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benlewis2004 Regular user 150 Posts |
Ok, this has only ever happened once, but I have wondered what I should have done in the situation.
I understand we are hired to entertain and make sure the audience enjoys themselves, not to jus "perform". So I have performed at all the tables at a barmitzvah, and I finally come to the top table, full of 13 year olds. So I start on the girls, and at the end, one of them asks if I will dance with her?!?! (Im 16) I had no idea what to say (is that part of the entertainment???) Id be interested in your views. |
Mediocre the Great Inner circle Rich Hurley 1062 Posts |
I think if you're hired as a magician you should just do magic. You're not there to eat the food, drink the punch or dance with the girls. You should say you're very flattered but politely decline.
But, on the other hand, rules are made to be broken... was she cute?
Mediocrity is greatly under rated!
-------------------------------------------- Rich Hurley aka Mediocre The Great! www.RichHurleyMagic.com |
Allan Elite user 405 Posts |
Think of it this way, you are there as hired (but talented) help. You are not a guest.
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Jamie D. Grant V.I.P. as seen in Ripley's Believe It or Not! Twice! 2413 Posts |
How about:
"I'm afraid I'm not allowed to dance with pretty girls while I'm working. Would you like to pick a card instead?"
TRICK OF THE YEAR: Industrial Revelation, BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Approach, The AIP Bottle, and my new book Scenic 52, can all be found over here: SendWonder.com
Kindness takes practice. My TEDx talk |
nucinud Inner circle New York, New York 1298 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-03-05 21:32, Mediocre the Great wrote: While working, you are there to perform. After the gig, you can dance.
"We are what we pretend to be" Kurt Vonnegut, jr.
Now U C It Now U Don't Harry Mandel www.mandelmagic.com |
Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
Only act as a guest if you are invited to do so by the people who hired you. This holds true even after your performance has ended. After all, you were invited there for a specific purpose. Once that purpose has ended, so has your invitation. Anyways, that's just my two bits.
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
Mesquita Special user 917 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-03-05 22:19, Jamie D. Grant wrote: Jamie, how about "I'm afraid I'm not allowed to dance with pretty girls while I'm working. Would you like to pick a BUSINESS card instead? "
"Siempre somos tres me acompaña la luna y me sigue mi sombra" René Lavand
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Danny Hustle Inner circle Boston, MA USA 2393 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-03-05 20:45, benlewis2004 wrote: Hi Ben, This is the real issue I think. You have to have something to say, always. Billy McComb summed it up quite well on the professional touch, "If a cat walks out on stage and has kittens you need to have a line for it." In this situation you needed something that would allow you to beg off while being charming and hopefully witty or funny as well. Non offensive to the girl in question as well. Most importantly something that would suit your character as well. Lets take it out of the context of being asked to dance. If you can find a line that will allow you to beg off of any offer, "Would you like a slice of pizza, dance with my sister, drive my Porsche, be the water guy at next weeks wet T-shirt night?" etc... What would you say? Now come up with three lines that allow you to say no thanks while remaining gracious and magnanimous to the person making the offer. then you will always have them in the holster. The next time the situation comes up one of those three lines will be right there and bam! You will diffuse the situation, get a laugh, and been seen as professional. There is nothing worse than standing there with that blank deer in the headlights look on your face and the only thing that comes out of your mouth is, "Ahhh...er...welll." and perhaps a little drool. We have ALL been there but some will lie about it. I know I've spent a lot of time just thinking ow what to say in certain situations and still find myself having to scramble for an answer at times. But, having a few cover all lines for the situations you are most likely to run into helps a lot. Best, Dan- "MT is one of the reasons we started this board! I’m so sick of posts being deleted without any reason given, and by unknown people at that." - Steve Brooks Sep 7, 2001 8:38pm ©1999-2014 Daniel Denney all rights reserved. |
Larry Davidson Inner circle Boynton Beach, FL 5270 Posts |
I agree with Dan. The best ad-libs are those you've prepared.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Yea you need not only to politly decline, but to have a great line for it.One that seems off the cuff, but is rehersed.
I have one for about any situation. Especially when they happen regularly. Oh and to dance or not to dance, depends on what the terms of your employment are. I would not, but to each his own.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
There are people at ALL of the Bar, and Bat Mitzvah's I have ever worked at that are call "party enhancers" which is a twenty something male, or female hired to dance with all the frisky kids, and I must say it is truly a sight th behold to see ALL of the 13 year old boys at the party standing in line to get their chance to slow dance with, and squeeze a bimbo.
HAVE FUN Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
RicHeka Inner circle 3999 Posts |
"There are people at ALL of the Bar, and Bat Mitzvah's I have ever worked at that are call "party enhancers" which is a twenty something male, or female hired to dance with all the frisky kids, and I must say it is truly a sight th behold to see ALL of the 13 year old boys at the party standing in line to get their chance to slow dance with, and squeeze a bimbo.
HAVE FUN Al Angello" And then yell out:"I'M A MAN!!!" |
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