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I think you got the general idea of what I'm saying correct. It would have been more accurate for me to say that I think that the effects you use for a kids show should appeal to adults. That means the magic itself is strong and the presentation engages children and adults each at a different...

I understand you were joking with part of your response, but I think Steerpike has some good points in his response and agree with what he is saying. I would say that most kids show magicians fit Fitzke's statistics perfectly.... 75% are awful and 24% are mediocre. They all seem to perform...

I think that Kid's Magic is bad magic BECAUSE of how people have interpreted Fitzke's book. If you look at two of the most respected writers on kids magic - David Ginn and David Kaye (Silly Billy) both of them speak highly of Fitzke and both of them espouse that idea that it doesn't matter if...

School is more important. I suspect that Rick and I are both busy with work related stuff and won't get to look at it until the weekend even if you did post it sooner. An hour is a long show for kids that age even if they are the best behaved kids. I've done shows with that long for Cub...

If you can cut in a straight line or use a paper cutter and can hand out rolls of tape and some stickers, you can do this with the kids. It allows each kid to have their own wand to use during your performance. Looking forward to hearing from you. Like Rick said, feel free to post here or...

As Rick said, an hour is long. You can fill some of that time with a craft project at the beginning (I have the kids make their own wands - PM me if you want details) and balloon animals at the end. Keep the show to a half hour. The 6 to 7 age group is my favorite age to perform for. As for...

How about silk to panties? Depending on the couple this could be a fun presentation. I do Election with as a compatability test asking if it is better for a couple to be similar of different. If you are interested, I can send you my patter. As Mat said, Twilight Angels is perfect.

Everyone has to stop calling people over 40 old. We're not yet on social security and not quite ready for the old age home :cool: I suspect most people my age go out to eat for two reasons -- we're too freaking tired from everything else in our lives to cook dinner that night OR we're trying...

I try to read some every night after things quiet down (around 9 or 10). Also, been taking the train in to work so that is 45 minutes each way I can read (usually Genii or e-books on my iPad) or check in on the forums. The theory books go faster than the books with effects which take a lot...

When I saw Wayne Houchin lecture he opened by doing performance where he handed a bunch of props to audience members (a deck, some photographs, a crumpled piece of paper) to hold. The props were all used in his routine and there was some justification for giving them to the audience (one was a...

When you start performing, engage the audience. As part of your patter, ask them some questions and start a conversation. Have a couple of lines of dialog in your script before you start doing anything with your hands. What the heck am I talking about? Nerves are a result of two things... a...

Rick: Awesome job. I can tell that you had fun and that probably made your spectators have more fun which made you have more fun and so on. I like the pocket management. One of the things that I think differentiates you from other kids performers is that you can slay (or is it sleigh this...

They are on my list too. As is Encyclopedia of Sponge Ball Magic (the book), Greater Magic (Kauffman Edition), Robert Neale's Life Death and Other Card Tricks and a bunch of others. I'm with you on books. Books are my weakness... I just got Votex by Tom Stone and Gift Magic which is edited...

Here is the thing. If you were just shown that video without being told to count the number of passes, would it be as effective? If what you SAY engages the audience's minds your misdirection will be much more effective. Good patter has the audience drawing connections between what you are...

At $150 per book those books are worth it. If they threw in a free deck... Then that would be an amazing deal. I have heard that the Elmsley books are amazing and they are on my someday list. I guess for now I'd rather spend the money on books that are in print and get three or four books for...

The LTD decks are still available as a bonus. The out of stock notice is on the product page because you cant just buy the decks. For the next day or so, you can actually get two LTD decks if you buy $150 worth of stuff. That being said, I agree that you shouldn't just buy $150 worth of stuff...

I think the key to good misdirection is justification. You need to have a reason to direct the spectator's attention away from the dirty work. Think the final load in cups and balls. The audience is directed at the what is under the cups as you do the load. For card to mouth, the audience is...

I agree. I prefer the magical presentation but I understand the reasons for the skillful presentation. My intent was to point out that the magical presentation is more difficult with a flashy presentation. I understand what you are saying. How you handle cards is a factor in how the...

Being "flashy" indicates to the audience that you have the ability to skillfully manipulate cards and the audience will attribute any "magic" to your skillful abilities. Contrast two presentations. In the first, the spectator inserts their card in the middle of the deck and the performer...

Check out the Superman 2.0. It has two bending surfaces. One will fit wider coins. The gimmick will last longer because there are two bending surfaces (so if one breaks you still have the other).