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Frymus wrote:I am also doing some rope magic, at a retirement home for some extra practice or whatever I get new. I'm just waiting to see when I am able to perform.

I would just like to offer a bit of advice, if you are not yet ready to perform, then I suggest you stay away from the restaurant scene until you are 100% competant and capable.
Do not rush and try to perform an effect you have just learned or purchased, to be a true professional and command high wages then you should be able to know your performance inside out and backwards. You will meet a wide and varied collection of people and characters, some who will make your job so easy and you will feel on cloud nine, and others who will do their best to put you down and if you are not up to the job then this will reflect badly on the establishment and not just yourselves.

I am only stating this as I have worked a residency here in the UK for over 2 years, and in my opinion it is so much harder than a corporate or wedding gig.

All I'm saying is, make sure you are ready and don't let your heart rule your head!

wait, wait...

I meant that doing magic in the retirement home for practice is not for restaurant work. Its just that when I learn some new material after a lot of practice show it for the first time to them.

The stuff that I will be doing in the restaurant is not what I do there and practice. The restaurant magic, I have practiced hard and I am set to go and perform. I have been waiting a long time to perform and be payed in restaurants.

I honestly believe I am ready to tackle this situation, and not do it for fame an money. It what I love to do, and I enjoy it. but, I would love to add new material and learn more, but to do that requires money, so practice hard, perform good, earn money and after a LONG time, I would learn a thing or two and add it to the routine.

Performing stuff at Wedding, or really important events, Im also not too ready with as I don't have much, and have not learned a lot.
But less serious stuff like cabaret magic, or just in between other shows, I am always willing to do it. I have performed for charity events on stage, so, I know the courage it takes and the effort and time to pull it off.

In that case, I wish you every success in the world my friend.

It sounds like you're going about it the right way!
Let us know how things develop!

OK, then
Thanks a lot for all your help and advice..
I will let you know how it goes and when I start performing there.


If anyone has any further advice or anything they might want to add please let me know.

Firstly, congratulations on your potential new residency!

The amount of money you get paid is obviously dependent on how much additional business you bring in.

It goes without saying that you need to be a polished performer with a varied repertoire and very versatile people skills.

I currently have 4 weekly residencies with negotiations ongoing for a 5th. I put my success down to sheer professionalism, my skill as an entertainer, the years upon years of practice, performing and writing and generally just utter hard work and infallible determination.

That being said, there are other things you can do to aid in your success!

The following tip is my very own and is actually worth it's weight in GOLD...

Hand a business card out at every single table you perform at - whether they ask for one or not. Sometimes people won't even think to ask for one! I normally say 'Allow me to leave you one of my business cards... It doesn't get you any money off the bill, but if you ever have an occasion that requires some amazing entertainment, please get in touch!'
I point out that my email address is on the card and then say 'If you enjoyed my performance, please feel free to email some feedback to the address on the card.'
This serves 2 purposes...
1) Any emails I receive, I forward to the manager/owner which shows them the positive feedback my presence has generated. This proves having a magician actually adds value and they will continue to book you.
2) I save the sender's email address in a distribution list. Over time you will accumulate many email addresses (I think I have over 200 now) which come in very handy if you're ever putting on a show, gain a new residency or have any promotional material to send out.

So there you go! Try this and you WILL be a more successful pro.

Next week...
How to guarantee tips at EVERY table and how to generate a huge reaction at a table minutes after you've left it!

In fact, I think I've revealed enough of my working secrets for now...

MagicBill wrote:1) Any emails I receive, I forward to the manager/owner which shows them the positive feedback my presence has generated. This proves having a magician actually adds value and they will continue to book you.
2) I save the sender's email address in a distribution list. Over time you will accumulate many email addresses (I think I have over 200 now) which come in very handy if you're ever putting on a show, gain a new residency or have any promotional material to send out.

That's a great tip! I admit that I give out business cards (as a weekend performer ) but I never told them to email me of any feedbacks that I can send back to the manager. I never thought of that before.

that IS good idea!

I have a business card made, but I never thought of doing that with it.
I'm sure that who ever does this will increase their success.

Thanks

Two points.

Remember you are being paid by the restaurant, make sure you have permission to hand out your business card.

Tips: there is a lot of debate about this. I have found that here in the States and Canada the magicians that work steadily do not accept tips. The reason being is two fold. One you are being paid a lot more then the wait staff and the wait staff really need the tips. Any tip you take may mean that the wait staff get less. Also you are adding an expense to the customer. When a customer forces a tip on me to the point where it would be rude for me to refuse, I pass the tip on the the wait staff. I also make it a point to let the wait staff know my tip policy. Life is so much easier when they are on your side and they don't see you as competition but as support.

I'm not here to tell you which is right as I don't think there is a right and wrong to this. Rather I'm giving you something to think about. When negotiating a price with your employer you may want to bring up the fact that you don't take tips, and the reasons why and you may find that they are willing to go that extra mile. Of course they may turn around and offer you a lower rate and tell you to accept tips. This has never happened in my experience, but you never know. [/u]

If the work is regular, it's worth going in at a lower price. Don't forget, you will get valuable exposure from working. Take a set of business cards with you and you can use the job as a springboard to higher-paid performances. Plus, it's great to have a place where you can keep your hand in, practice and try new material without fear.

DC

Good points bmat!

I've found though that with the right approach, people will tip me and the waiting staff. They recognise that I am an 'extra' and so still leave some money on the tray after the bill has been paid for the waiting staff.

HelloDave wrote:If the work is regular, it's worth going in at a lower price. Don't forget, you will get valuable exposure from working. Take a set of business cards with you and you can use the job as a springboard to higher-paid performances. Plus, it's great to have a place where you can keep your hand in, practice and try new material without fear.

DC

some resterants dont like you handing out your buisenes cards. check with them before you do this, just in case.

If it were me and I were doing it part time I would charge 50-75$ per hour. I only say this because since you said you live in a smaller town the restaurant probably isn't a five star luxury accomadation. Remember if these guys are just starting out they probably need every penny, I say this because odds are unless your in a 4-5 star restaurant that has at 100 people there at any given time, your not attracting 450$ a night. However I would say that you are attracting at least 200$. I would say that when you tell them your thoughts on your wage, you say thought 100$ an hour is far then they will probably bring you down to arouns 75$ which about where you want to be to start out. Remebre if you're working tables you'll many potential people to hire you to do other shows and you can make a great income from that too. Also if you stay with that restaurant for a year then another restaurant may want to hire at a higher pay. Of course your current employer will up your pay to keep you.

MagicBill wrote:
Hand a business card out at every single table you perform at - whether they ask for one or not.

This is the only thing I disagree with.

I think that by giving everyone a business card regardless of if they ask or not is a bit on the pushy side. Ok, do a prediction on the back of a business card and leave it on the table, but dont just hand them out.

Just a personal thing. If they think you are good, they will ask you for a card regardless of if a booking immediately springs to mind.

Mark

Magic Mark said:

do a prediction on the back of a business card and leave it on the table, but dont just hand them out.

I agree, don't just give out a bussines card, do a trick with it then leave it with them.

I would say - "what would be an acceptable price for you ?" Then - "I usually charge x but as you are new I will do it for you at Y as long as I can hand out business cards and accept tips and we will review it in a month" and give them a rate slightly above what they think is acceptable. Use it to pick up business and once you have proved that you can add value/customers either increase your price or go to another restaurant who will pay more and use your previous success as a marketing ploy