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Matt Graves Special user Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 504 Posts |
Hi, Mr. Pace. Good to meet you. Just a few weeks ago I made a post on this board asking how to get started doing closeup magic for a living, in restaurants especially, since that seems to be how most magicians get started. Somebody recommended one of your books to me, and then I saw that you were going to be our guest of honor this month. So that was pretty cool.
So I thought I would go straight to the source and ask you . . . how can I get started? I have a few routines worked up; I've got about 20 tricks I can do really really well. It's old classic stuff like Cups and Balls, Four Aces, Silver/Copper . . . I've been working on them for a long time. I've even shown a few of them at school (I just graduated) and for some of my Dad's church-friends, and it got a really strong reaction. I just have very vague ideas of how to turn magic into a job instead of just a hobby. And I'd appreciate any help you can offer. |
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Jim Pace V.I.P. Portland Oregon 556 Posts |
Serling,
Is that your name? If it is, nice to meet you also. Doing magic at a restaurant will be one of the best things that you will do for honing your skills as a magician. Getting started is always a long walk. I would start by visiting some of the places that I would want to work. Buy a meal and see how the place runs. Once you have done this I would write the general manager and tell him/her about your experience. Compliment them on the food and service, and then suggest your presence as a magician. Try to give them a picture of what the patrons would see while you were there. Follow up about a week later with a phone call. This should help you get started. It sounds like you have learned enough magic to go after work. Your work at the restaurant will help you routine these tricks. Good luck Serling, Jim
"The drum that beats the loudest is always the most hollow."
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youngdanf New user 45 Posts |
I was thinking about putting together a video resume. I was thinking it might be original and catch their attention and hopfully impress them.
Is this a good idea, or would I be better off doing it a more traditional way? Thanks for your time. Dan |
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Jim Pace V.I.P. Portland Oregon 556 Posts |
I think video would be a great idea. I would still procede that with the other ideas above.
"The drum that beats the loudest is always the most hollow."
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Matt Graves Special user Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 504 Posts |
I've been using this screen name so long that I forget to tell people. My real name's Matt Graves . . . but I like "serling" for the internet because that was the guy's name on the old Twilight Zone show - my favorite show . . . and the 307 comes from a Twilight Zone episode too . . .
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flourish dude Inner circle from ? But I know where I am going! 1195 Posts |
Jim,
Do you prefer writing first to calling or personally talking to the manager when you are at the restaurant? I have heard to either go in personally and talk or call them on the phone. I could see where writing first might set the idea in place before you call. Is this a hand written letter so it does not look like junk mail? What is your % of return using this method?
Nothing of the same will bring any change, take action today!
Just taking a step, is a step in the right direction because when you stop working, your dream dies. www.magicalmemories.us |
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Jim Pace V.I.P. Portland Oregon 556 Posts |
Rod Serling was my favorite T.V. personality. I watched every Wednesday eve. Matt which episode was 307?
Flourish Dude: I prefer typing then signing with my actual signature. If you were a manager what would you like to read? The percentages of this method are low, but there is not a better way without being pushy. I have a friend Steve Dobson who would go into a club and simply entertain while he would eat or drink. This is also a good idea. Especially if you knew that a manager would be in. It's all hit and miss. With every NO you are closer to a YES. Good question, Jim Pace
"The drum that beats the loudest is always the most hollow."
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Matt Graves Special user Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 504 Posts |
Wow, cool! I'm always glad to hear when someone besides me actually likes that old show . . .
The "307" is from the episode where a bunch of doctors are trying to fix a woman's face, and the woman's face is covered in bandages. They keep talking about how deformed she is . . . I don't know if I should give away the ending here or not, but it's the episode everybody seems to remember the most. Anyway, that was her hospital room number - 307. They had two titles for that episode - first it was "Private World Of Darkness", then they changed it to "Eye of the Beholder". |
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Jim Pace V.I.P. Portland Oregon 556 Posts |
Was that the one where they are aliens, or something of the sort and that she was actually beautiful?
"The drum that beats the loudest is always the most hollow."
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Kard16 Regular user 144 Posts |
If you get Bill Malone's new series, he has very clever ideas on how to get a job in any situation (and plus, a lot of the tricks you learn you may want to add to your routine).
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Matt Graves Special user Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 504 Posts |
Right on.
They had pig-noses and their faces were all twisted up. It really kind of spooked me the first time I saw it. My whole family besides me hates that episode; they say it's "too disturbing" . . . |
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JBmagic Regular user New Jersey 110 Posts |
May I jump in here and say that I loved that episode as well!
Also, one of my all time favs is the dollhouse in the heater duct!
Jay Buchanan
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George Olson New user Portland, OR 9 Posts |
Whenever you telephone a restaurant, NEVER CALL between 11:00AM and 2:00PM; 6:00AM and 9:00AM; or after 5;30PM! After a couple of years at this game, I've always found that between 10:00AM and 11:00AM is the best time.
Why? you ask: Management is bombarded by solicitations, all day long -- telephone service, insurance, janitorial, etc. -- they are trying to run a restuarant, not spend their money! After teaching and practicing sales and sales management for over 40 years, I can break down the process as follows: 1. Research. Learn all you can about the place, staff, management, style. 2. Check it out. How's the staff, the food, the ambiance, the location, the reputation? 3. Visit at least 3 times; different hours, days, et al. 4. Compose a letter using the "Weighing Close" of all of the advantages of mystical entertainment (See Jim's book) and request an appointment. 5. Closing line in the letter: "...I will call you on [date and time}, to set an appointment to expand on the advantages to Greasy Spoon Restuarant." 6. The CALL!!! If you get nothing out of this rant other than this point you will be ahead of the game. Remember, you are calling for an appointment, nothing more, nothing less. Most salespeople fail miserably on the phone because they confuse appointment getting with selling. Don't be drawn into a discussion of what you're selling, just refer to your letter, and go for the appointment. I could go on for hours on this subject alone. 6. The appointment. Here is where you sell! Understand, that you represent a cost item to them, not a revenue source. Look at the idea from their point of view, how can I increase profit, reduce expenses, create traffic.... 7. Failure!!! Understand, you will fail more then you succeed, keep trying. Read the book: "The sale begins when the customer says No!" by Frank Boetcher (sp) Really old, but really a good read. Oops, I really blew Mike Rogers' credo... over one sentence too long. |
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Jim Pace V.I.P. Portland Oregon 556 Posts |
Thanks George, if any one knows, George does. He works solid at his restaurant, Quakers.
Jim And how about the classic gremlin on the wing, with William Shatner?
"The drum that beats the loudest is always the most hollow."
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George Olson New user Portland, OR 9 Posts |
It's Quackers!
My all time favorite was when the main characters were in their home (Hello Robin Williams) and at the end they were in an Alien museum. George |
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Jim Pace V.I.P. Portland Oregon 556 Posts |
I could never spell. I read it again and all I could think was a picture of bunch of people in black eating...
Jim
"The drum that beats the loudest is always the most hollow."
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Dr. Jakks Special user 832 Posts |
I believe Georger is speaking of "People are Alike All Over", where the people land on Mars and are given an "Earth House". For the ending, the aliens have actually put them into a zoo. Very funny.
Jakks |
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Jim Pace V.I.P. Portland Oregon 556 Posts |
I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone. Go back and try to read this thread.
Does anyone remember the episode where a guy jumps into a swimming pool, and when he surfaces he is in another place? Jim
"The drum that beats the loudest is always the most hollow."
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Matt Graves Special user Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 504 Posts |
Oh yeah! That was the last episode, I think, called "The Bewitchin' Pool". It was about two kids whose parents were getting a divorce. They didn't want to stick around if their parents wouldn't stay together, so they used the swimming pool to teleport to "Aunt T"'s house . . . . an old lady who took care of kids whose parents didn't want them. Eventually they vanished from the real world and went to live with Aunt T forever . . .
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Jim Pace V.I.P. Portland Oregon 556 Posts |
Man, are you really Rod Serling?
"The drum that beats the loudest is always the most hollow."
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