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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
OK, something I've started to notice....a number of the wait staff at the resataraunt is staedily cathing on to the trick's secrets. For one thing, the waiters are often behind me or at some other inconvinient angle, and besides, they see the effects again & again....repetition is the BANE of any magical secret. The only ones which seem to remain safe are some of the more baffling pure S.O.H. effects. Anyone out there experiencing this?
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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Steve Dela Special user U.K. London 961 Posts |
The only thing I have ever been caught out on by waiting staff is the tilt move...
I no longer use this move anymore anyway. you could always keep changing your repetoir? all alternate your tricks from week to week. In Magic Steve Dela |
twistedace Inner circle philadelphia 3772 Posts |
You're not working against the waitstaff, you're working with them. That being said, they shouldn't have enough time to really catch any of your secrets or anything. Occassionally, one or two waiters or waitresses do stop by to watch a short bit of the performance but then I'm just aware of the angles. From my experience, they love the magic, they promote the magic. DO NOT alternate your tricks from week to week. Find ways to make the tricks you're currently doing better and more angle proof because I'm assuming there is a reason you are doing the tricks you are doing.
If the waiter or waitress does catch on to one or two tricks, it's not killing me...they can walk away knowing a magic trick but they're not threatening my job or anything. I actually teach one or two tricks to some of the waiters at my restaurant knowing that they're not going to have enough time to do the tricks for any tables because they're working hard. Everybody should know one or two tricks anyway. I'm not saying teach them a chop cup routine, or even let them know how it works or anything. I'm saying them catching one or two small things is not going to threaten your job security. |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Ken Brooke always used to preach "take care of the staff" make friends with them, get them 1005 on your side.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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BarryFernelius Inner circle Still learning, even though I've made 2537 Posts |
I work closely with the wait staff at the dinner theatre where I work. (Some of these folks are also in the show.) When I started at the dinner theatre, the management had a meeting with the wait staff so that everyone would know what was going on when I'm doing magic at tables. Every time I see a new person, I make it a point to fill them in on how I work. I also get to know the wait staff, and I remember their names. Whenever any member of the wait staff, their families, or friends visit the theatre, I make it a point to entertain them with special material.
The wait staff has discovered that they get bigger tips on the nights when I'm working. The wait staff helps me by figuring out which tables will enjoy the magic the most. (Hey, the guys at B6 would really enjoy your stuff!) Because I'm well compensated by the theatre, I give the waitstaff a portion of my tip money as well. The key to the thing is to make sure that you can create a win-win situaiton with the wait staff. If you do, they are your most powerful allies.
"To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time."
-Leonard Bernstein |
Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-03-20 04:31, The Mighty Fool wrote: How could they ever have time to catch you or catch on? I never work when it's 'quiet' in the restaurant. It's busy, the satff is busy, which is "one" of the reasonI'm there. To enetrtain while there is a wait. What effects are you doing that they are catching onto? And...are you doing the same effects every night, every week?
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
Just Fridays & Saturdays. It is a busy place, but it's not excatly 'non-stop'. Some of the servers say they love to watch me interact with the kids, and that's why they stop to watch sometimes.
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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Eric Leclerc Inner circle Ottawa Ontario 1185 Posts |
It dosent matter if they see some of your secrets!! They will only feel more special and more "in the know". It might make some like it even more.. The key to restaurant magic (once you are in) is to get on the good side of the servers, whats better than "letting" them see how a trick works?
you know deep inside if you'd want to amaze them (and fool them) you could in a second.. Do you think they think you do real magic? |
ksalaz1 Loyal user 237 Posts |
There is no hard and fast rule here. Don't be set in stone. I find it usefull to change my tricks every week and rotate them so they re-occur on a monthly basis. That said, there are a few I do every night I perform. But most of those aren't so "angly".
Ken
"Master of the Obvious"
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bsears Inner circle Cincinnati, Ohio 1040 Posts |
Sometimes its unavoidable. I try to postition myself not to flash if possible and have a few different methods at hand. You might want to consider that if the staff can see whats happening, so can diners at other tables.
But, yeah, keep the staff on your side. that's great advice. |
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