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For those of you that do resturaunt magic for tips - how do you let the table know that you're doing it for tips?
I'd like to start off doing some resturaunt magic to get some experience in this area. I have a routine, I can imagine myself doing it - but I can't get my head around how to get the table to tip me..

hmm - maybe I need to read a bit more on NLP or suggestion - that could solve the problem, and if that fails maybe do a pickpocket routine

you cant beat a badge transpo from name to tips welcome or give generously

or a production from silks of a tips jar.

my all time favourate is to have a tshirt under my shirt that says the more you pay the better the magic and i get to it by saying so as there is no chance of things disapearing up my sleave i'll take off my shirt.

You dont do it for tips, you get paid by the resteraunt. Tips, if offered, are a bonus you have to earn by being good.
There is a word for Doing something and then holding out the hand .


BEGGING

daleshrimpton wrote:You dont do it for tips, you get paid by the resteraunt. Tips, if offered, are a bonus you have to earn by being good.
There is a word for Doing something and then holding out the hand .


BEGGING

I disaggree, it depends what the deal is with the managment. Sometimes they will let you perform in their restaurant but they won't want to pay you and in this instance you have to go for tips. In which case it just takes a bit of boldness and simply telling them. Put it into your introduction as you come to each table e.g.

"Hi, my name's Fish, I've been asked to do some magic for you and if you would like to show your appreciation I do accept credit cards!!"

That was a pretty lame example. It all depends on your style. The best tip (no pun intended) I could give is don't make to big an issue of it otherwise they might think you're rude and so you've already got off to a bad start.

Also it depends on the clientel (is that right?) of the establishment, some places attract the kind of person who is used to giving tips to waiters, bar staff, dancing monkies, etc.

PS MagicDiscoMan's ideas are pretty good too.

I've covered this topic in discussion with a friend recently, and I'm afraid I have to agree with Dale.

The problem is, in almost certainty, that you won't get much of a reputation from 'begging' or playing for tips.

Put yourself in the shoes of the audience: They don't necessarily WANT to watch if they know they're going to pay for it!
It could be offputting.

For instance—I was eating out at a £30 per-head restaurant with Mrs Seige last year, and we were having a lovely, intimate time. What ruined the night was some berk dressed like a matador with a Guitar. He placed a beret on our table mid-course (between desert and coffee) and continued to play his guitar. Aside from wanting to tell him to eff-off, we ignored him till he left.

Alternatively—if he was being paid by the establishment, and it was an unobtrusive and well mannered performance, we'd have thought differently.

Personally, I would feel that if I was having to beg for tips, I was doing something wrong.

depends on the type of engagment you do gigs for advertiseing purposes don't you.

Personally I don't like the idea of asking for money/tips in a restaurant, and I am a little surprised that the restaurant would even allow you to do it as I think it would be a little off putting for the customers to be expected to pay extra for entertainment.

Maybe the restaraunt owner would let you take a percentage of the tips already being offered at the end of the meal?, but asking the customers for money? Dale is right (IMHO), that is paramount to begging or maybe indoor busking at best...

bananafish wrote:? Dale is right (IMHO), that is paramount to begging or maybe indoor busking at best...

seige wrote:Personally, I would feel that if I was having to beg for tips, I was doing something wrong.

That's why I think you shouldn't make a big deal of it if you do ask for tips. I don't think it would be a good idea to force the spectators to tip by having a tips jar or something that is placed on the table. That IS begging. However, maybe just leaving a few notes sticking out of your top pocket or the like to make it obvious you accept tips would be a better way of doing it.

Infact, maybe even asking for tips might be a bit strong. As I say it all depends on how you perform and where you're performing.

I was over in America at easter doing the whole Disney thing and we came accross table hopping performers quite often when we went out for dinner or the like. When I think about it I don't think any of them actually asked for a tip but they all got one. It was almost expected.

I was in a rerstaurant and the magician said, "You don't have to give me anything, but guilt is a terrible feeling"

It's not that bad though, i've lived with this 'Guilt' for ages now - hardly ever think about it actually.

There is a word for Doing something and then holding out the hand .


BEGGING

No.
Begging is getting something for nothing.
I beleive there is nothing wrong with what you want to do goldfish. As long as you aren't pushy about it. When you approach a table ask them "hi my names "goldfish" would you mind if i show you a few tricks" if they say yes thats excellent if not you can't really push the point. Then once you have performed your routine you can explain to them that "I'm not being payed for being here tonight as i am gaining experiance in this art, but if you wouldnt mind showing your appreciation in the form of a tip or perhaps taking my card and recommending me to a friend that would be much appreciated" Now by offering them the option to take a card this gives them an "escape" if they do not wish to pay you for your WORK but it will aid you in getting more gigs. Perhaps if you do some "free" gigs to enable you to get your name out there. However there does have to be a limit to how long you do things for "free" remeber you are not a charity! (however if a charity approaches you to ask for a gig its nice to help them out;))

Sorry to contradict you guys but asking for tips is probably the most honest way of being payed, i.e. they pay you after you have performed depending on how good you were! Instead of getting payed before hand from hype and turning out to be s**t:lol:. granted they are unlikely to get more bookings but they have still coned some poor multinational corporation (oxymoron?) out of "x" amount.

Sorry if thats a rant but i feel strongly about this point.

peace out

Bean

(p.s i have just realised that goldfish has discussed some of this, i spent to long typing)

(pps just remeber not to be pushy about it and also a recommendation is just as good as a tip/if not better!)

you cant beat a badge transpo from name to tips welcome or give generously

subtle, sweet and non threatning.

i always offer them a card instead but i find most of the time they ask for a card anyway and the badge trick is done at the end of the set with just enough pause at the table to collect my fee or be asked why I'm working for tips.
guys and gals you have to judge the situation, if a set dosn't go well then don't ask for tips.

guys and gals you have to judge the situation, if a set dosn't go well then don't ask for tips.

Amen "MagicDiscoMan".

You should nto jsut do magic for the money it should be for the enjoyment of performing an dif i am right u are getting paid for the resterant manager when performing in a resterant so you still get some money just take that. If you do god magic and they enjoy it so much they will give you a tip without u aveing to ask them for one, like if they dont give you one without you asking hen you would not have got one anyway if you think about it, just get some of them custom cards made i forgot the website.....and have your name and address etc on the back and guive them card as tocken if they like you they will hire you when they need a magician.

hope this helped

hmm - some interesting answers
The reason I want to do a resturant gig is mainly for experience in doing resturants - I'm totally new at that so i don't feel I'm ready to ask the resturant to pay me. However I do know a couple of resturaunts that are open to me performing for tips. Over here it seems the way to start - you work for tips, then you 'graduate' to having a paid gig.
No I don't see it as begging. As jugglemonkey said - begging is essentially asking for money in return for nothing.
I guess it could be seen as busking - especially if it's not a regular resturant gig. Buskers can be annoying, but if it is done in a gracious way, and one is sensitive to the people at the table and the performance is really good, I don't see that it has to be annoying.

I think the thing is - I really don't want people to feel like I'm at the table begging for money - I want to be proffesional and entertain them if that's what they want (ie I'm not going to force my act on anyone). But - I do want to get something out of it financially - but obviously not at all costs.
A friend of mine gave an example of a street performer (ok I know that's different from resturaunts) who at the end of his act says something like "I do this for a living. At the end of the month I can't go to my landlord and just say 'well done - great flat'".
Some of your suggestions are helpful - as usual
Thanks

I'm totally new at that so i don't feel I'm ready to ask the resturant to pay me

You need to feel confident that what you are doing is of "profesional"(sp?) quality though.

"I do this for a living. At the end of the month I can't go to my landlord and just say 'well done - great flat'".

lol never heard that one before, when I'm working a circle show i like to use this line (its kind of a patchwork of many peoples lines "ladies and gentlemen before i perform this next feat of manual dexterity i shall let you know that after i escape from these chains and shakles i shall be passing out a hat, If you have enjoyed this show please show your appreciation either with some money or if you can't afford to give anything just come up and let me know you enjoyed the show....REMEMBER if you just walk away i shall remeber your face, follow you home and send 'round the jehovas witnesses!(said very tongue in cheek )

Just be honest and let it come from yourself, try and make it personal and dont let it sound incencere. If you bomb treat them with respect and don't ask them to pay, then if you give them a great show you can expect to be treated with the same respect.

Bean