Kids Festivale AGAIN :)

Today I made my yearly pilgrimage to the Kids festival. This year was very different. IN past years I was a wondering magician, going up to groups to perform small sets and then doing an extended section in the "Story Tent". I had no place as such and just soaked up the atmosphere and performed where I wished. This year I was helping with the science demonstrations. I set the program, I decided what I did. I still planned on performing magic though. I envisioned throwing my tent open to a hoard  or two of kids several times during the day in-between bouts of walking and performing magic. NO SUCH LUCK. I let a few friends see a demo at 11 am, as they left some kids came in, then more then more then more! I asked someone for the time  and it was 4.30pm! It felt like an hour. I performed my "Mad Science" section non stop for five and half hours! The kids loved it, and the parents were very impressed with how well I handled question and controlled the crowd. I even managed to get through to some kids on the autistic spectrum without any difficulties. My equipment got a little scuffed, but it was worth the £10 I spent to see how well science blends with magic. I belive I'll also get some gigs out of this as well.

Inge says I seemed slightly subdued and tired when she came by at the close of the day. I was there for 20 hours later than I normally do the show. But I think I missed performing magic a little, and certainly missed going from group t group to perform. Whilst the approach can be nerve raking I think I enjoyed soaking up the high energy of the festival. Instead I was kind of shuttered away in my tent. The experiment worked better in the tent than in an open area though, so next your I may just supervise the science and run  around doing magic, OR devise experiments that work outdoors.

Overall a rewarding day though. Once Upon A time came out to play in the story tent and had it's best ever reception. The main lesson from the day is one I learnt before. I have a great knack with kids and there are a lot more kids parties than adult. Adult parties pay better, but the sheer volume of kids parties mean they are a market base I can not ignore.  Over all, fantastic tirring day.

free kids gig

As mentioned last week I was invited to perform at a mini 'village fete'. A retro event with home made lemonade. I figured that seeing as this was in the school holiday I#'d be doing kids magic for a wide age range and the odd grown up. I guessed the audience rather well. I left prepping up a little close to the day (as I always do) but managed to pack everything I needed. I sat down and worked through "Once Upon a Time" for the first time in a while and was delighted to find I remembered the whole sequence straight off the bat. I asked Darren to show up and video record some of my work. I  also asked a Headmaster of a local school to show up and offer some critiques of my working with kids.

After getting my bits together at the event I relaised it was too windy for once upon a time. Over all Iperfmoed...
THe Silk shrinking,vanish, teleport to shoe., THe  younger kids loved thisbut the older kids were very keen to  to show they know how it was done. One kid was very vocal  with a copleatly wrong explination. I kept controll and no-ones fun was spoilt at least. MAybe an imporved handling or simply I should not perfrom this when the 'big brothers and sisters'# are around.

THe silk tube. Went down very well, lots of interaction with the kids

The Magic colouring book. If i could  have sold that to one kid's mom I'd have gotten a fortune I think. All the kids of all ages liked it, but one toddler was obsessed by it. I got about 10 minutes of material out of it!

My  Headmaster friend said  he liked how I never lost my temper, kept my energy levels up and if the older kids looked like they may spoil things I empowered them by explaining the trick a little (in this case the book) but then baffled them with a card trick to keep them interested in my magic and still respecting me.

All Rather good and happy stuff. We then popped into the Visual arts centre and saw some of the 'youth' (aged 15-18 at a guess) playing "magic the gathering". One asked if I was a magican. I sudenly broke into "Wee Wee Mentalist". They were blown away. I suspect because there was a camera on them they reacted even more than before. Even though they made me feel like David Blaine and Dynamo with a hint of Gandalf. A good day :)

How it all kind of works...

It's been a hectic few weeks. I have not achieved half that I've set out to, however I've achieved infinity  more than I would have by doing nothing. On Monday I got a text message from a lady wanting to hire me for her wedding after seeingme at a dinner party. This is most excellent. THe ladywho held the party messaged me a moment later booking me for her kids birthday, this is excellent.

On Wednesday I went to check out the visual arts centre in Colchester. Partly it was to see what art they had and partly to see if we could get some form of work off them (or make other connections). The art was interesting, the tea resonantly priced and the staff approachable. However no-one with any real power is ever on he shop floor it seems. We left for the Minnories for tea and contemplation.Whilst there we noticed a kids party in full  swing, I casually did a few colour changes to see if anyone was paying attention. They were. A brief 20 minute kid show with a vanilla deck and thumb tip insued. I got invited back to perfom another time.

The week passed and my mood dipped. Feeling very low on Friday I decided a Solo adventure was required. I am lucky to have a good job working on the Social Media of Fabric8. At a loss for a topic to write  About I recalled the bunting at the Minnories. I made a post and tweet about magical it looked and decided a photograph would get the message home. I take my Social Media job very seriously and doing a good job on my post would make me feel better. I decided to shave and get dressed smartly and loaded with magic. I had NO agenda other than a pic of bunting.

Walking from the car I passed two kids. One asked their mum if I was "Magic". I turned round and quickly vanished a red hanky, which then appeared in their shoe. I then walked on smiling. I popped into the Minories  NO BUNTING! they took it down! Panicked I went through my recent memory and realised a place had bunting around the corner! "Tea and Sympathy" is part of a campaign to use old buildings. You pay a few quid in rent and get a shop for 2 months . The lovely lady there had bunting up upside her kiosk, in what was a bus shelter. Pics were taken and posted, tea drunk. Magic performed for a sweet  American lady. Feeling MUCH better about my self I walked past the Visual Art Centre, intending on popping in once I had  finished a slice of bread and butter pudding which somehow got into my hands. Before I could finish my pudding a lady RAN out of the centre and dragged me in. She explained a girl who LOVED steam Punk And Magic was in and I HAD to perform for her. Magic occurred:) I performed a one man show for her, and then for the kids coming into the gallery. We spoke, she told me everyone loved the small magic I performed to one person on reception (the signed card was in the staff room on the notice board!) She then booked me for  HER wedding.

I popped back to sympathy and Tea for a celebratery tea. I was asked to pop into thier party on the next Friday . It will be unpaid but a chance to pimp myself out. So moral of this tale.
People like me
PEople remeber me
kids love my magic
grown ups love my magic
Magic makes ME feel better
regardless of how I see myself, others see me as I always wished they'd see me when I was growing up. Fun and able to stir up an emtional responce in them. Able to create the sence of enchanment and wonder in them that I see in the world around me (wehn I'm in a good mood that is)

A long, sentimental post may, but one here to remind me when I feel bad, or worry people won't like my magic for one reason or other that peoples reactions to me does not depend on ANYTHING other than my own feelings.