Good news; yesterday I nailed the interview for my first professional restaurant engagement and I'm well chuffed.
A few weeks ago I started making my self know to the restauraunts around here. One particular place looked really good but since then they've been giving me a bit of hassle and it hasn't really been going anywhere. However, I was advised that patience and persitence were the way forward and yesterday morning I dropped a "reminder" letter through their door, asking if I could meet with the manager to disscuss the idea of table to table magic further and saying I would give them a ring tommorow (technically today) to arrange a good time.
At 12.15 I got a a phone call from the owner rather than the manager asking me if I was free to meet. I said yes. He said are you free at 1. I said yes. I then spent 30 minutes infront of the mirror going over my little speech about the pros and cons of restaurant magic. Seeing as it was my first proper interview I was a tad nervous
Luckily the restaurant is 5 mins walk away from where I'm living at the moment and so I set off all geared up; a deck of cards in one hand and my fingers crossed in the other. I arrived to a warm welcome from the owner who sat me down and we began to talk. It turned out that he was actually looking for entertainment at the opening evening of his new restaurant, just around the corner (that sent my little speech pretty much out the window). He asked what kind of magic I do and I showed him my take on Dr Daley's Last Trick (Faster Than A Speeding Ace). We then went into detail about what the job would entail and we eventually set upon a "package" i.e. what he wanted from me and what I wanted from him.
The deal is as such, I arrive with the other invitation only guests at about 7.30. I will start performing at about 8.00 and the food will be served at about 8.30 at which point myself (and my guest!! Pretty generous) will sit and eat. At about 9.30 coffee will be served at which point I will perform again for another half an hour. There will be 24 tables (which poses a problem but I'll get to that in a minute) and possibly the oppertunity to perform at the bar. Seeing as its invitation only the locality's business Moggles (as he put it. sp?) will be attending, aswell as other regular customers, family and friends. There will also be 20 guests who have won some sort of competition in the local paper. We fixed a price, shook hands and then had a bit of a chat about magic and restaurants for a while. At first, he didn't think regular restaurant magic would work in his restaurants but it turns out that the things he though would hinder me are actually plus points for a performer, such as a larger restaurant with a few different levels. So if all goes well at this event he said he may consider a more regular position. I then made my exit and made my way home, with a stupid grin on my face all the way
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Now, issues; I have material so I'm not worried about that, however any suggestions are still welcome. The major thing that really has got me worried, and I've only just realised, is that with 24 tables and two half an hour slots, even if I only perform 5 minutes for each table and move straight on to the next I will only get round half of the tables. However, I'm reliably informed that this isn't a problem and I also think it will be a good experience as I'll probably working effects which have no reset whic is cool. Also, in all honesty I think I under sold myself (going from the recommendations of some friends as to how to price your magic) but I'm just happy to be getting out there and working.
I just wanted to share it with you guys. I'm pretty chuffed about it all and really excitied about finally performing in a restaurant-situation
. Cheers.
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