Yesterday I went out with a friend. a mutual acquintance was working at a bar, and I just asked if he needed some "magical entertainment". and he said yes!

second week of januari at a restaurant, doing magic at the dinnertables from 6 till 8. first one is free, if it goes well I can return and get paid.

I'm putting together my tricklist, and so far I'm going to do this (ive decided to skip the tricks I'm still a little uncertain of):

- pressure (telephone in balloon)
- biddle trick
- clip line
- sinful (coin trough soda can)
- that effect when you teach how to deal cards, and you get 4 kings, spectator 4 aces, I forgot the name
- ambitious card

reserve
- 2 card monte
- CMH+stargazer

I believe this will be enough, do you agree?

I would really appreciate any tips!

Servaas

Dear Servaas,

Congratulations!

6 Effects probably is enough.

Long term try to develop an off the table non-card effect for every card effect you do.

Watch out for drinking to calm the nerves, many a great Magician has lost his chops and or his health that way.

Have fun. Be amazing.

-Mary Mowder

Congratulations!



That's Shuffling Lesson.

You have enough effects, but you may find yourself struggling to deal with the constant stream of performing and no time to reset given your list. I would make sure you have many more effects that don't require any reset. Still, congratulations! Let us know how it goes.

Congratulations!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

Congratulations too.

Congratulations! (You never forget your first time!)

Your choices look good, and that’s a good number (plus some reserves. Smart!)

Now don’t over-think it. Just do what you’re good at and HAVE FUN!

I don’t think I’d have alcohol at all, but do have a glass of water stashed somewhere in case of dry mouth.

Then be sure to come back in January and tell us how great you were!

Knock em dead!

Congratulations! You are well on your way!

I don't plan to drink, thanks for the advice. ive tried to do some coin vanishes with a few glasses of wine in me, that wasnt a big succes.

how do you decide which amount of tricks you do? probably just your gut feeling right?

Dear servaas,

Good call on the alcohol.

Lots of your questions may be answered in Table Hopping and Strolling Magic. Look for when to perform, dealing with staff, quick wrap up when food comes, kids at the table etc...

If you're a regular you'll want to preserve your Magic a little. I often do 2 or 3 effects in a routine or let the conversation lead me. My partner does longer sets but he is more skilled and has a larger repertoire.

Watch the spectators. Are their eyes darting around? Are they leaning forward? What kinds of looks are they exchanging? are they smiling? We can all read the signs if we have the presence of mind to look.

They would not have said yes if they didn't think you were fun. Relax and remember you are sharing something wonderful with the patrons. Approach the table like you're passing out free cookies.

-Mary Mowder

Good luck with your gig mate,

which ambitious card routine do you want to do, will you end with the card in pocket?
that's stronge but a lot of things can go wrong with an ACR...
and by the way I like Mary Mowder advice of approaching the table as if you are passing out free cookies...well said.
I hope you do great

Wow, Mary, everything you've said is spot on, but THIS is a classic!
.
.
.
.
(Still laughing!)

I have 2 options, one with the bent card, and one I came up myself (but probably existst already...), I torn the dupe of the first card, sign a second, and do a transpo where the first one appears again. the first one is totally impromptu, so I think I go with that one.

Adding sponge balls could be fun too.

Hi James
ive been thinking about that, its an option for future performances, because I want to have something cool for the kids also (and I believe spongeballs is very nice for the children?)

Or those 3D sponge rabbits.

I would suggest that you bring along some spare items on that day. You don't have to perform them but you never know. It's better to be prepared than caught offguard.

JamesTong is right, bring extra items but you don't have to carry all on your person. You can stash a bag in the server station. Also, don't bring anything you don't feel comfortable performing your first time. Go with the tried and true.

-Mary Mowder

4 tips I can give for bar work -


1)warm up on strangers in the street before the gig to get into "the zone" - don't use booze.
2)less is more - they'll come find you later if they want to see more.
3) Make sure its a performance and not just some tricks - have a structure and a build up to a finale.
4)have an invisible deck in your back pocket in case it goes wrong - it is the perfect out.

have fun!!!!!!!!- less than 1% of people ever make a penny from something they truly love to do - on my fist night of paid magic, the first 10 min were scary as hell and the next 3 hrs were utter bliss.

You have found your place to be bad (we all had to at one time)

Focus on making sure you can get beyond reducing the art to little puzzles and work to make a presentation.

Study Tommy Wonder, his work will give you more insight into presentation and effects than you can ever imagine.

Instant resets, look to Tommy Wonder. Almost all his close up (pocket) work was designed to instantly reset

Again Do not reduce the art to little puzzles.

Be an Artist, show the public what magic can be.

Posted: Dec 14, 2009 11:22pm
And Always leave them wanting more.