|
|
Go to page 1~2 [Next] | ||||||||||
RealityTwisterSFX New user 50 Posts |
Restaurant break-in for mentalist..
I am trying to break in to doing some mentalism shows at my local restaurants while party halls can anyone please give me tips on how to get some doors open? |
|||||||||
MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
What does "...while party halls" mean?
There are really only two ways to get booked weekly in a restaurant. 1) Frequent the place and perform for the staff and eventually get the manager's interest. This is the method Bill Malone gives. Bill Malone talks about sitting at the bar and performing for other patrons but the idea is the same. 2) Ask to speak to the manager and pitch your idea. You will probably get a lot of rejections before you hit the right restaurant at the right time. The way I got my first restaurant was that I worked there, starting in the kitchen and eventually bussing and then waiting on tables. I did a little magic for my customers and it became very common for them to ask me to do tricks. One day the manager suggested that I just do magic and let the other waiters serve the food. Over the years I picked up other restaurants but I never had to go looking for them. The restaurant owner or manager would see me perorm and ask if I could do the same at his place. When Covid hit I lost all my restaurant gigs. As masking and distancing eased up I expected the restaurants to call me but they were still struggling or in one case had closed. I finally got a new restaurant two months ago. It was the first restaurant I got cold calling. I went in, asked to see the manager, and ended up doing a nice little magic show for her and some of the wait staff. They hired me and the responce from the patrons has been great. I think other restaurants will take notice and I will pick up one or two more. |
|||||||||
RealityTwisterSFX New user 50 Posts |
Thaks so much for the input.. I been doing ZOOM for about 2 years online but want to break into restaurants
|
|||||||||
MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
You will probably have to try a lot of places. The family restaurants I work probably higher me as much for balloon animals as for magic. It fits in with their kid's night promotion.
As a mentalist, you are an unusual commodity for a restaurant. (Unless you do balloon animal mentalism) Best of Luck and report back when you get something. |
|||||||||
Paul Budd Elite user It's a shame he's only made 435 Posts |
Tell us about your last 4 paying gigs.
His face isn't really this long in-person!
___________________________________________ Once Upon A Magician blog |
|||||||||
KarpeNoktem New user 59 Posts |
Show some visual mentalism that would go down well with their customers. Think about what they think - pleasing their clients whilst they eat and respecting their privacy. If you can fit into that with your initial effects, that's key
Also read Pure Effect by Derren Brown if you haven't already - or recap the first chapters where he talks about the key of building rapport with the customers and the effect comes AFTER that. That will go far as well. Don't try to just perform IMHO |
|||||||||
MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
RealityTwisterSFX,
I still don't know what "...while party halls" means |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Jul 28, 2022, KarpeNoktem wrote: Has this ever worked for you? It seems to me you’re projecting what your thinking for what you believe they are thinking.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
KarpeNoktem New user 59 Posts |
It's worked for me personally
But perhaps I don't understand the projecting part Let me know what you mean and I'll try and answer better |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
You are projecting your thoughts on what the hall owner is thinking and pretending they are theirs. Not many who own these places think like that. Magicians think like that.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
RobertApodaca Regular user Henderson, NV 150 Posts |
I thought you were asking us how to break into a restaurant to set something up for a mentalism effect.
Houdini would do something similar. |
|||||||||
Blaine G New user 87 Posts |
Quote:
On Jul 27, 2022, KarpeNoktem wrote: The magic wraps up the second I see food coming to the table. They are there to dine, not see a show, despite what I desire. My role is to fill time while they wait, make it seem like a short wait, and to drop in at tables where the order is delayed. Never to interrupt, especially while eating. Just saying... |
|||||||||
Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Isn't that rule #1 of restaurant magic?
|
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 22, 2022, Mindpro wrote: It is one way to do it, and it is the west most do it. But I think it is absolutely the worst way to do it.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
RobertApodaca Regular user Henderson, NV 150 Posts |
In my experience, magic is best performed after the order is in and before the food arrives. Another good time is after they are done eating this gives the magician 2 windows to target. But then again, this is just the advice that was given to me by the pros. If you can work while people eat more power to you. Could be fun to think of what act you can do without the use of spectators who are presumably busy eating.
Interestingly enough, I was just performing at a wedding during cocktail hour and people were eating so the rule can be bent in some instances. |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I wouldn’t worry any way other than after dinner personally.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
When I first started restaurant work in 2002, I was scolded (sort of) by the manager for performing at a table after they had finished eating. Max & Erma's was the chain. The mgr.told me that once the patrons have finished, do not approach, the table needs to turn. Now at higher scale, more formal restaurants, that might not hold true if a magician is featured for entertainment at that time.
Here in the Pgh. PA area restaurants are still hurting with lack of staff. Many closed certain days of the week. The 4 restaurants that I had are gone.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
|
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Think about the perception. You end up doing 3 tricks hopefully before the salad shows up. You are there as an afterthought at best. What does this do exactly to the perception of your value to the customer? You are a distraction at best, not a benefit of any sort.
I personally don't think magic works well at the "turn and burn" restaurants. Not the way I want to be perceived anyhow. I work after the meal, by request. Yes it is at higher priced restaurants. The staff "sells" it as something special for the guest. It is fine to do it with desert on the table or coffee. In reality you are only doing about 7 minutes anyhow so coffee can take that long with you there or without you. Most restaurants are worried about turning tables but if you work at places with reservations and such it is not as huge an issue. When you are sort of a "benefit" or "feature" then the perception of your value is quite a bit higher. Not only are you in front of people with a lot more money, your own value seems higher because not only where you are but how you are presented. Think of it this way. Imagine the best meal you can possibly think of. The best meal to you in the world. Then instead of putting it on a wonderful plate with a wonderful presentation they go and get a piece of cardboard from the trash outside that has to have garbage brushed off of it. They present the meal on that. They just drop it on there and bring it to you. In my mind most close-up magicians are presented in this fashion. When you have to hurry along for the SALAD it is a problem in my mind. You and what you are doing is not as important as the thing the busser has put together in the kitchen. No chef or line cook required. Some salad on a salad plate. I personally don't want to be perceived that way. The idea of being a distraction for wait times does not appeal to me either. While I am happy to address tables with any sort of issues in the kitchen, and that can be something that is easier for a magician than a server, it will never be part of my primary function. First of all if it happens that regularly the restaurant has many issues other than entertainment. There is nothing wrong with working in family restaurants, or "turn and burn" establishments. It is simply not the way I personally work. There is no right or wrong answer. Please don't jump on me for having a different way of doing it. I am not judging.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Confirming your above post. If and when restaurants come back to the way they used to be with adequate staff and opened 7 days, I'd hate for those to avoid certain types of restaurants that I successfully enjoyed for 18 years. If the restaurants did not feel I was of value and was a distraction then I would not have enjoyed those years.
Quick example, Max and Erma's Corporate was going through some financial issues. They were cutting costs and evaluating the demographics of their stores. My continuing performance came up in a meeting. They decided to continue my services partly due to the waitstaff input and felt my services provided value. Yes, there is no right or wrong answer. I'm just very glad that I pursued these styles of restaurants. In addition it was very financially rewarding with the shows obtained from the exposure.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
|
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Absolutely nothing wrong with working in that way. Just a different model is all.
To be clear though I don’t think I said that form of entertainment was a distraction. If it seems I did I said it wrong because there is value to it. Again no right or wrong in my mind. Just equally valid different ways is all.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Table hoppers & party strollers » » Restaurant break-in for mentalist (3 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |