A Few Summer Reading Pics - LaGrange Memorial Library!

Starting off the show with a picnic themed trick

The audience has some very interesting and diverse reactions!

Cornbread wrapped around my arm.

Showing everyone the Emperor Scorpion while sharing some interesting facts about said scorpion.

This is where I test my audience to see how good they are - these folks were GREAT!

Our newest star of the show - the albino ball python! 

Summer Reading BEGINS!!!

Greetings Everyone,
The school year has officially ended for me and the Summer Reading Season has officially started up this week.  Two shows on Tuesday in Washington and Thomson followed by two shows today (Wednesday) in Hamilton and LaGrange.  All the shows have been a blast to perform and I have got to meet lots of new folks as well as many familiar faces.  I'm also super excited about being able to sell, for the first time, Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic - which is the book that started me off on my magical career.  Last summer's show actually used several routines from the book - so anyone who gets a copy can learn 90% of last year's show just by reading a few pages and chapters. 

From here on out there are shows Monday - Friday throughout June and July.  I hope to see everyone at your nearest library this summer.  In the meantime, enjoy some pictures of the program, crowds, and libraries below!

The first show of the summer in Washington - these folks got there early to get the best seats in the house.

And here's a front view - it ended up being standing room only.

All of these decorations were made with tissue paper!

Love the mural on the walls and the hanging flowers and vines.

The opposite wall and mural.

They just kept coming in for the Thomson show!

Some Thomson audience members viewing the critters up close after the show.

The calm before the storm in Lagrange. 

And here is the storm of kids and parents!  Another standing room only crowd! 

Cory getting his photo with the new albino ball python after the show.  Notice the two boys in the bottom of the pic.  They were staring at a Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula which was approximately 1 inch from their faces.  It's leg span could actually cover their entire heads!

Final School Show of the 2012-2013 School Year!

Greetings Everyone,
It is always bittersweet when the final school program of the year comes to an end.  This year has been an absolute blast as I was able to perform at my regular schools as well as a large number of brand new elementary and middle schools throughout the southeast.  My final show was at one of my favorite middle schools - and it was the second time they had hosted one of my programs this year.  Pleasant Hill Middle has seen both the "Authors of Mystery and Horror" program AND the all new "Once Upon a Time: Grimm's Fairy Tales" program.  It was a pleasure to perform for the students at PHMS as they are always a great group, and the school has an AWESOME auditorium, complete with your own dressing room! 

Some of the highlights of the day include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.  An amazing stage with full stage lighting!



 2.  Great crowds all day long! 

3.  Excellent food for lunch!  It was absolutely delicious!!!

4.  And getting to pose with lots of famous characters!!!  Oh, and a book fair was also going on in the media center so I picked up several books for the kiddos and one or two for myself as well!

Now it is time to prepare for the all new "Dig Into Reading Safari" show which starts next week at public libraries all over GA and SC during May, June, and July.  Looking forward to meeting everyone and using lots of new critters in the show this summer!

Have a great summer everyone!!!

A Great Pic of Our Mexican Red Knee Tarantula!

I just had to share this as it turned out quite nice - that is if you consider a picture of a spider to be "nice."  Love the colors!

When your Dad is a Magical Educator...

Greetings Everyone!
Below is a quick video of my little girl Reagan and her little brother Grady feeding two of our baby ball pythons.  This is their first time ever getting to help feed the snakes and they were both VERY excited and proud.  We feed our snakes frozen/thawed mice so we don't have to worry about a live mouse who can severely injure a snake while it's being squeezed - especially ball pythons as they are very shy and will let a mouse chew on them without putting up a fight on their end.  They just curl into a ball and sit still - thus why they are called "ball" pythons. 

Enjoy the video of the kids and the baby snakes - and notice how fast they strike the mouse when they decide it's time to eat!

Aside from the snakes, my daughter (who is 5) is also the proud owner of 20 superworms (similar to mealworms that are used to feed lizards, etc) which she got from the pet store.  Well, she used to own 20 superworms - now she owns 6 pupae and 14 Darkling Beetles, which are the adult form of superworms.  The 6 pupae should be morphing into beetles soon and then the real fun begins.  In two weeks, mating will have occurred and eggs will be laid.  My daughter is quick to tell anyone she meets about being a superworm breeder, and once she has eggs being hatched she wants to have a store for people to buy mealworms for their pet lizards, tarantula's, scorpions, etc.  We are excited for her as she has been keeping a journal (like a REAL scientist as she says!) with drawings of the different phases and even the life cycle diagram of the superworm.  A GREAT science experiment and experience all around!

Once I get some good shots of the phases I'll post them on here - those pupae look really strange and unusual - like something off of one of the "Aliens" movies. 

Well, until next time - everyone have a magical day!

Chad

"Once Upon a Time: Grimm's Fairy Tales" Debut is a HUGE Success!!!

Greetings Everyone!
I am excited to report that both days of shows this past Thursday and Friday went wonderful!  The new Grimm's Fairy Tales show debuted at two schools, White County Middle and Riverwatch Middle and the response from both students and teachers have been tremendous!  The program is now officially being added to the fall line-up, and, after this coming Friday, there should be four middle/high programs to choose from.

Your school could have:

1.  "Authors of Mystery and Horror" - The original that started it all!
2.  "Authors of Mystery and Horror" v. 2 - The follow up for schools who had the original already.
3.  "Once Upon a Time: Grimm's Fairy Tales" - Brand new for the upcoming year!
4.  "Nevermore: The Tales and Poems of Poe" - Brand new for the upcoming year!  Debuting this Friday!

There is more info about all the shows on my website - just click on the "middle/high" button.

And now, I shall leave you with the very first "official" comment from the debut programs at Riverwatch Middle - from one of the LA teachers in attendance who watched the show multiple times throughout the day with her classes!

"This show absolutely encourages students to read. The show is riveting and engages everyone young and old! Everyone loved the show and can't wait to see another show by Chad. I would absolutely recommend this show to all other educators. Students and teachers are engaged throughout the entire show and students are all abuzz about learning the stories and the magic, but most importantly...reading! The show is fantastic!" 

And here are some thoughts from Ms. Melton, media specialist at White County Middle School, who hosted the very first debut shows!

"The Grimm show was wonderful and the students were totally engrossed throughout the program. Many students are asking for the original stories you introduced, even those that are not my avid readers. This is the second show you have performed at our school this year and after each show the students cannot get enough of the books and stories you introduce. Of course the favorite part of your show is the magic tricks and I love that you involve the students. To see the students reaction is priceless. The teachers are already planning for your programs next year and see the Grimm program as a way to encourage students to read. Thank you so much, have a great summer, and see you next year!"

More comments coming soon!  Now enjoy some photos from the new show!

Have a great day!

Chad