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