well i hope you all feel great about giving 101trader all of this fantastic advice... However I noticed some minor flaws in you're aproach in helping out an aspiring magician.
1 - there seemed to be no advice given
2 - thats about it

All this kid did was ask for some help from some fellow magicians and instead got 8 pages of "experienced" jerks telling him that theirs a 100% chance of total failure. And after the show, you guys used the cold hard facts, of your imagination, to tell him how aweful the show was (that you guys didn't see). But of course, if something wasn't photographed, then CLEARLY it couldn't have happened. We would like to commend the very few people that actually did give helpful advice.

Have a nice day

Sincerely,
- N & E

He was given the advice that he needed. He did nothing to prepare for such a show so why should we give him one. He's not an aspiring magicican! He's nothing more than a little boy looking to make a quick buck all the while messing up a BD party.
We know that the show wasn't any good because WE know what it takes. Obviously, you are not a Kid show performer yourself or you would understand.
He knows nothing what it takes to enetrtain kids, he did nothing to educate himself on how to entertain kids. He came on here looking for a quick fix because he jumped at a chance to get some cash when he had no idea what to do.
I'm sure he'll not get any shows from anyone that was there and saw the job he did at that one.
Yes we are experienced but we are not jerks, because we didn't cater to he's pathetic wishes. We care more about the kids that has to sit thru this kind of rubbish.

Would you rather us lie and say that he can do great, even though he was too ignorant to take the advice given? He was given good advice to begin with. Drop the show. Yet he decided to ignore the advice of seasoned professionals, and do the show anyway.

We aren't going to pretend that what he did was the right choice. We aren't going to lie to him and tell him that he's great and that he should take every gig he can. That's irresponsible of us. Especially when it's shown that this kid didn't take any time to research the subject. Instead, because he's a little kid who can play around with magic a little, he decided he was a magician, and even more deserved to be paid. That's not how magic works.

We respect this art, and it sickens us to see little punk kids ruin the art for other people. And it happens a lot. Because these punk kids think they are magicians because they can play around with a couple of tricks. They don't deserve to be paid, and they don't deserve to be hired. It's as simple as that.

Yeah, so a whole new topic was needed for this?

Okay, I guess you just missed the whole picture and cant read.

As advice was given; by me, blood, Kristen (probably some of the best), Sluggo, etc.
You just dont know how to properly read it.
Thats your problem not ours.

hey colorlace! your g@y!! nah not really, just kidding. this is Chris B from NZ i came onto these forums for the first time in like long long time and look who i find writing messages! what a pleasant suprise. ill send N an email, lots to catch up on... may the force be with you

-Chris

p.S good work sticking up for that 101trader dude

rock on

David - colorlace can read being that he commended those who gave advice.
colorlace - nice job

I think you guys like to think that performing is the equivalent of taking on a lion in a fight to the death. 7 years ago I did my first show with only six months of experience and guess what - it didn't suck so bad that the world collapsed on me. In fact it went really well, I handed out loads of bussiness cards and got tons of shows within my first year. Are you suggesting that to even think about performing, you need to spend years and years reading magic books and researching other's performances beforehand? I think serious dedication and a love of magic would get the job done just as well. You should be happy for people with their first gig and remember that you had your first as well. If you think he should do more research, possibly point him in the right direction instead of telling him he should just quit. Their not ruining magic for the rest of us, their just entertaining some local kids.

colorlace, if you were to go through just the first 3 pages. almost everypost was either- Advice or -him revolting to the advice.

after that we had to lecture him on what to do more which he declined which did lead a bit off subject. But its not about giving him advice in that thread anymore, it is now more about trying to make him understand. dont go pounding us without fully understanding what happened in the topic. This one should be closed, its a waste of space.

letitsnow- So, just because some people can do a couple of tricks, they should be able to do a gig? That's the mentality of many of these young magicians. Sure, 6 months isn't that long, but if you actually work at it, and do some research on that specific venue, you'll do okay. I won't be a great show, but it won't suck either. However, if you had been in magic for six months, did no research, knew only a couple of effects, and had to plan a whole show in 2 weeks, including buying new props, you'd suck. Because you would not have put the time into it that was needed. You'd have no idea what you were doing. And you'd fail. That's just how it is.

We gave him good advice. However, he chose to ignore it. Which shows that he wasn't ready anyway, because he was too arrogant. And the problem isn't them ruining magic for us. It's about ruining magic for the people he's performing for. Once one magicians screws up a kids party, that family won't be hiring another magician. Because the first impression was horrible. Why would they want to hire another magician, after the first one screwed up a kids party?

Also, entertaining kids isn't as easy as all of these people think. Many young magicians want to do kids shows because they think it will be easy. However, it's not. There is a lot of difficulty in doing so. Because they do have short attention spans, and won't be as gracious as many adults. If they do get bored, they will start yelling out stuff. And if you can't control them, they will take your props. It's not easy. And that's a mistake many young magicians make. It something this guy made as well.

Also, what we were telling him was to quit the show. Don't do it because he wasn't ready. That is how it first started, it was our professional opinions that he wasn't ready. And there were many very skilled magicians there, who know what they were talking about. Who know the work that goes into doing a kids show.

I went back and re-read my posts and I stand by them. They offered advice and real world examples my 14-year old daughter has experienced as a performer. Yes, she does perform--- so I have absolutely no problem with youth performers. I also do not think they were in any way hurtful, only truthful.

I do a LOT of volunteering in my community and work with children from the ages of 5-12, and then young adults from the ages of 13-20+. I am also a big supporter of our SYM group. The one thing the kids know about me is that I will treat them with respect and care-- I want to see them succeed in whatever task they are taking on. I can be firm in my critiques, but even more generous with my praise. Success breeds self-confidence and self-assuredness. Failure breaks it all down. I would rather see a happy, self-confident, and successful child.

I believe my posts were fair.

letitsnow,
You had what kind of experience in six months? Did you study on doing kid shows or what. How many shows did you do in that year? And are you still doing oodles of shows?
No it's not like fighting a Lion to the death but it is a kid's Bd which is as important to them as anything.
How you can say that this trader101 was correct in doing it how he did doesn't make any sense. Two weeks before a show he doesn't have any effects, patter or an idea on how to entertain kids and you defend him... doesn't say much for yourself. That's the difference between people that wants to do a professional (one F) show and others who just wants to throw one together, ruin a kid's Bd and run away with some cash.
I would bet the only experience 101 had was doing coin & card tricks at school...which by the way doesn't make him a magician or performer.
By the way...I hate snow...to cold.

Oh so we have two idiots in this topic... how fun.

I dont I can add much to this topic. As whats been said has been siad.

But no colorass cant read; But your too stupid to understand that and why.

Maybe you should repeat learn how to read and common sense before shooting your mouth off again.

aawww.this is fun watching you guys on these topics.you didn't even give me any positive feedback.all i needed from that topic was for someone to just suggest 1 trick,but instead i get stuck in an 8 page discussion.all i learned from that discussion was that you guys judge people very harshly.oh,and i told you all that the party went great.instead,you all think i'm making it up and that i've ruined magic for you guys.thnx colorlace for your support.

Your so [edited] full of it.

But I am not worried your [edited] will drop out of magic soon. People like you never stay in it long.

Actually, I suggested 4 tricks.

You see it as fun? I find that rather sad--

Here are adults, ready and willing to help, yet some of the children of the forum--- not all---- are having more fun wasting their time than learning from them.

If half that energy was put into your magic rehearsals, researching, reading books, LEARNING from the professionals on the boards --- well then, maybe you would be ready to perform.

That may sound like I am being sarcastic, but I am not. I am being earnest. My daughter has progressed very quickly with her magic skills--- BUT, she listens to everything our local magicians have to share with her, as well as non-local magicians she is in contact with. She absorbs all of it! Some applies, some doesn't -- she uses part of it, and stores the rest for "some day" when it might be needed. How would you like the opportunity to perform publicly for cities? My daughter performs for 2 different cities! One has asked her back for repeat performances and her name is passed around by that city for different functions (fundraisers, events, etc.) while the other city has offered her a "standing" gig next summer performing for the youths in the community.

My daughter is ONLY 14. Opportunities began opening up for her when she was only 13! She has only been performing for a YEAR!

If this is something you WANT, this could be YOU. However, you won't gain the respect and support of the guys on this forum if you antagonize them.

On a personal note --- Paddy has been a wonderful friend and has offered a great amount of support to us. He is always friendly and supportive of my daughter. He has seen my daughter's videos (don't ask for them, I don't share them on the forum) and is encouraging. He has stressed the fact she should start entering competitions. He has also told me to get off my duff and start performing also (working on it Paddy). My point is, if you guys were to show that you are sincere in your requests, you willingness to learn -- the right way-- and put in the necessary time -- I am sure ALL these guys would be willing to help.

Okay, the mom lecture is over.

Very excellent post Kristen.

Informative, addressive and encouraging.