I'm writing this at very near 1 AM. The gig kicked off at 6 and went on until 11. I'm SHATTERED but very happy and content . The kids, and their parents loved it. I've done kids gigs before, but they were either close up small gigs, or attached to a wedding gig. This was a case of me keeping a GROUP of kids occupied and happy for hours. I decided I needed more kids props AND balloon animals.
New Props
Diminishing Milk, Auto Milkgo, Okito Glass, Mirror Glass Pro, A Magic Change Bag with Zipper, and a Vanishing Coke Bottle. I also took some old props, My Combo Cup and Balls, MY trust Crystal Tube a Silk Vanish, 3-way colouring book and deck Prepped with Wee Wee Mentalist and The Four Card Trick . I also got some Modelling Balloons, A DVD, Balloon Magic Made Easy, and A mentalist routine using balloon animals, The Balloon Detective.
I began by forming a routine centred around a magical fluid. This fluid could shrink and grow. I demonstrated this using the Diminishing Milk cups. This fluid then solidifies into a silk handkerchief which is then shrunk and teleported via party popper into someone's shoe. Traditionally milk is used in these effects, however I opted for red juice. This was in part because I knew I'd be in one spot for a long time and didn't want the milk to smell, but also I had red silks and so wanted to keep the colours consistent. This routine lasted for around 15 minutes with a LOT of ad-libbing.
However we have the thorny subject of balloons. I spent a few days working on them, and I'm no grand master but I can do them ow, great:). A magazine article said to leave the balloons until last as the kids will go crazy when they see them and you'll be doing balloons for ever. I made the mistake of giving a boy a monkey before I set up. He was upset and his dad had to take him out of the speeches until he stopped crying. Good deed yes, but it meant every kid hommed in on me and wanted balloon animals at the start. My Magic show was a balloon show for an hour! The Balloon Detective went out the window, the kids were too hyper to focus. Afterwards things calmed down and I went into the magic, doing my fluid routine. Then the Crystal tube. This involves tying knotted in handkerchiefs just by blowing through the tub, Brilliant. Using the information from Seriously Silly by David Kaye and his DVD Seriously Silly Live this can be a VERY funny routine. However inspiration hit RIGHT before my first attempted. Why blow through the tube when you can BLOW A RASPBERRY! AND THE CROWD GOES WILD!
I settled the kids down on the floor and performed "Once Upon A Time" by Guy Hollingworth. Wow. all the kids were enchanted and every grown up was looking on, smiling and in awe. That routine got BOTH photographers wanting my card so they could recommend me to other weddings. The grown ups were enraptured by the story and the magic as well.
Over all My performances were loved by kids and grown ups. the grown ups marveld at how well I hand;led the kids. This sounds very unmodest I know but words can't convey just how often parents and staff came up to me to tell me this, and how they thought the greatest magic was the ability to enchant their kids. It made me realize this is the right path for me, not just the kids magic, but all magic. The Magician for the grown ups was great. I rung him before hand to chat and make sure I didn't step on his toes. I was worried he'd be arrogant or awkward but he was lovely. He is a member of the Magic Circle and told me just by chatting that he thought I'd be good enough. I hit him with Wee Wee Mentalist and Twilight Angels. He loved them and assured me I'd meet the standard all ready. He also made a big deal of how well I handled kids and grown ups. He liked me so much he booked me:)
So What have I learnt.
As I knew before I have a knack for magic and can enchant ANY audience.
LEAVE THE BALLOONS TILL LAST IF I CAN
Kids grab stuff (I knew this) I REALLY need to sort out a way of having things on hand without the kids grabbing them
For a moment I thought I busted my balloon pump. I fixed it but it shows I need a spare.
I have the skills and knowledge to keep kids occupied for 4 hours! I don't need more stuff, I just need to hone hat I have :)
My ability to ad-lib is one of my strongest assets.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Fantastic wedding gig in Colchester Minories
Last night was my first ever solo wedding gig. It felt odd planing the day without having my fellow magicians in Colchester on hand. The brief for the gig was to provide entertainment for the kids at the beginning of the party and then move on to entertaining the grown ups. This would be very interesting. The last time I did this at a wedding the grown ups were a little shocked. They first saw me as a kids magicians and hence thought I wouldn't be very good. Of course I know I'm good enough for the grown ups, and in fact personally don't see any difference in skill level between performing for adults and performing for kids, at least not the way I perform for kids. So either I would be fighting against the presumption I was no good which may negativity colour my efforts, OR I would have the element of surprise! I felt confident it would be the later.
Preparations.
I knew I would only have to keep the kids quiet for a little while, so I practised Once Upon A Time", "Cup &Balls" ,"Crystal Tube and Hankie Tie". I was very annoyed with myself as I love my favourite thumb tip and hanky and had to buy replacements on the day. I took along a few toys, the "Magic Flying Wand" and some magnets left over from the kids show.
For the grown ups I made a strong decision not to be carrying hundreds of decks with me. I had strayed away from my initial idea of 2 decks, one set up for mentalism type effects and the other for gambling. I've returned to this idea. Tricks with gaff decks to have a LOT of punch BUT normally take a while to set up again and can't be used for anything else. I came to realise I was hiding behind these decks, afraid my own personality was not enough to drive the magic. I had lost confidence and if I did not do something about it my magical career would be sliding down the path of becoming a "co co the clown with his amazingly dull self working tricks". However it would be foolish to ignore these effects interiorly. I became to see these effects as "smart bombs" or "Special Weapons" from the old computer games. Powerful tools that invariably had a cool down time, or a very small limit to the number you had. In short these effects would be my secret weapons, only one carried at a time in my back pocket, and brought out when needed.
Red pack of cards in the RIGHT pocket for RAPPORT style effects.
Set for
"Here then there", "Do as I Do", "Direct mind Reading" With my Invisible Deck ready and Cartomancy set up in my Waistcoat pockets
And then in my card clip as an ice breaker, Wee Wee mentalist.
I arrived 40 minutes before the guests and set up. The kids came first. They were well behaved and VERY excited to have a real magician there. I quickly realised long effects were out, they wanted to see a quick trick, run around and then see another (they were outside). If we were indoors then I think a more organised magic show would be best BUT in this environment I was acting like a regular close up magician. |They ALL Loved "wee Wee Mentalist" and "twilight Angels" they really wanted the signed cards. They also played with my Juggling Balls. Speaking of balls, the Cups and Balls were well recived, but they were all too hyper for the longer effects.
This was an amazing night for my magic :) I introduced myself to 3 people standing, kicked off with wee wee mentalist. They were enthralled. A couple on a table near us were watching, So I brought them in onto the act, using the rapport deck. Started with here then there, then Do as I do, Decided against mind reading and went straight for "Out of This World" Minds Blown.
Next up a group of younger guys. They loved wee wee mentalist. I decided to go for direct mind reading before the gambling deck. I realised that I never use the gambling deck really apart from ambitious card so decided to give it a go. I was quite insecure and actually said they may be able to work it out, but it's a neat way to cheat at cards. No worries, they were blown away as well. Finished with ambitouse card, again freaked out.
Thus it went on, people happy to take what I gave them, the young guys loving the gambling and the more challenge type magic (ambitious card for example) the girls loving the rapport. Cartomancy was used twice, both times loved. As the evening went on I switched to the Special weapons. Serial Killer actually freaked out 2 girls (they dropped the card in shock). I made up for it with Twilight Angels which was universally accepted as a purely lovely effect.
Round up. Performed for many types of people and had "something for everyone" .
I lost my juggling balls. Point of interest, they don't cost much BUT I am in business now so can't afford to treat loosing £5 lightly. Must have a better system for storing magic if there are kids about.
Need to sort out how I get paid well in advance.
I no longer fear your ladish type guys. They want to see something cool. I can deliver with ease.
The idea of treating a trick deck as a special weapon works. They are great to use after I've been around with regular decks for a while and have already introduced myself.
I am not "being humoured" people were genuinely thrilled and amazed and enchanted. I can perform MY kind of magic, people respond well to it
Over all. Bloody amazing night
Preparations.
I knew I would only have to keep the kids quiet for a little while, so I practised Once Upon A Time", "Cup &Balls" ,"Crystal Tube and Hankie Tie". I was very annoyed with myself as I love my favourite thumb tip and hanky and had to buy replacements on the day. I took along a few toys, the "Magic Flying Wand" and some magnets left over from the kids show.
For the grown ups I made a strong decision not to be carrying hundreds of decks with me. I had strayed away from my initial idea of 2 decks, one set up for mentalism type effects and the other for gambling. I've returned to this idea. Tricks with gaff decks to have a LOT of punch BUT normally take a while to set up again and can't be used for anything else. I came to realise I was hiding behind these decks, afraid my own personality was not enough to drive the magic. I had lost confidence and if I did not do something about it my magical career would be sliding down the path of becoming a "co co the clown with his amazingly dull self working tricks". However it would be foolish to ignore these effects interiorly. I became to see these effects as "smart bombs" or "Special Weapons" from the old computer games. Powerful tools that invariably had a cool down time, or a very small limit to the number you had. In short these effects would be my secret weapons, only one carried at a time in my back pocket, and brought out when needed.
Red pack of cards in the RIGHT pocket for RAPPORT style effects.
Set for
"Here then there", "Do as I Do", "Direct mind Reading" With my Invisible Deck ready and Cartomancy set up in my Waistcoat pockets
Blue Deck, Left Pocket Gambling magic
Four Site, Big Deal, Aces High. (then ambitious card)
Secret Weapons. Cheek to Cheek, Serial Killer, Dark Side, Twilight Angels.
And then in my card clip as an ice breaker, Wee Wee mentalist.
The Event.
I arrived 40 minutes before the guests and set up. The kids came first. They were well behaved and VERY excited to have a real magician there. I quickly realised long effects were out, they wanted to see a quick trick, run around and then see another (they were outside). If we were indoors then I think a more organised magic show would be best BUT in this environment I was acting like a regular close up magician. |They ALL Loved "wee Wee Mentalist" and "twilight Angels" they really wanted the signed cards. They also played with my Juggling Balls. Speaking of balls, the Cups and Balls were well recived, but they were all too hyper for the longer effects.
The grown ups.
Next up a group of younger guys. They loved wee wee mentalist. I decided to go for direct mind reading before the gambling deck. I realised that I never use the gambling deck really apart from ambitious card so decided to give it a go. I was quite insecure and actually said they may be able to work it out, but it's a neat way to cheat at cards. No worries, they were blown away as well. Finished with ambitouse card, again freaked out.
Thus it went on, people happy to take what I gave them, the young guys loving the gambling and the more challenge type magic (ambitious card for example) the girls loving the rapport. Cartomancy was used twice, both times loved. As the evening went on I switched to the Special weapons. Serial Killer actually freaked out 2 girls (they dropped the card in shock). I made up for it with Twilight Angels which was universally accepted as a purely lovely effect.
Round up. Performed for many types of people and had "something for everyone" .
I lost my juggling balls. Point of interest, they don't cost much BUT I am in business now so can't afford to treat loosing £5 lightly. Must have a better system for storing magic if there are kids about.
Need to sort out how I get paid well in advance.
I no longer fear your ladish type guys. They want to see something cool. I can deliver with ease.
The idea of treating a trick deck as a special weapon works. They are great to use after I've been around with regular decks for a while and have already introduced myself.
I am not "being humoured" people were genuinely thrilled and amazed and enchanted. I can perform MY kind of magic, people respond well to it
Over all. Bloody amazing night
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