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Is it me, or is restaurant magic a lot more common in the US then it is in the UK. I myself (living in the UK) have never ever seen a magician perform at a restaurant (and I have been to a variety of high and low class establishments.) The ammount of DVDs out on it - Jay Sankeys guide to Restaurants and Bars, Live at the Jailhouse e.t.c - you would believe that every place has a house magician.

The only idea i can have is that it is a lot more common to have a restaurant magician in the US. This is not a definite fact as I have never been to the US (untill this summer - can't wait! ))

What has everybody seen about restaurant magicians in the UK, and also if there are any chain restaurants i.e Pizza Express etc that regularly hire magicians so that hopefuly when I'm a bit older I can do a bit of restaurant magic as a side line.

It is more common in the US but TGI Fridays use magicians across the UK.

I work in a few restaurants (both hi & low brow), but must admit it's difficult to get your foot through the door with most of them. You mention you're a magician and for some reason they seem to imagine you're an idiot wearing a red nose who's going to run around their establishment honking your horn at their precious customers.

The best bet in the UK is wedding reception work. A lot more lucrative than working for a restaurant, and folk at a wedding are always in such a jolly mood. All the US based restaurant work dvd's, books etc. transfer perfectly into the wedding reception arena.

But you've got to have b*lls of steel. It's not for shy magi.

Just as an aside - has anyone got the Banachek PK Silverware dvd? At the end, there's a short segment where we see Banachek doing the PK silverware routine "live" in a restaurant. Is it me, or was Banachek working at TGI Fridays??!! No wonder the guy took the Criss Angel gig. Poor lad was obviously skint.

I'm English but have been living in the States for the last year, and I've never seen a restaurant magician in either country. I eat out a fair bit, too.

misterblack wrote:I'm English but have been living in the States for the last year, and I've never seen a restaurant magician in either country. I eat out a fair bit, too.

Shame really!!

I know me and the missus would love it.

I've searched the net for Bristol restaurants that may put on a magician bit to no avail.

I've only ever seen one magician in a resturant over here and he was a very bad one. First off he decided to perform for us when we were half way through our main course (very bad manners) and then came back when we were obviously having quite a deep chat over a glass of red wine.

We humoured him, but both times his choice of timing was very bad and he was more of a pest than entertainment.

Lady of Mystery wrote:
We humoured him, but both times his choice of timing was very bad and he was more of a pest than entertainment.

I think this subject has been covered before, so I won't drone on for too long. However:
a) Good manners are very important. Never interupt when people are eating, deep in conversation, or perusing the menu. Common sense really.
b) You have to be a good "people person" and be half-decent at what you do (ie magic or similar). You'll get caught out very quickly if you're not either of those things. However a residency or regular table-hopping gig is a wonderful arena in which to really learn your art. I know I did.

I've been living in the US my whole life and I don't think I've ever seen a magician perform at a restaurant.

Hey guys I got in touch with a Restaurant in Bristol where Derren Brown used to perform called Byzantium.

http://www.byzantium.co.uk/

I asked about magicians performing and here was the response:

Thank you for your enquiry. We have various forms of entertainment on at Byzantium Restaurant, this ranges from a magician to a belly-dancer to a DJ, or some other form of live performance. We book our entertainment in dependent upon our booking's. For instance on a busy Saturday night we may have a Belly-dancer or magician performing early evening and a DJ later on. This coming Saturday (2nd June) we have both a magician and a DJ booked. The next date we have a magician booked is Thursday 14th June. The best thing to do is ring up prior to coming in to check which form of entertainment we have on.

If you have any other queries or would like to make a booking please do not hesitate in contacting me.

How cool?!

Very cool indeed mate!

Guess you'll be eating out very shortly!

(Waits patiently for ID to sneak in, and rip the latter line for the Innuendo Bingo )

Yeah probably mate!

Quite expensive menu mind...I'll let you all know what it's like after I've tried it

dat8962 wrote:It is more common in the US but TGI Fridays use magicians across the UK.

yep, and I work in three of them! My friend works in frankie and Benny's and I know of a magician who works in Chiquitos.

I have a local Asian restaurant where there is a 'resident' magician table hopping every Friday and Saturday night with a vocalist/group on at the same time. Also have a musical act on at least one night mid-week too.

Said magician is slowly improving - his timing re visiting tables was not ideal at first but as the manager started to direct him that has improved. I still place bets as to determining which table he hits 'next' as he has very obvious preferences re tables with young ladies!!! LOL

It is a nice touch to have this added element so long as its not intrusive and many restaurants and other venues could make more of this.

Coming from a PR/Marketing background I am really surprised about the poor way in which magic etc is 'sold' by individual entertainers and agents to such places. There is a market there but nobody is going to come knocking on your door unless you go out and tell them not only that you are there but also why they really need you.

Don't maon about not seeing a magician in your local favourite eatery - approach the management and get the booking yourself!

And of course if there are any restaurants (or indeed chains of restaurants) out there looking for a good experienced table-hopper, look no further than...moi! Just get in touch.

Shameless PR exercise there.