talkmagic.co.uk

Hey guys,

This one goes out to you working magicians...

When doing restaurant work, what do you say when you first approach the table and what effect do you open with? Same question for corporate dinners etc.

I've tweaked my opening line over the years and usually perform something quick and strong to warn people I mean business! I know how critical the approach is, so just wanted to hear some other ideas and suggestions!

Any feedback? Thanks!

Some of the tips in http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic11553.php might also be relevant here. I'm sure there was an earlier thread dealing with Restaurant work as well.

Corporate? Mine is just a simple "Good evening ladies...Good Evening Gentlemen...Right, magic time!" "Do you want to see card or money tricks first". Then onto the first effect. Much of my card work is from books and not packet tricks. I have been doing 'Copy cash' a lot as an opening piece.

Classic lines i used in the past:

"What's you name sir" (he answered Ron) "Great! let me tell you Ron if you are a good sport, everyone will shout for more, they will shout moron, moron"

It is important when approaching a table to establish some kind of rapport. The best thing I read on this was in Derren Brown's 'Absolute Magic', which said that you need to get your table to respect you before you jump in asking them to inspect your props or pick a card. An interesting idead he presented was that you should welcome them to the restaurant. A minor point, but it does make you appear to be a 'member of staff', as opposed to a random member of the public that just turned up off the street! It gives you an authority that you need, before you start presentin effects!

I don't really think you have to open with a "killer" trick. I think you should build up your performance so that each trick is better than the last. If you start with a really strong trick to get their attention, if you then follow with a weaker effect you're not going to hold their attention in the same way.

I don't even open with a trick. I typically start with the esp cards and do a straight test of a volunteer's psychic abiltiy. That gets everyone around the table interested to see if their friend is psychic. If they do well, the table gets excited. If they do badly, the table starts to laugh and jeer at the volunteer. Either way they have a good time. It also gives you time to judge the table, to show everyone what a swell guy you are, and to get everyone relaxed.

I then follow with a trick involving the esp cards, and perhaps follow with do as I do with a pair of bikes. Then I'll ask the volunteer to find their favourite card out of a deck. They place it face down on the table. I do a "card reading" using cold reading techniques (lots of positives to boost their ego), name their favourite card, turn over the card to gasps of awe, and bid them goodnight!

A very simple routine but very effective if you are good at presentation and story-telling (see various other threads about that subject).

I find the best thing to do is find the table which you think will be the loudest and most expressive. Go up to them first, do something quick and really amazing... They will normally respond loudly and be very animated which means others in the the restaurant will want to know whats going on.

Its then very easy to go to other tables as they *want* to see you and what all the fuss is about.

IMHO, the first trick of the night should last no longer than a minute and be devestating! then you can slow things down and take yr time as you have them hooked

...EDIT - while were on the subject of 'opening lines' I think you should apply the same rules as you would if you were trying to chat up a girl/guy... avoid *anything* cheesey!!! I also try to avoid the word 'trick' as some people hate the idea of being tricked. I tend to just get some card out and ask for someone to help or say i do 'card magic'...

Just my $0.02 !

mobi wrote:I find the best thing to do is find the table which you think will be the loudest and most expressive. Go up to them first, do something quick and really amazing... They will normally respond loudly and be very animated which means others in the the restaurant will want to know whats going on.

What a brilliant tip there..

I know of this guy who approaches a table, does a simple introduction saying he's a magician hired by the restaurant, then asks, "Is everyone ready for some magic?" They'll usually answer "Yes!" then he just replies, "Well I'm not." and proceeds to take out his props. Finally he turns back then says, "Now I'm ready!"

Gets some chuckles, breaks the tension, and commands all the attention. But I guess it depends on your style too because the magician I know who does this has a slightly comedic persona.

I think approaching the table, telling people you are a magician is very formal, but it doesn't need to be done.

I try and take a few people's attention at a time, I don't worry about taking the whole table straight away. When I want the full attention of the table, I raise my voice when the tricks get exciting, and draw more people in with interaction.

My opening trick, is always linking rings. I first walk up to a member of the table, who isn't talking much, making sure I don't interupt.

I hand the a ring to the spectator, then move around to the other side of the table and hand another spectator the already linked double ring. This usually has the attention of the whole table, without even saying a word, and shows that you are the entertainer.

I then move back to the first spectator and start off there.

When the opening trick has finished, I ask them what the want to see next by simply saying " Do you like card tricks " if its a no, the cards stay in the pocket for the whole routine, and I take a different route.

To be honest, it just takes confidence and practice. The spectators aren't going to be rude, and hey, if they are, do a half set and start on the next table. You are getting paid for it remember!!! (If you don't muck up too much :p)

Hope this helps!!!

(Read Darwin Ortiz, Strong magic, good tips!!!)

And wow im very sorry about the bump, im not sure about the website bump rules, but three years is a long time.

"Hi, this is a hold-up, gimme your money, jewels, all... or I perform a card trick."

I think in restaurant's you can find certain types of people who are just there to eat their food and leave, so you need to watch for them.
If your feel like at a specific table your not getting the reactions or establishing rapport with them, then you need to round up quick and get out of their, but I digress.
You'll probably know straight away what kind of person your going to be dealing with so something short, snappy and amazing. And try to build up from there.
I think you should try to tailor what you say/do to specific people and judge there character or the overall character of the whole group you are performing to.
But heyy... what do I know, I'm just a waiter...

A little off-topic, as this is in no way a professional opening, nor is this necessarily a good idea.

I just finished watching an interview with Mac King where he describes being a seventeen year old kid in a restaurant, and eating with his mate Lance Burton.

They weren't hired by the restaurant, but Mac would walk over to another table and say:

"Sorry to bother you, but I wonder if you can help me... my friend has just bet me $5 that you wouldn't sit through three magic tricks..."

and then with their permission he'd run through a set. Afterwards, Lance would sidle up carrying a vanishing bird cage (???), hand him $5 and proceed with some effects of his own.

Now, apart from the considerable risk of being incredibly rude, boorish and entirely lacking in charm, they actually sound quite sweet

Once you have targeted the table your best bet is to put them at ease. Welcome them to the restaurant and introduce yourself.

"Hi welcome to the "Barf and Puke (insert restaurant name)" My name is samonella and I've been hired by the restaurant to entertain all our guests tonight while you wait for your food. Best part of all is that I don't accept tips the Barf and Puke pays me quite well..."

With this type of intro you have established;

1 You are not some stranger accosting dinners.
2 It establishes you as a professional not a freak
3 They have not been singled out, you are there to perform for all the tables
4 They now are not worrying through your entire perfomance about how much this is going to cost them.

Remember you are working for a restaurant you are not done once you have ended your last card effect. You should thank them for allowing you to entertain them, to enjoy their dinner and that you hope to see them again soon that you will be there every Tuesday (or whatever) and by all means if there is anything they else they need just ask, (its nothing for you to go over to a table that clearly needs a wait staff person and inform them that you will go inform their waitress that they are needed at the table).

Read the magic menu. It is a great resource for all aspects of restaurant magic.

I wish to announce some historical information that should be noted for posterity. I was the second magician in the United Kingdom to ever perform magic in a restaurant. The first was Mick Chardo who later became a traffic warden. I am sure there is a moral to the tale but I am not quite sure what it is.

I was also the first magician to appear on British colour television. Not that I am the type to brag of course. And I did not become a traffic warden.

mark lewis wrote: traffic warden.

Interestingly enough I received a parking ticket today from a little sh*t of a traffic warden who lives with his mum just around the corner from me. I used to talk to him nicely when he was walking his mum's dog and I would bump into him walking mine. Then he goes and gives me a bloody parking ticket! He was just sticking it onto the windscreen as I arrived back at my car. He looked a bit flustered when he realised it was me, but I wasn't about to let him off easy. I asked him how his mum was and enquired as to her dog.

What this has to do with approaching tables in restaurants I do not know, although I wonder that if approaching a table is such a problem, things aren't looking good for the following routine.

Ooh, I am a scamp.