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I'm sorry if this has been posted before, but I couldn't find it in the search function.

Anyhow, I know that many of you do some table hopping, and am just wondering what kind of prices you charge and how long you do it for?

Thanks in advance!

Prices depend on several factors. The length of performance required, the distance you need to travel. As for length of time, well that can vary. I have had some places wanting you for a few hours while some want you all night. I tend to spend 10 minutes at each table, but have been at a table for 30 minutes and they still would not let me leave

Actualy, the most important thing to take into account, is how you perform, and what you do. You could have an amazing repetoir of card effects, but lays wont want to see it after a short time.
you must ensure that you have a varied balanced range of effects, and also make sure that you have a couple of back up effects, in case of emergencies.

As posted above, its going to be up to the table how long you spend with them.

daleshrimpton wrote:Actualy, the most important thing to take into account, is how you perform, and what you do. You could have an amazing repetoir of card effects, but lays wont want to see it after a short time.

I disaggree but that's a different story .

Also, I think he was more asking about how long we perform for altogether.

Personally, I do roughly two hours at my restaurant and charge...well, what I think I'm worth .

Seriously though, you should be charging what you think you're worth. If you just want somewhere to perform on a regular basis and have never had much performing experience before then maybe you should consider charging nothing, but many people will tell you that you'll find it difficult to raise your fee once you're there. I don't know because I've never had to do it.

The best thing to do (that I've found) is, scout out a restaurant that you think you would like to perform in, and if you can have a meal there. If not, get dressed up in your smartest outfit (not jeans and t-shirt. In my case it's my suit) and walk in and ask to speak to the manager. Try and guage his reaction to having you perform there and if he's wavering towards yes, then offer to give him a night for free. Don't discuss fees at this point. Do your free night and use your best material to knock the socks of your audience and make sure they are having a good time. Also try and make sure some feedback gets to the manager. Then as you finish for the night arrange to come back and meet with the manager to discuss how it went. This meeting is the time to discuss fees and such like. Hopefully you will have done your job so well on your free night that he will be begging for you to come back on a regular basis.

Another thing to bear in mind is that you must quote your fee with confidence. Otherwise he'll probably pick up on it and then offer you a much lower fee. Remember, charge what you think you're worth.

But the most important thing to is that you must be prepared to be shut down a few times before you hit the jck pot. Just keep trying and don't give up.

Thank you for that Goldfish - that was very enlightening. I've just been wondering how to start it all off. Thanks you very much for your reply and all the advice,

Thanks again.

I charge restaurants $80 (canadian) an hour, with a minimum of 1 hour, providing they are in the same city as I am, etc.....otherwise other factors and fees need to be considered. The length of time I go for depends on the situation. If they want me to perform at a staff party, during cocktail hour.......then I hop tables for an hour or so......but if it is a come and go type of deal, then the specs are rotating in and out all night, then I will likely bounce around for a few hours.......it is simply a matter of what the situation is!

One method of finding out is join a magic club and speak the the magicians that perform. Once they know you they will generally tell you what they are charging. If they are good and are busy, they may on some occasions pass om to you some of the work that they turn down. That's one way of finding leads but it's very occasional.

In terms of going out on your own, I agree with much of what Goldfish has said. I would advise that if you do arrange a feww night at a restaurant, don;t jump in with the closest date possible. You need time to plan and prepare so make sure that you allow a minimum of one week. I would also be asking the owner what advertising they are going to do to make sure that you have a full restaurant. You don;t want to turn up to an empty gig and be told that you haven't made any difference. Remember that the punters need to plan their nights out aswell and you must have the biggest possible audience because this giuves the largest amount of feedback on how good you were.

You need to tell the customers that if they liked your performance, they must tell the manager. I find that you sometimes have to think for some of the managers these days as they're not too experienced at some of the finer points of selling. Make sure that you know how many customers are committing to coming back if you;re there and never be afraid to remind the manager of this when you;re then talking about your fee.

Rule of thumb on what to charge might be:
Pick the price of the most expensive entree on the menu, multiply it by four and that shuld be your price perevening for two hours (about standard and for good reason; anything more is too much, anything less is too little).
By setting the price that way, you can tell the manager/owner that you only need bring in one table of two couples to pay for that night's entertainment (that's not quite true but it's close enough.)
Further on how long (per table), plan on three routines per table. Again, any more and the food will be arriving and you will have outstayed you welcome; any less and your act will probably be too short.

Peter Marucci wrote:Further on how long (per table), plan on three routines per table. Again, any more and the food will be arriving and you will have outstayed you welcome; any less and your act will probably be too short.

Some very good advice from Peter there and he makes a very good point about how many effects.

Three effects per table is a fantastic base point to work around simply because you have a begining, a middle and an end. Personally I always arrange my table hopping routines into threes and then I have a couple of surplus effects which make good middle pieces and then a few more pieces that make great closers. That way, I can judge by the tables reactions and how long I have left and build on my Three Trick foundation to create a routine of up to six effects, but all of them still building on each other. However, to be able to do this you really need to be able to judge the situation well. Obviously, don't force the magic on them if they're not enjoying it, and definately don't do it if you've got 2 seconds until the food arrives.

Also have at least one fantastic stand-alone piece which can be done within a couple of minutes but still contains alot of entertainment and good magic. You can then use this while people are waiting for their bill, leaving them with you on their mind as they leave.

That's all very nice advice. Thanks for ths. Any more?

Cheers.

To be honest, there is loads more to find out about Table Hopping and restaurant work. The two best sources for this are personal experience and published works. For published material I whole heartedly suggest you buy the two volumes of the Magic Menu, edited by Jim Sisti. The Magic Menu was a magazine directed specifically at Restaurant and Bar Magic that was published throughout the nineties. It has contributions from all of the top restaurant and bar performers and in my opinion, the two collected books are worth their weight in gold.

Hi guys,

On wednesday i have the chance to do some table hopping. Its only for people i know. (unfortunatly) However its in a posh restuarant so i may be lucky!

I dont usually do table hopping - My main act is developed for small-stage performances.
I have a few card tricks planned. And i've a few objects like pen through anything and jumping spots.

Do i need anymore? I guess, table hopping magicians only carry a few tricks and repeat them to different people.

Do i need anymore? I guess, table hopping magicians only carry a few tricks and repeat them to different people.

Carry as much as you feel comfortable with. And not just physically; if you have say ten different effects, each using a different prop, but only three of those effects are ones that you feel comfortable performing then only take those three. Having said that, in a table hopping environment you won't get away with just three effects. Personally, I carry the obligatory 2 decks of cards and sharpie, 5 half dollars, a TT, colour changing knives, and a mini chop cup with final loads (and a deck of blank backed cards for a special effect , kept behind the bar). That's on a regular night anyway, when I'm "hopping" from table to table. Tonight however, I have a one off booking for a Christmas party in which I will be performing for one table of twelve for half an hour. The only change to my regular set up is that I will also be taking an ID with me this time. All I have done is extend two of my regular routines to play out a bit longer with the idea of moving from one end of the table to the other half way through the set. I'll then hopefully bring everything back together with a big long, drawn out ID routine.

I hope that helps, kind of went off at a tangent, but I think it makes sense

when I do table hopping all I take is a deck of cards and a marker pen and sometimes stealth pen

magicman0000 wrote:when I do table hopping all I take is a deck of cards and a marker pen and sometimes stealth pen

How often do you do table hopping?