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Cypher
Conjuror
| Joined: | 08-15-2004 |
| Location: | Manitoba Canada |
| Posts: | 15 |
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Posted: 10-19-2004 01:54 |
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Like Bryan said, politeness is key. It should be pretty obvious that people do not want to tip someone who is self-centered, not involved with the audience through the trick, or even rude.
I would suggest after you find a routine that you and the audience enjoys, experimenting with a new trick every now and then to see how people react to it. It may even be a good idea sometimes to change your entire routine every month or so just incase the same people come in to see you again- its up to you though.
Every now and then, you may come into a situation in which a table is really enjoying your tricks and even after their food comes, they want to see more. If this happens, I would suggest that you show them something fairly short and visual- where they only have to watch you perform the trick so they can get started on their food, such as Charge-It or NFW. A trick where all they have to do is pick a card at the beginning and watch you perform the rest of it would be a good idea too, such as an ambitious routine.
Good luck with everything! 
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Wolflock
Magician
| Joined: | 11-30-1999 |
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| Posts: | 46 |
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Posted: 10-22-2004 10:59 |
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My approach which has worked for me for at lease 5 years now is:
Approach the table AFTER the waiter has taken the order, with a big smile, introduce yourself and that you are the "restuarant's" magician. Ask them if they would like some entertainment while they wait for their food to arrive. I have never been turned down with this approach.
make your tricks short but effective. and allow for some of the other tables to catch a glimps of the wonders you are perfoming at the table. They will ask for you if they want to see more.
Try not to perform the same tricks at each table, have a variety of tricks. This is to stop someone saying, "No thanks. We saw you doing the tricks over there."
DO NOT approach two lovers unless they ask for you. If they do, greet the male as if he was a friend of yours and make as if he specially got you to perfom for his lady companion. He WILL play along because he wants to impress her.
DO NOT approach people who are deep in conversation. There is nothing more annoying than someone interupting you when you are deep in conversation.
DO approach tables with children and ask the parents if you may entertain their children. They will be greatful for the behaviour of the engrossed children AND they can enjoy the show too.
Leave by greeting each person as if they were a friend, with a big smile on your face and leave a card.
These are a few of the personal tips that I have used and that have worked for me.
Hope they help
Regards
Wolflock
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nuillusions
Magician
| Joined: | 11-30-1999 |
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| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: 10-22-2004 16:12 |
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Yeah this is all great advice,
A couple situatuations that will make your evening a little easier.
If you are approaching a group of males usually they are a little less receptive. Ask them " Do you have a quick eye?" and then preform something like scotch and soda. They will usually heckle each other and not you. Difuse situations before they can occur.
Base magic on strenghs and weakness. Involve groups of individuals by saying something like "Who's the most creative." , or "Whos' the strongest" This will usually get an inside joke or two from the audience. This gives everyone a chance to say something. Allowing for maximum participation.
Most important , Involve the crowd. Have them hold things, hide things or anything. Tell them to put marker on their hands(ok maybe not that) But the point is to not just stand there making your self out to be POWERFUL. Use them as a prop in your magic. And your tips will get better.
If you get a great table later on after dinner usually someone will go to the bathroom. Approach them before or after out of sight of the table. Give a duplicate of a card and then and go back to that table a couple of minutes later and make a trick happen by making the card disappear and reappear in the helpers pocket or under their plate. Or have them make a prediction, whatever the point is that they aren't going to say something and you have left them with this Awesome conversation piece. Coupled with your card this is a great selling point.
Good luck and many wishes
David
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Porkins
Magician
| Joined: | 11-30-1999 |
| Location: | Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 27 |
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Posted: 11-18-2004 23:16 |
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| Nice tips so far, I think its always a good idea to have the customers give praise to the management in your honor. Nothing will please the person who hired you more than to have his guests compliment him on that decision. If people like your magic and tell the manager about it you are sure to get another call or perhaps even a regular gig. We can all use that.
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kammagic
Spectator
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Posted: 04-06-2005 16:32 |
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The best time to approach them is just after the menus have left the table or just after they place their order. They are there for a meal so once the main meal arrives do not approach them unless you are requested to by the table. Once they have finished and the plates removed is another good time to approach them. But be brief if the restuarant is busy the management will want the tables to turn over and new guests to come in.
Watch for deep or heavy conversation at a table you do not want to interupt that. If you do approach a table and they turn you down. Leave them your business card and tell them if they change their mind they can let their waiter or waitress know and you will return. The business card is a good indicator that you have already approached that table which will eliminate the embarassment of approaching a table that has already told you they are not interested. Beleive me this can happen in a busy big restuarant where peolple are always arriving and leaving.
I have been doing restuarants for the last 10 years and currently work 3 nights a week in restuarants
Hope that helps.
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morganl
Magician
| Joined: | 11-30-1999 |
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| Posts: | 5 |
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Posted: 04-11-2005 21:39 |
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| I'd like to recommend Banachek's Psychokinetic Silverware or some comparable production as a great restaurant routine. Highly visual, audience interactive, big-time wow effect. One great thing is that it uses silverware, perfect for a restaurant scenario! The effect of psychokinetic metal bending CANNOT be overestimated.
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CardSharp
Conjuror
| Joined: | 08-15-2004 |
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| Posts: | 63 |
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Posted: 04-11-2005 21:52 |
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Well people who go to restaurants basically want to eat, so performing while they are eating is a bad idea, would you want to watch some guy do magic while your smelling all that great food in font of you... probably not, try to approach people right after they have thier order taken.
And when approaching a table try to target the person who seems to be the attention getter, the life of the party i guess, unless thier are only a few people just go up and do magic and they will watch. also don't be pushy if you just work for tips either, just use a tip cup that says "Tips For The Magician". If you give the impression that people have to pay you they may not want to be entertained because they have to pay. and magic is all about the entertainment.
And also people in restaurants don't really like big long tricks, that takes a lot of memory they get confused sometimes. but start off with something visual like coins , or a finger ring routine... and maybe finish off with a longer amusing trick but always make a big impact on thier minds with your last trick. make it very surprising, leave them with good memories.
I've been doing restaurant magic for about 1 and a half years so you can pretty much take my word for it, if there is anything else you want to ask PM me and i'll have all the info on what you need like maybe. different ways to premote tipping, how to work large tables, ect...
Oh and you guys are gonna love these, heres a few things to say when something goes wrong...
1. "jeez...thats weird, it worked in the magic store"
2. "Oops...did I say I was a magician? I meant musician! For my next song I'd like to play..."
3. "The real magician will be here shortly, I'm just standing in"
4. "It's all part of the show folks--the part that hasn't been rehearsed!"
5. "That's the first time that ever happened again"
6. "It doesn't look as bad from my side"
7. "I'm curious to see how i get out of this myself"
8. "What do you expect, I'm payed 3 dollars an hour, and don't even work for more than 10 minutes, you do the math"
9. "I knew I should've had decaf"
10. Stare blankly at the trick that went horribly wrong. Blink your eyes a couple times really stupidly. Then throw it over your shoulder and practically yell "...AND FOR MY NEXT TRICK..." Then just go on with your routine. (make sure that your not throwing it at someone behind you)
11. If you drop something, "Wow, good thing the floor was there to catch that"
12. "I forgot to compensate for the rotational effect of the earth"
13. "Did... did I show you the (insert last successful trick) trick?
14. "wow, its so quite in hear you could hear a career drop"
15. "Thats what we magicians call misdirection, I pretend to mess up, and while I have your attention, my assistant sneaked by into the next room with an elephant for a trick I'm doing later. If you don't believe me, go check."
16. "There is only one thing this trick is missing... talent!"
-Nick
Last edited on 04-11-2005 21:55 by CardSharp
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TylerErickson
Wizard
| Joined: | 08-15-2004 |
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| Posts: | 801 |
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Posted: 04-12-2005 01:17 |
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Cardshark2k5,
I’m glad to see someone else has read Magic For Dummies. 
I think that is the list I was staring at when my picture was shot!
T
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CardSharp
Conjuror
| Joined: | 08-15-2004 |
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| Posts: | 63 |
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Posted: 04-12-2005 17:29 |
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thats what reminded me of those your picture, thier the only good ones i have seen in any of my magic books. haha, i put them in last minute.
-Nick
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TylerErickson
Wizard
| Joined: | 08-15-2004 |
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| Posts: | 801 |
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Posted: 01-08-2007 06:32 |
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Fade_of_light,
Did you ever end up performing at a restaurant?
T
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