I have just created my 30-40 minute show.

1. start with a warm up and in the middle start to (edited) sneeze and use a silk as a handkerchief and as i sneeze a cane appears.
2. I then call up the birthday child and give him a magic wand (to keep) and tell him/her and everyone there that him/her (birthday child) needs that magic wand to make all the magic happen in the show. (make him/her feel special.
3. take out magic coloring book. show that the its not colored and then i dress the birthday child up with: a wig, tye dye shirt, and wrap a colorful tie around their waste. (like a belt) and then i either lay the coloring book on the floor and have them roll around on it or just hand them the book and they rub it all over the colorfulness on them. then i show that its all colored in........

4. "speaking of colors, theres some more up there" prduce a silk from nowhere. leads to a change bag routine.
5. change bag routine ends with a rabbit silk so i go into the hippity hop rabbits.
6. "Let me introduce yo to a friend," do magic talking board. Art-O-Matic.
7. finish with chick pan to produce candy for everyone.

if it needs to be longer i add sponge balls and the mummy game.


This runs usually about 30-40 minutes if someone wants just a thirty minute show strictly what do you suggest i remove?

tell me what you think.

Ben

Not too bad, but I would take out the mouth coils. Why you may ask? Because "monkey see, monkey do". If a kid sees you pulling paper out of your mouth they will try to do the same, and and up choking themselves. I speak from experience: When I was a kid I stuffed a plastic shopping bag into my mouth after seeing a magician doing mouth coils, and I was about 7. So I highly suggest taking out the mouth coils.

Also, when producing candy - always ask the parents before the show if you can.

Other than that, it looks pretty good. Just remember, have fun!

If you want true feedback I suggest you videotape yourself and watch it back. Be critical. See what is working and what is not. Better yet, load the video up in the Penguin video section and ask the professional magicians here to review it and give their suggestions. They will be honest as to whether you are ready or not.

How soon are you planning on beginning birthday parties?

not for a while, i wont even start to tell people i do kids birthday parties until i know i have practiced 1,000 times and i am perfect at it comedy and trick wise. Also, if im 14 what do you think the chances of someone hiring me is? how should i get known? i have business cards but they just say i do cloe-up because im already good at that and still working on that. should i go to the library and ask if i can set up in the kids section and do a show?..... Thanks a lot.

ben

never being a performer as young as you I cant speak from experience. However I beleive the best way for you to get booked is through word of mouth and online. So do get business cards printed up.
People NEED to know that they are hiring someone as young as you. People cant be expecting someone older and have you show up at their door.
i always ask this question when it comes to teenagers entering the business. That is how dedicated are your parents to this? If you look at kristenl she is extremely dedicated to her daughters success. She drives her daughter to shows and I would assume answers the phone when it rings. Are your parents willing to sacrifice every Saturday to driving you to another gig? If they are not then I would just practice and perform for kids whenever possible until you are old enough to drive. But if they are then more power to you.

My daughter was 12 when she got her first paid gig to do a public event. She was hired at the recommendation of the local SYM leader. Now at 14 she continues to get callbacks to do public shows. To some extent it may be about age, but there are exceptions.

If you are truly willing to put in the time to advancing the art of magic, to rehearse, to cultivate your skills with children & adults, to be mature beyond your years-- then you can get hired on and make a name for yourself.

By the same token, if you don't hone your skills you may get the job at first, but you won't necessarily get the call backs and you may indeed build a name for yourself-- but it will be a negative one.

I love to see children succeed. Take your time, perfect your skills, and when the time is right, make the right name for yourself.

Very good question Glamourboy! Indeed it is a huge commitment on a parent's part. The advantage my daughter has is that we are just as in to magic as she is so it is a family event. We watch her rehearse every time (at her request) and give feedback and support. Plus, rehearsing with an audience (even if it is your just your parents) is easier and more motivating than just by yourself. We also interact with her by being her "real-time" audience and do our best to always throw her curve-balls to keep her quick witted and help her to learn to deal with any situation that might come up.

I always make initial contact with the client. They contact us either by email or my cell phone number. They always know that she is a youth performer AND they know that the majority of her earnings go towards her college fund. [Its amazing how supportive people are of this when hiring her!]

We both escort her to public parties. My husband will always escort her to private parties. He would never let me escort her alone to a private party. He is very protective of us both.

Aside from the moral support, it is a huge financial commitment as well. There is the magic itself, the monthly cost of a website, promotional material, etc. It is helpful if your parents have the skills to do the website and marketing material themselves. Luckily for us, I was able to do a custom designed webite for her and I do all her marketing material. Definitely good skills to have to save money! My daughter's promotional materials consist of business cards, postcards, giveaways, etc. It all adds up. Then you also have to add the cost to annual memberships to the SAM and IBM groups, along with the local dues as well.

My daughter has been performing for 2 years now. She just opened up her summer performance schedule and the first week she booked 3 public shows, not counting the private ones. All 3 shows were repeat clients. Each show will allow her to put out marketing material and promote herself at their events, which is a big boost!

Again, it CAN be done. Just be sure to talk with your parents and see what kind of commitment they are willing to make to you also. For us, we see it as her substitute for sports. Most kids like playing a sport, ours likes to do magic. Whatever it was she was interested in we would be behind her 100%. It just so happens we all have a common interest in the same thing.

thanks for the help. My parents would drive to a gig if i had one (unless they have plans that they cant get out of, but if they are busy they or i would probably ask my aunt who will definetly do it.) The website thing, my dad has a website for stuff so he knows little knowledge of that. The hardest thing would be getting known. business cards, i have. But for kids magic you cant just walk on the street and go up to people and do some tricks. you have to set-up somewhere where you can get a crowd. I dont know what to do about that. (library, park.....) Also, when you said your daughter does giv-aways to get known more, what does that mean? what do you give away and how is her imformation incorporated in that? I was thinking about getting magic stickers to give out to everyone, and for 20 dollars get 72 little magic sets and during my warm up i can say that i have one special prize for the person that claps for everything they like and is the most enthusiastic, and then in the end say you were all so great and give them all a little magic kit, papperclipped to that a business card and a tattoo or 2. how does that sound. Thanks A lot!!!!!!!!

Ben

I dont set up anywhere. I talk to people, bring kids into the conversation, do they have any? Get talking about birthday parties hand them your card. In fact give everyone you meet a card. Even if its just to contact you for other purposes.

But then again i dont know if this would work for you, it may well seem to much like you are trying to sell them something, i mean what interest could a 14 year old have in someone elses kids, and what would you talk about, i would bet that most 14 year olds dont know much about kids.

She's twelve. If I was 12 I would think twice before I submitted a video. The last time a sub-teen did this he was gooned by miserable posters.

The vent world babies its beginners. This summer we have the youngsters' review show( no audience) as part of our seminars in Fort Mitchell. Each young participant is judged gently but thoroughly by a panel of some of the most famous vents in the world. They also later have a packed show in front of everyone.
Then we have the beginners' show(less than two years) and then the banzai show by the pros. Oh yes, there's also our stupendous international show in which last year the Japanese bent our minds with the different way they come to vent.
Most obviously the ring organizations and magic federations also cuddle their beginners at their conventions. 'nuff said.ron0

Rono, I am a vent also. Missed the Vent haven this year because I was booked all through it, NUTS! But the main difference between magi and vent reacting with the younger people is the youngsters themselves. In the vent world, people come in and ask for help, they know that they have to improve. In the world of magus the juniors buy a gimmick and then they think they are all David Copperfields or Blaine or Angel.

You notice when a person comes on thes boards and states "I'm new how do I learn" we all help him as much as possible. But when the person says "I have been in magic for 6 months now anf I have booked a birthday party, what tricks should I buy." Then they get creamed. The difference is not between the vents and magi, it is in the attitude of the ndewbies.

I agree with this statement ukcop! That is why several times on this forum I have addressed maturity, AND more importantly, getting involved with your community's recreation district by volunteering as a mentor and camp leader. My daughter started doing this as soon as her age allowed. We volunteer together, love being with the kids, and look foward to it each summer and school break. Although she is only a few years older than the kids themselves, they treat her the same as any other adult and address her as "Miss ...." Whether at the camp or about town when one of the campers see her she is quickly greeted with a big hug, smile, and will you be there this year?

In this regard she is not the typical teen, in my opinion. Most kids her age are just about hanging out with their friends and relaxing during the summer. She puts in long hours, sometimes 8-10 hours a day. This, again, is by choice. She is not obligated to be there at any such schedule. If she wants a day off, she can take a day off. The only thing I ask of her is to always tell the staff so they can plan a replacement for her. However, when her friends call her up and ask her to do things she rarely will accept their offer and instead makes plans for a Friday night or weekend saying she needs to be at work. Again, these are HER choices. Not your typical teen. She is really dedicated to the youth in our community.

She was actually asked to move to a brand new camp this year. It is the new "premiere" camp and two of the senior rec leaders we are good friends with will be running it. She was really excited, can't wait to be there, but I was very proud of her when she said she would have to split her time between her old camp and the new camp. She didn't want to abandon her kids that count on her every year. Oh, and the new camp--- it is a Theatre Production Camp. She will be helping to teach the new campers about stage performance.

I do know about kids and how they act. I have two little cousins that are always annoying (come into my room when i ask them not too.....) But i get them under control. Also, i have family friends with little kids that i have baby-sat for and once i get old enough i will start baby-sitting a lot more. And i will be working at a summer camp when i am 15 probably. i also have read a lot about kids and how to control them....

Ben, just a little forewarning--- there is a big difference between handling 2 children at one time and 40. It is a chain reaction. Get one child going and they all follow suit. You have to be quick, decisive, and change the dynamic of the room on the fly WHILE making it fun and seem like you are not coming down on them. It is a little harder than you may be thinking.

Not trying to be pessimistic, just realistic. I've worked with kids for a number of years now and it does take some practice. There are tools you will learn during leadership training that will make this easier. My daughter had to take a Counselor in Training course to become a leader, but ended up helping to teach the class at the program's request because she already had practical experience before the new requirement went into effect.

If you already have thoughts of volunteering in this type of program the sooner you get involved the more it will help your magic.

Also there is a big difference between children you know and that know you, and complete strangers.

You dont understand anything about the way children think and how they change massively in a short space of time.

Could you really talk to someone and take a genuine interest in their kids, or even understand why their kids are doing certain things etc.

You have read alot about kids and how to control them? Would you like to name some books?

Its not about reading anyway, reading can only get you so far, its about practical experience, get a police check, go into a local primary (elementary) school and volunteer to do some work there, then you will really learn. Its not about controlling the kids, its about them not misbehaving in the first place.