From games and food, to schedules and goody bags, there's a lot more that goes into making a party magical beyond a magician.
Over the years, Shazam Magic has been to hundreds of birthday parties, and have put together some ideas and guidelines to make your party magical!
The ideas may be used for any magical party, but in general are geared toward magic birthday parties for guests 5 through 10 years old.
Send out your invites as early as possible. It's sometimes tough to get guests to RSVP, so have an idea of how many invitations were sent, and plan for food and activities accordingly. Magic-themed invitations are a great idea, and are included with Shazam's Complete Show Package.
Give your guests multiple ways to get in touch with you; include your phone number, e-mail, and mailing address in the invitation for the best RSVP results.
Often guests are late, so don't plan any shows or activities until at least 15 - 30 minutes after the party start time. This time is great for snacks, crafts, or games.
If you're gonna have a show, usually that's the first event. It gets your guests excited and thinking about magic, but also is early enough that their attention span hasn't dwindled much.
Games are great right after the show; sitting still is tough, so a chance to get the wiggles out will be appreciated by everyone.
After games, a snack could be provided to keep guests going through the rest of the party. Or perhaps going straight to birthday cake and/or ice cream.
The rest of the party depends on how long you have, and how many activities you wish to plan. Overall, keeping things moving and varied will keep your guests interested and entertained. Rotating between eating, games, crafts, etc., with each kept to about 10 minutes maximum, will ensure that your guests don't get restless or bored.
Generally food is involved at some point, either as snacks or as a full meal. Remember that excitement and small stomachs won't require a lot of food, and often your guests would prefer to "graze" as opposed to an official meal time. Having food available throughout the party is a great way to keep everyone happy and fed.
Stick to substantial snacks that aren't too sweet or rich. Too much candy or sweets won't mix well with excited and active guests.
You know your guests best, so see what they want to eat. Ask a few while planning the party, or ask someone you know who is the right age. Then consider the cost, nutrition, and preparation required.
Common party snacks include:
Be creative with the food! Use cookie-cutters to make fun-shaped sandwiches or pizza. Make a little magician out of toothpicks and hot dog pieces. Wrap the Cheese Whiz or whipped cream bottle in black and white paper to look like a magic wand!
Consider serving chips or fruit out of a plastic top hat. These inexpensive hats can be thrown out after the party.
Magic-themed cups and plates can add to the magical atmosphere, as well.
Not only is it a nice gesture to give a small gift to your guests, but it will help them remember the party, and reinforce the magic theme. Include party items, toys, and perhaps a magic trick or two, all in a box or bag that is fun and festive.
Games are great at parties, especially when they are magically-themed. Remember to respect guests' wishes if they don't want to participate; it's supposed to be fun, after all. Also, steer clear of awarding prizes for the winners; the pride of winning alone will be fine, and will cut down on guest tears.
Pin the Bunny on the Hat - A magical spin on the classic party game. Download and print (PDF, 185 kb) Uses paper, tape, decorating materials, and a blindfold.
Bunny Ears - Turn your guests into magic bunnies! Download and print (PDF, 143 kb) Uses paper or cardstock, tape, and decorating materials (stickers, glitter, markers, crayons, etc.).
Toilet-Paper Bunny - Make two pairs of bunny ears, and get two rolls of toilet paper. Split the guests into two teams, and have one guest volunteer to be the bunny. The goal is to see which team can roll the guest into a bunny, like a mummy. Whichever team finishes their roll first, wins. Be sure to have a trash bag handy to allow your bunnies to turn back into guests without much mess.
Magic-Themed Pinata - Although quite popular, magicians don't endorse hitting a paper-mache bunny with a stick. Shazam Magic recommends a Wizard Hat pinata as an inanimate alternative. Also consider the pull-string option, which turns the pinata into a game of chance as opposed to an act of strength.
Magic Scavenger Hunt - Create a series of clues hidden around your house, and help your guests find each step. A group prize of candy, stickers, or small toys could be found at the end.
Bow Ties - Let your guests make Shazam Magic bow ties! Download and print (PDF, 164 kb). Uses paper or cardstock, elastic, tape, and decorating materials (stickers, glitter, markers, crayons, etc.)
Shazam Magic is always looking for success stories, or more party tips to share. If you have a fun magical party tip, or have photos of your guests enjoying tips found on ShazamMagic.com, contact Shazam!
Magician Peter Wood has been performing entertaining magic shows - full of magic, comedy, and audience participation - since 1994!
©Peter Wood - powered by salt shaker studios