How To Routine a Show

A Ready-To-Use Outline

What follows is the outline I use for planning my shows.  It’s not necessarily written in stone for every situation, but this is my starting point.  This was created for the typical 45 minute family show, but I also use it for my corporate work, school shows, etc.  First is the basic outline and than we’ll get into some examples and descriptions.  This first appeared in my course, “How To Become Your Area’s TOP Children’s Entertainer!”  Here’s a little broader insight:

I.                    Warm-up/Opener

II.                 The Knock-out

III.               Audience Star

IV.               Solo/Music

V.                  Volunteers

VI.               Personalized

VII.             More Volunteers

VIII.          Solo Killer

IX.               Big Finale

I)      Warm-up / Opener – This is an extremely important component of all my shows!  Children, and adults for that matter, are not used to live performances.  They have to be trained and told how to act and respond.  I let them know when to applaud, not to talk out of turn and to stay in their seats.  I also get them yelling at this point.  This will expend a lot of energy and will help settle them down.

The warm-up I use is my own but there are great ideas out there from Trevor Lewis, David Ginn, Samuel Patrick Smith and others.  Find something that works for you, but don’t skip this vital part of the show!

II)   The Knockout - I also call this the validation phase.  This is the point to show them your stuff and hit them hard.  As a magician, I think we should do strong stuff.  There is so much great magic out there that there is no reason to be doing sub-standard tricks.  You need to show the kids and the adults something very strong up front.  This not only validates you as a pro, but also sets them up for the rest of the show.

Personally, I do the Gene Anderson Paper Tear here.  It is a fabulous trick that packs well and really kills.  I have written very funny patter for it and I always get comments on it.  Whatever you choose, make sure it’s strong!

III)  The Audience Star- Here’s where you really endear yourself to the audience.  It’s a chance to bring someone up and let them share the stage with you.  Let them get the applause, treat them with respect and the audience will love you!   

Please do not use paper panties or boxer shorts in your kid shows!!!  This embarrasses the child and makes you look like a real jerk!  I’m not sure where that trick works or why anyone uses it.  Please, use your head! 

IV)  Solo/Music- This is a good point to introduce some sort of musical routine.  It changes the tempo and rounds out the show.  Try to get the kids clapping or singing along.  A couple of great ideas I’ve used here are “The Vanishing Bandana” (very, very funny stuff available from Joe Stevens), Steve Axtell’s Vern-the-Bird Puppet Birthday Routine or a juggling routine to music.  Just strive for variety at this point in the show.

V)    Volunteers - Now it is time to get some other folks up and helping.  There are wonderful things you can do to include a lot of people, adults included.  Look at your routines and see where you can add another volunteer or two, or more.  I get all the kids to help in some way.  This really excites the children and endears them to you if they get to participate. 

Remember, every child at your show is a little marketer for you!  You want them to go home and tell Mommy and Daddy how much fun they had at your show and that they got to help out.  Who do you think they’ll want at their birthday party if you do this?

VI) Personalized Routine - If you don’t use the photograph idea that follows, do something else here that is personal for that show.  The kids will be charged up at this point from the last participation trick and you need to bring the level down just a bit here so that the audience doesn’t completely burn-out before the end of the show.

VII) More Volunteers - Here’s a great spot to get more people involved.  Again, look at your routines and see how you can incorporate more helpers.  The “nesting wands” is a great example.  Instead of having one child hold all six wands, pass them out as they appear to six different children.  Simple things like this stick out in a child’s mind!

VIII) Solo Killer - You are getting towards the end now and you want to build it up to the big finale.  For me, a good “sucker” trick works here.  I don’t rub it in their face when I do a sucker trick.  I simply present it and say of course not, it’s magic!  Whatever you use, it has to be really strong and get them with their mouths open in amazement!

I’ve also had a lot of success with the Chair Suspension in this spot.  Although you share the stage, it’s still very strong and very well received.

IX) Big Finale - This is the final punch and should be well routined.  I build this so that it has a triple punch that naturally leads to the closing applause.  In family shows, I produce a rabbit from the hat at this point (routine follows) and I bring a finish to my running gag.

Running Gag - A great piece of theater that I use in all my shows is the “running gag”.  This ties the show together and is very funny.  Because of recall, it continues to get funnier and funnier!  I will offer many examples of this later.

***Note:  For more information on our course, “How To Become Your Area’s TOP Children’s Entertainer!”  CLICK HERE

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