Category: Birthday Party Creativity

Birthday Candle Tip

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New candles take longer to light the first time. If you’re using fresh birthday candles take a moment and light them before your party starts. It’ll burn off the excess fuzz/residue/wax on the wick. Only takes a few seconds to do this. Then extinguish and stick ’em in your cake.

Having been ‘primed’ the candles will light more quickly the second time around. No excess fuzz/residue/wax will drop onto your cake either. When the pressure is on with excited birthday party kids at your kitchen table pounding their forks you’ll appreciate those seconds you saved.

Three birthday candles.

My new ‘not-quite-virtual’ backdrop…

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Decided on a real backdrop for virtual birthday parties after finding this gem among the ‘South American River’ company’s offerings:

Photography backdrop representing parted blue theatrical curtains with many shiny lights all over it.

Many theatre curtain style backdrops offered were variations in red. As some photos on this website show my costuming has lots of red so this blue one in blue contrasts nicely. Separates me distinctly from the background (I hope!).

Had been experimenting with ‘green screen’ backdrops but, for an online home party, they can be a distraction, especially if you have props or garments with a hint of green in them. Clever for some situations but one more thing to worry about when you should be concentrating on doing the best possible show. Also, based on some of the Zoom events I’ve attended such backdrops can be distracting. At a recent magician’s lecture I attended via Zoom one of the attendees had a tank of fish swimming behind him for over 2 hours! Oy! Or, should I say Koi!

Virtual Magic…

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Birthday cake with colorful internet modem plugs instead of candles. Icing writing reads Virtual Birthday.

I’ve been dipping my toe into the world of online magic shows. Mostly on the Zoom platform. It’s pretty much a whole new art form which is both exciting and scary. Tricks that work online, tricks that don’t. Lots to learn!

One of the interesting things is that travel times are largely irrelevant. You can do birthday shows for children anywhere on the planet, as long as we agree on the start time despite time-zone changes!

Currently offering some great deals on shorter ‘virtual’ shows while I learn the ropes. If you’re interested in trying one out please contact me. Birthday kids are still featured prominently during the shows. Other kids on your Zoom party meet-up as well. Doesn’t have to be a birthday show. Family events and other groups will work too! Message me on the contact page.

Montessori Birthday

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“Thanks Owen. It was great having you here. Look forward to more. You were amazing.”

Chawla Family, Niagara Falls

Most of my birthday party magic shows are in private homes. Occasionally rec centres or church halls and every now and then kind parents think outside of the living room.
Last Thursday the parents of a 6 year old girl decided to share the fun with her Montessori school mates by holding her birthday magic show in the gym at Pathways Academy shortly before dismissal. A treat to end the school day.
After setting up I had a few minutes so I snapped pics of these fun wall paintings encouraging different kinds of physical activity.
Four shown but others included Wiggle, Jog, Spin, Dance, Tiptoe, and Slink. I had to look slink up in the dictionary. For this PE context (gliding steps) it checks out…!

Animal theme motivational slogans on school gym walls.