Got booked to do a few hours strolling at a bar that was having a casino night, as I arrived it wasn't that busy but still 70-80 people, started going round trying to get the odd effect in but was hard as most were more interested in being at the tables, mainly I was starting an effect before the blackjack dealer dealt, stopping on there turn to stick/twist then proceding, this worked well and was really the only way I could proceed as everyone was playing.
after a while some sat out so I could pick off the groups that were seated, when the casino finished they cleared there gear and off they went, but they left the tables and would pick them up the next day, now this worked in my favour as I took a few guys to the blackjack table and started doing a few table effects and soon people were coming to me rather than me moving, at 1 point I counted 29 people gathered round the table and floored the lot of them using search and destroy as my closer for the evening, all in all good evening and been re-booked to appear later in the summer

Congratulations! I'm still practicing, so not quite yet up to "performance" level (at least not to any level where I would be comfortable) but I'll hopefully have a good gig story up sooner or later.

Well done mate! Thanks for sharing

Here's what I do in this situation and I find it works very well.

When my client books me for a "casino night" I usually tell them up front that many of these folks are going to want to play the games which is why they come. Me strolling around to people trying to play and have fun is going to be a distraction.

What works best is if they will "DESIGNATE" a blackjack table just for you. This table will be specially marked so people will know it's NOT for gaming but to watch a magic show.

Furthermore, when I'm at this table, I do very little magic. I usually turn this opportunity into a "Crooked Gambling Demo" where I expose false dealing, Bottoms, 2nds, Center Deals, Mucking, Transfers, etc., etc., etc. I still do magic but it's more of a swindle theme.

This works very well and usually turns out where people are more into watching you perform then playing blackjack or hold em. The last time I did one of these was about 6 months ago. The casino night was about 3 hours long while people ate off a buffet. After about 45 mintues, there were only 2 tables that had people playing...everyone else was circled around me. Lot's of very board dealers that night. I felt bad about that but at the same time it gave me quite a rush of ego (like I need more ego...lol!).

Anyhow...this has worked for me in the past....just an FYI should you ever book another one of these.... = )

Christopher

Perfect point Chris. I do this also. I have a "pseudeo" gambling demo consitisting of tricks by Harry Lorayne, Henry Christ, and Darwin Ortiz. They are just card tricks, but with the proper scripting they help me pass as an expert cheating gambler. I also do 3 card monte and endless chain. Toward the end of the night, I often use Vernon's poker demo and they are all just fried.

YES! This is all good. I do the same. Dovetailed along with exposing the cheating sleights, I will stick in there:

Scarne's Aces
3 Card Monte
Vernon's Poker Demo
Triumph with the 4 aces
Spectator Cuts to the Aces

It's just enough magic but with a feel more for Poker and Cheating...

Cheers for that chris, will have to look into that, makes perfect sense to do what you do rather than conventional magic.
thanks for all the posts guys

Good points from all, and I agree that there should be a designated area for the 'performer'... I just recently worked a "casino night" and have worked a number of them in the past and this always seems to get the best result. The one thing that I have found is that I focus on more of the "magic" than the gambling demos (at least in regards to cards). I don't want anyone to think that what I can do is what the dealers at the tables can do. It was brought to my attention very early on in my career by a saavy business owner who was hosting the "casino night". He enjoyed the gambling demos but didn't want anyone to think his dealers would be cheating. He said the "3 card monte" and "Fast 'N Loose" type routines are ok b/c it is in line with patrons gambling.

So now, I do the extreme magic routines. When you have a crowd at a table, you have the attention and the time for longer, story like routines with 3,4 even 5 phases. I don't say I never do the card demos BUT I try to limit that exposure.

Just my addition to some already great advice.

Cheers,

Justin

Good point Justin...I've never had that issue but I can see where it "may" pose a problem...better to ask the client I guess before hand.

The designated area is the way to go.

I've worked a casino night where the host actually brought me around to each table. The dealers were glad to take a 10 minute break and some were really into the magic.

Did you whip out the old shell and pea?

WOW!!! Is that what they call it now? Back in the day it was called "taking a leak!"

classic stuff haha

I didn't take my scoundrels shells but I'm doing a bridal fair and I may take them along to draw and hold a small crowd

Like Lyle I have done the same thing with the advantage that I also supplied the tables, and for any of you interested here is a tip. I find that a standup blackjack table works much better than the sitdown version. Of course, if I was Slydini I might think differently.

Gil