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So far I've had a mad weekend. I had both my worst and my best gigs for a long time.

On Friday I was doing an Xmas party for a group of 100+ engineers, ironically they were all civil engineers. I was on doing close up at the tables after dinner. They were hammered when I got there. They were a step below ten year old boys off their tits on sugar, it was insane. They were grabbing cards everywhere, sticking them back in different spots, stealing them and even throwing them on the floor. At one stage, midway through a trick, two of them tackled the guy I was performing for and proceeded to try and steal his shoes. There was only one table I didn't get abuse at. Granted I did actually enjoy it all once I packed away my usual gear and started playing their own games and fooling the feck out of them, I was also able to rip the * out of them which they loved but as a magic gig it was a joke.

Then tonight I had a gig I was far more worried about, it was an hours close up for a 50/50 split of autistic children and their parents. I don't do much family stuff and have zero experience with autism. I did mainly signed card work and they absolutely loved it. The kids were blown away and the adults were delighted to see the kids have fun. As I was saying to one of the parents after his son asked if I'd do a special trick for him, I had never met such a pleasant and genuine group of people who were so into the magic. It was an absolute joy and would have stayed far longer if Santa hadn't arrived. I tried to refuse payment but the booker was having none of it. This was without a doubt, one of the most invigorating gigs I've ever done.

It all really just shows you not to assume anything about people, the gig I thought would be the usual easy stuff was a total nightmare where as the gig for supposedly difficult children was a total joy to do.

It sounds like you learnt a lot from both scenarios Harry, congratulations.

Hat's off for sticking at the civil engineer gig. I'll never understand what gets into people after a few drinks at a work's Xmas bash.

I had to stick! It was what I was paid to do. I couldn't leave half way through!

Engineers are the worst. I did a gig a few days ago for business people, who were similarly unco=operative. The autism gig tugs at your heart-strings, and fair play to you for making their time special.

Sounds both awful and wonderful, Harry, my friend!
Valuable lesson for you and you are now richer of experience.
Thanks for sharing and reminding us all!

Magic in the real world Harry, the fun and games.

The main thing is mate is that you had the bookings in the first place.

Keep up the good work.

See you again soon.

Welcome to the world of being a working pro!

Harry Guinness wrote:I had to stick! It was what I was paid to do. I couldn't leave half way through!

You need to re-write your contrac then, mine covers me for events like that allowing me to leave with 100% payment

Was contracted through an events company who have given me a lot of work, wasn't gonna mess them around.

The other thing is that only 2 or 3 tables were really bad, the rest were just awkward.

One of my funniest experiences this Christmas party time was with a table full of ladies from a local office. They steadilly became merrier and at the same time less inhibited.

Most things went quite innocently until the sponge ball routine......

"I put one in my hand, the second one in my hand and the third one in my pocket, how many balls do I have in my hand?" ......

...is a question I have asked hundreds of times with this routine. The answers I got at this table still have me blushing!!