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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
I've done magic for tables when I was working IN a restaraunt as a waiter, but never as just a amgician, thogh after reading some of the dynamite threads in here by these seasoned gurus, I'm keen to give it a try!
I've noticed that many, (most in fact)seem to prefer working at a flat rate, such as 50 an hour, or 125 for 3 hours etc., and do not accept tips. I've even seen some say they won't accept large tips as this chaepens their image. I've seen a few threads and posts regarding how the magician must sometimes deal with the occasional grumpy waiter, who see you as nothing but a nusciance. So heres a thought: What if you DID accept tips, but gave them to the waiter whose table it was. You would do this out-of-sight of the customers of course. The waiter would no longer see you as a competitor for tips, but as a valuble tip-ally, and, again, I have no experience in these matters, but I can't see how having the wait-staff on your side could be anything but good. Any comments here? Am I onto something? Or am I totally driving off a cliff?
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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dynamiteassasin Inner circle Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan 1158 Posts |
Good idea,but here's another..
Why not split it up? It's a WIN-WIN situation for both right? |
paulajayne Inner circle London England 1160 Posts |
Waiter hourly rate = Low
Magicians hourly rate = High Obvious to me, even though I entertained them the venu is paying me well so ether don't't accept or give it all to the waitstaff to share. Paula
Paula Jay - Magic to Remember -
--------------------------------- I once wrote a book on elephants, I think paper would have been better. ---- |
CyberMage New user 63 Posts |
Personally I've never had a problem with the wait staff at any restaurant I've worked at. If anything they have been very helpful in getting tips to me after I've left a table. They also have directed me to tables that needed some entertainment and even helped in some illusions I've done for specific tables.
Why is this? Because I make sure to help them out as often as possible. My job as a restaurant magician is to make the customer's stay at the resaurant as enjoyable as I can. This doesn't include just doing magic for the customers. IMHO, this includes passing any needs of the customers to the wait staff, entertaining people as they wait in line for a table (when the need arises), keeping an eye out for customers that haven't been seated yet, etc... By doing this, I show the wait staff I'm on their side. It never takes any extra time on my part to do this. Yes I also entertain the staff when I have the time. If I did really well with tips that night I do share SOME of it (though it is a very rare occurance), especially if the staff were very helpful to me that night, but the way I see it, it's a two-way street. If you are helpful to the wait staff, they will be friendly and helpful to you. It's a win-win situation. |
pikacrd Veteran user Florida 387 Posts |
I'm on board with Paula. The waiters make very little in the way of an hourly wage and depend on there tips to make a living. I have a rule when it comes to tips, that is this: If a customer offers me a tip I refuse it 3 times, and if after the third time they still insist that I take the tip I very graciously take the tip because I do not want to insult them. I have had the situation arise where I could tell that a guest at a restaurant started to become a little insulted that I would not take his money and it taught me a valuable lesson and that is; take the money smile and shut up about it. What I will do with the tips that I collect is this, I hold them in my performance wallet until I have enough money to buy the wait staff a round of drinks at the end of an evening. I admit that this will not fit everyone but it seems to work for us. I always make it clear to the wait staff that I am not competing with them for tips and that they can use me as a tool to help them get there job done. With all of that said I will say this I have had members of different wait staffs offer to split tips with me because they have seen there tips go up because of my help.
“Indubitably, Magic is one of the subtlest and most difficult of the sciences and arts. There is more opportunity for errors of comprehension, judgment and practice than in any other branch of physics”. William S. Burroughs 1914-1997 American Writer
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EvanSparts Veteran user Michigan 333 Posts |
The only thing I have ever heard a server say about magicians was, I hate when they do long routines, because severs make their money on table turns. More tables more money. Im a server and I get paid $2.65 an/hour. I need as many tables as I can get to make good money. Giving the tips to the server, I think if you take up to much time would not be a bad gesture.
But if I'm doing magic at my own tables does that mean I have to tip myself? |
Dirko Loyal user Michigan 287 Posts |
I do give the tips to the server! I want every server on my side. I want them to tell management how great it is to have a magician in the house. I find this works for me at least!
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Chris Berry Special user 831 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-08-27 14:26, EvanSparts wrote: Hard to believe you make $2.65 an hour when the Federal Minimum Wage is $5.15. Chris |
denny_Corby Loyal user PA 240 Posts |
Pikacrd I love your idea, but I was thinking doesn't the wait staff get free drinks any way, or is it just water, or do they have to pay for the drinks to?
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Mike Wild Inner circle NY, PA, TX, MA, FL, NC 1290 Posts |
RE: "Hard to believe you make $2.65 an hour when the Federal Minimum Wage is $5.15"
There is a loophole in place that accounts for gratuities when calculating a server's hourly rate. In a nut shell, the federal hourly minimum doesn't apply to those in the food service industry, and some others. I'm lucky enough to not have to compete with the waitstaff for time, money, or attention. I serve suds and I do magic... if you're looking for either... you'll eventually come to me. oh, and I always split up tips with those that help me out, and set up the staff with a round (if they desire) when they're shifts are over, which makes me pretty **** popular most nights! Best, Mike |
magicsoup Elite user 461 Posts |
I have a very good relationship with the waitstaff where I work. I have tried to give wait staff tips and they have refused. I refuse tips the first offer and accept reluctantly if they insist. I also let them know if they see me again sometime that it is not expected in any way. Where I live people rarely tip magicians so it's hardly an issue.
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
My gripe was that bartender would make minimum wage PLUS tips. They were thought of as more professional and harder to train. and I had to tip them. I got even: I became a bratnder!!!
Quote:
On 2004-08-28 03:19, MagicChris wrote: a bratnder is similar to a bartender
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
Mike Wild Inner circle NY, PA, TX, MA, FL, NC 1290 Posts |
That's why I became a bratnder too
But I've always tipped the waitstaff, well, the ones that help me out by getting the drinks out to the tables. Unfortunately, not everyone wants to sit at the bar, with me! Some of them want their own tables! Hard to see the magic from way over there, so I come out once or twice during an evening to do a table or two or three. That'll teach'em to not sit at the bar Waitstaff tips me as well, when I keep the liquid flowing smoothly for them. I also help the busers with clean up, if I have free time. I'm a big fan of cooperation and team work. That's my Mr. Rogers moment for today. Mike |
Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Mike, we had never a bartender like you. They were pretty snobbish. Wait staff and busers all had to run and get them ice, glassware, etc. When I was promoted I tried to change that and make it more of a team effort. Of course, the other bartenders resented it.
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
Mike Wild Inner circle NY, PA, TX, MA, FL, NC 1290 Posts |
I never stopped to think if the other bartenders would take offense to my behavior. I just can't stand sitting around watching other people work.
I'm also the only one who does magic... They must hate me! Truthfully, I do know that there was a discussion which took place a while back regarding me, my magic, the other bartenders, and a "concern" about the tips that I receive as opposed to what some of the other bartenders receive... so I know that some people are not big Sundragon fans. The issue was resolved by the manager, who said something like, "If you want to do magic to increase your tips... go ahead and do it." So far, no one has taken advantage of the opportunity Best, Mike |
Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Well, where I worked, we shared tips behind the bar, so they never minded me getting big tips using magic.
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
pikacrd Veteran user Florida 387 Posts |
Denny,
I buy them a drink at the bar. Most places do not give free drinks at the bar to the employees, and the ones that do don't always have the best service.
“Indubitably, Magic is one of the subtlest and most difficult of the sciences and arts. There is more opportunity for errors of comprehension, judgment and practice than in any other branch of physics”. William S. Burroughs 1914-1997 American Writer
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shane_delon Regular user 114 Posts |
First off, the fact that it may take tips away from the wait staff is not the only reason that magicians don't accept tips. I agree that it cheapens the performer and think that from the customer's viewpoint, it's rude to take money from people that didn't expect to have to give a tip when they came in but feel obligated to.
However, if you want to help the waitstaff out, I think you can say something when they try to offer a tip like, "I don't accept tips, but the wait staff works hard if you want to give them a little extra." or something. sd |
EvanSparts Veteran user Michigan 333 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-08-27 17:28, Chris Berry wrote: we get paid so low a wage because tips are included into the calculation ever wonder why servers get ****ed off because of ****ty tips this is why we need to be tipped to make money. On a busy night with tips and 2.65 an hour I average about 15 bucks and hour but that is because of tips nothourly wage. I hope your not one of those people who don't tip because they think oh he makes minimum wage the tip is extra,....no not true and now you know. |
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