Does anyone know of any DVD that teaches how to perform magic for kids?

Does anyone have advice for someone new to performing for kids? Uncle Bob or anyone else?

What sort of personality and types of tricks should one look for when planning a routine for kids? Are there any specific differences in performance style and presentation when performing for children and adults? Do you act more animated or do you just perform the same way that you would perform to adults?

What is a good starting place to know more about presenting magic to kids?

Anyone experience with gospel magic to kids in particular?

I'm concern that the really young ones would not really understand some effects such as mentalism or those that are slightly more indirect. Take Kolossal Killer for example. Would a 5 year old kid be able to understand the "off by one" ending... that the trick recommends?

If you are performing for an audience that ranges from 4 to 12, what effects would you recommend?

Do you ever get young kids who throw a tantrum when you do not teach them a trick? How do you deal with it?

Hi Joel

There are quite a few dvds in the market: Children Magic The Herbert Way, Magic Of Trevor Lewis, Samuel Patrick Smith, Kidabara, Bill Abbot, etc.

In my opinion, children magic need to have colourful props so as to keep them attentive.

I always believe, you must be yourself and not to talk and act like other magicians. Interactive magic is always the best where kids can come up the stage to join in your performance.

One or two sucker effects will be an advantage. Children or human by nature believe they are smart and if you can suckered them into your effect, they will learn to love and hate you.

Try not to perform for children under 4 years old. They just look at you without reaction, but balloon sculpting will be good.

Any effects that produce, transpo, vanish work for everyone. Even certain adult audience does not understand Mentalism.

It will be difficult to recommend the effects for a kid show because they are countless. Pick the one that you feel comfortable to work with. For me, I always use "Sidewalk Shuffle, Cards Across" for kids and adults with a humour way.

If a kid throw tantrum at you for not teaching a trick, ask their parents to bring them to a magic shop or you charge them an exhorbitant price.

Finally, I am known to scold very badly behaved children in my show and I get away with it.

Hope this help.

Uncle Bob

Uncle Bob has mentioned the DVDs, i think books are particular good if you want to know and understand the mentality and etcs of performing magic for kids.

In my humble humble opinion:

There are two particular aspect you should note for a beginner in kid's magic: One - You should really like kids or at least be really able to pretend that you like them very well. Two - Magic is not the most important for the kids (however much you think it is to you), the process is more important.

Personality-wise, it depends on you really. Are you wacky and fun-loving by nature?? Perhaps you could amplify that for your personality when performing for children. Just note that loud and brash may not be the best especially for the younger age-spectrum children.

Kolossal Killer will flop for children - unless you are able to find a fun process and make it entertaining for the children. The ability to divine things is not as surprising to children than to adults in general. Adults already seem to know-it-all, one more doesn't add to the difference.

I haven't met any kids throwing a tantrum... If a kid is behaving badly, you can stop and tell everyone that you will not continue until he is behaving himself/herself. Most times peer pressure should help so he/she will stop. If its very bad, you could look for parents for help. Simply let the parent know that the kid is disrupting everyone and the parent will *most of the time* deal with him/her.

I know that most of the parents (if they are around watching) do appreciate patience with the kids hence scolding may work against you. Personally, I think only veterans like Uncle Bob with a lot of experience will be able to judge when the scolding is acceptable and required and really scold the kids. :)

Hope this is of some help.
Ade. ^_^