Magic Tricks

First off, I think Eric Knaus is a genius kid's magician and has broken new ground in the area of magic performance and comedy. He really changed the game by distinguishing between "magic trick performance" and "hilarious comedy magic".

If you do enough kid's shows you will eventually hit a ceiling with kids. And that ceiling is what defines you as a magician. Either you become a magician who "amazes" and "surprises" kids by doing really cool, entertaining tricks, or you become a magician (like the Great Zucchini) who can make kids laugh harder and have more fun than they can ever imagine. In my experience, I have found it difficult to do both (but that's just me).

In fact, I remember the show when I made this distinction. I was doing some cool tricks in front of like, 50 kids, and getting great reactions. The kids were clapping, smiling. And even their parents were clapping, but not really that impressed. Then I remember thinking, "How come I can't get the kids going CRAZY with laughter like the Great Zucchini?"

Then it occurred to me. I was trying to impress the kids with tricks instead of doing whatever it took to make the kids have a great time.

That's when I made the fateful decision to cross that line and start embodying the spirit of Eric Knaus by messing up my tricks and making myself into a bit of an ass. In fact, I just started doing some of the stuff that Eric showed in his videos… and I could not believe it, the entire energy of the room INSTANTLY changed and the kids started going nuts. They were literally laughing themselves on the floor. And even the parents started getting into it and having fun.

A friend of mine shot some of the reactions in this little video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXJVI5Ahnwk

And it really did happen that fast. As soon as something messes up when you are performing, you have everyone paying attention because they really have no idea what's going on. They think "this shouldn't be happening" … and even after they realize it's all just a big gag… it still works. There is nothing funnier than an adult "magician" goofing up in front of kids.

Today my shows are completely different. I don't need nearly as many props and instead of getting claps, I get belly laughs and cheers. It's also so much more fun to see all these little kids having such a great time.

I need to say: This kind of magic for kids is not for everyone. It definitely takes a certain kind of personality to "cross the line" from magic performance to screw-ball comedy. But in my opinion, it is well worth it.

If there is one thing I know for sure: nobody forgets my shows anymore… and I owe my new-found fun to Eric Knaus.

I had been watching clips of Eric for months on youtube, trying to figure out how he works… how he transitions between tricks… the props he uses, etc. Then I saw his new DVD and it was all revealed.

Unlike his first DVD, this new one shows everything he does by going through an entire performance. My only criticism is that it's priced too cheaply for all everything he shares. He pretty much lays out all his trade secrets and techniques.

I really do think Eric Knaus is a genius and this DVD is worth ten times what he is charging. I also don't think most people will really understand his brilliance in front of kids until they try and do what he does themselves.

Performing in his way takes focus, ENERGY, and above all, a love for making kids laugh and having fun…. but it's also exhausting and leaves no room for "dialing it in". It looks like fun, but from the side of the magician, it's also a lot of work.

What you don't have in props, music and costuming, you need to make up in theatrics and concentration. This is not easy, but I think the end result is a thousand times more valuable.

You also create a show that is not easy to forget. Kid's may or may not remember a cool trick they saw. But no kid forgets when they spend 45 minutes on the floor laughing.

My shows have DEFINITELY improved because of Eric's DVDs, but I still regard him as the MASTER KID'S PERFORMER. There is nobody like the Great Zucchini… and his tips and advice are worth their weight in gold.