The Santa season at Moreno Valley began today with a one hour magic show by Santa. The two biggest hits, of all the terrifically wonderful illusions Santa performed, were: the squared circle -- a new variation featuring the Grinch and Santa -- and peanut butter and jelly. The needle through the balloon was a close third out of the 20 or so illusions presented.

I'M POOPED!

After the show I spent the next nine hours in the chair visiting with children and posing for photos... there's gotta be an easier way to make a living.

I just did my first show with a Santa in the other room. A line of kids, some crying, most excited, wound through the hallway. I did a mall show one time that was having a Santa parade. I wasn't told that there would be a thousand people lined up down the corridor all the way from Santa's throne (where I held a 30 minute preshow). I don't know if anyone actually heard anything I said and only the 20 children crowding up against my shoes could actually see. All of the other kids were blocked by parents. The hardest part was wheeling my suitcase table out, fighting my way back and then wheeling out my sound equipment, which was intended for an audience of about 120. I may have said a prayer for Santa when I left.

I have one of these to do this Friday. The annual Philharmonic Center for the Arts Family Day, in conjunction with the Miami Ballet's Nutcracker performances. I do three shows, all scheduled around Santa's arrival by fire engine. Last year we had about 1,000, with about 600 of those being children. This year, they expect the numbers to double. Anything free to the public is slammed because of the economy. Did a public event last night in a shopping district that usually draws about 15,000. This year it was 25,000 ! What a zoo....

Mark

Hey Mark
Where in Miami are you? I too live in S Florida...What Mall district did you perform in 2 nights ago? E me njay254@aol.com

Santa what were the other magic illusions were performed? Hope you are having fun.

Tony were you able to enjoy the mall show due to the crowds so close by, did the kids like the show or were they more interested in meeting santa?

The kids liked the show, but it was really difficult to hear. If I went back I would have done three things. 1. Performed on a platform of some type rather than standing on the floor and put at least 8 feet between me and the front row. Roped off a "sitting section" so that anyone inside that area must be sitting down on the floor so others can see. and I would have brought more sound.

I have often found in malls that they have music going in the background so puppet songs or magic background music is thrown off unless it is loud enough.

Another option is to let them know that walk around might be more beneficial while people are lined up waiting for the parade. I don't like walkaround, however.

NJay...I am not in Miami, but on the other side of the state, across Alligator Alley, in Naples. The shopping district I worked is called Third Street South, a collection of about 50 stores in a ten block area. It was a madhouse last night ! It gets more crowded every year. The sad part is that even though the crowd was huge, about 1/3 of the stores are currently shuttered, due to the economy. I have seen it happen before, and they do bounce back. Not sure how quick that will happen this time around, though.

Mark