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Steve Dimmer Lecture: The Nuts and Bolts of Children's Entertaining and other
Magical Perils
Leamington and Warwickshire Magic Society
27th June 2012
Reviewed by David Michaels
On a very hot and humid Wednesday evening and after a few announcements
about the success of last week's Day of Magic, we settled down to watch
Steve Dimmer's lecture entitled "The Nuts and Bolts of Children's
Entertaining and other Magical Perils".
The first thing you can't help but notice is the stage set up and just how much
Steve's props, back drops and of course Steve himself fill the "performance
space" making the set up for the show very engaging, before the magic has even
begun.
Steve talks about filling the performance space with back drops etc. to maximise
the potential for re-bookings; when the other parents look trough the
photographs they will see a fully staged show, that's big and bright etc.
Steve also gives brilliant insights into how to handle naughty children and
talkative groups ups! One piece of advice that actually made laugh out loud was
the advice given regarding a letter a child gives to a talking grown up. "I'll
say no more about it, but it's great".
Also, briefly discussed, the advantages of going on a "story telling course"
which myself and other members found very useful.
Mixed in with the great advice Steve also performed some excellent road-tested
magic tricks, one using a drawer box entitled Dinosaur Extinction, involving
lots of audience participation and shouting out! One thing I thought that was
great about Steve's magic show, was that the presentation was very modern
including televisions or other things children know and are very keen to engage
with, for example Disney, Thomas the Tank Engine, Hello Kitty and even Doctor
Who.
My personal favourite piece of magic Steve performed used Lego pieces put in a
bag and shaken up and after some magic words they were all stacked together! A
very visual piece of magic. Also performed were tricks that played big - but
could be made up for just a few pounds.
Steve also gave a very short and easy sales pitch regarding his items for sale,
all of which were very reasonably priced.
I feel I speak on behalf of "everybody" at my society when I say Steve's lecture
is highly recommended, and if you're just starting out in children's magic (like
me), or you're a seasoned pro, you will not fail to learn at least one new piece
of advice.
[For more information about Steve Dimmer's lecture, and to book, visit the Magic Lecturers page]
© David Michaels, June 2012