What does it take to become one of the most sought-after children's entertainers in your area?
For magician Eric Knaus, better known as The Great Zucchini, the answer involves much more than knowing a few good magic tricks.
Building a successful children's entertainment business requires an understanding of young audiences, effective marketing, strong branding, and the ability to keep children laughing from beginning to end.
In his instructional DVD, Kidshow Rockstar, The Great Zucchini shares the techniques and business strategies that helped him become one of the best-known preschool entertainers in the Washington, D.C., area.
Originally presented as a live lecture at Kapital Kidvention 2011, this program offers valuable lessons for magicians, clowns, family entertainers, and anyone interested in building a successful children's entertainment business.
Who Is The Great Zucchini?
Eric Knaus, professionally known as The Great Zucchini, has built his reputation entertaining young children, particularly preschool audiences.
His energetic, silly, and highly interactive performances have made him a recognizable name in children's entertainment throughout the Washington, D.C., region.
Unlike magicians who focus primarily on complicated sleight of hand or elaborate illusions, The Great Zucchini emphasizes something equally important: understanding what makes young children laugh.
His approach combines comedy, audience participation, and age-appropriate entertainment to create performances that children enjoy and parents remember.
That ability to connect with his audience has played an important role in his success.
What Will You Learn from Kidshow Rockstar?
One of the most interesting aspects of Kidshow Rockstar is that it goes beyond teaching magic tricks.
The DVD explores the business and performance skills necessary to build a successful career entertaining children.
1. Building Your Brand and Becoming a Local Celebrity
How do you become the entertainer parents immediately think of when planning a birthday party?
The Great Zucchini discusses branding strategies designed to help performers stand out in a competitive market.
The goal isn't simply to book one performance. It's to create a recognizable entertainment business that generates referrals and repeat customers.
2. Keeping Children's Attention
Anyone who has performed for preschool audiences knows that maintaining their attention can be challenging.
Young children are naturally curious, energetic, and easily distracted.
The DVD discusses ways to minimize distractions and keep audiences engaged throughout a performance.
3. Making Shy Children Feel Comfortable
Audience participation can be one of the most memorable parts of a children's magic show.
However, not every child enjoys being the center of attention.
The Great Zucchini shares approaches for helping shy children feel included without making them uncomfortable.
This is an especially valuable skill for performers working with younger audiences.
4. Handling Parents During Performances
Children aren't the only audience members a magician must consider.
Parents sometimes talk during performances, interrupt routines, or unintentionally distract the children.
Kidshow Rockstar addresses ways to manage these situations while maintaining a positive atmosphere.
5. Getting Repeat Bookings and Referrals
For professional entertainers, repeat business is incredibly important.
The DVD explores ways to encourage satisfied customers to recommend your services and book additional performances.
Word-of-mouth advertising can be particularly valuable in children's entertainment, where parents frequently ask friends and family for recommendations.
More Than 90 Minutes of Magic and Business Advice
Kidshow Rockstar features over 90 minutes of instructional content, including The Great Zucchini's complete live lecture from Kapital Kidvention 2011.
The lecture was voted the convention's number-one lecture, according to the DVD's original promotional description.
In addition to the lecture, viewers receive bonus footage featuring actual performances with children.
This is particularly useful because it allows magicians to observe how some of the ideas discussed in the lecture translate into real entertainment situations.
Rather than simply hearing about audience management and comedy techniques, viewers can see examples of The Great Zucchini interacting with young audiences.
Why Children's Magicians Should Study More Than Magic Tricks
As someone who has performed professionally since 1996, including thousands of family and children's shows, I've learned that knowing how to entertain an audience is just as important as knowing how to fool them.
You can perform an incredible magic trick, but if you don't understand your audience, the effect may not receive the reaction you expected.
This is especially true when entertaining preschool children.
A routine that works beautifully for adults might completely lose an audience of four-year-olds.
Successful children's entertainment requires a different approach to pacing, comedy, participation, and presentation.
That's why I believe studying successful working entertainers can be valuable, regardless of how long you've been performing.
There's always something new to learn!
Who Should Watch Kidshow Rockstar?
This DVD may be particularly useful for:
Children's magicians looking to improve their performances.
Birthday party entertainers who want to increase bookings.
Preschool and daycare performers interested in better audience management.
Clowns and family entertainers seeking new comedy ideas.
Professional magicians wanting to improve their branding and marketing.
Beginning entertainers hoping to develop a successful children's entertainment business.
Even experienced performers may discover useful ideas for strengthening their shows or improving how they market their services.
Kidshow Rockstar DVD Available at Magicians Magic Shop
If you're interested in improving your children's magic shows, developing a stronger entertainment business, or learning from one of the Washington, D.C., area's best-known preschool performers, Kidshow Rockstar is worth exploring.
Kidshow Rockstar by The Great Zucchini (Eric Knaus) includes his acclaimed Kapital Kidvention 2011 lecture and bonus performance footage.
The DVD is available through Magicians Magic Shop, where you'll also find a growing selection of instructional magic DVDs, magic books, professional routines, and hard-to-find magic collectibles.
Visit MagiciansMagicShop.com to browse our inventory.
New and used magic items are added regularly, so you never know what you might discover!
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