I have performed at many events in the past, including Birthday’s, Wedding’s and summer BBQ’s and there are always kids there and I will always show them a trick, to be honest they usually hijack me and hog the tricks all night.

I have had many messages from parents where a week after the gig they have had to buy their child another pack of cards (I would give the pack I used to them after I have finished).

These messages fill me with both joy and pride, it’s surreal to think that my actions can change someones life, these kids could be the next generation of magicians! They could become world class and write a book and include me as the person who introduced them to magic.

So…why don’t I accept the constant requests I get to perform at children's parties?

I could easily pass this role off as a ‘glorified babysitter’ and tell you how I’m above that in some way but that couldn’t be further from the truth, you see I love performing for them, but just the one or two. The thing you need to know about these kids, especially when there are loads of them…

They are so smart. Smarter than us adults, you see we understand the world, or at least we think we do! We go though live knowing how things are for decades, then someone like me shows you a trick in a way you have never seen or thought about and the emotions you portray bring you back to your childhood.

With these children growing up with the ability to use an iPad at an early age and seeing how technology is rapidly and aggressively changing, they are growing up in a world where they can literally tweet their favourite celebrity AND get a reply, and to add to this, they are in a generation where if they just stream themselves playing a video game… THEY can be a celebrity. Then they see me do a secret move that no adult can see, and the ‘trick’ doesn’t make any sense.

I do hold some regrets that I don’t accept these gigs currently, and I am making a conscious effort to ensure I can do them in the future.

I think I might be a bit hard on myself but children are harder to perform for and I don’t want to be the one to let them down should they be too smart to figure out the tricks I perform are just tricks.

I never claim to have any supernatural powers or anything, and it seems silly me telling you this,but you will be surprised the amount of times I have been asked if I was an alien, sold my soul or if I was a member of the Illuminati.

From my point of view it’s like taking your kid to see a Santa at a Pound land and your kid being disappointed because they figured out it wasn’t Santa.
You could have easily paid money to see someone who lives and breaths the idea that they are Santa, no fake beards here.

To lose the analogy, I’m not a Santa Clause impersonator nor am I a children’s magician, I accept that. It’s not a bad thing it just means I’m not your man. I am most comfortable performing for adults and destroying their worlds be showing them things they know are possible.

You wouldn’t employ a plumber to do your tiling would you?

Josh Maddocks -2019

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Why I don't perform for kids.