I'm pretty experienced and have done table hopping before. I'm now a waiter at a restaurant that is very upscale.

What would you reccomend me do for this sort of environment? I want to do something subtle for coworkers or customers...

For some reason the atmosphere kind of intimidates me since a table for 2 is going to cost you at least $200.

Any ideas would be helpful.

You're either paid to entertain, or paid to keep their water full and take the order.

Which is it?

Robert

Why can't you do both. I've done it for almost 10 years
In high end restaurants I find coin work goes well. It's easy for pocket management as you don't want to be working with full pockets. As well it fits in nicely when you bring the bill over after dinner.
P.s. Robert a Good waiter is always entertaining when the customer wants them to be anything less and I'd fire them.

Having owned a high end establishment this is exactly right.

While you get away with it at a bar or night club, or a Applebees, a place that is described as high end, where you have far more than one person taking care of you, then you need to be doing that. Let them pay you to do magic.

If think you can do both, provided you agree your priorities and keep your props and magic relatively simple. Good luck!

You should be allowed to both, and the other waiters should be allowed to entertain their tables with their talents as well. Some might sing, some might juggle, others may dance or show how they can touch their nose with their tongue.

What is the name of this place, Cirque de Salad or Amatuer Hors’dourve?

The last thing in the world I want when I order food is to have the waiter singing and dancing while I'm trying to get my food. The only magic I want him to do is, conjur up my meal.

Tony

Tony this is so right, and goes 10 fold for high end places. Everyone has 1 job. A guy gets nothing but your water, one gets salad, one wine, and so on. The IDEA is NOT to have people doing more than one thing. The thing to do is to get hired AS entertainment. Not to shove it on them. In fancy places, the FOOD and such IS the attraction, they came there for each others company, not the waiters.

As I said other places may enjoy it.

Wellwhat if your a magician at this restaurant...should you help with other things...what if there is something worng at teh table....say missing a spoon? what should you do?

Koz:

I belong in the Dan Tong school of thought, I'll get them a spoon or get the waiter to get them a spoon.

Tony

Fetching a napkin or a spoon is ok. Just don't go into your favorite spoon bending or paper ball's over head routine afterward. The same also applies to condiments (not condoms) and menus. That's about it. You are there working WITH the restaurant but there are still some things that should be left to the wait staff. Just use your better judgment.
JIM

If this is a high-end place, then you probably should use high-end looking effects. Mabye the S.M.E.T. pocketwatch, and some cool coin effects with the big gold & silver / exotic coins. Stealth pen is always a winner, and of course, you'll need a card effect for the inevetable request, so get an invisible deck.

Back in the 80's I got hired at an Italian resturant ( owened by iraniains pretending to be Italain ) as a waiter. After a few weeks of getting comfortable, I strted doing magic for my tables. Within a very short time, I had people coming back and asking for me. This was really because of the dedication to good service I had ( I know, because it happened years before in other restaurants where I didn't do magic ). But...the magic did impress them as they would ask to see it.

Other servers complained bcause I was getting more tables ( more money ). The management should have looked at the numbers instead of listening to these complaners. Anyway, I was asked to stop doing the magic.

I pitched an idea where I would come in on my "days off" and do magic for everyone's tables. I would still clock in and work for tips. They said I could do it but couldn't clock in ( be paid ). Servers only made $2.00 so I passed. In fact I quit that week and went to another place down the road.

The "Italian" place closed a a year later ( not because I left, but it just wasn't run very well ).

Anyway...never work and not have them pay you. You'll feel beter about the choice even 20 years later!

Chris

Chris brings us right back to the point, your paid to bring food, bring food.

Listen, I'm not against an occasional coin flourish here or there.

But when I say occasional - that means RARELY and when I say here or there, I mean the entire presentation better last less than 5-10 seconds.

Besides - if you're getting paid $2.30/hr plus tips to be a waiter, and you're doing magic "in addition" - what message are you sending to a REAL professional like me?

You're keeping me from a paying gig! Get it?

Robert

Posted: Nov 29, 2006 7:40pm
Quote:

JeffMac: Why can't you do both. I've done it for almost 10 years

So are your a professional entertainer?

Or a waiter?

10 years should've given you enough time to answer that by now.

Robert

Maybe you guys are misunderstanding me....

I'm not talking about going into a 5 minute routine here! Let me paint a scene here:


Its sunday afternoon..Its very slow..there are 3 waiters working..and 1 table open..very slow..the person at the table asks for a new fork...i bring it and place it near the table in a diagnal position..i say oops...and using loops straighten it out..DONE

Took 2 seconds..but just a subtle thing to put a look of astonishment on the customers face..and hey..if they seem interested and say do that again.. then why not go into a coin roll and retention vanish.. or why not make a napkin rose for the young ladys birthday?!...and why not leave the customers with something to talk about when they left or while at the table and most importantly, why not INCREASE YOUR TIP?!

TKE...I say "go for it." As long as you're not trying to become the "show" or the attraction.

I always like it when a situation presents itself to do something for someone. I also like it when something unexpected like that happens to me.

If it's subtle, which sounds like what you're talking about, I say "have a good time!"

Mark.

TKE,

mrunge I think has the spirit of things here - if you're doing it to be the show, you're off the map.

But as you suggested - not a bad idea.

Robert

Since you have made up your mind just do it and stop asking guys for permission.

So true.

When did I ask you for permission? Read the original post again. If you cant answer it then no need to post here.