It’s almost been a year into my career as a childrens entertainer. What a fulfilling year it’s been. I wasn’t too sure how things would take off for Ozzy Wizzpop. There’s a lot of great acts in my area (of which I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few). These guys have been doing magic for a long time. How would I fit into the market? With lots of research and practice I seem to be bringing in the bookings. It’s still early days but the phone is ringing which is rewarding.

What I’ve learned from my first year mainly is a reinforcement of the message I discovered from the outset – it’s the journey not the destination. Now what this translates briefly for magicians is that it’s not the trick that pleases the crowd, it’s the fun in getting to it. For a child, if I have an object and make it vanish then its averagely pleasing. If I animate that with a funny story, involve some of the children along the way, make myself look a bit silly then wow them with the trick, I’ve done a good job. During my first few shows I realised some of the tricks, impressive as they were, needed some fun injecting into them. After about my third show everything ran a lot smoother.

My best experience of my first year in the business hasn’t been a specific event it self. It’s been those moments when every child is laughing on cue to the bits I scripted to be funny and the look of amazement that arises on cue from the children. The feeling of a plan coming together is great! And the worst moment? Well no professional likes to admit how he got something hideously wrong but if it makes you chuckle what the heck. It was on my second gig at a childrens party in Hampshire, building my frame for my backstage screen (I’ve stopped using this now). Not being so used to this procedure I didn’t get it as quite planned. It tumbled over, knocked of a family photo but I cause i caught the thing! I must be actually magic. immediately after another picture fell of which I didn’t catch, so quickly realised this not be true. No pictures were broken. I never made that mistake again!

My plans for my second year now that I’m a little more settled are to learn ventriloquism and gift my sidekick Bonkers the monkey a voice. I’m sure he will be even more mischievous with a voice! I’m halfway there at the moment. It’s a very difficult thing to grasp, its as if you have to learn to talk all over again. For example on pronouncing certain letters as B’s and M’s you have to place your tongue in a different position of your mouth. Its very strange but like they say – practice makes perfect.

PS
I can almost do my letter B’s now.

For a great Childrens entertainer amesbury, book Ozzy Wizzpop