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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Tip lines are absolutely NOT necessary. Not even if you work primarily for tips. In many cases it will drive your tips down.
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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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 17, 2014, Dannydoyle wrote: I agree. That being said... To the OP... OK, if you agree with what I am about to tell you, put on your flak jacket. The fire may start raining down. While some will not condone this approach, I will say that I have used it in the past and it works, as long as you don't abuse it. Get caught once, and you'll look like the biggest idiot on the planet. This was advice that came from my mentor, having heard Tony Kardyro (Senor Torino) mention it. True or not, that's my story... This is designed to kick start the process of getting tips if they are slow in coming. But, the primary rule should still be, "Don't suck, and the money will find you." Partner with a waiter. A smart one will realize that you are an asset to their own job, that your presence actually helps them make more money. Don't bother with anyone who considers you competition. The waiter should know your set well, and know when you are about to begin your last trick. At this point, they come to you, in what appears to be a very impromptu moment, they hand you some money, and say something to the effect of, "This is from the Johnsons at table 8. They said thank you." What happens here is multi-leveled. First, it tells the guy at the table most likely to tip, that you do take tips. (You already said that the customers were already inclined to tipping, so it's not a tough nut to crack.) Second, as long as the bill's denomination is visible, it gives the same guy a dollar amount suggestion. (Keep this reasonable... somewhere near the upper end of average is OK.) Finally, by timing it before you finish your set, it gives the guy a chance to slyly get to his cash without subjecting everyone to that awkward pause, if he starts digging when you should be leaving the table. If at all possible, don't directly involve this person in the last routine or you'll rob him of the chance to do what you hope he will. Not all will take the subtle hint, but enough will that you will soon be making more money with less effort trying to do that. This leaves you more time to concentrate on entertaining the table... your primary focus. Best of all, there are NO tip lines at all, and the guy comes out looking like it was HIS idea all along. The bottom line on this whole concept is that once people see you getting tipped, the ball continues to roll... as long as you deserve the tip, of course! We can all assume that if the performance sucks, the tipper would not be nearly as happy with coughing up a few bucks. DON'T over use this! Anyone who sees it happen more than once is going to get wise very quickly. Is this sneaky? Yes. Is the guy basically being hustled? Yeah, pretty much. But, the choice is still his, and his dignity is left intact. In fact, he usually looks like a hero. Why did I do this when I did? Because I think tip lines are lame. At least they were for me in the environment I worked. I think buttons, tip jars, and pinning money to your pocket are worse ideas. The entire idea was designed to "educate" the customer in as kind a manner as possible. It is also nice when you accept the tip graciously, if not even with a bit of delighted surprise on your face. Don't be obvious. Before I conclude, don't forget to reward the waiter that helps you. For what it is worth, I've never had a waiter accept the tip split, but I'm sure all appreciated the gesture. They were usually happy to help and knew that I took good care of their customers, which usually generated better tips for them, too. Win, win, win.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Servers have used this method for a LOOOOOONG time and it can indeed work. I don't think it is necessary though is more the point.
I have actually used this idea. It does work, but my contention Michael is simple. IF they were going to tip you anyhow, well this would not be necessary. If they were not going to tip you it is doubtful that ANY method would really work. See the problem I have is that often people see through the lines and ruses and are actually insulted and then DON'T TIP because they feel manipulated. The method has been there for years yes and it can work.
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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General_Magician Special user United States 707 Posts |
I don't ever solicit for tips and generally I will sometimes let people know that I don't work for tips that way they will want to see the magic (restaurant pays me). Occasionally, I will have somebody tip me anyway because they enjoyed the magic. It's good enough for me. One thing I have ran across working restaurants is that some people think they have to tip you if show them magic and I get paid by the restaurant, so it's not necessary at all they tip me. Once they know this then they want to see the magic and be entertained.
"Never fear shadows. They simply mean there is a light shining somewhere nearby." -unknown
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Hi Danny,
I do agree with you. My primary rule is as stated in my post above. I have though, encountered situations where people honestly did not know if it was OK to tip. I had more than a handful over the years outright ask me. The thing is this... if you are cold calling every table, you may have a battle on your hands if people are unaware of if and how gratuities are given and/or accepted. A little bump in the right direction clears all that up. The customer is never pressured, and still quite free to make whatever decision he wants. In most situations, once a room has been primed, many if not all of the people in the room begin to understand the format. In places where I did this (and it wasn't many) the fact that I was there was no secret. The success of such a ploy also relies heavily on the magician's ability to "read" a table. In many cases, the hustle is not to get the couple of bucks from that one guy, but to format the room. Other people see this from a distance and mentally file the information. A good magician will then get very clear signals from the other tables as to whether they want to participate. Of course some don't want to be obligated to tip, but it is still possible to be very friendly with those people and soften any cold shoulder that might be there. But the plain fact is, a lot of people who are out for a good time, upon seeing someone else in the room having what they perceive as a GREAT time, are usually wanting to find out why, and are often very open and inviting to the magician's approach. There is an art to making the last second decision as you approach the table, whether you stop or pass by as if that was your intention all along. Eye contact usually gives you all the info you'd need. But, you know that! If the magician fails with the lines and ruses, then it is 100% his fault. It is a fine art and that's why it works for some people, but never will for others.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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Hansel Inner circle Puerto Rico 2492 Posts |
Bill Switch is always a good tip getter.
Bill Transpo too. I never say anything about tips, a friend of mine has A card in his Mullica wallet that Says "Thanks for The tip". There's an idea of doing a torn and restored Bill with a line like "That guy accidentally torn my tip" Showing the bill in two pieces and putting it back Together. For me there's no better way to get a tip than Performing good Magic and beeing a Good sport! Good Luck !
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