One question that pops up from time to time is how to let the audience know that the show is over and it's time to to give that applause for your hard work. You may have just performed your heart out, everything went over great, but they seem to be sitting on their hands. They don't realize the show is finished. Here are some tips on how to get that final applause.
One element in ending your show is the material you use. Your act should finish on a high note. Some vents do a song, while others may do something dramatic. It could be a joke or story that takes a bit longer than the others you've used. Your style will dictate what works best for you. The idea is to bring things to a close that tells the audience this is the end, the best part of the show that can't be topped. As the laughs or applause start to fade, tell them you've had a great time being there, they've been a lot of fun, and thank them. This makes it pretty clear the show is over and they should start banging their hands together.
You can also let them know in advance that the show is winding down. If you are using several figures, before bringing out the last one you can say, "there's one more friend I'd like for you to meet". You're then telling them this is the last bit in the show. Another way of doing this is during the routine. You could tell the figure, "It's almost time for us to go, but there's one more thing I'd like to ask you". This lets the audience know you are reaching the end and they should be ready to applaud soon. Some vents put the figure into a case and then thank the audience, which makes it very clear you're done.
Performing for kids requires some techniques that are not too subtle. Many children have not seen a lot of live shows, so they don't know how to correctly respond at the end. If you are performing at a church or school, the kids may not know if it is appropriate to applaud. It's not all that unusual to see children just get up and leave at the end of a show instead of clapping. Sometimes you have to be quite blunt to elicit applause. Consider it educating them in audience behavior. A way to do this is to say something like: "That ends our show. I hope you had a good time, and if so, you can show it by clapping". If that doesn't get them going, nothing will. One interesting note to keep in mind when performing for very young kids is that they often do not know what the word "applause" means. If you ask for applause, they may just sit there looking at you because they don't know what to do. That's why I say "clapping" instead, as they will know what that means.
If you're having problems with getting that final applause, try some of these techniques. The audience needs to show appreciation for the show, and you need to hear it. We just have to let them know when it's time.