From: "John Gordon" <johngordon@magicworks.freeserve.co.uk>
To: "Balloon List" <balloon@balloonhq.com>
Subject: 13 YR OLDS
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 11:41:30 +0100

Re: >>20, 13 yr. old  BOYS ......could be
> intimidating <<

Melodie and Stephen have already given some tips but thought I might add my
2p worth. (That's the UK version of 2 cents!).

13 year olds will need special consideration. You are right to think about
it before going. I believe that having 'success' is all about
attitude......yours and theirs! If they think you are not up to scratch they
will not hold back. They will desert you. They (often) know no manners and
are, after all, trying to establish what a guy they are to their friends.
There is a lot of competition going on and it is easy to become the butt end
of their one-upmanship. From your point of view, they will have seen several
poor entertainers who they will have eaten for breakfast! Why were they
poor? Who knows but one of the main reasons is that they were probably
condescending [that means speaking down to them!!!! ;0) ]. Be one of them,
share with them, muck in, be what they want, what they need. Then they will
like you and learn to value your skills over the party period.

I know nothing of the party you are doing and they all vary. Some factors
make a huge difference. For example:

# Is the space closed so they cannot 'escape'?
# Are you just mingling while they are able to do other things?
# Are you doing a 'show' having to hold their attention for the duration?
# Are they there with parent(s) or others?

I do a LOT of parties for this age group, either BarMitzvahs or small house
parties. They differ enormously and I therefore have to BE different.
Briefly, house parties probably means you are the attraction. You would have
to treat these like a focussed entertainment, possibly one hour or perhaps 2
x 45 mins with a food break in the middle. The kids would not be coming and
going but with you all the time and this would require a more structured
format. I suggest you divide what you do and plan each segment so that you
don't run out of material and then just have to 'fill time' doing more of
the same. In other words, don't reveal your best material at the beginning.
Also, tell them the plan, what's going to happen later, so they know there
is different stuff coming later. You might make some things to play with at
first ie some of the interactive balloon games and balloon toys. Then move
on to a workshop making perhaps three progressively harder things. Then get
into the more complex models, giving them as gifts to everyone there.

At a BarMitzvah I will be just one of many things going on. There is food,
drink, speeches, dancing, rituals, photographers, parents.....all sorts of
stuff which will all have a share of their divided attention. I will be just
be part of the bigger picture. There is no less pressure on the 'perform'
because what you do has to be very strong otherwise it would be easy to be
ignored, make no impact and get no rebookings, referals.  Here I go big and
flashy but not too show off. Again the stuff they can play with are good
(ball races, bows & arrows, G-guns that fire etc) which tends to 'get rid of
the more rowdy, grabbing ones) leaving you with the more shy, quiet ones who
you can now spend more quality balloon time with. The others will wreck
theirs and they will be back. That's OK.......play along and make more. For
some you may become a balloon machine, but for many you will open their eyes
to balloon possibilities.

Don't just think about "filling time", be alert, share, be cool too and be
rebooked! I get many  referals from these.........by the kids who want me at
their party. THEY will ask for your cards, which is cool.

Good luck...look forward to reading of your success.

John
from 'AirCraft'
_________________
J O H N  G O R D O N
M A G I C  W O R K S

John@magicworks.co.uk