Drags out soapbox and gets on it....
So there are two ways you can do this. You can follow the traditional wisdom or you can innovate. The traditional wisdom, in my opinion, leads to being a cliche children's magician. I'd include the silk vanish and the coloring book as effects that fall within that category. That traditional wisdom was popularized very much by David Kaye (aka Silly Billy) in his book Seriously Silly which is based on a lot of old British ideas of how to entertain (think Punch and Judy and see the book Open Sesame). The character of a traditional magician is a clown or a buffoon with elements of a trickster (and not the good elements). There is a significant reliance on "look don't see" gags, "magician in trouble" plots and sucker tricks. Watch performance videos of Silly Billy and David Ginn to get a sense of this. Here is the thing... that is one character that works, not the only character that works. Innovate.
To be innovative you must be go beyond the traditional character. I once did a show as a Hogwarts graduate (finished at the top of my class if you count backwards) that was stuck doing kids magic shows (Mom always said I should study) despite being Professor McGonagal's favorite student (I spent more Saturdays with her in detention than any other student). Think of the fun you can have -- I made a potion using essence of nothing (pour in only a little because too much of nothing is never a good thing) and boarhound saliva (best reaction was when I tasted it and said, "mmmm, its fresh"). My current character for children's shows is a curator of imagination and storyteller. Imagine if a real magician appeared at your doorstep and he could take you on adventures in your imagination without ever leaving your house?
The key to children's magic is to keep their attention and to entertain them with magic. This requires strong presentation and strong magic. I tend to avoid any magic that looks like you could have gotten it at a magic shop. This includes the coloring books, hippy hoppity rabbits, run rabbit run and stratosphere (OK, I'll admit to having used a change bag that looks like it came from a magic shop). You can entertain with them, but I think there are better options. My preference is to use strong magic that would entertain adults but that can be understood by children.
Steps down, puts soapbox aside...
So I have been doing a lot of card magic and more advanced gimmicks and stuff but I need to perform some close up magic for kids and a lot of the card stuff goes over their heads.
I agree not to do card magic, but instead do magic with cards. I've done the Jumbo Invisible Deck, Mark Wilson's Bigger Card, Jumbo McCombical Deck and a card to nest of boxes trick with kids.
I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what to perform for them close up.
You say close up, but it sounds like you mean parlor (kids sitting in a living room or in a couple of rows of chairs).
I know I want to do the magic coloring book and I have a crayon trick and sponges but just wondering if anyone had anything that got good reactions from people sub 13.
See above rant.
And hey if you know of anything that pleases kids and parents alike.
See part of above rant about strong magic.
What I have found is that even the various age ranges can determine which props/effects I take to the gig for my show.
Exactly. I break the groups down to the 6 and under; 6 to 9, 10 to 13 and 13 to 16. I don't do shows for 6 and under and would never do card tricks. For anything older than that, you can do tricks with cards (not card tricks).
I'll post some ideas for effects tomorrow.
