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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
...THE MOST AWESOME THINGS!!!!
Today while at The Cheesecake Factory, I approach a table, introduce myself and ask if I can create a balloon sculpture for the child. The child looks at me and says "I can't get one b/c my Mom said that she doesn't want to give you any money!" Mom sits there looking VERY embarrassed and wanting to crawl into a hole... Well played kid! Well played indeed!
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
DATMagic Veteran user Shreveport, La 302 Posts |
If I know you, you made one anyway and maxed out the mom's credit card after she saw it?
David A Trombetta
DAT does the Trick DATdoestheTrick.com email [email]DATMagic@aol.com[/email] |
Leland Inner circle St Louis 1180 Posts |
Gotta love those kids!
Life of Magic!
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Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts |
I get this a lot....
I usually tell them I am paid by the restaurant to be here. If you would like a balloon no problem. If you would like to tip it is up to you .... and don't worry you can't over tip me.
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 |
DATMagic Veteran user Shreveport, La 302 Posts |
Mark, how do you deal with this:
You walk up to a familiar table who you know tip well, usually $10 to $20. You build two pretty extravagant balloons that takes a total off close to 10 minutes. You get your tip and walk to the next table wildly beckoning you to come over. The two kids at that table want the same thing they just saw you make and you see the mom with 2 one dollar bills in her hand, and your pretty sure that's all your getting. The restaurant is busy.
David A Trombetta
DAT does the Trick DATdoestheTrick.com email [email]DATMagic@aol.com[/email] |
Kevinr Inner circle 1854 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-12-11 14:30, DATMagic wrote: I do the exact same thing Mark said above I wear no tip buttons of any kind and I don't beg for tips. I get paid by the place I work. If someone wants to tip me I glady except but it not needed. I avoid making the same thing twice on any single night and I have my ways just like mentalism and magic suggesting other things and I am pretty good at it. If a child is balling over the same exact thing I will make it and don't woory about the small tip since I don't work just for tips. I realize what comes around goes around. Bad circumstances like your situtaion above happen like eveything else in life but its few and far between or we wouldn't be doing this for very long. What about the one person who ask for something huge and gives you no tip at all?? What about the five kids on one table all wanting something and give no tip?!? How about the client that books with you for a party and then cancels last minute and you have no deposit? My Policy: So what, Who cares, Take care of the customer, Get over it and move on! |
Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-12-11 14:30, DATMagic wrote: I usually don't look at my tips till I'm done... However you can tell the difference between a $1 and $20 put in your hand. I figure it all evens out. In the end ... the good the bad and the none. However if the $1 table wants the same thing .... I'll say the other table has a special occasion today. Let's make you something special too.
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 |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
I did make the child a balloon...I made them an Elf Hat, and true to the child's word, the mom stiffed me. Meh! It happens.
Here's my take on it... I don't work for "only tips." Never have, never will. My skill is worth something and if a restaurant can see the value in it, then awesome...if not, then that's fine too b/c I can always find a place to pay me fee. EVERYONE gets a balloons regardless. I'm there make everyone happy...I'm not selling balloons. Does it bug me when I get stiffed? Sure...but I brush it off and hit the next table. For every one person who will stiff me, there's a person out there who won't. I would say that 50-60% of the time, I see the parents pull out a buck when I approach. About half way thru the creating process, I see that dollar go back in the wallet and something larger comes out. I love when that happens b/c I feel like I have now exceeded their expectations. The child wants a sword and the parents assume this is what will be made... ...so they pull out a buck! When I return to the table and they see I have 7 balloons in hand, a look of surprise comes across their face. The buck quickly disappears. As to your problem David, I do exactly what Mark suggests. I normally make double in tips than what I'm being paid by the restaurant. So if a few stiff me and I'm still making double my fee in tips, I don't really care. Some days are bad other days are really awesome. It all seems to average out in the end.
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Kevinr Inner circle 1854 Posts |
Well said Christopher and I totally agree now lets see a picture of that 7 balloon sword
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DATMagic Veteran user Shreveport, La 302 Posts |
Thanks guys, I guess I just needed to chill out a little. I get paid by the rest. and with tips also. And my tips are generally doubling my fees and I think I was just getting hung up on the money issue. Last night I tried out what was being suggested, didn't worry about tips, and just had fun. I had a great time, enjoyed the kids and families, told a few not to worry about it when they said they didn't have any cash, kept twisting for the late comers, even though it was well past time to go, got home, counted the tips, and had by FAR the best night ever in my 11/2 doing balloons. AND .... booked a party this morning from a non-tipper from last night. Thanks for getting my head out of my pocket......or the closest thing to it, and back to having fun!
Merry Christmas,
David A Trombetta
DAT does the Trick DATdoestheTrick.com email [email]DATMagic@aol.com[/email] |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Congrats David!
I think sometimes, we "all" forget the important thing and this is "to bring miles of smiles" to people. Happens to me too. Check it out...if we're doing this for the money alone, then we're in the wrong profession. I'm guessing that I could go out and land a "real job" somewhere and make way more money than I do as an entertainer. But if I ever did that, then it would last a few months before I would put the end of a gun in my mouth and pull the trigger! I do what I love to do and that is to entertain. I don't care if I'm doing Magic, Stand Up Comedy, Balloon Art, YoYo, Fire Eating, etc. As long as I am in front of the public making them happy, then I'm doing my job right...and THAT my friend, is what it's all about.
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts |
You also need to keep your eye on the prize ...
The real reason to be in a restaurant is to display your skill so you may be hired. Tips and pay are incidental in comparison. Be the best you... you can be! Another thing about tips.... If your not carrying a SQUARE on your smart phone your an idiot!! 20% of my tips now are done on the square.
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 |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-12-13 17:13, Bad to the Balloon wrote: Agreed! I would say that 50% of mine are done on square. Nobody carries cash anymore. It's a great way to increase your tips...
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Marvelous_Mysto Regular user Adelaide, Australia 143 Posts |
The Square is not currently available in Australia :-(
Baz |
EvansFlorida New user 98 Posts |
I totally agree about not caring about tips until the end of the night. It really does make a difference. I noticed my attitude will get more poor if I focus on the change that comes in, and it shows a bit in my enthusiasm.
I do have a question for you that use square. I use square in my BOTR sales at my shows, but I haven't used it in twisting at restaurants. How do you approach this? Do you find they are timid about using their card with you?
You Never Knew The Impossible Could Be So Funny!
Family Events - www.EvansFlorida.com Premiere Corporate Comedy Magic - www.ImpossiblyFunny.com |
DATMagic Veteran user Shreveport, La 302 Posts |
Great question Evans, I use Intuit or Go payment. It plugs in to my phone to swip cards or you can just type in the number. I guess this is the same as square. I definitely use it for all my deposits.
DAT
David A Trombetta
DAT does the Trick DATdoestheTrick.com email [email]DATMagic@aol.com[/email] |
Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Quote:
I'm there make everyone happy...I'm not selling balloons. That statement really helps me keep it all in perspective. Thanks!! Ed |
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