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templemagic Elite user Sunderland, North-East England 420 Posts |
Hi,
My school are holding a Dinner Dance and I have been asked to perform, doing the table hopping. Has anyone got any advice for me? What sort of tricks would you suggest? When abouts in the dinner would be the best time to work? I thought after the dinner would be best because people will still be sat around their tables. How log do you suggest performing for? Thanks, TM |
Shane Wiker Inner circle Las Vegas 1199 Posts |
I don't table hop (i'm only 13) but I do know from other magicians that the best time to table hop is before the food arives and after they have had their order taken. If you walk up to someone after the just finished eating, they are probably ready to leave and don't want someone bothering, I mean entertaining them. If, on the other hand, you come up to them when they have nothing else to do and show them some magic, it will make the wait time seem shorter, them happier, and they will probably enjoy their meal more because they will be thinking about your tricks and how you did them. If however, since its a dinner dance, they are still around and don't seem like they are busy, there is no reason not to go up and show them your magic.
As for tricks, I would suggest hard hitting tricks that can be done in the hands or with little table space like two card monte, scotch and soda, red hot mama, a good spongeball routine, maybe a coin effect like Michael Ammars coin through hankerchief or twisting the aces. When I turn 14 in less than a month, I am going to try to get a job table hopping but until then, I'm just going to have to get some more advice from the great restaurant magicians in this forum. I hope that even though I'm not a professional, you get some good advice from this post. |
magicsoup Elite user 461 Posts |
If it's a dinner it is probably catered. They won't be ordering food. If there is a taking of turns for people to get thir food you can always go to the tables that are waiting. If not then go when they have had a chance to eat their meal and might be working on their deserts. If the atmosphere is really loud you might wnat to do quick tricks that don't have a lot of patter. If there is a special occasion involved you should do a message trick. Don't deal a bunch of cards on the table and don't use a close up pad where you will hve to move stuf around on the table. Maybe try a torn and restored napkin.
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david_a_whitehead Inner circle USA 2122 Posts |
I take it that this dance is catered. in that case perform your tricks after the food is served. There will be people dancing and there will be people sitting at their tables just talking or not wanting to dance, these are your targets. then go up and perform normal strolling magic stuff, you can do an out of this world to one of the people on the table. and then you could go into some monte effects, and then some coin effects like 3/4 across, tenkai pennies, or even extroydinary. packet tricks I take with me in this setting are NFW, color monte, twisted sisters and bill goldman's monkey in the middle. I throw in ultimonte or ultimate 3 card monte from time to time
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Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
Such events are often catered and service can be either by plate, family style or buffet.
Find out which one it is to be and work from there. Individual plate service is easy, as they are all served at about the same time. Wait until they have finished or work during social hour before hand. Same applies to family style, as they are all at table at the same time. Work either before or after dinner. Buffets are more challenging as people get up to eat whenever they feel like it. Watch for when the buffet table(s) have been unvisited for a while, after folks have done "seconds" and dive in. Or work the social hour prior to dinner. Working during the dancing itself can be very challenging, especially if the dancing is in the same room as the food service was. In such situations you have an advantage - table space, and a disadvantage - LOUD music. Trying to work over most DJ setups in very challenging and can actually damage your voice if you do not know how to project properly. Be careful. Tricks? Anything that you would do in a normal strolling environment - cards, coins, rubber bands, chop cup, Zig Zag Lady (just kidding on that last one!). You get the idea. Make your choices strong magic, easily carried, that resets quickly. One thing to keep in mind is the client's expectations. Make sure you understand exactly what your client wants from you - then do your best to fulfill their wishes! Hoping this helps, Lee Darrow, C.Ht. http://www.leedarrow.com
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
ZachWaldman New user 67 Posts |
There's another option nobody has mentioned yet; don't
table hop. Instead, in this environment, you may want to consider setting up a small table, standing behind it, and doing magic for the people that stroll by. Another option is to do table hopping magic before the food arrives. Once the music and dancing starts, set up a table just outside the door to the banquet room. By doing this, you can get away from some of the noise but still gather small groups of people to perform for as they enter and leave the room. |
DanielGreenWolf Veteran user Waterbury, CT 363 Posts |
If its a dinner / dance, you may want to be prepared to do VERY visual magic... i.e. magic that involves almost no words. I've done several parties of the sort where the music was blaring and doing any kind of patter was really tough. So make the effects simple to understand through action, and very eye-popping. My best weapon with these events is Card Manipulation and simple levitations. You'd be amazed how much back palms can get you at these events. And if you find out you're starting to get surrounded, get into different effects. But Manipulations are a great way to get their attention.
Would I lie to you? Well... when I consider it... . But its still true |
Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
I perform between courses at such events. The routines have to have short phases so that you can stop performing, quickly.
If you perform while the band is on, be prepared with routines that don't require that you speak - completely visual stuff. |
-The Scot- Special user 726 Posts |
I think Free Fall by Mark Mason is an excellent routine, as you can do it on any table, and you don't need to worry about your cards getting sticky (it's a coin trick). Heck, you can even do it with the specs hand and a little thought
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Jared Inner circle Rhode Island, USA 1573 Posts |
I don't mean to sound like an antagonist or unsupportive, but according to your website you've been performing magic throughout Europe for 10-years. Certainly you must have some well rehearsed material from your set of bread and butter routines that would be applicable to this setting.
-Jared |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
I can perform anytime, before, during or after the meal. Usually I would perfer after the meal. If you use the spectator to hold a prop of yours, make sure his/her hand is clean from food. If everything can not fit in your pockets, try bringing a briefcase or waist wallet (the bag that connects to a waist stap).
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