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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
First restaurant I ever worked was owned by a magician, the local hang out for the area magicians and a lot of traveling pros stopped in there. Gave me the opportunity to work out new acts, got to meet and learn from a lot of folks, owner always gave me a meal, and the tips were great. One of the best training grounds before I hit the road in my college days on the school and club circuit which payed my way through college. Unfortunately, the owner retired, and they tore the place down. Sad.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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andrew martin Veteran user 394 Posts |
Shaun
Why did they give you a car? Just wondering |
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Spydur Special user PDX, now San Diego...back to PDX 966 Posts |
Paid for school, apartment, new car. Brought smiles to my face when I get to perform for others. Been a regular source of work. Allowed me to network with people thus bringing me more work at private, corporate, and other venues. The list just goes on and on.
I am glad that you are having fun and seeing the benefits too! Have a wonderous day! C |
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
I've been offered meals, which I turn down. I've gotten referals for parties, which I accept.
Nothing extravagent ever given.
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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RJ Hunt Elite user Lakeland, FL 466 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-12-15 22:43, Michael Baker wrote: You talk'in bout Zoe's Kitchen? If so I been there many times. WOW, the memories I miss DT and I think about him all the time. He was with KC and I was at Cleavland. I played right across from him for 4 years in a row 2 times a season. And he kicked my ass everytime, well not everytime...LOL. I still talk to his mother and wife every once in a while. We bacame friends back in 1989 my rookie year. He used to call me "Hollywood" because I'm from So Cal. I used to call him "Sir" hahaha...o man I miss'em, I better stop now I get emotional, he died way too soon. If you got to meet DT you know what I am talking about, he was one of the nicest men you would ever meet...off the feild...of course. I want to thank you for reminding about lost memories, even if they are emotional, I still thank you. RJ PS Next time I'm in B'ham I let ya know... |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Hey RJ,
It wasn't Zoe's kitchen, but I'm familiar with that place, too. This was Jake's Grill on the fringe of the Lakeview district. I was the house magician with a 5 night a week gig. It was originally started by another guy in 1992 who set me up doing magic behind the bar (small bar). Within about 2 weeks, we had gotten so busy with people coming to see the show that I switched over to working the rooms, so more people could see the magic. After about 14 months of record breaking business, the owner pulled his own trick and skipped town with as much $$$ as he could get away with. Very fun story behind it all that included the Paris trip I mentioned earlier. Anyway, Alonzo Highsmith wanted to take it over. He had another place running in town at the time. Not sure of the details, but DT got worked into the equation, and ended up with the place, minus Alonzo. I was asked to stay on. I knew Derrick well enough from the times he did make it to town. Always during off season. His friend Stacy Harrison (another ex-Tider) managed the place for him. Several NFL guys including Cornelius Bennett and Kevin Greene made it there. The night Hank Jr. came in, he sent someone ahead of him to put "Hank's" signs over all the "Jake's" signs. Derrick fell out when he drove up. Most of the time, DT was very quiet. Seeing him in those environments, it was hard to imagine what he was capable of on the field. He was a really nice guy. So, if you ever hear rumors of a place in Birmingham that had about 2500 signed playing cards on the ceiling, that would be Jake's, and that would be my fault! If you make it to B'ham, by all means look me up. ~michael
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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Eric Jones V.I.P. Director of Product Development 2101 Posts |
The most incredible thing that ever happened to me was I performed for a group who were really enthused by my magic. I performed well, and at the conclusion, a guy reaches into his wallet and pulls out a playing card. It was signed with his name on the face and autographed by Dai Vernon on the back. He told me how he has carried the card around everywhere he went for the past 20 or so years. He then asked me to sign one of my playing cards and he put my card right next to his Vernon autograph.
Now I don't liken myself to Vernon in anyway. But it touched me in a very special way that I was able to bring that kind of memory to this spectator and has been the most I've ever gotten out of working in a restaurant.
“We're two tigers away from an act in Vegas.” Greg House M.D.
<BR> <BR>http://www.ericjonesmagic.com |
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mikeypresto Regular user 113 Posts |
Full blown press release, free food for life, and and an office to meet with clients after shift
Magically,
Mikey |
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Richard Paddon Loyal user 214 Posts |
The restaurant I was associated with for 12 years supplied the following:
Included me in their advertising - newspaper & radio. 400 decks of personalised cards with my name & face on casino stock. Magic give-aways. Each year the owners would purchase a magic book for me as a Christmas gift. Some examples - Original Stunners, Annemann: The Life & Times of a Legend, Card Craft, Stewart James In Print-The First 50 Years. I usually worked special days, such as New Years Eve, Mother's Day & Christmas Eve. Occassionally, my family would attend & eat free. Cheers, Richard |
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Eddie Torres Special user New York City 692 Posts |
My restaurant pays me... probably not the most fascinating thing but, ya know... it all works out in the end... kinda. Don't care much for the taxes taken out, though... not really a fan of the food there either... nope, I just eat my Dorito's in the corner... Got a big 20 dollar christmas bonus the other day... nice of them to think of the magician when giving out christmas bonuses, they didn't have to... Not a lot of advantages for me... actually, there was that one table that tipped me 83 dollars the other day, big table, everyone took out 20's at the end and this one poor guy handed me 3 bucks, I felt bad taking it, but what can ya do? Just smile and take it is what... just keep on smiling.
Eddie Ivan Torres
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ShaunRobison Loyal user 255 Posts |
If you don't like the food how can you be an honest spokesperson for the establishment? You have to like where you work and support it, even on your days off..
Doritos?? I love them to but not when I'm working. The breath, the smelly and cheesy fingers.. The stains on your cards. Your on your way boy!!! Which way??? I'll let you figure that out
www.shaunrobison.com
Magic and Illustrations |
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Cory Gallupe Inner circle Nova Scotia, Canada 1272 Posts |
Man, you guys got some good deals going on here.
What does my restaurant do for me? Well, first off, it is a solid source of income. Second, I get 50% off everything I eat, as well as other staff deals. And other than that, I have made lots of new friends. The waiters and waitresses, hosts and hostesses, cooks, management, they have all become very good friends to me. I also love meeting new people. I have people adding me to their MSN after every shift. I just love connecting, and bonding with people. And the tips aren't bad either. Before, when people offered me tips, I would say: "Oh, thank you very much but I don't accept tips. The best tip you could give me is to tell the staff you enjoyed me" And they would. The owner has been getting lots of comments, and even people calling him to hype me up, and ask for my contact info. Not to mention having TONS of comment cards filled out. But, when I was saying that, some people thought that that meant I wasnt ALLOWED to accept tips. Which was not the case. So the owner got a lot of complaints about it. A lot of people where upset saying that I was a very good entertainer, and I should be allowed to accept tips. So I have now changed my approach to accepting tips. Instead of saying "I don't accept tips" I say "Oh, you don't have to do that" To which they then say: "Oh, but we want you to, we insist" And I accept with a big thank you. And currently I am making 3 times more than I was with the other approach. So its working good! I am also getting lots of private gigs from the restaurant too. Handing lots of business cards out. And above all..... The girls man!!!!!!!! Seriously, this is a happening place. A lot of magicians say that magic will not get you girls. And that is true. However, it gets you in the spotlight, for girls to notice you. Last night, one of the girls wrote: "I love Cory" on her card. Then asked me to aughtograph the card on the back. I am also performing for her brothers birthday comming up. Then the night before, a great big table of six. ALL CHICKS! They had me to their table twice, took pictures with me, got me to sign a bunch of cards for them, left a comment card, and then asked for business cards, so they could what?? Get ahold of me! (Score!) They are all adding me to their MSN, and one has just recently signed my guestbook saying I made their day. I am going to get ahold of the one with the camera to see if she can e-mail me the pictures, so I can upload them to my site. Another night a while back some girls left a napkin on their table with "Magician" on it. One of the waiters gave it to me, and inside was their e-mails. So I am now officially known as the "Magic Pimp" to the wait staff at Eastside. I am also gaining a lot of new fans. I have seen a lot of people come two, or three times JUST TO SEE ME! And they keep bringing more people. And it's always nice to see that people really do appreciate me, and come just to see me again. The management has also taken notice of this. They have been receiving comments, both in person, and on cards. Phone calls, and lots of happy customers. People sitting around being bored in the waiting area is now a thing of the past. They call me up to the lobby and I entertain them, so they are not cursing under their breath about how long the wait it. (And it can get long.) A few nights ago, a group of 10 where waiting to be seated. 7 of them where 6 and 7 years old. They where getting kindof restless and I took care of that. And the staff thanked me for saving them. Then last night I was just about to head out the door, and two girls where waiting to be seated. I opened the door and heard "Hey, are you the magician?" I said yes. They asked if they could see something. So I said sure. Put down my suitcase, opened it up, and pulled out a deck of cards. (I don't like opening with cards, but everything else was put away.) When I got up, the two girls turned into twenty! (It actually scared me at first, I thought it was only the two of them) apparently it was a cheerleading team. (Once again, SCORE!) I wowed them all and then shook some hands. I would have loved to been with them longer, they where a great crowd, but I was already 15 minutes past my shift and had to go somewhere. I said goodbye, and went out to a THUNDEROUS round of applause. It was at that moment, that I realized why I do magic. And I must say, I really love my "job". |
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Eddie Torres Special user New York City 692 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-01-07 11:42, ShaunRobison wrote: That was just randomness and overexagerated responding, I love the establishment I work at, but I'm a vegitarian and most of the food isn't to my liking. I am however, over at a ninja themed restaurant, what could be cooler? Oh, and I sort of have this way of eating Doritos fingerless by placing the bag directly on my mouth and letting gravity push the dorito directly into it. Knocked back with a sprite from the bar and my breath doesn't get that cheesy, dried, dairy scent we all know and love.Honestly though, the only perks I've gotten out of restaurant gigs is steady work when the time comes to pay those bills. Restaurants have kept me from going hungry (no pun intended), so all hail the restaurant.
Eddie Ivan Torres
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