Magic Live Update No. 6Inside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

The Magic Live Seminar continues to amaze and intrigue. I have sheets and sheets of notes to relate to the computerized version of publication to share with you. I want to tell you about Chase and Shelly Wolf and their incredible success here in the real world of retail magic marketing. I want to make sure you know how amazing I find Meir Yedid. It is important, nay, significant, to show you what I have seen in the Sterlini Magic booth.

Read On . . .

Silly Billy: One Funny Guy

It is ironic that just a week ago I was writing about David Kaye, A/K/A, Silly Billy and how he has to shake loose of the perception and prejudice that may associate with the horrible convictions against his family, and now I write about him again with tremendous praise.

Mr. Kaye took on the task as emcee the morning session on Tuesday at the Magic Live seminar. I have often imagined that he was far better than his lectures would indicate. If you have seen him lecture, he seems so business like and almost nervous in his incredible adherence to the lecture notes and structure. When you get him in a relaxed situation ? such as a kid?s show or a break-out group ? he becomes a different person: gone is the stiff lecturer and found is the easy going man with incredible training in making a real living at performing for kids.

He provided tremendous insight on how to manage kids in shows for kids. He had some great lines for that awkward moment when you…

Read On . . .

Silly Billy: One Funny Guy

He provided tremendous insight on how to manage kids in shows for kids. He had some great lines for that awkward moment when you need the kids to get in line. For instance, when a child yells out, ?I?ve seen this trick before,? Mr. Kaye suggests you respond with something along the lines of: ?Okay, well, close your eyes and I will tell you when it is over.?

Mr. Kaye dealt with the pervasive problem of parents talking in the back of the room while you entertain in the front of the room. Mr. Kaye noted that in his lectures, the first question asked by the assembled magicians is ?How do I handle the Talking Parents?? He offered several suggestions to deal with the parent who talks during the act and, impressive to me, it was clear that each of these lines were practical and direct. One of the best things about Mr. Kaye?s approach to the entertainment of children is his ability to be completely honest and direct ? he does not sugar coat the message and does not feel the need to do so.

One of Mr. Kaye?s best lines was in relation to the troublesome member of the audience. ?I love kids. In fact, I have the heart of a child. Do you want to see it? It?s in a jar; I?ve got it over here.? A second great bit addressed the question of how to keep kids from creeping up to the stage during your performance. We heard a tremendous number of suggestions from those in attendance and Mr. Kaye.

One of the best suggestions, though, came from a friend of Mr. Kaye: this friend would set up two plungers painted silver on either side of the stage area and inform the kids that he had just set up an Invisible Electric Fence. He told them it was best for them to not cross the invisible boundary and then showed the consequences by allowing his hand to touch the invisible fence. Unknown to the kids, however, the magician held a spark ring or ?funkenring? in his hand and as he approached the invisible line, he shot a stream of sparks high into the air. The point was made, the kids were cautious and the adults were entertained.

After this session, Mr. Kaye led the breakout group on performing for children. He was so much more relaxed in this milieu and his advice seemed so cogent and applicable. Billy McComb attended the session and had incredible insights to offer us. His approach was practical and based on the real-world lessons he received over the years of entertaining. For instance, ?get your money up front.? Mr. McComb ? whom I am not worthy to even write about ? said you need to tell the mother or father that you need to be paid before the show starts because you have very tight time commitments after your show. Mr. McComb and Mr. Kaye were both adamant that you should always say you have another show to perform after you client?s show ? even if you don?t.

An Excited Magic Fan at Magic Live

If you are not paid up front, Mr. McComb instructed, you will surely be searching for the mom or dad after your show and will not likely receive your money without some chasing.

Mr. McComb also said you should be honest, brutally honest, with your young audience. Tell them directly that you will not allow them to cross the invisible line on to stage. Tell the children that only the really smart ones will be quiet and understand what you are performing and those who do not act correctly are only showing that they are not one of the smart ones.

But isn?t kid?s magic for losers? Isn?t it really for those folks who will never make it to the big time and have to settle for the kid show circuit? Au Contraire, Mister Man. Mr. McComb pointed out that the kid?s show is really a retirement plan for all of us. When you hit 65 years, have no other source of income but social security, the kid?s show gives you income ? in cash ? and a tremendous chance to do what you love.

Mr. Kaye had one of the best suggestions for getting additional shows. He suggested we view each kid?s show as an infomercial. Show the children present exactly why they should ask their parents for you to perform at their birthday party. Show the parents in attendance, why you would be perfect for their child?s birthday. Mr. Kaye offered a funny illustration of this principle: he lavishes the birthday child with gifts and attention. If some other child asks from the audience why the birthday child receives the presents but he or she does not, you should respond, ?well, when it is your birthday and if your mommy or daddy invites me to perform, you will get all of these presents and the best part is that it is all free.?

If you have a chance to see Silly Billy lecture, take the chance. This man clearly knows about which he speaks.