Hello Guys,
I currently work in a 4 Star Hotel as a Porter. My manager heard I was a magician and spread the word through out the hotel. Today in work I had about 7 different managers (bar, lobby, banqueting, restaurant, kids camp, ect.) come up to me and ask me to do something. Obviously because I didn't have anything with me I couldn't do anything. Later the bar manager gave me a deck of cards and I did a few bits and piece's for him, he was very impressed.

Now to make a long story short, the managers have asked me to do a little something for them in about 2 weeks. Not a show, just close-up! What I have in mind are:
- Cups and Balls
- Card Tricks
- Sponge Balls or Rabbits
- Pothole

This will make me or break me, so I need suggestions. Please!!! I will either be given a job in the kids camp doing shows twice a week or in the restaurant.

Then in about a month I will have a second interview, so if you could suggest any tricks for this (and restaurant of course) that would be great!

Do you recommend any good tricks, books, card tricks, coin tricks, DVD's, ect? I appreciate any advice.

Thanks,
Mike

Sounds fantastic. Lot's of luck. I suggest that you do not learn new tricks for the tryout. Do the things you know best and get the best reactions with. The magic you know will take you to the next level.

Start looking at new material for later on when you already have the job.

My best wishes for success.

Allan

Thank you!
Yes, I will do the things I know and get the best reactions with. Some of which I listed above.

''Start looking at new material for later on when you already have the job.''

That is what I need a few suggestions on. And any bit of advice - Do's and don'ts.

Mike~

Duh! Search the site!!!!

Of course magicduro he can search the site... but there are plenty out there some are good, some are bad, and some are best... what are we here for "magicians helping magicians"

well michelrice try this one... http://www.oldeworldmagick.com/
look for the walk around wizard... goodluck

Mike,

I second that you shouldn't learn new trick at the moment. Build a rountine with what you can already manage well.

Be sure doing as many pilot performance as you can before you execute your rountine in the restaurant and interview. Make a note after each pilot performance, polish your rountine and you'll be more confident when you "play for real".

Good luck.

For do's & don'ts, pick up a copy of The manual of restaurant magic & Standing up surrounded by Kirk Charles. It is possible that both are now in one book but you must check. The other title book I think worth looking out is The Restaurant workers handbook by Jim Pace. These three titles will give you all you need to know about working in restaurants. The rest comes with experience.

Lots of luck.

Allan

For bar work...check out Doc Eason's DVDs. They're awesome, and the doesn't necessarily have to be used in a bar setting.

As Pete might say, Do what you know, and what you do well. I agree with him on that note, and in my opinion, if you can do a descent final load in a cups and balls routine, then you got them!

Whatever happens, Good Luck!

Do Jay sankey's classified right at the end of the interview, its not really something you can add to your show but it'll make an impression on the hotel managers...

For the Kids Camp show I suggest you get Dan Harlan's "Pack small Play big Kid's show" and Bill Abbott Performs Standup for kids ( His closeup Dvd is great also ) . Harlan's is a full 30 minute show that involves the audience and packs in to a briefcase. If you can develop a routine like Abbott's chico the mind reading monkey you will slay them . Check out your handy copy of Mark Wilson Complete course on magic and you will have material to last years..

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will look into some of the books mentioned, but I am curious as to see what you commonly perform just to get an idea of what might suit me. I understand one thing that might suit you may not suit me, but the only way to find out is experience.

So any suggestions on what tricks you commonly use are welcome!

Mike ~

I agree with those who suggest you not learn any new material until after you get the job.
Having said that, I often perform the card effect "Further Than That." It resets easily (or you can use it to open a series of card routines) and it blows laymen away!

Best of luck!

Get that Kirk Charles book on restaurant and walk-around magic. It's worth it's weight in gold!

Michael,
Having nothing with you is not a reason for not doing magic. I suggest you get Gregory Wilson's "Off the Cuff" and "On the Spot" videos. There are a lot of impromptu magic you can learn from these videos, so that next time somebody asks you to do a trick for them you won't have to decline and say that you don't have your stuff with you.