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Alright, it could have been that this has been covered before; I've used the search function but couldn't find anything. If there is a thread about this, please point me to it

In quite some magic books, videos or stories people say they got for example some free drinks after showing a few card tricks.

I was wondering if any of you guys and girls ever used a trick to get something for free. What did you show off, how did it go down and what did you get?

After doing a couple of card tricks in the local bar the people who were watching enjoyed themselves and offered me some drinks. Which I took of course Nothing fancy about that.

I would like to hear your stories and accomplishments

I've also had drinks bought for me as I suspect many others have No harm in that

That's been about it for me - nothing more exotic unfortunately

I've not set out to show tricks in order to get frinks for free - it just happens that way and I suppose is a good measure that people have enjoyed what they have seen.

I've had the odd drink bought for me before now for performing tricks at the local pub. Nothing more unfortunately
Incidentally, Tommy Cooper used to use his magician's "training" to get free drinks at the bars that he frequented after performing. This was the start of the long and slippery road he took into alcoholism...

As both, Magician and Mentalist I've managed to get some fantastic things at no cost... great meals, drinks, even a car.

Dean Hankey (TheDean) used to belong to a Barter's Club years ago and go tons of stuff, including an Air Plane, in exchange for doing shows.

I've often been bought drinks or given gifts after performing.
I was giving some tarot readings recently at a charity event for some young ladies who kept buying me drinks and were saying to me "It must be draining your energies doing this psychic work - would a drink help?"

Of course it would!!!

Does being paid to go away count?

*pays Palmer Eldritch some money.

I don't ever do magic with the intention of getting some freebie out of it but I've had drinks bought for me after performing before.

Thanks for your replies.

I think doing magic to get freebies on purpose isn't the right thing to do. (Except in some situations )

But if somebody offers me something, and I didn't ask for it, I'd probably take it.

I never do magic to get 'freebies' nor do I do magic for tips. However it can be considered rude not to take a tip, so there is a fine line. When I do take a tip it goes straight to the waite staff. With that said, it is rare that I pay for a drink in a bar. Of course now it is rare for me to be in a bar but back in the day.

The effect scotch and soda, when I was in university I'd perform it all the time never expecting anyone to actually pay the bet, but 9 times out of 10 they would buy me a drink. and I ususually got t a drink after colour monte. Other little things along the way, but nothing major.

I agree, so far (in the last 18 months of being at uni) I have got LOADS of free drinks from clubs and bars - but thats not the reason I do magic tricks to people in bars - it just seems less cheeky to say 'lets say 1 drink if I can do this trick', rather than at the end say 'That'll be £5 please'

Free booze for a student is a godsend though

Dan

3 words.

Borrowed Coin Vanish.

Bill switch? a little bit mean. I love the tip by Eric Mead in his book tangled web when acting as a "baby sitter" for kids when he's working.

I bled a couple of students dry at my local last week, and I didn't even intend to.

When I went to the bar, two young lads walked in and sarted playing blackjack with my cards that I'd left on the table.
They didn't realise the seat was taken but when I returned I insisted that they could keep playing. I'm a terrible card player, but I joined in anyway.
Eventually they started playing for money. What the hell, I only had £2 left, I might as well have a punt.
I lost. But I lost too quickly: I forgot that I needed the £2 for my bus fare to work in the morning.

Dammit. I had to come up with a plan to get my two pound back. A quick proposition bet (a poker themed one based loosely on the Danbury Delusion) and the two pound was bound to be mine again.

However the bet did not go as simply as I'd hoped, since not only was the £2 banged on the table, but this poor lad added his wallet AND his mobile to his stake. Balls. He was very insistent about it.
I figured that my only hope was to perform the trick, win, and then come clean.
This is what I did, but not before letting him think that he had lost his phone, credit cards and money for a good twenty seconds first.

Jelmo wrote:I was wondering if any of you guys and girls ever used a trick to get something for free. What did you show off, how did it go down and what did you get?

In the past year: invitations to parties, drinks, plenty of snogs and a couple of offers of rumpy pumpy, a Chinese meal, drinks, one or two book sales, more drinks, and one or two more invitations to parties.

I don't think I can really say what's going to get me something for free until I get it, unless it's a case of: "if I show you something amazing, can I come in without paying?" Mind you, define "amazing" in the context of a world weary doorman...