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Kid Show
Etiquette By Steve Kissell “Now you’ve done it.
You’ve broken it!” “Oh great, someone is talking and now I have to stop
the show and ask them to be quiet. Now I will have to leave out a trick.” “Give
me your hand, the clean one...oh that was the clean one” “Hey kid, be quiet and
stand still, your ruining the show!” “Let’s all sit down Indian style with your
hands in your laps...your own laps!” “You messed up the trick, now I’m gonna
have to give you a wedgie!” These are all shocking but true statements I have
seen from performers while they were interacting with children on stage. Yes,
they may get some laughs from the adults at the party or show, and in some cases
even laughs from the children, but at what cost? We are performers and therefore
servants of our audience and client. Our job in life is to bring joy and
laughter to children and their families, not scorn or ridicule. Hello, my name is Steve,
Steve Kissell and I have a license to spy. I love to watch other performers in
action. I am constantly evaluating performers, newscasters, politicians,
preachers or anyone who speaks before live audiences. I like to observe how they
react to the audience and how the audience reacts to them. Many times I
concentrate on the reaction of the crowd rather than the technique of the
performer. At each of the presentations that I have seen I have learned
something. Often, I learn from watching someone not speaking. Observing the use
of the pause or the way a performer may look at an audience or watching the
entire crowd. I especially like to watch performers in action when a child is on
stage with them. Children can be a blessing or a hindrance at times. We can
learn to bounce off of them or to be condescending to them. I am sure you have
seen the new magician or clown who can’t hold an audience on their own, they
must poke fun at someone and often it is a child.
Remember to refer to the child by their
name rather than “hey you” or “hey kid.”
Listen well my friends as I tell a tale of a special man who brought
years of joy and laughter to children everywhere. His name is Bob McAllister and
you may remember him from the television show ‘Kids Are People Too’ and ‘Wonderama’.
My wife grew up in New York and loved to watch Bob’s show. He was not only a
magic inventor and great teacher, but more importantly. he lived his life as we
all should. When a child was on Bob’s stage he or she was made to feel very
special. Bob would get down to one knee or sit down on the floor or near the
child’s chair and really communicate with that child. He would ask them where
they were from or what their favorite food was. He was genuinely interested in
them and it showed. He often did contests and each child would go home a winner.
I witnessed an event that truly inspired me. I was attending a convention where
Bob was lecturing and he had a child on a tall stage with him. Suddenly the
stage collapsed and Bob instantly grabbed the child and circled his arms around
him. They fell together but Bob hit the ground first and the child suffered no
injury. You see my friend that is a real child’s entertainer! Sad to say Bob
McAllister passed away several years ago but we were fortunate to have him with
us for his last appearance at Comedy Magic Workshop in Norfolk, Virginia. He was
ill then but was a real trooper and gave the participants several great shows.
Thanks Bob for showing us what real magic is. Please remember this story as you
escort children to and from the stage and as you interact with them each
performance. You never know, they may grow up to be a school principal or parent
who is looking for that special entertainer to bring joy and laughter to their
loved ones. Steve
Kissell 1227
Manchester Ave., Norfolk, VA 23508 757-423-3867
Continuing Educational Opportunities
www.CircusMagic.com www.KidAbra.com www.BalloonAndMagicMania.com www.WorldClownAssociation.com www.ClownJubilee.com www.Comedifest.com www.KentuckyClownDerby.com www.ClownVegas.com Steve Kissell 1227 Manchester Ave. Norfolk, VA 23508-1122 757-423-3867 KissellTalks@cs.com
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