Four things are being done by that warm up. You have taught children to clap when they like magic. It also trains them to react to applause cues in rest of show. The warm up establishes that you are in control for this show. Finally, it sets a fun tone for show. This is first time your audience gets a sense of your performing personality.

--You are not performing for kids--

You will learn quickly that most difficult task facing children’s performer is to design show to appeal to children and adults at same time and at different levels. No I don’t mean filling your performance with phrases that have sexual double meanings. Nothing is more pathetic and unprofessional than performer that gets a child on stage and slyly eyes adults in crowd and says “Do I have a big magic wand or what? “

Children’s cartoons provide best examples of point I am trying to make. Take Loony Toons or Spongebob Squarepants for example. These cartoons work for children and adults on different levels at same time. This is what you must achieve to be a successful children’s magician

This is very difficult thing to pull off. This is one of main reasons that doing children’s magic is so difficult. You must DESIGN your show for both audiences. One key to show design is your performing personality.

--You are not yourself today--

When you perform magic for children, you must have a distinctive and appealing performing personality. Long gone are days when children’s magician can come out on stage in a second hand tux and wow his audience with a formal magic show. Look at Silly Billy, one of most successful children’s magicians. His performing personality is fun and engaging. His show tone is fast paced and humorous.

Even beyond children’s magic, examine performing personalities of children’s television. Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Rodgers, and Peewee Herman are examples of compelling performing personalities. Each one was successful, yet, had very different performing personalities. The common factor was that each performer engaged children through fun.

Your performing personality must engage you audience, children and adults, with fun and wonderment. You must draw your audience into show by your performing personality, but you must wow them with a well designed show that delivers great magic. This is why doing children’s magic is so tough.

If you want to start your career in magic as a children’s magician, think again. Kids are brutally honest. There is nothing tougher or more satisfying than have a great children’s magic show. Being a children’s magician is not best way to become a part-time professional magician.

Find out more about perfroming for kids at Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks

This is completely different from approach of 99.998% of other magicians wearing tuxes. Most part-time professional magicians wear a tux without regard to their performing personality. The key to what to wear is your performing personality. Begin with assumption that a tux is not an option. Examine key elements of your performing personality that you want to communicate to your audience. Tailor your dress to consciously communicate those key elements.

Another factor to consider is whether you want to stand out or blend with your audience. Let’s say you want to blend with your audience. This is common approach for restaurant or corporate magician. What will your audience be wearing? Try to dress a little above your audience. Let’s say you want to stand out. Find ways to contrast with your audience that communicates positively to your performing personality. For example, assume your performing personality is that odd middle aged uncle that all kids love but make parent roll their eyes. You know type, every family has one. His style sense will be decades out of style but he will be clueless that he isn’t hippest guy around. If that is your chosen performing personality, then performer’s style will match outfit. The point again is that outfit chosen by magician must relate to performing personality.

Let’s get back to original question. Why do magicians wear tuxes? Nobody knows including magicians. Know your performing personality. Select your dress to complement your venue and performing personality. Treat your magic performance like artistic performance you want it to be.

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