I am putting together a routine for my kid show (ages 5-7ish) as my closer (maybe followed by shrinking head illusion as something to remember me by) which goes like this:

Meatball Sponges: A Misers Dream with meatballs (red sponges). I end up pulling out the meatballs from behind my previous assistants' ears/shoes/ect. My premise is that each of them took the meatballs from me while they helped me on stage. Every time I get a ball, I place it in my hand. I end off with saying something along the lines of "These meatballs are too small for me. I need a big one" and with that I open my hand and a giant meatball is there instead of the many small (2 inch) ones.

What I need are suggestions for where to pull the sponges out of the kids. There is the basic "behind your ear", but I was looking for funnier places. Shoes would be good, but I need like 5 places to pull them out of.

Also, anyone have a good (funny) magic word to make meatballs grow?

Umm... awkward?

Hey, it's a kids show. Awkward is funny. And it ties into the trick before it - "Mario's Spaghetti Nightmare".

Meatballs can be found near their Elbows, Under Arms, Shirt Sleeves, Pockets, Hats (If wearing one) or their Noses.

I put together a little video incorporating a lot of the ideas I got from different people. This is my first time "performing" it, so please disregard the bad presentation.

http://www.vimeo.com/2528170

Credit also goes to Spellbinder (from the Cafe) for his squished meatball idea.

not bad it was cute...................

That was quite good. I enjoyed it and I am sure that the kids will as well.

For places to pull it from it can be from anyway. Shirt pockets, ears, shoulders. Just try to mix it up as much as possible and you should be fine. Also, you can sneeze one up possibly.

For the magic words I would pick something associated to food. Maybe Bon Apetite (or however you spell that), ratotouille, or even meatball-a-toullie as i am sure that enough of them have seen the pixar movie.

Ben Winter

Very nice routine. I was just thinking, if this is even possible, pretend to eat the giant sponge, and then pull out a mouth coil or something? Just thinking out loud here.

Not very plausible unless you can find a really big TT that could fit a ball that large.

I was thinking it wouldn't work because of something along those lines. Oh well, but as I was saying, I was just thinking out loud. It's just that as I was watching it I thought 'It would be so funny if he actually ate it'.

Very nice routine! What size ball did you use at the end?

...you've got bigger meatballs than me to perform that! ^_^

Seriously, though, your handling was smooth so (IMO) all you need is (1) a funny, clever "magic word" and (2) to make sure you win the crowd over quickly.

Best Wishes,
Kyle

It is a growing ball that I soaked in water to grow it.

My routine has changed in the way I produce the balls. I will be performing this on Wed, and wil hopefully have a video to post.