talkmagic.co.uk

Don't perform anything for the interview. It just looks hokey. What you want to do is simply talk to the manager or person interested, how you can increase their money and business. That is ALL that he/she is concerned about. They don't care if you can do this or that magic trick. They just want to know if you will be good for their business and if you will get in the way of their staff.

Randy makes a great point - if you do get the gig, DON'T upset the staff by getting in their way. If you're at a table coming to the end of a great trick and the main courses arrive, GET OUT OF THE WAY and let the plates be put down!

a) Why post a letter? Why not pop in and introduce yourself?

b) If you send a letter, there's a 90% chance you won't hear anything back from them, so don't get your hopes up. (I sincerely do hope you hear back from them. But I remember trying to get my foot in the door at restaurants and bars. It was a long hard road of knock back after knock back. When I was knocking on doors I figured I got 2 regular gigs and 1 one-off gig from approaching 100 restaurants and bars).

c) Either way, in person or in the post, they will probably think you're either mad, a clown, a children's entertainer, or just a bit "random".

You need a thick skin in the restaurant biz. But it can be hugely rewarding. All I'm saying is keep your feet on the ground.

for the interview (and even for the tables?) one I like to do is simplicity in itself and bold as well. Take a playing card from your deck (joker) and print and stick on a label with your contact details.
"this last trick I gaurentee will make you remember me!"
And just use a f***e of your choosing getting them to pick "a" card without seeing its face yet, pausing before the reveal remind the person how they will remember you for this trick... etc and TA DAA! the thing here is timing. make it a quick snappy trick and give a smile at the end of it! this is a classic case of reads badly plays well. FOR ME. You may choose not to do this if it's not how you perform.
Some other little bits: when you get the job (positive thinking) make sure you have discussed with managment things like tips and self publicity. you don't want to upset the boss by handing out your business cards without him/her saying its ok. Remeber the boss makes his money out of food and drink your an added bonus to the customers so always bear in mind where you are in the pecking order... if the food arrives thats your turn to go.
Go with what you know Eshley. Very best of Luck with the interview and Let us know how you get on!

also some very good advice on the Sticky: Performing magic to the public… By Stephen Ward

I am also going to face an interview a day after tomorrow. Some of the tips here are very nice and I will try it out to succeed in my interview. I wish I got the job.

Eshly wrote:The interview... and walkaround... either of those generally :p

xx

Tom, I really dont want to be disrespectful to you, because you are very keen, but if you are asking for advice on how to do walk around magic, then your not ready to be trying to sell yourself yet.

SLOW DOWN

Learn how to be a walkaround magician. Have nights out with your mates and learn how to physically do it. Dont try to sell it yet. You will find doing a bit of impromptu magic in bars will give you a lot of training into walk around Magic.

Check out Lee's notes and new DVD on walk around magic, and read it, dont speed read it, read it slowly, over and over and over again.

I dont want to put a downer, but you really need to know how to do what you are selling before you sell it.


Mark

Mark Waddington wrote:

Eshly wrote:The interview... and walkaround... either of those generally :p

xx

Tom, I really dont want to be disrespectful to you, because you are very keen, but if you are asking for advice on how to do walk around magic, then your not ready to be trying to sell yourself yet.

SLOW DOWN

Learn how to be a walkaround magician. Have nights out with your mates and learn how to physically do it. Dont try to sell it yet. You will find doing a bit of impromptu magic in bars will give you a lot of training into walk around Magic.

Check out Lee's notes and new DVD on walk around magic, and read it, dont speed read it, read it slowly, over and over and over again.

I dont want to put a downer, but you really need to know how to do what you are selling before you sell it.


Mark

I do all of the above already; I haven't paid for a pint in over two months now, finding that walkaround in my local bar will get me more free drinks than I can consume.

I am confident I can do the job, but it can't hurt to ask for advice


Tom
xx

Eshly wrote: I haven't paid for a pint in over two months now,
Tom
xx

Thought you were 17?
What you seem to be saying here is, you're being groomed.
Also, your pub needs shutting down.

And...

Eshly wrote:but it can't hurt to ask for advice

... it can help to listen too.

Lawrence wrote:

Eshly wrote: I haven't paid for a pint in over two months now,
Tom
xx

Thought you were 17?
What you seem to be saying here is, you're being groomed.
Also, your pub needs shutting down.

ROTFL!!!!!

If being groomed means free beer (and YES it is legal if someone over 18 buys it for me!) then we need more pedophiles in this country.

And I do listen :p
...somtimes

Tom
xx

Eshly wrote:and YES it is legal if someone over 18 buys it for me!)

Source?

Eshly wrote:If being groomed means free beer (and YES it is legal if someone over 18 buys it for me!) then we need more pedophiles in this country.

And I do listen :p
...somtimes

Tom
xx

It's illegal to:

Sell alcohol to anyone under 18, or to someone you suspect is buying on behalf of someone under 18. The only exception someone over the age of 18 can buy beer, wine or cider for a 16 to 17 year-old to accompany a meal in a restaurant;
Buy or attempt to buy alcohol if you are under 18. You're also breaking the law if you drink alcohol on licensed premises if you are underage;
Be under 18 and on the premises of somewhere selling alcohol between the hours of midnight and 5am.


Source
http://www.thesite.org/drinkanddrugs/dr ... gandthelaw

Mark would know, he's 14!

Be careful here, Tom (and we're veering OT too...)

The law
Under 5 – It’s illegal to give an alcoholic drink to a child under 5 except in certain circumstances (e.g. under medical supervision).

Under 14 - A person under 14 can't go into a bar or pub unless the pub has a 'children's certificate'. Without this certificate they can only go into parts that aren't licensed and where alcohol is either sold but not drunk (e.g. a sales point away from the pub), OR drunk but not sold (e.g. a beer garden or family room).

14 or 15 – They can go anywhere in a pub but can't drink alcohol.

16 or 17 – They can buy (or be bought) beer or cider so long as it's bought to eat with a meal, but not in a bar (i.e. only in a place specifically set aside for meals).

Under 18 – With the exception of having a meal in a pub, it's against the law for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, off-licence or supermarket. It's also illegal to buy alcohol in a pub for someone who's not 18.

Anyone over 18 can buy and drink alcohol legally in licensed premises in Britain


Source - www.talktofrank.com (Government funded site)


Sean