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CurtWaltermire Special user Curtis The Mentalist 505 Posts |
As most of you already know, I'm a fairly new user on the forum, so please forgive me if I'm addressing something that has already been addressed in the past (especially if it was in great detail). I did a little digging around and didn't find the topic, or anything that really resembled it, so I just thought I'd ask.
I am preparing to aggressively market myself doing restaurant magic in the city where I live, and have been enjoying the discussions here. I was in a restaurant the other night for my oldest daughter's sixteenth birthday, and the restaurant (like most restaurants worth their salt) did something special for her birthday. I began to wonder what I would do had I been performing in that restaurant. Do any of you do anything SPECIAL for people that are celebrating their birthdays at the restaurants, outside of the planned, private-party-at-the-restaurant kind of thing? Do you give out special, take-home sorts of things, or do you simply let the performance be special in and of itself? Like everything else, I'll come up with ideas of my own anyway, but I'd like some input from some of you other pros!
Curtis Waltermire
Mentalist/Magician/Speaker/Actor/Grandpa/Cool Dad & Above-Average Husband CurtisTheMentalist.com YouTube Channel My Touring Public Show "The Mastermind Show" Check Out My Podcast "The Mastermind Show with Curtis The Mentalist" |
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Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Hmm...I might bust out something different, that I don't do for the other tables. Maybe the chop cup or something, but nothing to unusual. One routine I've done twice though, is the Hershey kiss routine.
It uses a TT and a bit of ingredients. Anyways, simply have a Hershey kiss palmed, and load a tt into that hand. Put a bit of foil and sugar into the tt, give it a bit of a rub, then show it's turned into a Hershey kiss. One thing I've started doing is in my bag, I have a match box filled with precut sheets of foil, and some sugar packets in there as well. Takes me about 30 seconds to get them out and set, and I'm good to go. The kisses are kept in a ziplock baggie in a seperate section, so not to squash them. Both times I've done this (to 2 girls under 12), I've gotten a $10 tip and a $5 tip. Not bad considering it's a relatively simple routine that doesn't need much practice/rehearsing and takes all of 20 seconds. Good Luck! Steve |
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Josh Chaikin Inner circle Kansas City 1430 Posts |
For Birthdays, I'll typically find out the person's name in advance, and write some birthday wishes on the back of an odd-colored playing card (works best with red), then launch into some standard magic and casually ask if anything special is being celebrated that night, then "magically" change the card. Michael Close has some nice work on this, though I don't think his has the color changing aspect.
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pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts |
Both good ideas. Although Steve, if you're making chocolate kisses, maybe you should have something that represents raw chocolate. Scotty York uses a coffee bean that he passes off as a cocoa bean in his candy kiss machine. That might be a neat addition. Sorry if I sound like an expert, but I seriously did grow up in Hershey, PA.
Here's what I do for Birthdays. I perform almost exclusively with cards. When I find out it is someone's birthdy, I pull out a low value card and write a birthday greeting on the card and perform Daryl's Birthday Card trick. However, I think the shuffling sequence he uses kind of gives the method away. I faro the card to the proper position and I'm set to go. I then do a very brief ambitious routine with the birthday card, and reveal it in my wallet, shoe or whatever. When I present it to the person as a souvenier, I have 2 seperate lines, one for adults one for kids that assures they keep it. For kids I normally tell them it's a magic card and if they put it under their pillow, it will turn into $5. If it's a table full of adults, I tell them it's a lucky card.....put it under their pillow and they just might get lucky tonight. |
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Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Pepka,
that's a good idea about the cocoa bean...I might have to start trying that. Thanks a lot man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts |
The effect is this:
Have B-day person pick a card, do your normal ambitious card routine, have them sign the card face. lose there card in deck. Ribbon spread face up. Ask them if today is something special for them. tell them to re-take their card. Look at back ..... it says happy birthday (fill in the blank) PM me if your interested.
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy As seen on the TODAY SHOW www.balloonguy.net Creator of Bad to the Balloon DVD series Go to my store: http://tinyurl.com/Bad2theBalloon |
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Keith Raygor Special user Naples, FL 968 Posts |
"THE WORLD’S BEST BIRTHDAY TRICK" by Eric Henning. Bring out a bottle of “bubbly” to celebrate. It’s a mini-bottle of champagne. Blow a bubble. It turns into a solid bubble. Give away to special person with a very special message Eric provides that will bring some to happy tears.
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CurtWaltermire Special user Curtis The Mentalist 505 Posts |
Thank you all, fellow magi. Great ideas.
I'm of the mind that the special presentation should differ, of course, not only with the style of restaurant, but with whether or not the person celebrating their birthday is a man, woman, child, etc. The Hershey's Kiss routine and the Eric Henning effect sound like wonderful ideas for the ladies. Producing birthday greetings on the backs of playing cards is a great idea also that could be done for virtually anyone. I'm curious, Magic Steve, do you add the little touch of placing that thin, little white ribbon into the mix as well before you produce the Kiss intact? I think that would be quite dramatic, especially if you could keep it in view the entire time. Do many of you find that it is usually better to pretend as though you are unaware that it is the person's birthday? I don't really see where that is necessary, but maybe I'm missing something. I realize, however, that it depends what effect you are trying to...well...AFFECT. I'm also exercising ideas for graduation parties, but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. Restaurants are inundated with graduates and their families at that time of year in the late Spring, and I want to be thinking of some cool ideas for that as well. But for now, back to the birthdays... Thanks again fellas. You're all great!
Curtis Waltermire
Mentalist/Magician/Speaker/Actor/Grandpa/Cool Dad & Above-Average Husband CurtisTheMentalist.com YouTube Channel My Touring Public Show "The Mastermind Show" Check Out My Podcast "The Mastermind Show with Curtis The Mentalist" |
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Rich B. Special user Philadelphia 632 Posts |
Here is something I use for every special occasion. I perform the message on the back of a card routine that is mentioned above. If its Fathers day, Valentines day, Christmas, Weddings (the bride and grooms name appears in a heart)etc. It makes it seem like I created this trick just for the event...when in fact it is the same trick.
I got the idea from Richard Sanders on a trick he does called "Named". When I'm performing at strolling events or restaurants, I'm always ready to perform for a birthday. The gimmick (D.B. card and prepared birthday card are slipped into the cellophane of my deck). If I find out its someone's birthday, I slip out the cards from the cellophane when removing the deck from the box. My Patter is: Oh its your birthday! Did you get that birthday card I sent you? No? Well...thats because I didn't send you one. I really wanted to...I just didn't know your address...but how about if I send you one right now magically...would that be OK? They sign a card. I then show the back of the card, give a little shake, and Happy Birthday from Richie B. visually appears on the back of the card...and I hand them there signed card to keep. For Christmas I dedicate an entire deck with about 20 cards on the bottom of the deck that are prepared with Merry Christmas from Richie B. There is virtually no reset(except for a slip cut when I put the deck away). I can repeat this effect often..."Did you get the Christmas card I sent you?" It gets great reactions. Richie B. |
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Slappy Loyal user North Hollywood, CA 266 Posts |
Diamond Jim Tyler has a great effect perfect for birthdays and leaves the B'Day person with a souvenir. He calls it Birthday Bill. It can be found on the DVD Pockets Full Of Miracles
Slappy
"Help, I've got a silver ball stuck on my thumb"
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Robert Apodaca Special user 504 Posts |
I don't do anything different for birthdays except make sure the birthday person signs the card in ambitious card.
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Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
Do "The World's Oddest Card Trick" from my book "Small But Deadly" but have the final card wishing them Happy Birthday. Printed cards like this with a Bicycle back can be obtained from Card Collection in the U.K.
Paul. |
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kerpa Special user Michael Miller 594 Posts |
How about Unshuffled by Gertner, with the person's name as the revelation?
Or of course, Daryl has on one of his Revelation DVDs the Birthday spelling trick - which I have set up with a Faro.
Michael Miller
(Michael Merlin: original family --and stage-- name) |
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magicshayne Loyal user 284 Posts |
A good routine I sometimes do is labbeled but I just right aon the label of the bottle congratualtions I prepare a couple of bottles b4 I perform if any body has a special reason to celabrate birthday anniversay ect this fits well hope this helps regards shayne
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magicshayne Loyal user 284 Posts |
A good routine I sometimes do is labbeled but I just right aon the label of the bottle congratualtions I prepare a couple of bottles b4 I perform if any body has a special reason to celabrate birthday anniversay ect this fits well hope this helps regards shayne
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MAKMagic Special user I got banned for one of my 555 Posts |
I do a fun effect for special occasions\repeat or special guests...Michael Close's "A trick for O'Brien" I prep a couple cards and keep them handy for if and when the opportunity arises "Happy Birthday <space for name>!" "Happy Anniversary<space for name> !" "Thanks for coming to Pagliaccis <space for name>!" "Happy Holidays <space for name>!" etc...
Great effect, great responses...LASTING Memory and souvenier for the guest.
.:Michael Kelley
On the Level, By the Square |
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CurtWaltermire Special user Curtis The Mentalist 505 Posts |
Thanks for all the ideas, fellow Magi.
Keep 'em comin'!
Curtis Waltermire
Mentalist/Magician/Speaker/Actor/Grandpa/Cool Dad & Above-Average Husband CurtisTheMentalist.com YouTube Channel My Touring Public Show "The Mastermind Show" Check Out My Podcast "The Mastermind Show with Curtis The Mentalist" |
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Dustin Baker Inner circle California 1006 Posts |
My birthday effect comes from Jay Sankey's Bigger Finish.
I use the same gimmick and concept but instead of just having the card face it has the card face with "Happy Birthday" Printed on it. I can then write in the name of the guest. Since multiple birthdays can occur nightly (what with free will and all), you might want to print-up several of the gimmick and store them in your close-up case.
Think inside the box. . . it's less crowded.
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Isramagia Regular user Bayamon, Puerto Rico 114 Posts |
I carry a few paper hat tears and have the birthday person do the tearing. I find it works well for all ages and they get a magical birthday hat to remember the occasion and the restaurant.
Izzy
Izzy
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ShaunRobison Loyal user 255 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-12-18 06:29, Magic_Steve wrote: Just for a bit of info. On my DVD "The Art and MAgic of Shaun Robison" there is one effect called "THE KISS TRICK" and it is almost what you described. Although it is a bit more detailed then just putting a piece of foil and some sugar into your hand. Might I suggest you check it out. In fact everything on the DVD's are effects I use on a regular basis in my 5 nights a week gig. Doc Eason's birthday card trick is a must too!!!!. I have a few other ideas that I will be sharing soon!!! Have a great day!! Shaun
www.shaunrobison.com
Magic and Illustrations |
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