talkmagic.co.uk

Hi guys,

Can anyone give any tips or advice on how to actually get some work in your local restaurants? Do some types of restaurants work better than others? Im not too sure on what the approach would be.... should I telephone them first, or just walk in?
I have had a few business cards printed up, Ive got some effects, confidence is getting higher.... what now?
Anything would be helpful!

Thanks

Chris

I've never tried restaurant work but part of the preparation could be to have look at the articles on Online-Visions ( http://www.online-visions.com/pro-files/index.html ) by Scott Guinn and others - very useful tips which are applicable over here as well as in the US. At the BMS Convention last Saturday, John Lenahan made the statement (from experience!) that nobody ever, ever, wants to see a magician in a restaurant. They go there to eat and drink and enjoy pleasant company. A successful magician has to make it so that they accept him and his performance and be aware that magic isn’t what they came in for. Many customers are delighted to have this additional entertainment but not everyone is so amenable. Whichever way you go about it, I certainly wish you the very best of luck.

Thanks very much. Sounds like great advice from the great man!
Thanks also for the website link, I will check that out also.

Chris

Can I suggest the Restaurant Workers Handbook by Jim Pace and Jerry McGregor. It's available from Magic Books by Post http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/magicbooks/

Highly recommended, it has everything you need to know about restaurant work inside here and if you follow it's suggestions you will earn twice as much as the book cost you in your first night. Be warned though, it is written from an American perspective and as such certain things need to be adapted.

Good luck.


Will

I am also interested in starting to do walk around magic but am finding it very hard to get any managers to even listen to what I have to offer I have even tried to offer doing it for free in order to advertise for my own business and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.