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Pete W. New user Coffeyville, KS 80 Posts |
I've been working in restaurants for over 2 years and would like to know how you handle one or more of these situations:
You're in the middle of your routine AND-- 1. all heads turn as the big tray of food arrives 2. a seemingly "long lost friend" walks over to open conversation with a guest. 3. cell phones
"Amatuers perform different tricks for the same people. Professionals perform the same tricks for different people."...Al Goshman
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bunkyhenry Special user NYC Metro 828 Posts |
Big food comes...leave right away, tell em you will be back after they eat
Friend comes over..leave right away, unless you can get the friend involved Cell phones..stay, you have only lost one person. |
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
I've encountered all those scenarios. Refer to bunkyhenry's post above. Nuff said.
:whatthe:
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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nique Special user Singapore 940 Posts |
Depends on the phase of the routine I'm in. If it's a modular routine and I can stop then, I just stop. Here's something else to try; though you have to be alert and seize the opportunity. When there's an interruption of some sort, load!
There've been 2 or 3 times when I've palmed a card and food arrives. I load the card under the spectator's plate. Or there was another time the lady beside me stood up a little to shake the hands of a friend who came up behind her. I top change for a dummy card and drop the real selection onto her seat. Time misdirection with the dummy card... and you can imagine when she finds her signed card under her. So... I guess depending on how you look at it, interruptions can be a good thing at times perhaps?
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Paolo Venturini Veteran user Lucca (I.) - New York City 385 Posts |
I second bunkyhenry, but usually avoid perform between courses, asking to the waiter what table is ready; in between courses I present myself as a little entertainment waiting for the food, but when the food arrive promise them that you'll be back with your "Grand Finale".
When a friend arrive I try to involve him/her and letting them to seat on the table with their friends (doing this cut all greetings). When the cellphone ring I react like I was waiting for that and I instruct the person that we could involve with an effect the person on the other line (could be the I.D. or something else of mentalism, like numbers...). Nique, nice ideas... Paolo Venturini |
magicbob74358 New user 49 Posts |
Well I try to avoid food interupting, when I perform at a restaurant, the waiter or waitress will come over (staying out of the way) and set down a small stack of plates or napkins, which is my cue that the food will be comming over in roughly a minute, 2 minutes tops. Basically I'm usually able to wrap everything up just fine without everything feeling rushed. You could come back and finish up your set as others have suggested, but for me that kind of messes up the flow of the magic, and I've found its hard to get people back into that "same place" for a big finish.
Rarely do I have people come on over, usually when performing most people realize that something is going on at the table and wont want to interupt. But when a friend does come over, I'll usually introduce myself and pretty much have to play it by ear from there. They could be involved with the magic, or maybe they'll leave, or many possiblities, its hard to give an exact answer. When a cell phone rings, for me, that's a great moment in the night (usually). Once it rings, I pause, stop everything, and look over at the person with the phone, almost always gets a big laugh. Generally speaking, there are 2 types of calls (assuming they answer), call number 1 is when that person is going to take the call, which usually means its somewhat important, and I ignore them and go on with the set. If they finish the call before I finish my performance, once again, I pause, look over at the person, and say something along the lines of "welcome back", or "glad you could join us". I never deliever the lines with a great deal of sarcasm but always get a laugh. The second type of phone call that happens is when the person answers the call but explains that they cannot talk. This is usually when I ask for the phone, if they hand it to me, I like to make a few jokes to the person over the phone about "it being rude to interupt the show" and "I don't call you at work" or something along that line, but it being obvious that I'm just joking. I keep an invisible deck with me at all times as a back up, if I screw up a trick, out comes the invisible deck, other then using it as an out, I don't use it. However when a phone call comes in, I use it then too. I have the person on the phone name the card, while the person on the phone rarely believes that I really have a deck with only one card reversed, everyone at the table will be pretty impressed. Just my 2 cents, on what I do, any questions, feel free to ask. |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
1) perform "after" dinner. this is an easy one.
2) if the friend interupts finish the routine and get out. they are more important than your version of "matrix" anyhow. 3) make it a joke, get the person on the phone involved, but stay. these last 2 things happen a lot. It is NOT that big a deal, just get on with it.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
Yes but if you are hired for 2 hours and eating takes up much of that, what does a performer do? I've been working this environment for a while now. People go up to BBQ line to get their food and return. I also have to share some time with a performer who takes the stage after they eat. So as you can see, my time is limited.
What I have been doing is seeing which table has one or more people who finish eating earlier then the rest. Or I do some metal bending (more visual). I hate to waste valuable time.
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RicHeka Inner circle 3999 Posts |
Hi Candini:I like the most recent Avatar!Very cool!
What you are describing is of course not a typical restaurant gig.To me a typical restaurant gig is where the guests come in,are seated at a table,order food,are served,eat and leave. That leaves several opportunities for performing:After ordering;After appetizer before dinner;After dinner before dessert;During dessert. At your venue,you really have to be extra creative:As you mentioned visual effects(Great).May I add:Routines such as a one coin routine or a rope routine that can be viewed by several tables at once if you are able to step back a bit(Sort of pseudo stand-up). As far as sharing time with another performer on stage?I reserve comment since I have not had that situation at any of my restaurants.I will get back if I think of anything,however,I am sure you will get some useful feedback from others.Best. Rich |
chichi711 Inner circle 5810 Posts |
Danny suggested getting the person on the phone involved. A perfect example of this is what Osterlind does in Mind Mysteries. He writes down a number on a pad of paper. Then asks the person on the phone to say a number. Sure enough the number he wrote down matches. It goes over huge. I get so excited when I hear a phone ring. I know it is now a great opportunity.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Candini, find another place to perform.
it is the wrong envrionment, it will not serve you well in the long run.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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