My opinions are based on working 3-4 times weekly at several restaurants for the past 15 years. Restaurants fail routinely as you are well aware. Maybe a change in strategy is in order. I don't know. What I do know is there is plenty of work out there. I recently turned down 2 more restaurant opportunities. My wife said she doesn't see me enough as it is.

Here's a recent quote from a restaurant owner's email: "Lets get together soon and see if we can get you in on an off time to help grow our business."

I'm happy that the restaurant owner is perpetuating his misconception.

I doubt hard and fast rules apply.

Slow night or not, I’d be very careful about claiming that a magician will grow the restaurant's business. It can happen but it depends on many factors.

As far as a rate goes, your first mistake was to ask magicians! I think I’ve told this story before but when I wanted to get into restaurants I asked the area magicians what I should charge. They told me whatever you do don’t ask for less than $50 per hour because that’s what we get and it wouldn’t be right for you to undercut us. I acquiesced. It was difficult but I was very aggressive and was finally successful at booking 3 restaurants for total of 6 nights at that rate.

Years later I found out those magicians who advised me were only making $30 to $35 per hour!! I think its fitting that I ended up making more as a newbie than the experienced magicians were at time!

This was 25 years ago. I am aware that there are many balloons artists working in restaurants for tips only these days. I still have two restaurants that I do regularly and I get much, much more than $50 per hour, plus tips. I don’t say this to brag but only to show you the sky is the limit---even if the majority of your competition is working for free!

I perform at 2 restaurants weekly. One pays $125 for the 2 hours and the other $150 for the 2 hours. I would think $100 for two hours is probably average. But I've had restaurants pay $200 for 2 hours. In my experience, the owners don't mind if you ask for a "raise" once you start bringing in the "magic junkies"

But at 43 years old, it's pretty exhausting for me. I was doing it in my 20s no problem. Started doing it again a few years ago (after 10 years off) and I was like, what the heck happened? Everything hurts now