talkmagic.co.uk

After 6yrs living abroad I am finally going back to Canada. I will take a little vacation an then do the 9-5 routine. I am also thinking of doing some PT magic gigs at restaurants/pubs to make a little extra cash. I have been doing magic for 6 yrs and a few hundred performing hours in rest/pubs doing table magic(4 stage magic shows) of which maybe 10 were actual paid gigs.

I don't think table magic is all that popular in the city where I am from although it is a very popular tourist destination. Question is,what sales pitch would I use to get in the door? How would a magician benefit his/her business?

Thanks in advance for your help,

CJG

That depends, where in Canada are you going too. I know there are plenty of magicians doing table magic in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto.

For working in restaurants as a regular gig (and I've done this a few times) the only advantage that the restaurant is looking for is having someone who will keep the customers happy while they wait for their food or their table. If a restaurant has very busy periods when there will be pressure on the kitchens, or when they know they may have over-booked the tables, your job will be to stop people from complaining by making the wait pass quickly for them - hence reducing the complaints.

That's the only thing you can offer the restaurant. No-one (at least no normal person) ever books a table at a restaurant because they have a close-up magician. That's a myth.

As for actually getting a regular booking, that really is the hard part. I read posts on TM from people who seem to think that they will just be able to walk into a restaurant and the manager will fall over himself to book them. Ain't gonna happen. You simply have to fall lucky with a manager who's open to new ideas and is willing to give it a go. I've had two regular restaurant gigs in my career, but I've emailed, phoned and physically walked into hundreds trying to drum up business - particularly when I was first starting out in close-up and was desperate to get out of doing kids shows.

These days things have moved on. Sometimes I miss the fun of a regular restaurant booking where you know all the staff, share jokes with them, etc. I certainly wouldn't say no to another one, but it's blooming hard workk getting your foot in the door - at least in the UK. It may be totally different in Canada!

Everybody and his mother are doing close up restaurant magic in Toronto. I don't know about anywhere else in Canada although I suspect there is a similar interest.

mark lewis wrote:Everybody and his mother are doing close up restaurant magic in Toronto. I don't know about anywhere else in Canada although I suspect there is a similar interest.

I'll be returning to Victoria,BC.

themagicwand,thanks for your imput. When I was doing sales, I used to do a lot of cold calling to restaurants and it was pretty much the same thing. Hustle was the name of the game.

callmecg wrote:

mark lewis wrote:Everybody and his mother are doing close up restaurant magic in Toronto. I don't know about anywhere else in Canada although I suspect there is a similar interest.

I'll be returning to Victoria,BC.

themagicwand,thanks for your imput. When I was doing sales, I used to do a lot of cold calling to restaurants and it was pretty much the same thing. Hustle was the name of the game.

Victoria? Plenty of magicians in that area making a living table hopping. As you said it is a huge tourist destination. I would not limit myself to table hopping. Go find out about street performing getting a permit etc.
As far as resaurant and bar work. Put on your game face competition is going to be fierce.

Go see Murray Hatfield at the magic shop he may be able to point you in the right direction.

Victoria? Plenty of magicians in that area making a living table hopping. As you said it is a huge tourist destination. I would not limit myself to table hopping. Go find out about street performing getting a permit etc.
As far as resaurant and bar work. Put on your game face competition is going to be fierce.

Go see Murray Hatfield at the magic shop he may be able to point you in the right direction.

Good to know,thanks. I met Murry and his wife last yr when I was stocking up.Very nice people. They also help organize a magic meet up once a month which would be good for networking.