Magicians doing magic tricks for kids put in a LOT of time and effort into creating a fun and magical show. They carefully choose a persona, select just the right magic tricks, and build an act that flows and entertains. But what happens at the end of the show? Do you view your act as having a set start and finish time? As soon as the show ends, do you switch out of character, pack up and leave?
How you arrive and leave a kids magic show does make a big difference.
Professional Magician Roy Charles, is one of the most popular children’s magicians in the UK as Charlie the Clown. He took a few moments before starting one of his children’s magic shows, to record this valuable tip for you:
In the theatre, the stage doors are positioned at the back or side of the building. Partly it’s to stop crowds pestering the actors, but it’s also designed that way so that the audience won’t see the actors arriving and leaving whilst out of character. Seeing an actor as themselves, just after you have enjoyed them as ‘someone else’, breaks the image of that person being the character you have connected with.
When you arrive at a gig to perform magic tricks for kids, you are probably setting up before the party or event has started. However, there’s a good chance that some children will already be at the event.
Rather than arriving as your normal self, then transforming into your ‘character’ when the show formally starts, why not arrive already in character. Set up and do the show, then pack up and leave whilst still in your character.
You don’t need to continue performing magic tricks for the kids, playing games, and interacting when you should be packing up, but you don’t just change back into normal clothes whilst your audience is still there. Doing magic tricks for kids professionally is all about the little details.
Arriving and leaving in character creates a little bit more work for you. It may mean that you have to change in the car if you are on your way to your next booking. However, it’s a small professional detail that can make a huge impression on your clients, the children and the probability of getting repeat bookings.
