Dealing with Children while performing.
You might consider being selective about the venue. For example, this one which happened recently. You'll have an audience and a demographic more 'in tune' with your personal expression. Possibly also, fewer young ones though if they're there, their parents can grok your expression and counted not to be inherently hostile to it.......
http://autoptic.org/
But as always, remember the childeren......'>.......:
http://autoptic.org/
But as always, remember the childeren......'>.......:
[/size]Try knowing a few heteronorms. They'll broaden your horizons without a lot of drama. It's great, try it....'>......
Not all kids react well to Kigs, On sunday on little one ran away screaming to her dad.... I felt awful, we were shooting by a river and we hadnt noticed the little one. She was busy feeding the ducks/swans and didnt see us from a distance.I think she turned round and was surprised to see us. I then waved to her and it was too much for her. She ran back to her mum and dad.
I try and make sure i have a prop so that I can keep my hands in shot at all times, I also wont touch a child, you can strike a pose , playing peek a boo etc so that the photo still looks natural, but dont take the chance that anything you do can be misinterpreted
Dont initiate contact with the children, let the parents do that, it will help reassure them and if there are kids in your photos dont show their faces.It may be cute but respect their privacy If the parents want to take photos I get my handler to put down his camera so the parents arent worried about images of their children.
It is a sad reflection on our society that we have to be so careful.
I try and make sure i have a prop so that I can keep my hands in shot at all times, I also wont touch a child, you can strike a pose , playing peek a boo etc so that the photo still looks natural, but dont take the chance that anything you do can be misinterpreted
Dont initiate contact with the children, let the parents do that, it will help reassure them and if there are kids in your photos dont show their faces.It may be cute but respect their privacy If the parents want to take photos I get my handler to put down his camera so the parents arent worried about images of their children.
It is a sad reflection on our society that we have to be so careful.
I never met a chocolate cake i didn't like.
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Claire Rieva
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This photo was taken by Yuna at Matsuricon...now the child at FIRST looks a bit scared but can assure you...just before i got up to walk away she gave me a hug and a weak smile as she walked back to her mother who was smiling happily seeing her daughter having fun meeting a real kigurumi. :> She wasn't the only one with such reactions...but it got better and better as the weekend rolled on the children were smiling brightly. This is one of the special feelings i enjoy being a kig is seeing the happiness from children even if they are a bit scared at the beginning but loosen up after a short spell.
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"Think, you humans who are split into two worlds, unless you want the gulf between humans to expand into oblivion, you must think!"
This thread has been quite the learning tool. Such varied responses. But if I might take a moment, I'd like to recap what's been said, in the form of several "suggestions".
We all have the child's well being at heart, it gives us pride to make a little child smile, but sometimes situations arise. We are not child molesters, but how does a parent know?
When approached by a child.
- Look around and identify the parental figure. Parents will rightly freak out if their child wanders away unknown to them. Especially if they find the child with a stranger, or a stranger mascot.
- Establish communication with the parent. Determine by gesture if they are cool with you interacting with their child. Conversely the Handler could ask that question. Be prepared to back off if they begin to act hostile.
- Get down to the child's level if possible.
- Let the child come to you. Never approach the child
- Mirroring posture, high fives, down lows, blowing kisses, making heart hands, waving, all seem to be appropriate gestures.
- Ask if it's OK before hugging or hugging a child back. Parents can become concerned if it seems to them as if you are restraining their child.
- If a child hands you a toy or stuffed animal, play with it a bit, entertain the child, then hand it back.
When dealing with a shy child.
- Never push the issue of interacting with a child who does not want to be with you, even if the parent "must" have the shot.
- Let child know it's OK to be shy. Weepy eye, Peekaboo. Act timid, sad, or scared of them.
- Never accept a crying or struggling baby.
- If in a group of performers. Single out one to interact with the child. Have the others draw back. One on one is not as intimidating as facing a crowd.
- Little Boys will shy away from "Living" dolls. Little girls won't. But little boys are all over "Male" characters no matter who's performing them.
Posing with a child for pictures
- use sideways pose if child won't turn around to face camera.
- Try to carry a prop so your hands are occupied in a picture.
- Strike a pose which is appropriate for your character.
- Try not to touch the child without asking parental permission.
- Have handler put down his camera and offer to take the picture. This way parent can get into the shot and hold kid.
- Hold strollers or baby carriages with infants in them, only with parental consent.
Catching a child unawares.
- Handlers should look out for and warn you of, a child who does not notice you. You can't see clearly.
- if you are at a distance, make a noise. Clap hands, or something to get the child's attention.
- Have handler talk.
- Look around for Parental unit. Get their attention.
- Once child recognizes you are there, they will choose how to react.
- Don't approach the child, even if that's the direction you were headed. Stop. Wait for them to move.
I'm sure that there are more situations that you have faced, that will yield more pearls of wisdom. Keep Posting!
Miss Kiki
We all have the child's well being at heart, it gives us pride to make a little child smile, but sometimes situations arise. We are not child molesters, but how does a parent know?
When approached by a child.
- Look around and identify the parental figure. Parents will rightly freak out if their child wanders away unknown to them. Especially if they find the child with a stranger, or a stranger mascot.
- Establish communication with the parent. Determine by gesture if they are cool with you interacting with their child. Conversely the Handler could ask that question. Be prepared to back off if they begin to act hostile.
- Get down to the child's level if possible.
- Let the child come to you. Never approach the child
- Mirroring posture, high fives, down lows, blowing kisses, making heart hands, waving, all seem to be appropriate gestures.
- Ask if it's OK before hugging or hugging a child back. Parents can become concerned if it seems to them as if you are restraining their child.
- If a child hands you a toy or stuffed animal, play with it a bit, entertain the child, then hand it back.
When dealing with a shy child.
- Never push the issue of interacting with a child who does not want to be with you, even if the parent "must" have the shot.
- Let child know it's OK to be shy. Weepy eye, Peekaboo. Act timid, sad, or scared of them.
- Never accept a crying or struggling baby.
- If in a group of performers. Single out one to interact with the child. Have the others draw back. One on one is not as intimidating as facing a crowd.
- Little Boys will shy away from "Living" dolls. Little girls won't. But little boys are all over "Male" characters no matter who's performing them.
Posing with a child for pictures
- use sideways pose if child won't turn around to face camera.
- Try to carry a prop so your hands are occupied in a picture.
- Strike a pose which is appropriate for your character.
- Try not to touch the child without asking parental permission.
- Have handler put down his camera and offer to take the picture. This way parent can get into the shot and hold kid.
- Hold strollers or baby carriages with infants in them, only with parental consent.
Catching a child unawares.
- Handlers should look out for and warn you of, a child who does not notice you. You can't see clearly.
- if you are at a distance, make a noise. Clap hands, or something to get the child's attention.
- Have handler talk.
- Look around for Parental unit. Get their attention.
- Once child recognizes you are there, they will choose how to react.
- Don't approach the child, even if that's the direction you were headed. Stop. Wait for them to move.
I'm sure that there are more situations that you have faced, that will yield more pearls of wisdom. Keep Posting!
Miss Kiki
In the case of a lost child, that would be the point where your Handler takes over, as he can actually talk with the child. You as the performer would hold back while he took the child to convention or event staff. They should have their own "Lost Child" procedures, or at least some way of communicating among themselves if not the attendees at large.
The both of you might hang around to see the child re-united with parents if you wanted.
Miss Kiki
The both of you might hang around to see the child re-united with parents if you wanted.
Miss Kiki
