talkmagic.co.uk

Hey,
Any advice for the difference between restaurant and bar magic?
And how best to approach each in order to get booked for a few weeks?
And any other general restaurant and bar magic related advice?
Thanks,
Ed.

Restaurants are more likely to have table space, although not always for a start.
you will find lots on here if you dig a little.
Also, Sankey's restaurants and bars DVD is worth buying.
The one minute magic business is worth a read too.

I'd recommend taking a look at the 'Live at the Jailhouse' DVD which I've reviewed on TM.

Restaurants are quieter with better light, less noise etc. and as stated, you'll have some table space. Performances tend to be more personal.

Nightclubs on the other hand can be quite the opposite and your audience have more chance of being bladdered so your skills may not be appreciated as much.

dat8962 wrote: your audience have more chance of being bladdered so your skills may not be appreciated as much.

Although you can get away with some really blatent effects that would get spotted a mile away other wise. I love having a really drunk spectator and just seeing how much I can get away with.

Bill Malone has some gems on restaurant work in his "On The Loose" DVD set.

One thing he mentions that he used to consistently get gigs is to go to a restaurant when they were slow-ish, sit down at the bar, and enjoy a meal or a few drinks. He'd do some tricks for the bartender, drum up some interest, and eventually wind up with the wait staff and management watching. He'd talk about how he used to perform regularly at bars and some of the benefits that his performances had on the business, letting the owner make it his own idea to hire the magician, rather than the magician looking for a job.

I can't attest to this method at all--it's only hearsay--but I do plan to try it out during the summer and hopefully land a position working nights somewhere. If you choose to try it, consider sharing how it worked for you!

Ciao,
Rob

In general I find restaurant spectators less inclines to try and spoil a trick, but the spotlight is on you more as they are more sober.

In a bar everyone's a wizard, but as lady Of Mystery says you can get away with all sorts when your specs are drunk.

Lady of Mystery wrote:

I love having a really drunk spectator and just seeing how much I can get away with.

You're right but do you find that the novelty does wear off quickly? I find that the challenge just doesn't exist after a while whereas in a restaurant it's a more rewarding scenario because you have to try that bit harder to be successful

In a bar, like many others said, people are drunk so if you mess up so what? In a restaurant, some people may be more interested in eating than seeing magic tricks. Also, in restaurants you can do such tricks as a card appearing underneath the spectator and can use various objects, such as large napkins as hankerchiefs or empty clear glasses. However, at both, restaurants and bars there is plenty of table space so more tricks can be performed. However, at restaurants or bars, there will be more than one person watching you (probably) so you want to make sure you don't let the audience see any key moves or you messing up infront of a whole lot of people.

Regardless whether you're working a restaurant or bar, a certain amount of experience is necessary. As such, there's no reason to be worried about flashing key moves. I find, personally, that the more I worry about flashing moves, the more likely I am to do so.

Further, as a working professional, your primary responsibility is to the venue. Just because a crowd is inebriated doesn't mean you can get away with a poor show.

Just some thoughts...

I don't have much insight on this but I thought I could offer a casual observation. It seems like performing in a restaurant would give you better opportunities to perform "dinner" tricks. Examples would be The Incredible Bouncing Roll, The Disappearing Sugar, Coin in Sugar Packet and the like.

Yet again, the inestimable "Absolute Magic" is the very tome for restaurant work

It seems absurd that it's out of print.