talkmagic.co.uk

Big hi all.

Short (v.) intro then a couple of questions.

Am a magician based in Grantham (Lincs). Have been a magician since I was about 7 (am now 32) but have always performed for fun. Have been looking to go pro recently and have done a few gigs with a fellow magician. In bars and clubs mainly.

Have moved recently and now looking to work solo.

I have just secured my first gig, next wed, at a restaurant

My questions are :
1. Am going to be a little nervous (obviously) working completely on my own - any tips to help keep me calm??

2. Am getting paid £25.00 an hour - for 2 hours work. Am unsure how this ranks with what I should be asking for…would love to get some idea of what other magicians charge.

3a. Am going to be entertaining ten tables with unknown numbers at each table for 2 hours. Would like to know - is it better to spend 10 mins at each table then move to next…or do perhaps two tricks per table and keep circling around them? Know that this will be a matter of opinion - but what do the masses prefer?

3b. Whether I’m circling or not - what the general opinion for performing different types of tricks - all cards first then others tricks - or all tricks mixed up?

4. I have always performed “Off the cuff” performing which ever trick I’ve thought most appropriate - how important is it to have a fixed routine?

4. I am hoping to form a contract with the restaurant - is this a common thing to do and if so is there a template?

5. Can you all keep your fingers crossed for me on Wednesday night??

Will let you know how it goes and also give a proper intro soon, but have to get back to some practising for now.

Cheers all.

Mark

Hi,

I don't perform so I can't answer most of your questions but for number 4 I would have thought a fixed routine would help with number 1. If you know where you are in a routine and what you need to do next then you might be less nervous. I haven't really performed though so maybe those who have have different ideas.

Now on to the one I know I can answer...#5!
Yes.

Hello Marc, congratulations on your first booking.

1. Try breathing exersises, breath in slowly through your nose for 3 seconds while pushing your stomach out, then hold it for 6 seconds, and let it out slowly through your mouth relaxing your stomach. Do this for a bout 10 times. This is a basic circular breathing method that will lower your heart rate and give you control over any anxiety.

2. Seeing as it is your first gig £25 per hour seems reasonable, you will probably get some free soft drinks and may even be able to blag a free meal.

3a. Yes 10 minutes at each table is a good amount of time, you should be able to get in about 3 good effects, don't approach them whilst they are eating, it is bad etiquet. It is best to approach them after they have ordered and before the meal arives. Stand at the door and great them on arival, it will make them think you work there and they won't be shocked to see you approach their table later on.

3b. Mix it up a bit do what you are comfortable with, don't do your bigest trick first, or you will have a problem in following it up later on.

4. Off the cuff is good as you can gauge what each audiance likes and responds to, but practice a few set routines just incase you get nervous.

4. If you get a contract, that is great as for a set template it will depend on what happens that night. Bargain for 2 nights a week with refreshments and a meal included at the end of the night.

5. Yes I will cross my fingers for you and send some positave thoughts.

I hope some of this helps you!

Regards
Leighton

Ok i am going sound like a broken record but i am going suggest a couple of Dvds David stones basic close up magic (who knew i was going say that then) and Sankeys real work on resturants and bars. They both have great tips on table approach , when to perform, charging etc i hope this helps

Some great advice from Leigton there, not much more to add at the moment. As for tables i can do between 10 - 30 minutes per table. It depends on how long i am booked for and how many tables there are.

Some great advice from Leighton.....I do specialize in close-up, and work in restaurants as well.

First...you will get more comfortable with time. I still have a little anxiety when I take on a new gig in a place/enviornment I haven't done before...embrace it, it is part of the deal and it shows that you actually care about putting on a great performance.

Secondly.....use a style that is comfortable to you. Mix it up as you see fit and as the audience inquires or requests. I like to have a range of effects that I can perform, and also have a few in the back of my mind that involve borrowing items, money, credit cards, rings, etc....and I feel it all out based on the crowd and my comfort level....we all still have those days that feel like we have ten thumbs, take it in stride and be sure to have a couple of "self working effects" that you can use to recompose yourself with.

Thirdly....as far as pricing goes, I read somewhere (may very well have been on this forum) that a good rule of thumb for a restaurant/pub gig is to figure out what an average table would spend, and use that as your rate. It makes it easy to pitch saying that only one table an hour will cover the cost of my performance, and it allows you to vary your pricing to suit either a lunch or supper performances....lunch crowds don't spend as much and it is harder for the restaurant to justify hiring you so you must price accordingly in my opinion.....I tell my restaurants that I quote each performance seperately based on the hours spent, the time of day, and the situation

Fourthly.....time spent with each table tends to vary. Some tables are "simply not into magic" and others are begging for more...you get better with time at understanding how long to spend at each table (and times can vary per table)

Fifth.....I like to introduce myself with a really quick visual effect when the table arrives, a second set of tricks (a number of tricks depending on how busy things are and how much time I have) when after they have ordered their entree and close with a stunner just before they receive the bill

Lastly......you will be just fine! Enjoy it, you will one day look back and wonder what you were so worried about!.....trust me on this one!

PM me and let me know the details when you get some time, I would like to hear how you did!

Hi guys and gals.

Thanks so much for your replies, were very helpful.

Was an “interesting” evening.

As I think I mentioned before, have worked a few clubs etc before with a colleague, but never in a restaurant and never solo, so was quite an experience.

PRELUDE:
This last week has been a bit of a nightmare.. have had a very bad ear infection and been suffering all week, praying that it would clear up in time for the event.

Wednesday comes.. Still off from my “other” job, and painfully get my gear together for the evening. Manage to organise it so that my jacket is full and no case needed - bonus

Take some pain killers and head on out at 7:30 (gig to start at

AT THE RESTAURANT:
Am a little early and spend time warming up my hands. The good news - as I’m worrying about my ear, I didn’t have a chance to get nervous.

Have 8 tables there, so plan on approx 15 mins each one for my 2 hour set. Start with a self working trick just to get me going (DiceMan) and then get going with the rest of my routine. All going very well, and slowly move around the tables.

Have learnt loads, first, when I approached the tables, I asked how everyone was and if they have been enjoying their evening, people were assuming that it was my place.. so have to watch that one. This one particular table made me laugh (afterwards) as when I asked how they were, I couldn’t here a ladies response properly and it sounded like she asked if I wanted a shag… lol (hope its ok to say that here) - I just smiled and asked everyone’s name.

The whole night went as good as I could ever have hoped for with only one small error (I had the wrong pack of cards on the table for the “Invisible” (psychic) deck.. but made a joke, pulled out the right pack and carried on.

Was interesting to get non-drunk, calm reactions for my tricks and now know which are better received. Also learnt that I need a little more “pocket” organisation as half way around I lost track of which tricks were in which pockets (had 6 pockets in total).

Was a fantastic night, managed to earn £60 for 2 hours, and the owner was very impressed, so much so that he has already booked me for another event, which should hopefully be at £50 an hour (is great to earn from something I enjoy)!

TRICKS PERFORMED:

King Sandwich - 5/10 (red kings turn black and then into 4 aces)
Voodoo Doll - 5/10
DiceMan - 6/10
Colour Changing Poker Chips - 6/10
Helping Red Card - 7/10 (Unsure of proper name, but involves a blue deck, 1 red card and a couple of DL’s)
X-Ray - 7/10 (takes a photograph of an unseen card)
White Bikes - 8/10
Killer Elite - 8/10
Derren Brown Style mind reading - 9/10 (a simple hindu, but great effect)
NFW - 9-10
Psychic (Invisible) Deck - 9/10
2 card monte - 9/10 (David Blaine version - well the one he performs..)
No Smoking (Jean-Luc Bertrand)
Triumph - 10/10 (got some fantastic reactions here, as well as some applause )
AND
PAPER CLIPPED - 10/10 - BIG thanks to Jay Sankey for this one…by far the best reaction.

Please don’t ask how I fit them all into my pockets..

Needless to say, will be performing different illusions at the next gig as well as the better ones from this evening.

Hope this post is forum acceptable, will do a proper introduction when I get a little more free time, but just want to again say thanks for the advice.

Mark
(Dark-Side is my “business name)

Gig started at 8pm...in case you were wondering.

Hi Dark-Side,

Firstly let me say congratulations, I like to hear a good success story.

Well it sounds like you had a great time and your performance was enjoyed by all (including yourself) It is nice to hear that the tips given to you were helpfull.

Did you get some freebies from the restaurant? drinks, food etc? i am curious to know.

Are you going to approach other places for bookings, as you can say you perform at another place allready? you will soon be able to take your magic full time hopefully.

Hi again.

My hope is to slowly build up some regular venues .. one of the deals I made with the restaurant was that if I was giving a reduced rate (hehe) that they would write a letter of reference. (Thanks to Jay Sankey for that tip)

With the help of the letter, I hopefully will be able to secure some other regular bookings, though to move to being full time, I would need pretty much every venue in town to book me..it’s a small place here.

Freebies - well I got a cola, but know I coulda had a beer if I wanted (was not at my best, as mentioned).. Will maybe haggle for a meal next time..will see.

Just want to quickly add - have just finished my intro. http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic14128.php