|
|
shobley New user Indianapolis 81 Posts |
This is a question for all the restaurant workers out there. It concerns a topic that I fear many would rather not be made public, but gather closer and I'll whisper it to you...
In in issue 4 of Jim Sisti's Magic Menu (April 1991) he lists what he believes are the ten commandments of Restaurant magic. Number three is "Thou shalt not let any of the management staff see you doing nothing." I've worked some family restaurants on a Sunday night and encountered some almost embarrassing periods of inactivity. So my question is this - what techniques do you employ to appear busy during those "slow" times in a restaurant? Steve H |
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Hi Steve,
I had one of those this past Sunday. I just spent more time talking with the patrons. ( not while eating of course ) Just asked them where they were from, if this was their first time to the restaurant etc. I just showed genuine interest in them. I also spent more time performing, not only before the food arrived but after the meal as well. Now I didn't force myself on them, but treated them as friends. I also would stroll around the restaurant. I just kept moving, and would go out of my way to hold the door open for people as they left, wishing them a good evening. I greeted the people as they came in, picked up the occasional napkin or fork laying on the floor. I never just stood still!! I want to say that I don't except tips as a general rule, but this night, which was the slowest I had experienced, people were forcing money in my pockets not taking no for an answer. ( I shared the tips with the wait staff) It is typically very busy, but that's what I did on this slow night. I had no complaints from the management. I guess that's a good thing. David Paul
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
|
Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
"Never do nothing" is a valid comment by Jim Sisti. (Or anyone else, for that matter! )
If the place has a bar, this is the time to work the bar; you can work that territory for as long as you like. If it doesn't, davidpaul$ gave excellent advice, above. Keep moving and keep interacting. |
shobley New user Indianapolis 81 Posts |
Thanks for the advice - this particular place had about 3 tables filled and 1 girl sitting at the bar. I'd already gone around to the tables once and the girl was very probably sick of the sight of me after the 6 th trick!
"Go on - pick another card... please...?" Steve |
Jim Davis Special user What is....? Utah 945 Posts |
Sometimes slow periods are just going to happen. Try to make yourself more valueable to the restaraunt. In addition to magic, I attempt to sing happy birthday, help folks celebrate special occasions, and anything else, except serve! I have helped in the kitchen, but I even limit that a lot!
Basically David Paul hit it on the head, be a good will ambasador, make people feel good about being there, and this makes the management feel good about you being there.
Diamond Jim Davis "The Cardslinger" ~~~ Magic from the '80's....................the 1880's!
<BR><BR> <BR><BR>Don't just be a magician, be a human interest! <BR><BR> <BR><BR>[url]www.periodplayers.com[/ur |
RandomEffects Veteran user Boston, MA 323 Posts |
On one or two occasions similar to ones listed above I would work with the bartenders/waiters/managers on staff to teach them one or two simple bar tricks. Mind you, this was done when the bar had one or two people in it, so I was not interfering with business.
The bonus was that the manager would always get involved and have fun when it was dead, and the staff/bartender would always do the simple trick during the week, giving me extra promotions during the week for people to come see me. This may not work with every manager but it does not hurt to give it a try. Mat |
the levitator Special user Spellbound Productions 546 Posts |
That's a very good point Mat! Another thing I do during slow times is to take one or two of my "trusted" servers and teach them a couple of routines that they would actually be helping me with to do the effect. They love getting involved with Card Through Window, and Card in Bottle, stuff like that. One slow night I even had a server help me with a full glass of wine production and I produced a bunch of bananas from a guest's sportcoat. And since it was so slow, no one even saw the handoff! if it get super slow, I always have a few of my platform routines with me, and I give the guests a "private command performance". This always makes them feel special, and it gives me a chance to work on some of my stage material. A win for everyone!
Good luck! Click here to view attached image. |
Bascomb Grecian Loyal user Redding, Ca. 202 Posts |
Great thread!
I have a "little area" that I claim ownership to in the restaurants. I call this my "reload" area. It is a small secure area around a corner somewhere in the establishment. I am often seen going to and from the "reload" area. So in the case of idle time, reload some tricks. Stack your next deck. If that fails, then by all means, go back and visit your best table. As a hired magician, I too hate the idle time. I feel like they might not need a magician around doing nothing. Sometimes, the traffic in a restaurant needs to be addressed with advertising etc. You simply cannot help if the flow is slow at that moment. Recognize the slow time for what it is, do not try to hid it though as if you are busy. This in itself is a deception the owner knows more about than you do. Just do your job and do it well. Then, before you know it, the slow times will not exist!
Welcome to The Magic Cafe'!
|
Jim Davis Special user What is....? Utah 945 Posts |
I forgot about the reset.. in fact, just a side note I always try to find little thing about the restaraunt that I can use to my advantage, such as matches.. mints.. or anything else that could be handed out as a keepsake that might remind the patron to return to the restaraunt. Down time are a good time to ask management about such items and if they mind if you pass them out for them.. for instance I asked once about matches and was handed a case of matchbooks.. now every birthday I remove a dollar and produce a matchbook that the patron can keep.. the owner told me afterward the he so happy to see those going out to the patrons, because he felt he had wasted money on them to begin with. And when I needed more to let him know and he would order more.. little things can make you look like the big hero..
Diamond Jim Davis "The Cardslinger" ~~~ Magic from the '80's....................the 1880's!
<BR><BR> <BR><BR>Don't just be a magician, be a human interest! <BR><BR> <BR><BR>[url]www.periodplayers.com[/ur |
Allan Elite user 405 Posts |
always keep in mind that as a magician, you are paid a larger hourly rate than anyone else in the restaurant. You are there to help bring in more guests. Never sit & do nothing. As said before, if it is slow, work the bar. If there is a private party going on, offer to visit for a short time. Go back to the tables that really enjoyed your act. Management knows that there will be busy & slow times. If you are always working, they are still gaining goodwill from your work. Point out to management that this gives you a chance to do special stronger routines that you don't have time for when they are busy.
I have been in one restaurant for 10 years. I have seen it all. |
Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
re;
"I attempt to sing happy birthday, help folks celebrate special occasions, and anything else, except serve! I have helped in the kitchen, but I even limit that a lot!" Jim, I wouldn't attempt to sing, they may never come back. I would certainly not be helping in the kitchen, you are a professional entertainer paid to entertain. And if they are that slow I would think they could cope in the kitchen. Plus you risk spills on your performing clothes. As Bascom says; Recognize the slow time for what it is, do not try to hide it though as if you are busy. Random, don't show the bar staff too many tricks or you might end up doing yourself out of a job! If you're good you'll be talked about anyway. Liked Levitators idea of perhaps using that time to arrange a few things with staff for the future. Paul. |
Cabrera Special user Seattle 513 Posts |
Get a vent dummy and interact with him until business picks up. If it's a slow night for the restaurant, the manager may wonder why you're not drawing people in. Most likely it's the food or service, but you'll be the frist to get the ax.
Hint: Look for jobs in highly successful and busy restaurants. Ever notice that the good places never are really slow?
"The quilt of life is woven with many different threads"
|
Tom Cutts Staff Northern CA 5925 Posts |
There is a misconception which squeaks into our thinking. I've caught myself doing it at a massive cocktail party... six hours to be exact.
We are not being paid to do tricks. We are being paid to add to an experience. At such a time as the tricks are no longer filling that need you either switch to something else to add to the experience or your client will switch YOU. In slow times another trick may not be the answer. Time spent being the ambassador to the restaurant, party, what ever could just be mingling with guests to make sure they are enjoying themselves. Bottom line is, we are being paid to create return customers. Whatever you can do (within reason) to accomplish that is what you need to be doing. Tom |
Eldon Inner circle Virden, IL 1137 Posts |
When I leave a table I always tell them I might be back. If it's a slow night and I've made the rounds I'll go back to the tables that seemed to interact and have the most fun. Usually these are the people that would like you to stay at their table. So I oblige them.
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Table hoppers & party strollers » » "Thou shalt no be seen to be doing nothing..." (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |