Here is an article precisely on this topic that I hope will prove useful:

Tip #11: Eye Candy Openers

If you have done any serious reading about restaurant magic, you will have already encountered the "Rule of Three," and the recommendation to arrange your table side sets in groups of three routines: an opener, a middler and a closer. Some authors point out that everything you do should be a closer, by which I presume they mean that all of your material should be strong enough to close the show. Conceding this point, then, bring us to the problem of choosing material.

Many books proceed to give you new routines as examples, but I have found that much of the time these are as ill-fitting as someone else's clothes. It would be far better to take the tricks we already know and arrange them into effective sets for restaurant work. How do we do this, you ask.

Well, I'm glad you asked.

First, look at your current repertoire. By this, I mean those tricks and routines that you have done so often and know so well that they are second nature. If you need to think about what you are doing, the routine is not yet sufficiently rehearsed. Once you've compiled a list of your true repertoire, think carefully about the rhythm and pacing from the audience's point of view.

Does the routine require a long introduction, a multi-step process for the audience to follow, or require you to borrow something? Does it give the audience a chance to get to know you a little better? Perhaps it's got a very engaging story to it. This is the sort of routine you want for the middle of your set. Set it aside for later.

Does the routine have most of its impact at the very end? Does it create a strong impression that will last? Is the audience left with a souvenir, perhaps a magically transformed object? When you perform it, do you think, "Nothing can follow THAT"? Then it's probably a closer. Set it aside, as well.

Does the routine have a really strong beginning, then build on that impact? Is it highly visual, requiring nothing but the audience's attention? Is the plot simple and direct? Is it really magical? Does it indicate or imply great skill? Then it may be a good candidate for an opener.

The purpose of an opener is to establish your credentials as a magician. Whenever and audience encounters an unknown performer, they wonder if this person will be any good. Audiences want genuine entertainment, and they do not enjoy seeing performers embarrass themselves. So you need to establish right from the beginning that you are good at what you do. This is very important, because once the audience sees that you’re good (and that they are unlikely to catch you) they can relax and enjoy the rest of the show.

This is not to say that you always should approach the table with flash paper blazing, as it were. One must observe the niceties. As I’ve written before, it is still necessary to start with a friendly approach, and establish 1) that you are the house magician 2) the magic is free and 3) they want to see it now. Then, and only then, ought you to begin performing. But when you do start, start with a stunner!

A secondary purpose for an opening routine is to answer the unspoken but important question, "Why should I keep watching?" Eye candy answers, "Because if you do, you're going to see something impossible!"

The phrase “Eye Candy” came up at the recent Shoot Ogawa/Apollo Robbins lecture I attended in Baltimore. They did material from their new Cultural Xchange DVD, which I highly recommend. They developed the material for use in very loud bars and clubs, where talking was impossible. I have been using the Wither Vanish and Nabil Change with great success in the restaurants and in casual situations where the angles are favorable. So the tricks are very visual, have a great deal of impact and in some cases will make you curse sleight of hand. Once you’ve mastered this material, you’ll be able to write a book yourself.

My standard Eye Candy Openers include a one-coin flurry ending with a US Silver Eagle changing into a dollar-sized US penny (called Inflation, the routine will see print in the near future). I often use the Ninja Rings, minus the tabled moves, because it has the added advantage of playing up in the air and helps "billboard" the magic to other tables. When children and crayons are present, I use them to help me produce a Rainbow Streamer, which then vanishes with lots of help from the wee ones.

If time is short, I may only do one routine, but still want to leave the audience feeling that they have seen a complete show. Ninja Rings and Sponge Bunnies are perfect for this. At a recent strolling banquet gig, three of us magi were given two minutes per table to work! So I did my coin routine, Ninja Rings, Imaginary Bunnies and Really Cool Rising Cards, one per table, and it all worked out well.

Excerpted from "TIPS: Real-World Ideas From a Working Magician." Copyright (c) 2003 Eric B Henning. All Rights Reserved.

Seconds on Simon Lovell's "Packed Wallet".
Stunning way to get attention.
Jack.

Ammar's Wine Bottle production...does it get anymore "WOW"? First time I saw him do it at dennys I almost had to change my pants. UNREAL.

Card Warp is wickedly visual and stunning.

If you are wearing an ITR (I use a Kevlar Pen Reel), a quick levitation of a used sugar packet, straw wrapper or some other "trash" off the table is stunning and quick. Instantly re-sets too.

-Dave

I completely agree with the hot rod.. my fav "eye candy" effect. Though Flec, any hotrod is examinible, assuming your routine allows it..

Any quick change/disappearance with a Raven.

Chris Korn's Backhanded Transportation (now known as Coppa Silva) is visually stunning. I like to do it with the coins from Lethal Tender and a Raven (I finally found an application that I like!). Ultimate 3 Fly is also very visual and stunning. I also use a lot from the Cultural XChange series.

Fl!p Stick. Kills and is NOT an audience participation idea - the bloody thing simply vanishes right in front of their eyes ... IF you do it right.

Snapping a knot in a rope, Professor's Nightmare, C&R rope, 1 coin routine and mouth coils all qualify, depending on presentation.

Just a few more obscure ones from the back of the room...

Lee Darrow, C.Ht.
http://www.leedarrow.com

You should have seen Tim Conover perform his version of this in the 70's using rhyming patter and a FISM Flash accompanying the vanishes -- absolutely fantastic!

Mickey Silver vanishing coins before your eyes and sending them through his ears out his mouth and back in his hand, then swallowing a coin and its back in his hand. It really doesn't get better than that for pure visual sleight of hand. Truly eye candy.

Sankey's In a Flash is good in the eye candy department. A little flash paper can go a long way sometimes.

Impulsive premonition By Jack Carpenter is killer..

My favorite eye candy, and the trick I open with just about every time I am performing for someone who has not seen me before, is Red Hot Mama/Chicago Opener. It is very visual. It gets their attention. It gives me a good idea where their heads are by their reaction to it. It ends clean. And from there I can go in a million different directions, as at that point I have a straight deck to work with.

One thing...I have seen it referred to several times in the Café since joining a week ago, but I have to ask...what the heck is a Hot Shot Cut Revelation? Just wondering.

:-)

Alan

Daryl's Hot Shot Cut is in his videos (Encyclopedia).

I like the Pick A Pip effect from Carneycopia

I sell the wallets for this routine on my website at a great price. To make it even better, Simon's routine is included (thanks Simon) with the wallets.

I also include an additional routine as well.


Frank Starsinic

They look good, Frank... Nice site too.
I am interested and will get back to you when I might be prepared to buy.

GlenD

Michael Ammar's third ball appearance in cups and balls is clean. So is Ateve Bedwell's Reboxed and one more, jbtv's Heartbeat

All the best,
Chris Webb

The Hot Shot Cut is a twisting one handed cut that ends with a card being shot from between the two packets. The card twists out and "spins like a buzz saw", to quote Jay Sankey.

Healed and Sealed, Brainwave effects, sponge balls...

Sponge Bunnies (Ammar)
Sponge Bunnies (Ammar)
Sponge Bunnies (Ammar)

Don't now, I kind a hate these little ***s... ;-)
But sometimes it's really depressing: I show them first the bunnies and they freak out. I'm sure a LOT of you had that experience... (last night a girl screamed at me when she opened her hand, tossed the bunnies far away, stood up and run away) Sometimes I think I should skip them. After the bunnies I do a really nice AC routine, which ends after a glass again and again. The reaction is nice, but nothing to compare with these little ***s...