NovDec_2012

By Marcela “Moma Clown” Muraud
For
Little
Ones!
I love magic,
particularly magic for little ones. Most people
know me as a face painter, but my love for
magic is just as profound. I started my clowning
journey as a children's entertainer, where I
would make up silly magic routines to entertain
the audience. Entertaining children, I had to
learn to perform on my audience’s level in
order to be the best. Some magicians focus on
the illusion, the gimmick, or the grand finale,
but when entertaining children you need to
have a different approach. An elaborate trick
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might go over the head of a young audience,
but humor is the key ingredient to having
fun. This is why “sucker” tricks work so well in
clown routines, because when things go wrong
when they aren't supposed to, the kids find it
hilarious.
Most of you have seen a thumb tip in
action. The powerful thumb tip is used to
conceal items, make objects magically appear
and even create a glowing light out of thin air.
The thumb tip is one of the best products you
can invest in to build an entire routine around.
One of the most common thumb tip
routines is the disappearing handkerchief.
Picture a magician walking on stage, wearing
a tuxedo with a red handkerchief protruding
from the pocket. He proceeds to take the
handkerchief, place it in his closed hand
and to the amazement of the audience,
when he opens his hand it has disappeared.
Performed silently to music, an
adult mind can follow and be
mesmerized by the illusion;
however, a 3- or 4-year old
will be lost as to what just
happened.
My routine begins
by taking out a red
handkerchief and asking if
anyone knows what it is, a
circle or a square. (At this age
learning colors and shapes is
big for them and giving the right
answer gets them immediately
involved in the moment). I then
share with them that it was a gift
from my best friend Tootsy who
showed me how to do a magic trick
with it but only if I promised not to lose
it. (Now it is not just an ordinary object, it’s
a magical gift from a friend).
Next I’m going to tell them exactly what
is going to happen and this awareness is
going to make them pay attention. As with
any other trick, for me personally, the most
important element to incorporate is COMEDY.
With this in mind I start by questioning why
Tootsy would warn me not to lose it since I
never lose anything.
I continue with the first step which
consists of waving the handkerchief in the air.
As I do so I place it in my pocket and then act
surprised when it is not in my hand. Then I
throw it over my shoulder and act even more
surprised. I now have the audience laughing
and sitting in the palm of my hand ready for
fun.
Deciding that the waving part is over I
make a fist and ask them to follow where I'm
placing the handkerchief, at the same time
asking them if I'm putting it in my pocket, up
my sleeve, in my shoes, under my hat or up
my nose. When they all agree that it is in my
hand I ask them which one. As they point to
my closed fist I slowly open my hand asking,
“ Where did it go”? They paid attention; they
know for sure I placed it in my hand and now
it’s not there. Must be magic!
To end the routine I do an unexpected
turn by choosing someone from the audience
saying that it was him/her who did the magic
and is in possession of the handkerchief. The
chosen child’s reaction of disbelief causes
more laughter and so does the element of
surprise when I find it up his sleeve. Can you
see the difference? Stay tuned for future
articles exploring the world of magic for little
ones. Next in the series: Ideas for Using the
Change Bag.
● ● ●
The New Calliope