Confusing Crayons

{SKILL LEVEL ONE - See "Skill Levels" at left}

This is the ultimate effect for family and children's shows. It's colorful, topical, easy to perform, has audience participation and lots of comedy.

The performer has a Red Crayon, a Yellow Crayon, and two Blue Tubes. The performer tells the spectator that these are the "Confusing Crayons", and it is hard to explain why, but the performer will demonstrate why. He asks the spectator which color crayon he wants, the red or the yellow. The spectator picks the yellow.

The performer tells the spectator that all he has to do is to follow every move that the performer does. The performer holds the Red Crayon in his left hand and the Blue Tube in the right hand. The spectator does the same with his Yellow Crayon and tube. The performer shows the empty tube to the audience and then covers the crayon with the tube. The spectator does the same. The performer then places his right hand on the top of the tube and crayon, and the spectator does the same with his. The performer now turns the tube upside down and the spectator does the same. The performer now lifts his tube up and the Red Crayon is still right side up. The spectator lifts his tube, but his Yellow Crayon is upside down. They do it again and again, and every time the spectator's Yellow Crayon is upside down.

The performer then tells the spectator that maybe he should use the Red Crayon and the performer will use the Yellow Crayon. They switch crayons and do the routine again but the spectator's crayon is still upside down. You will get lots of laughs with this routine.