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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Hi Shane,
Good luck on your journey in the field of restaurant entertainment. I've been reading the posts, all great advice. I would like to throw you a curve. The people at the restaurant are there to eat and NOT there to see you. (That may change as you become established and heed the above advice) Some important points: * Do you know how to keep the wait staff happy and stay out of their way? * Do you know when to approach the table? * How will you approach your potential spectators? * How will you handle rejection? * How will you handle the phsically impaired, or mentally challenged patrons? * Do you know when to NOT approach a table? Just a very few questions you need to think about, I could go on and on and... Also remember that you are also going to play the role as a goodwill ambassador, possibly holding a door open and greeting people as they come and go, asking how the food is, contacting the manager if there is a problem etc. etc. I just hope you focus some of your attention on non-magic related aspects of working restaurants as well as your trick selection. I agree, all cards will not work. As I said , you will have a varied spectrum of spectators and you need to do something with that quarter that the little boy just handed you. Pay CLOSE attention to your appearance as well. Clean hands and fingernails, brushed teeth, clean breath, polished shoes...you get my point. Keep some breath mints in your close-up case. By the way, where will you keep your close-up case with additional items should you need them?? ( Murphy's Law) You will need to keep some water handy or have access to water. You'll be doing a lot of talking. Anyway, enough said...Restaurant work is not easy but it is very rewarding and the experience you'll gain is priceless... Go get em Tiger David Paul
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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twistedace Inner circle philadelphia 3772 Posts |
I agree with everyone here, especially David Paul...he brings up a lot of the "side" points about restaurant magic that nobody thinks about before getting started. I definately think that you should at least learn Crazy Man's Handcuffs, and a quick coin routine, such as coins across/one coin routine, pencil/crayon through quarter to keep things different.
I also cannot stress enough how sponge balls are the GREATEST magic trick ever invented for the lay audience. Pick up a purse frame and a small booklet then make a strong routine. Learn the $100 bill switch and a few routines such as the mismade bill that use it. You can promote the restaurant with this one trick if you're clever enough! It will keep the management happy. Also, you may want to think about a chop cup routine. It's a real worker man. It has everything: vanishes, reappearances, surprise appearances, and jumbo loads that are impossible to the lay audience. I really think you need something other than cards...especially the tricks that you've chosen. Although they are VERY good tricks, they are not the best ones to keep you working for a long time. Plus they are kind of short routines. You need the short routines to hit hard and quick but you also need a showpiece in my opinion. Something multi-phase that takes up more than 2 minutes. With the routines you have chosen, you will do 2-3 short card tricks per table and walk away...they won't have time to actually meet YOU and YOU are important, especially because the people eating may want to book YOU after they've seen some more of your magic. Definately learn a few other routines that are not cards. Coins and the chop cup are great for kids because it's pure magic and easy to understand - it disappeared and reappeared there. If you are going to stick with ALL cards...remember your invisible deck. I wish you the best of luck! Bryan |
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drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
Shane,
Great advice here, as always. Follow your heart and let us know if you end up adding some non-card magic. Yours, Paul |
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Michael Dustman Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 1220 Posts |
One other thing I would throw in is that I preferred to have several short routines than 2 or 3 long routines. For the simple reason that if you are in the middle of a routine and the wait staff comes up behind you to deliver the food, that is your cue to pick up and leave. The customers came to the restaurant to eat, and once their food is in front of them, they want to eat. So it is better not to be in the middle of some long story card trick or counting card trick, but rather things that you can do a quick end and then exit.
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Reis O'Brien Inner circle Seattle, WA 2467 Posts |
Good luck, Shane!
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twistedace Inner circle philadelphia 3772 Posts |
Once again I agree with Dustman. Although the Frog Prince is one of my FAVORITE tricks, I will never do it at a restaurant due to time. I think my longest routines are a multiple selection routine and my chop cup routine. Bigger tables get the longer tricks because it usually takes longer for a big order to come out.
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Angela Regular user Ohio 190 Posts |
Yeah, good luck! I LOVE cards and would perform or even watch card tricks all night long... but you have my vote to add a few nice mentalism effects among other things. Definitely let us know how it goes!
Angela |
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Matt Bartz Loyal user Gilbert, Arizona 251 Posts |
Shane-
I've been on your website and watched the videos, and I've seen hundreds of your past post on the Café. I'm sure that your magical skills are more than ready for the job. But as David Paul said, make sure you are ready for the other issues that come with working in a restaurant. I feel like some valid points have been made about adding a couple of non-card tricks to your routine (at least to keep them in a back pocket, in the event that you have little kids at the table or adults that hate card magic...) To echo something twistedace mentioned. Many restaurant magicians work restaurants because it can be fun, fastpaced, and intense. But, along with that come many self-promotion opportunities to do birthday parties or company banquets...if you are not ready to get into those areas, its nice to be able to recommend a magician to them so they don't feel disappointed when you say that you won't work at their child's birthday. If you do want to do that stuff, have some business cards ready. |
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magicsoup Elite user 461 Posts |
Another thing to think about is that some religious people don't do cards. I've had people in my restaurants enjoy my magic, but I knew that when all of the women had super long hair in buns and the men and women sat seperate, cards would not go over well at all.
That run on sentence is especially for you grammar host!) *** Grammar Host Note: Wow! Thanks a Million! Is there something less you could do for us? LOL (I left it to make your point perfectly transparent! I mean clear.) Just having fun! Good Luck Shane! |
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Shane Wiker Inner circle Las Vegas 1199 Posts |
Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement everyone. After watching a magician, I got the idea for a routine (I haven't learned it yet, but I'm buying the book that teaches an effect for it, so I plan on learning that for the next week or two (It’s a very long routine, but can be changed to stop at any time, in case the meal arrives)) that involves a quarter, and a salt and pepper shaker. I will probably open with a coins across routine using quarters, then put away all but two of them and go into the salt and pepper shaker routine.
I don't know if I should do anything before or after that. I was going to do a vanishing salt routine, but I feel that the salt and pepper shaker routine is much stronger. This routine won’t use any cards, and I believe will play well for children as well as adults. Also, I believe my Ambitious Card routine would work well for children about 6 and up, because (Like Mr. Baker said) it doesn’t require any cards to be memorized, so the whole routine is very visual and the children can see their drawing, rather than the 7 of clubs, to transpose with other cards, repeatedly rise to the top, and travel to my wallet. Thanks again everyone, this thread has helped me a lot. Shane Wiker |
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mike gallo Inner circle 1341 Posts |
Shane, sounds like you are talking about Goshman's Salt Shaker routine. Be careful...children will want to grab the shakers!
Mike |
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
Just one suggestion here Shane, Every now & again, kids will want to show YOU a trick which they know, and one which MANY seem to know is the folded-upside-down-bill trick. It really pays to have quadriflex ready to turn this into a really cool impromtu moment!
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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ShaunRobison Loyal user 255 Posts |
Shane (and anyone else who wants to read),
As a full time restaurant worker might I suggest a few things. Even if they have been suggested before it never hurts to hear them again. First:Remember that your main goal is to make sure that people are happy. Yes that is what the magic is for but don't foget to just talk with the people. Stop by a table afterwards and check that everythng is okay. I have run into the kitchen several times to get a clean fork or a new glass. Keep your eyes open for opportunites that will help you and the customer. I had a server deliver a cracked glass that she nor the customer saw. I caught it and saved the restaurant a possible law suite. Second: Tell everyone that it was a pleasure working for you and that you hope to see them again. Then tell them when the restaurant does the magic thing. Another great idea from Kevin King is this... When there is a person (mostly a child) that seems to have an interest in magic tell them that if they go home and practice ONE trick, then, next time they come to the restaurant when you (the magician) are working andshow it to you - you will taech them another one.. This garauntees that that family will be back over and over again. Which is the main concern of the managers. Hope it helps and not just rambled!! Shaun R.
www.shaunrobison.com
Magic and Illustrations |
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magicsoup Elite user 461 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-08-24 01:33, magicsoup wrote: Hey Bob, I thought Shane was the grammer host! |
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Shane Wiker Inner circle Las Vegas 1199 Posts |
We're both Grammar Hosts. He's just the one who corrected the post.
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david_a_whitehead Inner circle USA 2122 Posts |
Shane, performing Osterlind's two cards in pocket in a restaurant is pretty weird. Don't you think it is more of a parlor routine? It plays strongest in that environment. In a restaurant routines must be quick, visual and varied. Have at least 3 backup tricks that aren't cards.
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swiftshifter New user Philippines 94 Posts |
I never thought that there are so many things to watch out for when doing restaurant magic. I am planning to got out and do restos this septembember as well, and like Shane, I will be using cards. The way I see it, the material that you use to convey magic does not matter-- the difference lies in how much variety you can put into the effects. the whole routine would be held by a common theme: cards. But the distinction between effects will be manifested well if there is enough creativity. Hey, were cardologists!
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Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
Shane,
Congrats on taking the plunge into performing in restaurants. I STRONGLY advise you to get your hands on copies of The Magic Menu (2 volumes) and The Complete Guide to Restaurant and Walk-Around Magic by Kirk Charles. These books have TONS of useful info on everything from how to approach a table to making sure that you get paid for your gig. Some very clever magic in the Menu as well! Just remember, if someone tells you, "Sorry, we don't want magic," don't take it as a personal insult. Check your ego at the door, stay out from underfoot of the wait staff and please, do NOT work a table that has finished and has the check sitting on the table. The restaurant makes its money by "turning tables" meaning that the more times they sit people down at that table, the more money the restaurant makes. If you get in the way of that, you will have a short talk with the manager - trust me on that! Best of luck and remember - not everyone likes card tricks, so having something that's non-card work to perform is probably a very good idea. Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Quote:
Just remember, if someone tells you, "Sorry, we don't want magic," don't take it as a personal insult. Check your ego at the door, stay out from underfoot of the wait staff and please, do NOT work a table that has finished and has the check sitting on the table. The restaurant makes its money by "turning tables" meaning that the more times they sit people down at that table, the more money the restaurant makes. Man, is this fantastic advice for EVERYONE. This sums up restaurant work!!!
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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