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... at a local restaurant and can't think what to do! Really struggling here guys! Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated!

Regards,

dgmagic

dgmagic wrote:... at a local restaurant and can't think what to do! Really struggling here guys! Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated!

Regards,

dgmagic

Whats is your favourite type of magic? Whatever you like to do and feel comfy with just go for it. Cards always go down well, sometimes a bit of mental stuff. Have fun and use your imagination.

Thank You Mr Invisible!

I do a lot of close-up routines with cards, coins, and pseudo-mentalism effects but really want some ideas away from cards that can be themed to the occasion.

Not sure if any of that makes sense but hopefully someone out there will understand!

dgmagic

Flower producing seems an obvious choice here...

dgmagic wrote:Thank You Mr Invisible!

I do a lot of close-up routines with cards, coins, and pseudo-mentalism effects but really want some ideas away from cards that can be themed to the occasion.

Not sure if any of that makes sense but hopefully someone out there will understand!

dgmagic

I suppose working in a Restuarant can also limit your magic, if cards and coins are not on your menu, if you get what I mean??

I do restaurant gigs and have a mothers day one too. There will be kids there too so bear that in mind.
Don't focus just on cards and coins, that's magician thinking advice. Make sure you have some easy to follow, highly visual stuff. I use d-lites, instant radio, sponge balls, metal bending ... Not the stuff that impresses other magicians but what the public enjoy.

To be honest, you've probably not got time to learn anything new so you're going to need to stick to what you know and are confident performing. As Freddie said, there will be lots of families there so try to use routines that are going to appeal to children as well as adults. Sponge bunnies and silks can fit this nicely.

Also, with card and coin stuff, it generally needs to be "in the hands" forget all those routines on DVDs etc where the magician is sat at a table with his little mat in front of him, in real-world performing situations these kinds of routines are practically useless. As people are eating you will have minimal table space as there will be plates, drinks, knives and forks etc and also many tables are sticky which are pretty unhelpful with some card routines.
Twisting The Aces, NFW, rising card etc these kinds of routines are usable in this situation. Also, as people are eating and socialising they also will lose interest in long-winded, multi-phase routines with loads of waffly patter. Quick, easy-to-follow and visual stuff is what goes down best. 90% of the stuff on magic DVDs is VERY impractical in these situations.

Palm reading and I would also say some metal bending but as Lady of Mystery says stick to what you know for now.

Inflate a ballon, pop it (or let the child/children pop it)and hey presto a small box of chocs for Mum - courtesy of a Toppit or similar.

Make the person feel special, by focusing on them.

Just do what ever you usualy do, but do it for the mums, rather than the dads or kids.

I have to echo Lomster and say it's a bit late now! I don't think a mother's day gig calls for a specially tailored trick in the same way as certain other events do.

One thing that popped into my head is a variation on the torn paper to hat trick. If you know that one (performer shows two bits of colloured tissue paper, tears them up and then unfolds everything showing a little hat with a pom-pom), you could say how you once had to make a mother's day present when you were five and the school gave you tissue paper that you had to tear up and scrunch into little twists. Then you stuck them down and turned it into a rather clumsy present, but your mother still has it to this day. It was your very first magic word.

You unfold the torn paper and there are little bits of (say) yellow tissue stuck on green spelling "MUM", with a funny little flower.

Too mawkish for the UK? Just a thought, anyway.

Let us know how it goes

How did it go?

Hi All,

Thank You All for your support. It went incredibly well!

I thoroughly enjoyed myself but more importantly so did the staff, owners and patrons of the restaurant!

I did my version of the ninja rings (x2 gold rings, x1 silver one) with my own patter about how a special person (mother=silver ring) can inextricably bring together family/friends/children (x2 linked gold rings) etc in a bond of inseparable love! Cheesy I know, but went down well at every table I worked. Plenty of laughs, applause and 'ahhhhhhh' moments!
Also borrowed David Stones flash production of a rose (Real Secrets of Magic, Vol 1), adapted it to the occasion, my style and slightly changed the method of production...an absolute killer!
My coins across using gold foil chocolate coins went down really well as did a business card transposition effect I'm quite fond of.
I also adapted my ACR to produce a heart shaped, red foiled wrapped chocolate (Thank You Thorntons!). This was one of the best routines I've ever devised! One lady went all misty eyed and tearful and gave me probably the most heartfelt Thank You I've ever received!
I didn't actually do anything new guys. Just took your advice, adapted what I do well and went for it!

Once Again, Thank You All,

dgmagic