Price$40.00
Media TypeDVD
CategoryChildrens
Date AddedFeb 14, 2008
Bill Abbott Performs Magic For Kids
Bill Abbott
(Based on 1 review)
Original Material from Bill Abbott Performs Close-Up For Kids Includes:
Sponge Balls - A classic that Bill uses as a perfect opener for kids. The Shadow - An extremely visual card change that happens 3 times in the participants own hands. The Autograph - A motivated card-in-wallet routine that leaves a child with a true collector's item they will treasure forever. The Ninja Card Trick - Bill's favorite card effect that features finding a selected card at the point of a miniature ninja sword. The Mental Photograph - A very strong promotional tool, where a mental thought of playing card appears on your business card being held by the spectator. Edwin Alonzo Boyd - A riveting tale about a real-life jail break demonstrated with a photograph of the criminal that becomes permanently altered at the conclusion. The Great Game - A routine with many applications limited only by your imagination. A freely selected prize is predicted in advance by the performer, and is given to the child to keep at the end. Flash - Bill's closing effect that features an original presentation for the ashes on palm. This effect has built a reputation for Bill with lay audiences. Card on Forehead - A classic effect redesigned for young children with a great finish!
Original material from Bill Abbott Performs Stand-Up For Kids Includes:
The Sponge Snack - When touring across Canada Bill performed this silent opener 110 times in 90 days! Develop an instant rapport with audiences with this humorous routine that non-verbally communicates that your show will be fun, magical and full of surprises. The Thing - Practical, one-man levitation's are few and far between. Bill has created a reputation-making miracle that can be performed anywhere. From the smallest living room to the largest theater stage to the most stringent street conditions. The thing can float in any performing situation with your audience viewing from any angle. Chico The Mind Reader - For those who have witnessed a performance of Chico know that the revelation of this routine is worth the price of the DVD set. Bill has booked more shows from this one routine than any other in his repertoire. The explanation segment is a virtual course in the creation, development and performance of you won original puppet routine.
Deluxe Edition Bonus Features Include:
The Three Bears - The Equal-Unequal Ropes performed live at a family resort with some original twists and then explained in detail. Cut & Restored Rope - See how this classic of stand-up magic entertains a nightclub crowd then join Bill at an exclusive lecture at Denny & Lee's Magic Studio in Baltimore for the detailed explanation. Cut & Restored on T.V. - Witness the hosts of a preteen talk show be entertained and completely fooled by Bill in broadcast quality. Nightclub Monkey Business - Experience why Chico is flexible, entertaining and truly for all ages. Chico takes this nightclub audience of adults by storm. Chico's Secrets - The real secrets of creating a memorable puppet routine revealed. Chico on T.V. - Chico brings the star of this popular kids show to tears -- of laughter! Street Thing - Bill demonstrates how practical, effective and powerful The Thing is on the streets of downtown Toronto. Signed Bill in Orange - The classic effect performed live on T.V. Flash on T.V - See the host of Canadian Idol flee the studio in fear and disbelief! Sponge Balls - Witness this audience favorite get squeals of delight from the studio audience. The Shadow & The Autograph - Great reactions on live T.V. for this solid piece of slight of hand. The Ninja Card Trick - The ninja returns looking better and faster than ever. Mental Photograph - This gets a tremendous reaction for such a simple effect. The Boyd Mystery - Historical Toronto story performed live. Flash on Studio Magic - See why dead pets still make the best assistants!
Running Time Approximately 4hrs
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Some magicians don’t enjoy performing for kids. They believe kids magic is weak, goofy, and only entertains kids. If you believe this, allow Bill Abbott to change your mind. His magic is strong and his personality is pleasant, kind, and a little goofy. This 2-Disc DVD set contains “Bill Abbott Performs Close Up Magic for Kids” and “Bill Abbott Performs Stand Up Magic for Kids” along with bonus material on each disc.
The video quality on both of these is less than perfect. I had trouble playing these discs in two of my players. The sound isn’t as great as it could be, and the productions values aren’t as slick as a Big Blind Media project. While the material and the performances are VERY good, they aren’t ‘packaged’ in the best possible way. That aside, there is plenty to learn from both DVDs.
On the Close Up DVD, we see Bill performing all the routines in a busy restaurant for kids and adults. There is also footage of the material being performed on local news and TV shows. It’s obvious this material is well thought out to make sure it is amazing to both kids and adults, and Bill does a great job. On one TV clip, Bill performs his version of Ashes on Palm, and causes a grown man to yell, “No Way!” and run out of the studio! That’s good magic on any day of the week. There are also personalized versions of the Mullica Wallet, The Card Stab, Sponge Balls, and Buddah Papers. All have been well thought out, scripted and honed over hundreds of performances. The skill level on all of these is fairly simple. Card controls are the most complex sleights in these routines. Some require no sleights.
On the Stand Up DVD, we only get 3 routines, but considering one is almost 10 minutes of solid entertainment, you definitely get your money’s worth. I saw Bill perform all these routines live at a magic convention, and he was great. Chico the Mind Reader absolutely stole the show. It’s a great puppet routine, and it shows you how to have a solid comedy magic routine without embarrassing your volunteer. On the DVD you see him perform it several times, including a performance in a Nightclub of all adults, and it kills. If your audience doesn’t like Chico, they have no souls to bring joy to, and are not worth trying to entertain.
The Thing is a one man angle proof levitation, of well, nothing. He shows you how to make the gimmick. This can be very tedious, which is why he sells The Thing as it’s own product. Whether you decide to make it or buy it, you will get plenty of use out of it.
Sponge Snack is a Sponge Balls from Mouth routine. It’s funny, quick, and Bill knows when to stop. I’ve seen so many magicians do this forever, Bill quits while he’s ahead, and gets more out of the routine.
The bonus routines are both rope routines. Cut & Restored Rope and Professor’s Nightmare are classics, and while Bill performs both well, neither of them offer anything new. This is ok, just don’t expect anything radically new or revolutionary from these routines.
On both discs, Bill talks about the importance of having strong magic that entertains kids, and amazes adults. He is able to walk this tightrope beautifully, and offers his thoughts on how to achieve this in your own work.
As for video quality, I’d give the production two stars. However, almost all the magic ranges from four to five stars. I’d love to give this a higher rating, because of so much useful information and practical strong effects, but I am forced to go down the middle and give this only three stars.
Don’t let that stop you. This offers pure gold from a full time performer and an all around good guy.
The video quality on both of these is less than perfect. I had trouble playing these discs in two of my players. The sound isn’t as great as it could be, and the productions values aren’t as slick as a Big Blind Media project. While the material and the performances are VERY good, they aren’t ‘packaged’ in the best possible way. That aside, there is plenty to learn from both DVDs.
On the Close Up DVD, we see Bill performing all the routines in a busy restaurant for kids and adults. There is also footage of the material being performed on local news and TV shows. It’s obvious this material is well thought out to make sure it is amazing to both kids and adults, and Bill does a great job. On one TV clip, Bill performs his version of Ashes on Palm, and causes a grown man to yell, “No Way!” and run out of the studio! That’s good magic on any day of the week. There are also personalized versions of the Mullica Wallet, The Card Stab, Sponge Balls, and Buddah Papers. All have been well thought out, scripted and honed over hundreds of performances. The skill level on all of these is fairly simple. Card controls are the most complex sleights in these routines. Some require no sleights.
On the Stand Up DVD, we only get 3 routines, but considering one is almost 10 minutes of solid entertainment, you definitely get your money’s worth. I saw Bill perform all these routines live at a magic convention, and he was great. Chico the Mind Reader absolutely stole the show. It’s a great puppet routine, and it shows you how to have a solid comedy magic routine without embarrassing your volunteer. On the DVD you see him perform it several times, including a performance in a Nightclub of all adults, and it kills. If your audience doesn’t like Chico, they have no souls to bring joy to, and are not worth trying to entertain.
The Thing is a one man angle proof levitation, of well, nothing. He shows you how to make the gimmick. This can be very tedious, which is why he sells The Thing as it’s own product. Whether you decide to make it or buy it, you will get plenty of use out of it.
Sponge Snack is a Sponge Balls from Mouth routine. It’s funny, quick, and Bill knows when to stop. I’ve seen so many magicians do this forever, Bill quits while he’s ahead, and gets more out of the routine.
The bonus routines are both rope routines. Cut & Restored Rope and Professor’s Nightmare are classics, and while Bill performs both well, neither of them offer anything new. This is ok, just don’t expect anything radically new or revolutionary from these routines.
On both discs, Bill talks about the importance of having strong magic that entertains kids, and amazes adults. He is able to walk this tightrope beautifully, and offers his thoughts on how to achieve this in your own work.
As for video quality, I’d give the production two stars. However, almost all the magic ranges from four to five stars. I’d love to give this a higher rating, because of so much useful information and practical strong effects, but I am forced to go down the middle and give this only three stars.
Don’t let that stop you. This offers pure gold from a full time performer and an all around good guy.