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magicvic New user 1 Post |
Hi Cody,
Knowing that you have done restaurant work in the past how have you approach the idea and cost. I have performed in restaurant back in 98,99 and wanted to get some ideas. I'm planning on working in that venue again. Any ideas would be greatly appeciated. Thanks in advance |
Cody S. Fisher V.I.P. Austin, Texas 1194 Posts |
Hey Magicvic,
If you can get your hands on a set of lecture notes by Carl Andrews entitled, "Making A Living In Magic Performing At Restaurants And Hotels" I would highly recommend it! The notes are pretty complete and outline topics such as: 1) The restaurant biz 2) How to get the gig 3) A sample proposal letter 4) How to approach a table 5) What material to use I remember these notes being very helpful...and Carl is certainly a working professional with a wealth of knowledge. When it comes to cost...that will certainly vary from city to city and also vary according to the type of venue you are working. I have seen strolling magician’s make anywhere from $25 and hour up to $150 and hour. When I first got my fist real gig…I was in college. It was at a Mexican fool place. I was making a $150 a night (plus tips). Not BIG money…but I was in college and still “new” to the biz. I had three other restaurants with similar deals…one even gave me a free meal at the end of my shift! Several years later I became the house magician for Dave & Busters here in Austin…the gig was for Friday’s and Saturday’s and it was $250 a night (plus tips). So…just that one venue was 27K per year. I did this…and a few others for the next 5 years. The question everyone wants to know is…HOW do you get it? I have done everything from post card mailings to cold calling to simply showing up and asking to speak with the manager. I have had success with each approach and can’t say that I honestly prefer one over the other. No matter what your approach is you must understand that “getting the gig” has very little to do with your magic skills and everything to do with your people skills. No restaurant really “needs” a magician. How many times have you ever heard of a restaurant going out of business because the magician quit? Your primary goal is to convince the manager (or owner) that your service will somehow add value to their establishment. So just how are you adding value to the restaurant? Well you are providing the restaurant with unique entertainment that their competition does not have. Since your services are so unique the customers will talk about it and the word-of-mouth testimonials will increase the restaurants business. You are making the wait staffs job easier by occasionally providing a diversion if the meal is late. You will also be increasing the restaurants bottom line as people that are enjoying themselves tend to spend more money…not to mention tend to tip the wait staff better. Concentrate your postcard, phone call, or person to person conversation with those types of selling points. The manager doesn’t care about your TAOM close up win…your latest DVD…or that you have a new trick on the market…they care about their bottom line! Also be prepared to fully explain what strolling or close up magic is…as most managers will not have a clue what you intend to do. It is fairly common for them to request that you come in one night and give them a sample of what you do. If you can avoid it…NEVER audition just for the manger…it is imperative that they see you “in action”. I hope that helps… Cody S. Fisher
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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The April 2007 entrée: Cody S. Fisher » » How to approch restaurant management for gigs » » TOPIC IS LOCKED (0 Likes) |
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