Hi folks,

this question always bugged me a bit. Currently I have not a almost fixed amount of time I do at each table. Which crwates a few pros & cons.
If a restaurant advertises with me (e.g. tonight there will be a magician bla bla) I feel very bad for the customers if they just get to se 5 minutes of me. On the other hand, if I do 10 Minutes a table I reach a LOT less tables. This is a bit of a dilemma for me.
Please give me some advise how you are handling this!
My current work is 19-22 in a big restaurant and those people did some big advertising throughout the local newspaperS! So I expect people with expactations...

1) A table receiving a short amount of magic, knowing that other tables receive the same, will be far less upset than if they receive none, knowing that others receive much.

2) If you can only give them 5 minutes, give them your BEST 5 minutes.

3) Be fluid. Adjust your timing according to the business. If time allows, there is a better chance of giving each table more (or going back later to give them more).

4) Make ALL your decisions based on what is best for the restaurant.

5) Convert your worry and concern into positive energy. Happiness and enthusiasm are often contagious.

The time is what it is. Portions of food do not vary.

If they want more you will be shorting others. Everyone is equal. That is really the only starting point that works.

If they want to see more they will come back.

The last two posters have far more experience than myself, but I think Michael's second point rings especially to me.

I did a gig for a fast food restaurant (it was a special event). While some patrons sat down and I could do full routines, others I just had to show them stuff in the queue. So I only had 2 minutes! So I made sure to cut out any filler and mainly performed my strongest openers that have a very strong ending (jumbo coin, turbo stick).

If you pick modular routines, they feel like they have seen a lot anyway.

Thank you very much for the advice everybody. Much appriciated!

Just out of curiosity. In case the food is not coming yet, so no time pressure. What is your average time you spent on an average table?

7 minutes and I work after dinner.

@ Danny:

How do you manage to know or keep track who has finished dinner? Are you not just going from table to table as long as they are not eating?

Well once there is no silverware it is a pretty good sign.

Also I work by request. So it is easy to keep track of.

Oh I never heared of that before. Besides in Germany the silver wear ist usually always on the table even with no food served yet.
How does one work at request? Do people sign up at a list or do you ask somehow everyone or how does this work? Never heard of this method before.

Hello Memory-Jah, I think the 'by request' mean they hole their hand up and call you to do some magic. They ask you to come.

Actually no not at all.

First of all it was not my idea. We worked this way at Schuliens. Mind you it went on for about 100 years before I ever walked in the door.

What happened was simple. There is a table tent saying if you want to see magic inform your server. (Not the actual text of it but the idea.) Then servers simply write a list which you follow as they finish dinner. Generally other tables will see this happening and it all feeds on itself.

I have always found it easier to work with no plates and such on the table.

Not all restaurants will allow you to work this way.

Very interesting! I kinda like this too.

It makes more sense to me and always has.

Again mind you it is not my idea. But once you do it this way you will not want to go back.

Also when done This way it limits the places you can work. If you are in a restaurant that wants to "turn and burn" tables it probably wouldn't work out so well.

We need to remember that we are working for the restaurant. Do they want to fill seats at a family night? Do they want to offer a unique experience? I find it hard to disagree with the advice given, the more tables the better. You are the hired help the restaurant.

I always perform 3 bits per table. That way, my show as a beginning, a middle, and an end. It all depends on what I do, but on average, it's between 5-7 minutes per table.

I'm about to hit my first restaurant and wow this topic is a goldmine!

Regardless of what a restaurant may be advertising in regards to entertainment,people patronize a restaurant in hopes of a good meal. It might make a table side magician feel less important, but when it comes down to spending hard earned cash the average family is more interested in eating well than seeing the latest performance of signed card to impossible location. If the customer wants magic fine. It is such a rare thing to have restaurant magic offered that people don't associate a specific context of how much time warrants a satisfactory performance duration. If a family feels that the table next to them had more time with the magician, they will simply invite him or her back if time permits.

Too many magicians worry about details that have no real justification other than assumptions made by those who have really never performed magic for the public. Restaurant magic is a JOB. It isn't as glamorous as one would be led to believe. At best it will be a learning experience in how few effects are needed to satisfy the average couple of hours that most magicians work. It will also be a humble reminder that most laypeople associate magicians with an entertainer who works primarily for children...if one can accept this and use it to their advantage, a magician may end up making a few extra bucks doing the restaurant scene.