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MAGICTOM Veteran user Dallas, Tx 354 Posts |
I have several of these steak house type restaurants in the area and was wondering if anyone has had any success in performing magic at them? Here is what I am thinking: By visiting often, I have noticed that the time the average customer sits waiting can vary from 15 minutes to 1 hour before the knife slinging funny Japanese cook comes to the table for some entertaining cooking. Cross that with the way the tables are already set up, and I see opportunity. You have a seating area up to 8 customers around a cooking surface that is usually turned off until about 5 minutes before the cooking begins, thus a perfect place to entertain some guests, throw a close up pad down and let the time fly...
Any comments? Any thoughts on performing magic on a food preperation surface? Just curious. Thanks for the responses in advance. Tom
No Man is his craft's master the first day!
J.B. Bobo |
Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Just be careful the table-grill isn't on and you fricassee your closeup mat!
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MacGyver Inner circle St. Louis, MO 1419 Posts |
Hmm... you might want to get a plastic bottom or some sort of chopping board to put your close-up mat on... If a magician walked up and layed a rubber bottom mat that probably had a REALLY dirty bottom on the surface that my food was going to be prepared on, I might get a little mad.
However, I do really like the idea. The set-up is perfect and you'll always know which tables still need to see you. Plus the scenery gives a bunch of opportunities for other types of magic... Rice Bowl, some silk magic perhaps; you can work it in with the theme of the resturant. You already have some powerful points to throw at the owner: the weight time, and also that everyone goes to those places to HAVE A GOOD TIME, and adding another entertainer to their payroll will only help to improve the entertainment. Most people wouldn't go to a restaurant like that if they were depressed, or just going over a divorce, etc. etc. etc. like some other places, most people imho go to those places to be entertained by the cook and the atmosphere. Perfect place for a magician! |
Thoughtreader Inner circle Calgary, Alberta, Canada 1565 Posts |
I was the resident magician for a Japanese restaurant as you described for quite a few years. Magic always went well as a closer for the dinner and has proved quite popular over the years. I used to have a solid wood board that was the same size as my pad that went on top of the grill to prvent burning, which is very possible when you are working atop a hot grill. You should also be aware that many times you have people on ALL angles and as such you need to ensure that everything you do is angleproof from all angles and surounded.
PSIncerely Yours, Paul Alberstat |
Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
Hajime mashiite, Lee Darrow desu...
Several effects come to mind for a gig like this - the chop stick routine by Jay Sankey in 100% Sankey (and his "Very Best Of" volume 2 video), the routine called Owan-to-Tama from the Magic of Shigeo Futagawa, which is a cups and balls-like routine done with regular rice bowls and is very pretty, egg on fan done ON a fan... Also a variation of Jiggernaut by Mark Jenest would fly using sake choku, and Dr. Sawa's Marriage routine (a rope trick with a distinctly Japanese flavor and which no one does), is also a good choice. See the book on him by Kaufman for details. Just a few thoughts. However, one caveat: gaijin (hairy barbarians) are not all that well thought of by many Japanese, so be extremely courteous and have your business card printed in English on one side and Japanese on the other. Showing such respect is quite surprising and knowing the different forms of saying thank you and when to use them is also a big plus. Also, proper pronunciation of things like "Hiroshima" (Hero SHEE mah) will also keep you from being considered dame-dame (in poor taste, lacking class, unfit). Just some helpful hints from someone who has worked in that end of the biz off and on for about 25 years. Domo arigato gozaimashite! Lee Darrow, C.Ht. http://www.leedarrow.com
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
Stuart Hooper Special user Mithrandir 759 Posts |
Kanichi Wa! Domo Agrigato Lee for your comments. I would have to disagree with you about printing the business card in Japanese though. They think us even lower class when we attempt to speak or write their language (if I understand correctly). But maybe that's just me...all my knowledge come out of romantic novels like Gaijin...lol...
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JesterMan Veteran user Maryland, USA 319 Posts |
Go ahead and get the cards printed in both languages if you wish. That is how many of theirs are in Japan. You will not be thought any less proper. However, I believe that, unless you plan on going to Japan to perform in a tepan-yaki house, it is really unnecessary. One thing that will impress them more is if you show proper etiquette in giving and receiving the cards. You should both offer your card and receive their card with both hands. You may also bow a bit when doing this. (You should bow a little lower than they do.) You then study the card momentarily, and place it on the table in front of you during the conversation; don't just slide it into your pocket.
Although there are certainly some Japanese who are not fond of Westerners (or other Easterners, for that matter), while I was living there for two years, I found the people I met to be very courteous, kind, and easy to deal with, as long as you allow for the obvious cultural differences. Let us not forget that there are plenty of folks here who have no great love for people from other lands, which is odd considering our history. I walked for miles alone one night (after midnight) in Tokyo, and I had no problems, nor any fear of any. I walked a much shorter distance late at night in NYC during the S.A.M. convention in the late 70s with a friend, and we were constantly looking over our shoulders, etc., metal Appearing Canes at the ready to 'appear' into anyone's face that approached in an unfriendly manner. Anyway, best of luck in your search! There is one near my house that I have been contemplating approaching, but wasn't sure if they would see it as entertainment competition for the chefs. I'd be very curious how it goes for you. JM
JM
Balloons, Magic, Mayhem & More! www.AArdvarkEntertainers.com www.JesterMan.com "... destined to take the place of the MudShark in your mythology... " FZ |
Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
Do Itashimasu, mithrandir-sama!
The points about the business card ettiquette by JesterMan are very well taken. Also NEVER, never, never put someone's business card in your back pocket. It's an insult because you will figuratively be sitting on their face! (Face in this instance meaning their Honor, pride and social standing - a very important thing in all of Asia!) Also, when taking a business card from someone in Japan, it is customary to read their name out loud and make some small comment on the card, their company and the like, in a complimentary fashion. It is considered courteous and cultured. I have found over the years that Robert Heinlein was right when he said in his novel Podkayne of Mars, "Thank You is the most important phrase in any language." I am currently at about 19 languages, ranging from Russian, German, French, Spanish and Italian to Korean, Cambodian, Japanese and Dutch. It often stuns a person from another country when you say "Thank you" in their language. This is especially true of Korean, Chinese and Cambodian people. They often take it as a sincerely meant compliment and will go out of their way to be nice to you for doing so. It shows that you are not as much of a provincial lout as they might have initially thought! IMHO, that's real magic! Kom Sami Da! (formal Korean) Xie Xie (informal, friendly Chinese) and Alcone (pron with a long O - Cambodian) Lee Darrow, C.Ht. http://www.leedarrow.com
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
nums Veteran user I have a life, or I would have more than 366 Posts |
Lee, you have taken an idea of mine a different route. I learned HELLO and BEER in about 8 different ones.
Jeff |
Mito Veteran user Japan 319 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-01-22 21:31, Lee Darrow wrote: "Gaijin," translated literally, would be like "outsider." Kind of a rough way to say the more polite "gaikokujin"----Literally "foreign country person." And "HeroSHEEmah" is a very gaijin pronunciation! It's more like "heROSHIMA" but not that strongly accented. Just nit-picking. |
Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
Domo arigato gozaimashita, Mitra-sama!
The big point I was making on the issue there was the SHI (shee) portion. Way too many people pronounce it with a short "i," which is grossly incorrect. I learned that early on and it was reinforced by a Japanese exchange student that was in our martial arts club back in high school. He was from there and was quite adamand about the pronunciation. And, as was noted by someone else, the Chinese Xia Xia is pronounced (shay shay). The new spelling from the Chinese government is often a pain, frankly. But what do I know? I'm just a stupid Gwai Lo! (old spelling). The students in my dojo back in my martial arts days, all got "fighting names" - Jade Tiger, Leaping Dragon, etc. I got stuck with Sum Dum Goy! But at least I still have my Black Belt in Suk Ng Op! Lee Darrow, C.Ht. http://www.leedarrow.com
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
Texas Worker New user Kerrville Texas 55 Posts |
I worked in a Japanese steakhouse for 2 years, and the only reason I left was for another gig. You couldn't ask for a better venue. Angles are good, and the patrons are there for the food and fun. Unless you are performing in Japan I see no reason to have a multi-language business card. Also work closely with the wait staff and cooks, because if you accecpt tips they may feel you're taking for them. I came to the table right after the dessert order was taken and the waitress would put a salt shaker on the grill if I was to perform at that table. As far as a close up pad is concerned get a small one if you can't do the magic in the hands, because there is a small wood border around the table. Have fun!
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