Let me start off with some background on how to perform kids magic. The most important thing with kids magic is to be engaging with the kids. You standing up in front of them doing effects that they have to think about to understand will not play well. Your presentation needs to be interactive. Also, I think that the magic is diminished when you use magic store props -- you know the things that look like you can only buy them in a magic store. The kids simply assume if they had that prop they could do it too (and they are right). There is nothing magical about that.
Start off introducing myself and what I am there to do, along with setting the ground rules of staying seated and what not.
That sounds really boring like the kids are in school. The most likely result is that you have lost the attention of half your audience.
The kids don't care who you are. Just like good writing, good magic SHOWS rather than TELLS. That is, show them who you are by performing rather than introducing yourself. I'm pretty sure within the first 30 seconds, it will be apparant what you are there to do magic.
Talking about rules SUCKS. Really, they won't pay attention anyway and it will reduce your credibility below Mrs. Fartblat, the substitute teacher who yells at them all the time about her rules. The best way to have kids behave is to have a show that keeps their attention.
Then getting into like a 5-? min intro with magic and music the tricks being
•Color changing cane (black cane into red cane which turns into a green cane and then ends with turning into two silks)
•2 silks into 2 canes &
•Color changing wreaths
The three effects seem all too similar to me (one thing changing colors). Also, the effects seem sort of pointless because they are not connected with each other or another routine. Here is the question you have to answer - why would the kids be interested? Also, recognize that those kids have never seen a cane before (which was used as part of formal dress with a top hat) and only see wreaths for Christmas. All of these props look like magic store props.
Then going into tricks like:
•Vanishing Coke Bottle
•20th Century Silks
•Professors nightmare
•Paper Hat Tear
•Hip Hop Bunnies
The vanishing Coke bottle is more of a stunt. It is a cool looking effect, but doesn't have any potential for interaction. I saw a video where flowers were produced from the tube and wondered, why? Also, to be honest, it just looks fake. 20th Century Silks is more promising. However, you have to do more than narrate what you are doing with the props. Where did the silks come from, why are you tying them together, what causes the silk to vanish? Otherwise, it becomes another look what I can do. Professor's nightmare is good and there are a lot of presentation ideas and the potential for silliness with the kids. The hat tear routine is fun, but needs good presentation. I don't like Hippity Hop Rabbits because it looks like a magic prop and because it focuses on methods and because I generally don't like sucker tricks. Nonetheless, that can work well in a magic show, but I would say age 6 and under.
Other Tricks that I have are:
•3 box flower production from bag
•6 cups from 2 plates
•Chop Cups to lemons
•Silk to egg
•Metamorphose Can
•Sponge bunnies/bunnies
•Magic Coloring book
•Break away wand
•Ring escape (magnetic version)
•Clear force bag
•Passe Passe Bottles
•Misers dream cup
3 box flower production from bag - Looks like a magic shop prop and hard to explain why the kids care. Could be used as part of another effect
6 cups from 2 plates - Really looks like a magic shop prop and doesn't even make sense/
Chop Cups to lemons - Is this the Craig Petty routine? If so, it has potential.
Silk to egg - OK, this is the one sucker trick I do like. You need to come up with a good presentation hook.
Metamorphose Can - I have no clue what this is.
Sponge bunnies/bunnies - This would work well, but you need a good story.
Magic Coloring book - Run, run while you can! This will not work or be entertaining for your target audiences. It really does look like a magic store trick.
Break away wand - a good gag to work into another trick that requires a wand.
Ring escape (magnetic version) - Is this a ring on rope effect? Need more information. I love ring on rope effects.
Clear force bag - This is a tool, you need a use for it.
Passe Passe Bottles - This is a great effect, but I wouldn't use it if the bottles are "adult beverages."
Miser's Dream Cup - Has potential. Need a good presentation.
I want to be able to perform a 30-45 mins show for ages like 6,7,8 and up, magic that isn't really kiddie
That is about the right amount of time. Each effect / routine should be around 5 minutes. So you are talking six to eight routines. If your routines aren't that long, you need to find new routines or better develop the presentation.
Im also thinking about introducing a puppet eventually and doing magic with that too.
I have David Ginn's Sheepdog Puppet and love it. It is expensive, but worth it. Someday, I'd love an Axtel puppet... someday.
As always, I'm glad to work with you to develop the show and presentation of the effects.
