Performing for Kids

1. Kids as an audience -

1. Yes, they’re different. They’re tough!

(If you can work for kids, you can work for anybody.)

2. They won’t lie to you

• Kids can be brutally honest - they see the truth, and they’ll tell you!

1. They know everything - and they’ll tell you that, too.

• Cards & ropes will bring a chorus of "I know that one!"

1. Don’t fight the "hecklers" - ignore them.

• For serious cases, invite the offending kid up, seat him in a chair, hand him a scarf, give him the "Shhhh" sign, and go on with your routine, ignoring him. He’ll usually sit quietly, waiting for you to use him. At end of routine, vanish the scarf with his help and send him back to his seat with applause. Sometimes it works.

1. They’re people - treat them with respect - don’t make fun of names - ever! -

Forget the old "We’ve got a room in our house named after you" (John) stuff.

It’s degrading, a complete turnoff to any sane adults watching, and will cost you business.

Forgetting names - use a funny one, but don’t poke fun at theirs. "That’s my name, too!" Or "That was my name when I was a little girl."

Repeat the name (to aid in remembering it) - "Oh, Tahisha. Somebody who loves you a lot gave you that name!" Or, "Did you pick that name out yourself?"

2. If you don’t love them, don’t perform for them

• Seriously. Put your whole heart into it. If you’d rather be somewhere else, they’ll know it. And if you perform when you don’t want to, you’ll do a disservice to magic or clowning or whatever.

1. Be yourself -

1. Don’t talk down to them

B) Above all, have fun!

1. Expectations -

1. What do they expect?

1. They expect you to be in control.
2. They already assume you’re a miracle worker - all you have to do is entertain them.
3. Any apparatus displayed should be used - don’t "cheat" them out

of anything.

3) Vanish something? Bring it back!

B) What do you expect?

1. Lay down ground rules when necessary.
2. Make advance arrangements for privacy during your setup.

3) Be sure matters such as fee, parking, show format, etc are clear in your client’s mind.

1. Your Program

1. Forget the miracle stuff - some of these kids have their own homepage! Your only goal should be to entertain them.
2. Involve them from the start - as partners in fun. Let them be the stars.
3. Keep it Simple, Short & Silly. (KISSS)
4. Surprise is more effective than mystery.
5. Sucker tricks - be sure you’re the sucker. Don’t ever make a kid look foolish.
6. Standard stuff - it works - your audience is not made up of magicians.
7. Make it your own - put yourself into it. Or better yet, someone they know. (Ex: Lota/Canteen & Scoutmaster bit.)
8. Teach ‘em something!

V.) In general -

• Asking for helpers - Tip: Identify helper you want - describe clothing, etc, so specific kid comes up. Don’t point & ask for somebody in 6^th row, or you’ll get 4 kids coming up together.
• Bring ‘em on with applause; send ‘em back with applause.
• Only the "Pros" use an outline.

• Keeps you on track during show -

• Use as checklist for what works/doesn’t work -
• Acts as inventory of your show format over the years -

• Charge a fair fee. Don’t sell yourself short.
• Don’t steal your material. (If you’re going to steal my material, why don’t you just refer me for the job?)