talkmagic.co.uk

Here are a couple of articles that might be interesting from online visions:

Working at restaurants: http://www.online-visions.com/pro-files/0412scott.html

Working for tips: http://www.online-visions.com/other/0410tips.html

Excellent - that's just what I was looking for. Thanks

hi...tips hey....Got to say first though.....jugglemonkey cool idea. Even if they werent gonna give ya any tips they will do now. Comedy always gets them. I have performed in a few bars (not for money, just being asked to do a few tricks) and I found that if you want to earn money, you have to affect people, get them involved and most importantly make the audience enjoy your magic. Comedy is the Key,(In my opinion).
Sam

Yep comedy is the key! and if the door to tippage has two locks the second key is to be endearing, If they like you as a "person" (i.e. your persona) just as much as they admire your effects then it is more likely to earn you more tips.

Bean

So are you saying we all have to be funny to be effective?

I don't think that's true. I think what it really comes down to is that we have to affect the spectators and make the experience memorable. That is the basic reason WHY comedy "is the key". To create a memorable atmosphere is the fundamental grounding that makes comedy the key. Comedy makes something memorable and that is what gets you the tips.

I don't think they're saying you won't get anywhere unless you are funny, just that laughter is an obvious positive reaction, and it is easier to invoke in someone than many of the others. It is also a reaction that the audience will enjoy and will consider tipping as a result. I would say that it is probably an easier way of getting tips than others maybe?

Probably yes, but for some comedy would not fit their style.


I'm very tired at the moment so I apologise for spelling, grammar, punctuation and any apparent rudeness. I'm not normally like this, honest.

One other thought is to close with a money trick.

I use a bill tube routine as a closer sometimes and at the end when I hand back their signed note that I borrowed saying "there you go, you can keep that as a souvenier <grin>" I quite often get offered to keep it.

Regards,
Valentino

Derren Brown suggests, possibly slightly tongue in cheek, using a little subliminal suggestion as well when you use money in the last effect.

I do that too.

My opening line for the bill tube is to ask for some paper money, saying "the bigger the note, the bigger the vanish... ...if you've got a £50 just watch me vanish ".

I suppose subliminally I'm suggesting that I'd like to leave with some money at the end of the trick.

regards,
Valentino

Derren's was a little more subtle than that but I'm sure they both have the same effect!

if you love magic and you show passion in how you do it. you shouldn't expect money the money will come to you. and never ask for money. show that you are doing it because you love it and people will feel guilty by themselves without you telling them. and if you show a lot of passion who knows maybe an agent was sitting in the audience and likes your style. he asks you to join him and in a couple of years your doing world tour.
'Magic is you art handle it well'

I use just in case for a card finisher saying I'm such a poor magician I can't aford a proper sized briefcase, subtle and to the point.

also as an opener I place a tips jar on the table and say this is my tips jar and on my comand it will fill with tips, on my command it tips to an odd angle and i say oh wrong jar.

so a strong start and finish with subtle undertones.

If you want to work for tips, then you do street magic. Maybe experience means nothing on this thread, but if you're working for a restaurant and you aren't getting paid by that restaurant, then you are a fool. Harsh? No, not really, just simple fact.

I hate to ruin you guys' dillusions, but people don't go to a restaurant to see magicians. They go to eat. Or, for an intimate evening with their mates (which means that they want to enjoy each other's company, not your DL).

That doesn't mean that they won't tip, only that they shouldn't have to. FULL STOP. They have to tip the waitress and pay a much higher cost for a meal than eating in. Why should they have to further pay for something that they didn't ask for and didn't come in for?

The whole point behind doing magic in a restaurant is to make contacts and garner good paying shows - a springboard to bigger and better things. Again, if you want a tipping crowd, then you should be doing street magic not restaurant.

Argue this point all you want, but I'm simply stating the facts.

Mike.

Argue this point all you want, but I'm simply stating the facts.

No - you're stating your opinion. It seems that there are a variety of opinions on this subject. The origional question wasn't whether getting tipped at a resturaunt was correct, polite etc. The facts are that some people do work - quite succesfully - in resturaunts for tips. I was simply asking those with experience to give advice on the best way of doing that. Thanks to those who replied with some really helpful information.