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scottds80 Special user Victoria, Australia 730 Posts |
I have been booked for a formal dinner gathering for an overnight seminar camp of students. It includes half an hour of my caberet style show up front inbetween the main meal & dessert, but for the rest of the time (while they are eating), I am asked to do table hopping.
I am usually a parlour magician and not a table hopper. This is my first time table hopping. I have complete confidence to entertain as a table hopper - I will simply be using some of my effects from my parlour act which will work at the tables. So now I have a question about this predicament. The time I have been given, everyone will be eating their main meals. This is unavoidable. Is this appropriate to still perform? Or should I email the coordinator back and say it is not appropriate to be performing while the guests are eating? Thanks
"Great Scott the Magician", Gippsland
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coma185 Regular user 128 Posts |
In this situation, I just ask the table. Everyone is different, some tables will say yes, others will ask me to come back after they have finished their meal. I usually also will only do tricks that don't require a volunteer if they are eating, that way everyone can eat and watch a closeup show.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Would you want someone to interupt you while you were eating?
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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jimhlou Inner circle 3698 Posts |
I have never had any luck performing for people who are eating. My advice would be to let the coordinator know that this is not a good idea.
Jim |
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Keith Raygor Special user Naples, FL 968 Posts |
I never approach people while they're eating entrees. You'll know by the faces of the first few you try. But if you cannot avoid it, coma's suggestion is the best - choose tricks that don't require physical assistance from a diner.
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ugdini13 Loyal user Chino,Ca 259 Posts |
"The worst entree, will still trump the best magic trick"-Unknown
I personally do not want to compete with a meal. You might get their attention initially, but be prepared to lose their attention to their food quickly. Another thing that I have experienced is your props will probably get some food debris on them. More time spent talking and getting to know a table as a "host of the party" followed by something quick and flashy has worked in my experience. Kelly
"Perfection is in the details, but detail is no Perfection"-Dai Vernon
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Adam1975 Special user UK 900 Posts |
Yes its bad if they insist on you performing while people are eating.Perhaps they are inexperienced when it comes to planning these types of events.Perhaps you could politely steer them to sense....and suggest a better time to perform.
Ok...there is an arguement for turn up,perform,and take home the money,but,you are being reduced to a sideshow doing this,and an unwelcome one at that! Im all for bowing to the clients needs etc...but,hopefully we all have our artistic standards to,even if they are not impossibly high!
Ive upped my standards.Now,up yours!
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Natanel Special user 739 Posts |
Yeah this is easy. Performing while people eat? don't.
seriously. it's effing obnoxious. I don't care if you're Micheal Ammar himself I don't want you shoving a pack of cards in my face while I eat. Performing while the guests enjoy a coffee? ok. Performing while the guest enjoy a cocktail? probably better then ok.
People who work for Theory 11: Do you want a young guy without a stupid gelled haircut or eurotrash jeans for your videos? PM me.
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Dear scottds80,
The advice about avoiding it is best but if the client insists I'd still take the gig. In this case you've already accepted , so... Follow the "ask the table" advice, the "no touch" advice and make each stop brief. People often watch TV while eating so (this is a one time only suggestion for Close-Up) maybe try to build a third wall that makes it more comfortable to watch semi passively. People can be very uncomfortable with a third wall up close so you'll be walking a line. Some forms of jugglery would work OK for this. Be sure to work the client's table just as hot food arrives (you should not actually do this, I'm just trying to be funny). - Mary Mowder |
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scottds80 Special user Victoria, Australia 730 Posts |
I appreciate your answers and it has become clear not to do this. Thanks.
I will put all the emphasis on the stand up show, and suggest that I only do the magic before any meals come out to a table, then I will stop. Thanks for your advice Mary, I'll also drop my cards into their meal.
"Great Scott the Magician", Gippsland
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bunkyhenry Special user NYC Metro 828 Posts |
A lot of times there is a cocktail hour before the meal...that is perfect.
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Ron Vergilio Special user Murrieta, CA 835 Posts |
If the person that hired you "insists" that you perform at the table while they eat then...
No effects that uses table space or where you have to move items around on the table. All effects should be done in your hands and no volunteers. Make the effect short and sweet then move on. Hopefully they will take your advice and not insist. -Ron |
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edh Inner circle 4698 Posts |
Pull up a chair and join them for dinner.
Magic is a vanishing art.
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pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts |
There are few things I enjoy more in the world than watching a good solid close-up worker. But when I'm working on a steak, I don't care if Vernon himself asked me to pick a card, you just might lose a finger. Personally, after 10 years restaurant and banquet experience, I find it much easier to explain the person booking me that I will perform during cocktails, appetizers, and dessert. NOT the main course.
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scottds80 Special user Victoria, Australia 730 Posts |
Ok, interesting answer pepka. Thankyou.
So who else agrees that desserts are an appropriate time to perform?
"Great Scott the Magician", Gippsland
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Futureal Inner circle 1695 Posts |
If they are eating, don't perform.
During coffees or drinks is fine. |
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carbone1853 Loyal user RI USA 239 Posts |
At a formal dinner gathering, all the tables are not likely to be served at the same time. So you will have plenty of time to perform for those waiting for the food to come. Since the tables are served at different times some tables will be done eating before others and you can also perform for them.
So, there should be plenty of time to perform for people not eating. For instance: 1) Before the serving starts. 2) While some tables are waiting for the food. 3) After some tables have finished eating and are waiting for the rest to finish eating. There my be some time between 2 and 3 when everyone is eating, that is a very good time to adjust some very important prop you have set up on stage. Or check on something in your car. Or whatever. Just don't be seen doing nothing, because that will be the time your employer will look over to see what the magician is doing. Don’t worry too much about this dead time, it usually will not last very long. Anyway if you keep you eyes open you will be able to fill most of the time before your show performing for tables. Keep in mind the performing before the show is a preview of coming attractions and you should use the strolling time to get people excited about your stage show. You don’t necessarily need to do magic tricks for each table you approach. If you get to a table and they don’t seem interested in magic tricks, just: say hello, introduce your self, joke with them, mention the show after the dinner, and go on to the next table. If the strolling is wonderful and the stage show is a mediocre your employer will not be happy. On the other hand if the strolling is mediocre and the stage show is wonderful then you will be a big hit. Good luck Chris |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
The last place you want to be at a banquet is between the tables when the staff is trying to serve the food. You will be in the way, and people will trip over you.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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carbone1853 Loyal user RI USA 239 Posts |
If the last place you want to be is "between the tables when the staff is trying to serve the food" then strolling magic, at banquets and restaurants, is not for you. Not wanting to do strolling magic is a reasonable position, since it is a lot of work and generally low paying. (Compared to stage shows that is)
For me, the last place I want to be is standing around doing nothing while the person who hired me is wondering what they payed me for. Chris |
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Flec Special user UK 585 Posts |
If the audience is eating you won't be able to ask their names, where they are from, how the night has been....and they wont be able to pick a card, choose a cup, hold a sponge ball, etc etc etc. There will be zero per cent interaction.
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