Crowd Control

[Pickles]

I need some advice on crowd control at birthday parties. In the past week, I did two birthday parties. Both were big parties -- with 18-20 children -- and were held outside.

During my magic show I use a lot of different magic wands, and I often let the volunteers hold my different wands. During both parties, children started fighting over who got to hold nesting wands, and some children were clearly upset that they were not chosen to assist me by waving one of my wands. During yesterday's party, the children actually were mobbing me during the magic show.

I used to lay a rope or tape down and instruct the children to stay behind that line unless they were invited up to my "stage," but in recent years I had abandoned this boundary line, thinking it wasn't necessary. Clearly, it's become necessary again.

How many of you use a rope or some other line to set boundaries between the audience and performer, and do you do this at all parties, regardless of size?

How do you handle unruly children who fight over wands and mob the clown magician during her performance?

I try to involve as many children as possible as assistants during my show, but, obviously, if there are 20 kids, there is no way I can use all of them. I don't want to hurt any feelings, but I don't want to quit using volunteers in my shows.

Yesterday's kids were a particularly rowdy bunch. I was doing the silk birthday cake routine with the change bag and having them put invisible ingredients in the bag. But instead, they were tearing grass out of the lawn and trying to put it in my bag. Ohmygoodness.

I'm eager to hear about your experiences in handling overly rambunctious birthday party urchins.

[Scruffy]

Crowd control...Hmmm.
you could try the rope, It usually works. I have yet to find a kid that could escape being hog tied...I had a couple last night that made me rethink my position on using tazers.

i really think that you have asked a great question. Please, anyone have any great secrets to share?

[noname]

Wait, if I am not mistaken, you said you are going to Mooseburger. If that is the case, take Rex Nolen's Birthday Party course. I learned so much, he was so helpful and he deals extensively with crowd control and making sure the children know who is in charge.

Now, if I could remember what he said, that would be a small miracle in itself, unfortunately though, there must be a hole where that memory was...what caused the hole, beyond me...old age at 31?

[pixcoco]

I stop...hold up my hand and remind them I only choose children with good manners and who sit politly.

I know. very Mom ish. But it works for at least a few moments. Maybe time enough to regain control. If you have to you can refer to your MAMA VOICE. I hate to do that but you have to protect yourself and your props.

[sillyskiddles]

Well, I had one of those parties today. Fortunately they don't happen too often. Is there a full moon? The boys were overly wound up and very rude. It's hard to be funny and keep smiling when that happens. I went over to the boys and quietly told them that perhaps they should leave. Didn't work so I switched to face painting. They seemed to settle down with that. I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!

Skiddles

[Mr. Dazzle]

A roll of blue painters tape is worth its weight in gold sometimes. However through VBS, Sunday School, etc I've used a normal jump rope as a boundary aswell. If you're outside on pavement or sidewalk others have suggested marking your area with chalk.

I've been swarmed before though (During Balloon Work) mostly due to line cutters... to which I respond by saying as nicely as I can that I have a line of children/people waiting and that their spot at the back of the line will "Magically" (Eventually)turn into the front of the line if everyone cooperates.

I have have only had to change the tone of my voice once in order to get my point across... and that situation was when a older teenager came over to me (cutting line) demanding a balloon .... I inflated one and handed it to him (without twisting) He said " Hey You didn't twist it" I told him that in order to be the recipient of a good balloon sculpture he had to pay me with good maners and patience. I waited on the people that Had been waiting (all of which kindly said please and thankyous) and then waited on the teenager.

[Giggles the Clown]

Hey Pickles:

When I was substitute teaching, I racked up lots of hours at community college learning classroom management tactics. Believe it or not, the basic tactic suggested by the instructor was having a "bag of tricks." (which we clowns always have, right?) Actually, what it came down to was the confidence that having the bag of tricks brought to the table. Soon, I didn't need the actual bag of activites I could pull out in case of bedlam, my self-confidence carried the day in the way I presented myself to the students....like solid eye contact, ignoring bad behavior, rewarding acceptable behavior, being calm and accepting while setting solid boundaries. (you know, it's o.k. to do THIS, not o.k. to be THAT). We have all had our share of failures and successess in dealing with unruly behavior, but I always try to stay in control because children deserve their adults to be in control so they can limit their bad behavior and learn and have fun.

As far as my assistants are concerning, there has to be a reason for my appointing an assistant. Birthday person, or if that person is too young, a sibling or cousin of the birthday person. No discussion. That is the way it is. I always use the older children as helpers; they can be tremendously helpful with "crowd control" also. No competition from the younger children since the older children are usually 8 years plus, sometimes teens. Best of luck, Giggles

[Sopey]

Mr. Dazzle,
In cases like that, I may not even inflate the balloon! I pull a balloon out and hand it to the line jumper, then go to the next person in line.

[BUTONS]

I give instructions in the very beginning of every magic show.... I lay down a rope and tell the kids that it is a magic rope, and that the magic will only work if no one crosses the rope, unless you are a volunteer. Next I'll prove to the kids that the rope is magicall by taking my breakable wand out and illistrate to them by walking back and forth across the rope....if you don't have a wand tell the kids if they follow the rules then at the end of the show you will use the rope in a magic trick, but the trick will only work if they follow the rules.....


hope this helps

buttons

[OkiDoki]

My performance mostly exists of parts in which there is room for the children to go more wild and some parts in which I can gain, or regain control if nesesarry.
Starting to juggle clubs or diabolo(making suns) in a very uncontrolled mather in the direction of the children is a nice way to regain space. If not enough tell them it's better to back of a bit because I'm a clown not a real good juggler. Warn them that otherwise they could get hurt. Another one: who wants this balloondog..... That child who can best sit down and give a leg like a dog is going to get him!.. Enjoy the piece and tell the parent this is your 10 second break, pause.
Using a loud whissle like you're a policeagent can also work fine sometimes if you're doing it the right way.

Furthermore it is sometimes important to be playfull with children. Let them be the leading part of your performance, not what you have in your head how the performance should be look like. If they are so persistent on being all your assistant what stops you from letting them be all your assistant?