...
Good luck, and tell us how it went!
Raymond...
Bob K
On Thu, 16 Oct 1997 09:52:30 +0000, yojoe <•yo...@prodigy.net> wrote:
>Brian Abernathy wrote:
>
>> For younger kids, the coloring book is OK, as long as it isn't overdone.
>> Stick to bright primary colors, and they will be amazed.
>
>I think it’s great for real young kids, (2,3,4), but after that I’d
>forget about using it.
>
>Joe
Actually, I've done it for adults.
yojoe
yojoe
Bob K wrote:
> >
> >I think it’s great for real young kids, (2,3,4), but after that I’d
> >forget about using it.
>
> Actually, I've done it for adults.
Probably works great for adults, it’s just anywhere between 4 and 40 you
have the problem.
Joe
thefisherman
David Mark wrote:
>
> Kemin wrote...
>
> "10 year olds... How big a crowd of 10 year olds do you have?
> > Kill some time with card flourishes... I think the kids will dig that.
> > pull coins out of their ears... but I think they may be a bit too old to
> > be completely fooled.
> > Get a roll of toilet paper. Do the good old toilet paper over the
> > shoulder gag to one of the kids... that should take a few minutes off
> > your time... then do the 21 card trick 3 times, and finish with the
> > invisible deck. What do you think?"
>
> I love it! Kemin must do lots of shows for 10-year-olds! Hmm...
> Invisible Deck, eh? The more mature ones might actually like it,
> but in a group of 50 10-year-olds, that would be about 5 of them ;-)
> The 21 Card Trick three times, making it the 63 card trick. Most
> people can't take it once ;-) The toilet paper over the head gag?
> Ever try to get a 10-year-old to keep a secret? They'll be shouting
> out what happened to the volunteer before the paper balls hits the
> floor ;-) Card flourishes? That'll impress kids, too.
>
> All in all, a show geared toward my sense of humor! The only change
> I'd make if I were doing this show is to charge $10 a head!
>
> Love it!
>
> --
> (DAVID MARK) dg...@cleveland.freenet.edu
That reminds me, how much would you people think is adequate as payment
for 1 hour of work. I think there might be 30 kids or so BTW.
Jim Short
thefisherman wrote:
>
> > I'm thinking you shouldn't do an hour. If you are already feeling
> > intimidated by doing this show, make it easy on yourself. It will take
> > a whole lot for you to hold their attention for an hour.
> >
> > jim
>
> That's what I was thinking. I think half an hour would be better.
Much better. And as far as charging, didn't you say:
1. This was your first "real" gig?
2. It was a friend of the family?
If I am correct about these two conditions I would charge a token
amount. Certainly enough to cover cost of travel, prop use, etc. I
would not charge the going local rate for a children's entetainer, as
you indicated you do not really wish to be one.
jim
thefisherman
thefisherman
Jim Short wrote:
>
> 1. This was your first "real" gig?
> 2. It was a friend of the family?
>
> If I am correct about these two conditions I would charge a token
> amount. Certainly enough to cover cost of travel, prop use, etc. I
> would not charge the going local rate for a children's entetainer, as
> you indicated you do not really wish to be one.
>
> jim
It's not direct family. My cousins husbunds family. I don't even know
their names really. She said like $100 and hour.
Jim Short
Well, damn! You didn't say she'd already offered money! That changes
everything!
jim
thefisherman
> many hours as she's willing to pay for.
>
> Bob K (remove NOSPAM to reply by email)
Good thinking Bob. I could probably kill of another 2 hours not
levitation things like the birthday cake etc...
Jason
Tom Way
At the risk of sounding like I'm piling on, I'd like to comment
from my experience with the Magic Coloring Book. This applies
uniformly to any other effect which may be perceived as a
kids only effect. I have used every single item, including
the coloring book, that I have in any of my kids shows for
all ages. Handled well, all are fun, baffling, and produce
no fisticuffs.
It's all in how good of a entertainer you are. The trick is
utterly secondary.
Tom Way
>>nytro wrote:
>>>
>>> A good but old kids effect is the magic coloring book. This is a great
>>> effect.
>>
>>Yeah, but way overdone. Anyone who uses a magic coloring book for 10
>>year olds deserves the beating they will get.
>>
>>Joe
>
>Joe,
>Do you speak from experience?
--
-----------------
Thomas P. Way
w...@cis.udel.edu
char*p="char*p=%c%s%c;main(){printf(p,34,p,34);}";main(){printf(p,34,p,34);}
Jim Finger
Bob K wrote:
> Well, if she's already offering $100 an hour maybe you should go as
> many hours as she's willing to pay for.
>
> Bob K (remove NOSPAM to reply by email)
I just had a request to do 1 1/2 hours performance. I do a 45 minute show. I COULD
do hours upon hours, but, frankly, even most multimillion dollar budgeted feature
films can't entertain for 1 1/2 hours with all of their effects, cuts, editing, and
over 400 people working on every part of the process.
How many minutes of magic are actually performed in a magic special? 20+/- minutes
per hour? Commercials, credits, fluff, hype fill the rest of the hour. And even
the specials don't keep us as entertained as we'd like to be.
In the name of my art and my product, I decline shows where the customer doesn't
respect my experience, package and consultation that prefers quality to quantity.
And around Halloween, I'm not going to waste the time of my other potential
customers by babysitting children at a gig where a pushy parent doesn't appreciate
what I can do in 45 minutes.
Sure, the performer who says "Yes" to everything at any cost is going to get hired
by an uninformed customer or a slacker agent scanning the Yellow Pages, but he
usually doesn't get referred after the show.
I've seen very few acts with the ability to customize a show, and still deliver.
Repitition, originality, and a natural wit with an ability to do improv are
helpful. Charisma, an ability to find the part of your personality that the
audience reads into, these go a long way.
--
Jim Finger, see my free book at
http://members.tripod.com/~imagique/magic.html
Raymond Paquin
DAVID MARK) dg...@cleveland.freenet.edu
>
> That reminds me, how much would you people think is adequate as payment
> for 1 hour of work. I think there might be 30 kids or so BTW.
I'd say to go with the local rates. Around here, it would be around
$100 to $150 for starters.
Have fun!
Raymond...