$1000 Money for Mom Contest

In celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the Mother of All Diamonds effect being introduced we’re giving away $1000. This contest is my way of saying thank you to those who have supported the positive message of the story as well as my magic.

If you have purchased the Mother of all Diamonds from me or another dealer that carries “The Mother of All Diamonds,” NOT just the Aqua Change Vase, then take a photo of yourself with the prop. Email me a jpeg with your name and address.  You’ll be entered in a drawing for $1000 cash.  No coupons or store credit.  A Cash Prize! 

The contest will run for 1 year so I can collect a photo legacy of the product.  The drawing will be held at Kidabra 2013 and the winner will be notified.

To Enter
Take a photo of yourself with your Mother of All Diamonds prop.  It can be you performing or simply holding your prop.  Email or snail mail your photo with contact information.  Emails are preferred.  If you have sent me a photo some time in the past these do not count.  To enter you must send a photo specifically for this contest.

Entries accepted through August 1, 2013.  Random drawing will be held at Kidabra Conference 2013.  The winner will be contacted and awarded by mail.  Email your entry photo to barrymitchell@aol.com

Rules
To enter you must own the prop and submit a photo of yourself with the prop.  Only photos will be accepted as entries.  Only Mother of All Diamonds owners may enter.  Owners of the Aqua Change Vase that did not buy the product from Barry Mitchell Products or other dealers are not allowed.  Please don’t borrow the prop from a friend to take a picture if you don’t own it.  This contest is to honor those who have purchased the product.  Whether you use the original story or not you can still enter.

Prizes – ONE BIG ONE!
Winner (U.S. or Foreign) will receive $1000. US funds.

Get Your Own Mother of All Diamonds
We have repackaged the Mother of All Diamonds with a new demo DVD of all the related stories and ideas for use.  Now includes the Gold Redeemer story and props and well as the popular coal key chain.
Order Here


See the Contest Video Performance from Kidabra 2012
CLICK HERE

Lie-B-Gone

This article was published in the Kidabra International magazine for children's and family entertainers.

This month I have an incredible gimmick to share with everyone.  I’m confident that most of my readers will try this, however, you won’t share the secret because it’s just too good.  We magicians are like that at times.  But I hope you will share anyway.

A minister friend of mine, Kevin A. Clouse of Cushing, OK, discovered this by accident.  He calls it a God thing and I agree.  He was spraying children’s chalk art with hair spray to set the chalk so it could be displayed without getting ruined.  The chalk was on black paper and the spray caused the art to disappear.  Yes, disappear.  He was shocked that he had destroyed the children’s art.  But within a few seconds it came back.  Is it magic or science?  It’s probably science but it sure looks like magic.  Kevin discovered that it seems to work best with black craft paper, glossy side up (also goes by the name "Colored Kraft"), sidewalk chalk and White Rain hair spray, which is very inexpensive.  Most schools and many churches will have the paper on large rolls.  A friend may be able to get you a sample to experiment.  You should be able to buy it at a school supply store.  It only works once but chalk and paper are cheap.

Here’s the best part.  Within minutes after Kevin learned the principle, God gave him a script to use with his children’s church.  When he told me the script I was blown away.  For gospel performers you will love this.  Below is his script, which he is sharing with us.  Below that is an additional script I wrote for character shows.  Even if you don’t perform gospel magic you’ll want to add this character message about lies to your shows for children.  AND I wrote another anti-bully message script too.  I encourage you to send Kevin an email to thank him for sharing the principle with us all.  Revkev1962@yahoo.com


Hide-A-Lie (Gospel Presentation)
By Kevin Clouse

Set Up: Type or write out the letter from Lucy Fur, wrap "White Rain" hair spray in black paper and attach a label that reads "Hide-A-Lie". Attach a piece of black Kraft paper, glossy side up, to a piece of poster board to catch over spray.

Presentation: Show bottle of Hide A Lie and tell the audience this is a new product you received and have been asked to test.
 "I think we might want to read this letter that comes with the product." (Follow the instructions of the letter, spraying the hair spray when it says "spray". Read the letter in your best sales pitch voice).

Letter
“Dear ___,
I have sent you a brand new product to try. Please give the product a try as you read.  Please remove the cap from your Hide-A-Lie can and place your pointer finger on the spray tip. After years of research, (press spray tip) we have developed a spray that will hide any lie you tell (press spray tip).

Take Hide-A-Lie to school and if the teacher asks for your homework, simply say, ‘My dog ate it.’  Spray and the lie will disappear (press spray tip). Hide-A-Lie is guaranteed to hide any kind of lie. (press spray tip). If your parents ask if you cleaned your room and you haven't, just spray a little Hide-A-Lie and don't worry about it (press spray tip). If you see something at the store you want, just put it in your pocket and walk away. When asked if you stole it, spray and poof it will be okay (press spray tip).

After you try our product, we know you will simply love what it does (press spray tip). We hope you enjoy Hide-A-Lie (press spray tip).
Sincerely,
Lucy Fur
  
I wonder if this stuff works. Sometimes we may try to tell a little white lie (write the word LIE in block letters on the black Kraft paper). Sometimes we may even try to tell a big lie (increase the size of the word lie). Let's try this Hide-A-Lie and see what happens.”

Spray the black paper and the word will vanish. Once the hair spray dries the writing will come back.
“The Bible says in Colossians 3:9 ‘Do not lie to each other.’ The ninth commandment says, ‘Do not bear false witness.’ So to tell something that isn't true is a lie. If we lie, there is no way to hide it; it will be come to light in time. We need to always speak the truth. The devil is the father of lies and if we follow his leadership we will DIE (Change the L in Lie to a D to spell DIE). The Bible says ‘The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.’”

Lie-B-Gone Spray (Character Show Presentation)
By Barry Mitchell
Being honest and telling the truth is a sign of good character.  Of course the better your character is the more friends you will have.  But I’ve invented a product that will allow you to be a lying dishonest cheat, and get away with it.  It’s Lie-B-Gone!

Now it’s possible to say goodbye to a lie.  With one spray you can fix a fib.  (Give a short spray in the air with each line you say.)  Keep your good name without the blame.  It’s all possible with Lie-B-Gone.  I’ll show you how it works.  You can start with a little white lie.  (Write the word “lie” in small letters on the black paper.  For large shows consider a large display board on an easel.)  As you continue to tell little lies you’ll want to move up to medium size lies.  (Write the word “lie” a little large each time you describe.)  With practice you’ll be able to tell BIG LIES.  Don’t worry.  No matter what you say or how many people you hurt Lie-B-Gone will make your lies disappear.  (Spray hair spray on drawing so it will vanish.)  It’s just like magic isn’t it?

With on bottle of Lie-B-Gone you can become the lying loser you always wanted to be.  (Talk to audience so you won’t notice when words reappear on board.) 

Wait, the lies are coming back.  They didn’t disappear.  This means Lie-B-Gone doesn’t work.  It’s a lie!  I guess that means our lies can’t be covered up forever.  Even thought they were hidden for a short time they came back.  The only way to have good character and be trusted by others is to NOT tell lies.

Bully-B-Gone (Anti-bully message)
By Barry Mitchell
We all know that friends help others and bullies hurt.  Is there anything we can do about it?  There is now.  It’s called Bully-B-Gone.  It’s a spray that causes the hurt, pain, and fear of bullies to disappear.  (Write the words, “hurt, pain, and fear” on the black paper in large letters.) 

We don’t have to suffer from bullies any more.  Just spray.  We don’t have to live in fear.  Just spray.  And we don’t even need to tell an adult when we are being bullied.  Just spray.  Watch how Bully-B-Gone makes hurt, pain, and fear disappear.  (Spray on letters.)  It’s just like magic.

You can get your bottle of Bully-B-Gone at most department stores.  You can clearly see the results of how your bully problem will disappear.  Wait, it’s coming back.  The hurt, pain, and fear are still here.  It didn’t work.  This is horrible.  This means there’s no way to be free of fear from bullies.  Wait, of course there is.  Friends help.  The best way to handle a bully will always be to tell an adult and get help.  It’s not a magic solution it’s the BEST solution.

Thinking for a Change #3

1. All success or failure in life is based on two things, the people you meet and the books you read.
  This is one of my favorite truths about life.  I heard this from a motivational speaker on a tape series I bought years ago.  I think his name was Charlie “Tremendous” Jones.  In case that wasn’t him, he’s still a great guy to credit it to.

I’ve used the phase in school shows for both elementary and high school age.  I’ve shared it with adult audiences and I’ve tried to live by it myself.  I have found that it really applies to everyone in both a secular and spiritual manner.  I believe with all my heart that if children were taught this truth repeatedly in the early years they would make better choices in their older years.

Take a moment to think about the phrase.  If the people you meet; are positive, encouraging, inspiring, and seeking your best you will most likely become a person with the same attitudes.  However, if you are surrounded by negative thinking and talking people you will likely become the same.  I know that my childhood was filled with negative people with an occasional positive influence.  It was those positive people that meant the most to me.  They were the ones telling me I could be somebody.  I credit all my success to positive influences and all my dysfunctional actions to the negative.  Therefore, it has been a struggle, and I mean STRUGGLE, all my life to overcome the negative.  That’s probably why I went into comedy since comedy is often negative. 

My story may also be your story, but it doesn’t have to remain your destiny.  YOU can CHOOSE to change your world, your attitude, and your future.  It isn’t easy but it’s possible.  I hope none of this makes sense to you and you were surrounded by positive influences.  However, I’m probably preaching to more negatively influenced people than positive.  Magicians as a group tend to suffer with low self-esteem, which drives them toward magic because it gives them a boost of superiority.  I may offend some with that statement but I’ve found it to be true in the majority of the magician’s I’ve met including myself.  So, I whole-heartedly agree that it is the people we meet that will determine our beginning in life but it’s the choices we make that will determine our future.

One of those positive choices is the information we use to fill our mind, the books we read.  There’s an old expression in the computer world, garbage in, garbage out.  It’s true of our mind as well.  If we fill it with trash or nothing at all we can only expect to get that in return.  You’ve most likely also heard, you are what you eat.  It’s all true.  Here’s a thought; which side of the television glass are you on?  If you’re on the outside you’re watching other people fulfill their dreams, even in the case of reality TV, although I don’t consider it much of a dream.  But if you’re ON the TV (an analogy for living your purpose) you’re doing the work it takes to make your dreams come true.  Where are you?

Take a moment to think about where you are in life, what your influences have been, and most importantly what kind of influence are you being to others.  Consider this book, “Becoming a Person of Influence,” by John Maxwell.  It isn’t a magic book but it will improve your life and make you a better entertainer.  Just do a little thinking for a change. 

VIP Video

We're now offering FREE videos on our Facebook group page.  These videos are ideas for tricks you can DIY or whatever I might want to share that entertainers enjoy.  There is a catch.  You must be a member of my Facebook group to have access to the video links.  They are on youtube but listed private so you can only get access through Facebook.  However, joining is easy.  Just ask.  Here's the link.
CLICK HERE

Thinking for a Change #2

Before you read this, think back to when Clay Aiken took second place in American Idol.  
What Made Clay the “Real” American Idol?

I admit I often think too much about trivial subjects.  For example, I may have over analyzed the popularity of Clay Aiken from the American Idol TV show.  But I do believe we children’s entertainers may learn something from this analysis.

I believe, I stress these are just my opinions, that Clay Aiken was the true American Idol winner a few years ago.  If you have any contact with TV you know that Ruben Studdard was the official winner of the reality TV show.  However, take a look at what happened after the contest.  Who received the most media attention?  Clay.  Who sold the most CDs?  Clay.  Who’s CD came to market first?  Clay.  For several months Clay was all over the TV and magazines.  Why was he so popular?  It could be attributed to his publicity crew but I believe it was because he was a picture of the American dream.  He was the underdog with talent.

When Clay was first seen on American Idol he was a big earred, goofy looking southern boy.  But he sure could sing.  His talent was undeniable but his look had to change.  In time a change of hair style and clothes started to show Clay as more than a goof.  He was a picture of the underdog that can be trained into greatness.  Clay’s popularity is a result of how we all feel at one time or another in life.  We all sometimes believe we are the underdog.  We cheer when we see evidence that the underdog has a chance to win big.

How can we learn from the underdog message of American Idol?  Begin by thinking about your audience of children.  Almost everyone in that audience wants to be a star.  The majority of them feel they are the underdog in a big world.  But some of them not only feel that way, they have been labeled by their peers as a loser.  Now think about what happens when you choose one of those children as a helper in your show.  You don’t just make a little person’s day, you improve their week and maybe even their year.

I started thinking about this subject when a lecture attendee in Denmark asked me how I choose audience helpers.  I think my choices may be different from that of many magicians.  I seldom go for the best looking or best dressed kids in the room.  I look for the kid that I believe has never been picked by any other performer.  I look for the kid that will see the opportunity to come on stage as one of the greatest moments in their life.   I look for a face that needs a smile. I look for Charlie Brown!

I’ve been choosing children this way for years now.  When I see other performer’s choose the coolest kid in the room I think to myself, “That kid doesn’t need the encouragement nearly as much as some of the other kids.”  If performers can catch a glimse of the meaning of their choices on stage they would make wiser choices.

People like to cheer for the underdog because deep down they feel they’re cheering for themselves.  Make a positive change in the way you choose your next show helpers.  You’ll improve your show and improve a life.  Until next time, keep thinking for a change.

Change Bag?

Magicians speak and live in a different world and we think differently than those outside our world.  We all assume we can easily move back and forth between these two worlds but sometimes we get lost in translation.

I was enjoying a Holiday Inn breakfast after a show the previous evening.  I noticed a little girl standing at the food area and overheard her say, “Change bag.”  At first I assumed I didn’t understand her correctly.  Then she said it again, “Change bag.”  I knew it!  But why did she say it?  Did she recognize me as the magician at the show last night?  But why would she say, “change bag” because I didn’t use a change bag in that show.  And I certainly wouldn’t announce, “This is a change bag.”  I kept going over the possible answers as I was seated to eat.  Then her little brother stood up beside her and said, “Change bag?”  Now I was totally stumped.  How much more did these kids know about the world of magic?  Why did they find it necessary to share all the secrets with the people at the breakfast counter?  How long would I listen before I had to prevent them from saying words like, “thumb tip?”  Then the lady in charge of the breakfast came up to them and the little girl said, “The pancake machine says, ‘change bag.’”  At that point the lady changed the bag in the machine and I felt like an idiot.  However, the secret of thumb tips is safe.

I did learn something from this change bag experience.  Stop thinking like a magician!  We all do this.  We assume we have to start a card trick by announcing, “I have an ordinary deck of cards.”  Only we know it’s a gimmicked deck and we’re lying.  But ordinary people outside our world have no reason to assume anything other than an ordinary deck exists.  How many times do we allow our way of thinking to make our performances more complicated than they need to be?  And I figured all that out from a kid who simply wanted another pancake.

Green Seeds Recycling Routine

Good Seeds is one of our sponge ball tricks using a green growing ball and eight ½ inch balls.  Its very easy to do and another great use is for a recycling message.  The trick is available on our website and the routine is below.  Link for trick is at the bottom.

(Show small balls)  I call these green seeds.  They remind me of what happens when we start making greener choices in our daily lives.  Some might say we need to make big changes right now to save our planet.  (Show growing ball, which has been turned inside out)  That would be great if we could, however, most people don’t like making big changes.  If the option is big change or no change most people would choose no change.  It’s sad but true.  However, everyone can do little things.  (Show eight balls as you discuss eight points)

Little things like change from an ordinary light bulb to a florescent bulb as they burn out is a small doable change.

Turning the water off while brushing your teeth is easy to do and a good change.

Putting the correct garbage in the correct recycling can is easy to do.

Turning the air conditioner temperature up a few degrees to save energy is easy to do.

Taking a stack of old newspapers to a recycling center once every couple months is easy to do.

Buying food in larger packages to reduce the amount of packaging used saves money and helps with trash reduction.  Easy to do.

Choosing products made from recycling products when possible is easy to do.

When we make some small changes and those are added to the small changes of others (push small balls into growing ball as you perform the turn inside out) something magical happens.  Working together we make a BIG difference in our world. 
Barry Mitchell

Good Seeds on our site

THINKING FOR A CHANGE #1

12 Part Series

My objective is to inspire you to think.  Not just to think as an exercise but to think for a change in our world.  A change toward excellence in entertainment.  As I reflect on my career so far and lifetime goals I’ve discovered that my thinking is focused in changing the face of magic in three areas.  I desire for magical entertainment to be more positive, more creative, and more entertainment based.  I’ll cover these categories over and over in the months ahead through these articles.

Let’s begin with a look at making magic more positive.  I was booked for a couple days of programs in OK for the Salvation Army.  I admit that I was ignorant of what the Salvation Army is and what the members do.  Basically, I knew they raised money at Christmas, operated thrift stores, and helped those in need.  Therefore, spending a couple days at a Salvation Army conference was a great opportunity to learn what these giving people were really like.

I learned that members of the Salvation Army churches are good people with huge hearts for others.  I learned about the powerful positive influence the SA has on the world.  And I even learned something about the world of entertainment.  That’s the knowledge I want to share with you as we think together for a change.  My SA experience gives me more evidence for why the positive approach is always best.

During a conversation with one of the high-ranking officials of the SA I was told about the Army hiring Jay Leno for one of their meetings.  Obviously he wasn’t available when they hired me.  Yes, I refer to Jay Leno from The Tonight Show.  Even he has to do gigs on the side from his regular job.  That sure does make me feel better about my career.

When Jay was being considered for the show there were concerns about his ability to play clean for the family friendly audience of SA members.  The organization was about to put up big money, and I mean big money, to fly Jay on a private jet for 2 hours of comedy.  Jay Leno personally called the gentleman who was telling me the story to ease any concerns about the show content.  Jay assured him that his show would be much cleaner than anything he might do on the Tonight Show television show.  Jay went through his act joke by joke so the SA representative would be comfortable with the content of the program.  Jay went on to explain that he understands what clean comedy is and that he would never do anything to offend his audience especially when doing his road shows. 

I was very impressed to hear about Mr. Leno’s high standards of clean comedy when working with family audiences.  The high-ranking official went on to tell me that Jay delivered on every promise and it was a great event for everyone.  He felt it was worth every penny they paid to have the famous Jay Leno.

So what did I learn from this conversation?  I suppose one might think I learned the importance of playing clean.  Actually, I already knew that.  However, I was impressed with Mr. Leno for recognizing that what makes it on TV is not necessarily what families want to see.  What I really learned was the importance of following through on the promises we make about our shows.

The SA representative said Jay delivered on every promise and everyone had a great time.  How many times have we, as performers, made promises to split their sides with laughter, blow their minds in amazement, or offer jaw dropping thrills of illusion?  But do we deliver on these promises or do we just steal the audience’s time away from a boring TV show?  It isn’t easy to entertain people.  If it were easy we wouldn’t be able to command the high fees that we all believe we are worth.  No, the truth is there is skill and experience necessary to truly entertain an audience.  Not just really nice props.  The first skill necessary is to be honest with yourself and then your audience.  Be honest enough with yourself to make only promises about your entertainment that you can keep.  And be honest enough with your audience to deliver on those promises.  When you begin to truly do those two things in your career you’ll begin to notice a slight change in the wind of fortune coming your direction.  Now that’s a positive change.  Until next time keep thinking for a change. 

Barry Mitchell

Published in Kidabra Journal  www.kidabra.com

Treasure Trip Eye Ball Idea

Something neat always happens when I work conventions.  I will be talking with someone about the way they use my products and they share their really creative idea.  All I can think is, “Wow I want to try that and can I share it with others.”  Most are happy to share.  A very nice lady at Kapital Kidvention in Washington DC area shared this creative way she uses the Conradi tube with my Treasure Trip Silks.

Watch the routine here so you’ll understand what I’m talking about as I share the simple improvement.
Youtube link

CLICK HERE

As I look into the audience, as if using a spy glass I am showing the end of the tube.  A quick eyed audience might see the split mirror from the end of the tube.  I admit this is VERY unlikely, however, I always move the tube quickly just to cover.  My friend said they she decorated the end cap of the tube to look like an eye ball.  This allows for a slow movement as well as a funny look to the audience and not showing the gimmick inside.  Simply brilliant.  I can’t wait to perform it again with this improvement.  I made a page of eyeball art that can be printed out on adhesive paper.  You’ll only need one eyeball for your Conradi tube but it was easier to make multiple eyes on the page.  I’ll also be packing all my future orders with the stickers.  Email me directly if you would like the pdf of the eyeball art.  barrymitchell@aol.com

Here's the Treasure Trip Silks Link
CLICK HERE

Conradi Tube Link
CLICK HERE

The Open Hand of Prayer

http://www.barrymitchellproducts.com/store/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=prodshow&ref=thehandandeyetrick

This is an alternate presentation for the Hand & Eye Silks from Barry Mitchell Products.  The Hand to Eye silk switch using a palmo ball is one of my favorite warm up effects with both children's and adult audiences.  It's great magic and really simple slight of hand with a little practice of the palmo ball.  The palmo is one of those gimmicks that once you master it you will find a way to use it in every show.  Hope you enjoy this gospel presentation for the props.

DIY Opportunity - If you would prefer to make your own silks I would suggest solid color silks.  Use permanent ink markers to draw your designs and color in.  HOWEVER, be sure to place paper on your table before drawing on the silks.  The permanent ink WILL bleed through the silks onto the table and the paper prevents damage.  Also note that the ink WILL bleed so don't expect crisp lines.  However, for a stage trick it should be fine.  It's best not to wet the silks after they are drawn, the ink could bleed.  In addition folding the silks and leaving them in a hot place may cause the ink to bleed over as well.  I mention all the warnings because there are advantages to having professionally printed silks but some of us enjoy the challenge of making our own magic.

Main Point: A message about prayer

Props: The Hand & Eye silks are usually performed by changing the hand into the eye using a palmo ball.  In this presentation the eye silk is changed into the hand.

Presentation

Recently I had my eyes opened to the miracle working power of prayer.  (Show eye silk and begin pushing it into your fist.)  But despite the helping hand of God in our daily lives, many of us miss the mystery of prayer.  Allow me to give you a hand.  (Produce hand silk.)

Prayer is a conversation with God, not a formula.  But here is a memory tool that you carry at the end of your arm.

When we fold our hands to pray, the thumb is nearest to us.  We can begin by praying for those closest to us–our loved ones. (Philippians 1:3-5)

The index finger is the pointer. Pray for those who teach and point the way for us to follow.  (1 Thessalonians 5:25)

The next finger is the tallest. It reminds us to pray for those in authority over us–national and local leaders, and our supervisor at work. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

The fourth finger is usually the weakest. Pray for those who are weak and suffering. (James 5:13-16)
(Possible joke if it fits your personality to add humor: This finger is also the wedding ring finger.  So when you pray for the weak and suffering be sure to pray for the married.)

And finally our little finger is our reminder to pray for little ole me.  Ask God to supply your needs.  (Philippians 4:6,19).

If you have ever had a small child wrap all their fingers around just one of your fingers and give a little tug, you know how that feels in your heart.  That child’s slight grip and tug on your finger can’t help but tug on your heart.  In the same way, when we pray, we tug on God’s heart.

Special Thanks:  The idea for this mini sermon came from a daily devotional from “Our Daily Bread,” (www.rbc.org) and a sermon from my local pastor.
Barry Mitchell

Potential Children's Show Formula

Let's open this blog with my children's show formula.  Check it out and hopefully it will give you some ideas to improve your programs.

Barry Mitchell’s Show Formula from the Kidabra Yearbook 2010 Article
I don’t want to say this is a formula for ALL shows, but it’s definitely a great line-up for children’s and educational shows.  I have made a few subtle changes over the years, but the basic formula is still the same.  Here’s one more disclaimer before I get into the points - I don’t follow this for my adult audience where I’ll be doing a motivational speech.  Otherwise, this is it.

OPEN BIG
Illusionists know to open a show with a rapid fire of “bubble gum for the eyes” – one or more strong illusions to establish to the audience they will be blown away.  Since I’m not an illusionist and I haven’t looked good in spandex since college, I look for something that grabs attention quickly and plays as big as possible.  For some, this might be a silk routine set to music with a big production.  Or maybe it might be a production box with a Toyota Prius production.  “Green” is hot now.  Since I’m not a silk guy or a tree hugger, I strive for something like my CAN Opener effect, which is simple and yet big energy for the audience.  Brian South of Creative Magic also has some beautiful pack flat/play big effects if you use an assistant in your show.
The goal of the big opening is to “establish the beginning of a great show.”

WARM UP
This is my hello and personality opener.  For years I used the “What’s Next,” also called “Dot’s Next,” spot card effect as my warm up.  I love it.  Legend says, which means who really knows, David Copperfield whooped one out to fill time when an illusion broke in a show.  Okay, he probably didn’t “whoop” it out, but you get the idea.  I also use silk switch effects with palmos, dye tubes, and thumb tips.  Presently my favorites are my “Hand & Eye” silks.  However, any color changing silk effect is a great warm up.  Billy McCombs “Half Dyed” is another great example.
The goal is to “establish your personality with a small and memorable effect.”

CHURCH DISCLAIMER
The majority of my shows are children’s church events.  If you don’t do churches, you won’t need this piece of the formula and you can move ahead.
Ah, you stuck around didn’t you?  At church events, I follow my warm up with a few brief lines explaining that all my magic is just for fun and there are no special powers, witchcraft, or Harry Potter.  I use the Harry Potter name because it gets a laugh and there are some people really nervous about children being influenced toward witchcraft due to the characters.  That’s not my concern during a show.  My only concern is to set at ease the minds of those potentially concerned in the back of the room.

AUDIENCE INVOLVEMENT
I use as many people on stage as possible in my shows, so I start early.  I’ve found that my audiences really love my style of storytelling using volunteers.  If storytelling magic isn’t your thing, just insert an audience involvement piece here.
My absolute favorite story to perform is my “Magic Box.”  It’s a very simple light and heavy box, which uses four helpers on stage.  It’s very funny based on how the helpers respond, and how I work with them.  It’s very little magic, but six great minutes of entertainment.  See for yourself on my You-Tube site.  You can see the CAN Opener, Hand & Eye, and the Magic Box that were all taken from a live show.  www.youtube.com/barrym2008
I have other story pieces that accomplish the same goal of bringing people on stage and helping them shine.  Tim Sonefelt uses this same method in his stories as well as Jim Austin.  I’ve seen other performers do this too.  They are just two of the best.
The goal of audience involvement is to “establish a rapport with the audience.”

SKILL TRICK
Audiences love to laugh, participate, and be blown away.  But a great show must include a skill trick and a heart tug.  My best skill trick is the cut and restored rope.  My second best is, okay I don’t have a second best.  When the rope trick doesn’t fit the theme of my show, I insert a puppet.  I guess I think talking with my hand is a skill.  It’s been working for me for years in children’s shows.  I’m not a vent, so I either use a taped script or the puppet forces me to move my lips so he won’t be the only one talking.
The goal is to “establish your ability.”

MORE AUDIENCE INVOLVEMENT
At this point, I’ve done everything necessary to entertain and reveal my skill and winning charm.  If you don’t have winning charm, I suggest you visit your local magic shop.  Most have it available on one of their dusty shelves.
Since most of my shows are heavy with audience involvement, I do more in this section.  If you prefer solo effects, you can use them here as well.  This is also a great opportunity to focus on educational effects in your show.  The time used in your big opening, warm up, audience involvement effect, and skill trick will determine how much time you have in this section.  I usually only have time for one effect here because most of my audience involvement effects run six to eight minutes.
The goal is to “keep the fun moving.”

HEART TUG
This part of my formula will require some explanation based on my different audiences.  For schools, the heart tug moments are built into the morals of the stories.  These moments, in many ways, are more for the teachers than the students.  For family audiences, I sometimes use an effect with a motivational story.  One of my favorites is a trick with a peanut and the story of George Washington Carver.  It’s motivational and challenging.  For church shows, I use this section to lead into a gospel presentation.  My gospel presentation includes a solo effect to help me illustrate my points.  There are many effects on the market to accomplish this.

Many Kidabra members have attended the annual convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and seen the Terry Evanswood show.  If you haven’t, it’s worth the trip just to see Terry.  His show is an example of a perfect show formula.  Terry is the only illusionist I have ever seen use the heart tug effectively.  Most illusionists spin box after box ending with a big animal finish.  Nothing in their show is memorable other than big boxes.  However, Terry understands the power of emotionally touching an audience’s heart.  I could write volumes on this subject, so I’ll be brief in this context.  People will not remember what you say, they will not remember what you do, but they will always remember the way you make them feel.
The goal of the heart tug is to “establish a friendship and unforgettable emotional connection with the audience.”

FUN FINISH
In the past, I would have called this my big finish but I really don’t finish big in my shows.  I focus on finishing with something fun and hopefully memorable.  I sometimes end with an effect that I have hyped throughout the entire show.  For example, if I plan to end with the growing head optical illusion, I will ask the kids after each part of the show if they are ready to see someone’s head grow.  Naturally they will scream they are.  I simply say, “Not yet.”  By the time the end of the show rolls around, they can’t wait to see the growing head.
In many of my family night church shows, I have back of the room products to sell.  My fun finish is the product pitch using an audience helper and rewarding the child with one of everything.  This is great fun, at least for the one kid.  For motivational speaking programs, I also end with a product pitch, but it is very brief and preferably after a pause following the heart tug.
The goal is to “finish fun.”
More info about planning children's programs as well as writing educational content for kids can be found at
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