talkmagic.co.uk

A couple of points and opinions....

Be careful if you're going to say "I'm a mentalist that works in bars and restaurants" - You may well get asked where you've worked before and if the answer is "Actually, nowhere" you're on a hiding to nothing.

Doing a few freebie nights may well be the way around that, I'm not sure what your feelings are about such things, I know other people's opinions are greatly divided.

I'd personally shy away from the email route. Emails are so easily dismissed by the recipients. Far better would be a letter, they're more personal and can't just be deleted. Yes they can be thrown in the bin, but it's more likely that the recipient will actually read it first. Admittedly there's an increased cost with this approach in terms of both time and money, though not as much time invested in walking the streets and I seem to recall from previous posts that 'money is no object' to you Tom so no problems there.

I'm currently planning a bit of a mailshot and will be incorporating an effect into it to get people hooked. It's worth thinking about, no?

Most importantly, if you're not making initial contact in person, you need to follow up any interest in person. You're selling yourself here remember, your presence and delivery of your effects are your product. They need to see that. If someone phones you in response to a letter, email or even recommendation you should be offering to go and see them in person, to show them what you're about.

Hope that gives you something to think about.

What do I say instead then?

go to a decent bar, ask the manager - "hello there, I'm tom, i come here quite regularly and I'm a student nearby...I'm also a mind-reader (of sorts)...would you be ok with me if i performed in here if anyone asks me to?

i promise not to bother any one, nor go round asking for money...its just i get asked to do something a lot by my friends, and i don't want to offend you or the staff..."

there...

you'll come across as polite, considerate and willing to play by their rules - after a month or two, in which time I'm sure you'll work on putting 3 effects together into a routine...you can approach the same manager and say "thanks very much for letting me perform in here...i appreciate it...if you'd like it - i'd be more than happy to do some more on say a sunday afternoon for your customers...and i won't charge you...thats if you wanted me to that is..."

this way, you'll get proper experience with normal people, rather than those hoighty-toighty uber-skeptics you seem to perform for...do that for another month, and then repeat with another bar - this time mentioning you already gig in that first bar on a sunday...

do it for three months or so, get nervous, get excited, mess up, laugh about it, work on it...

just my opinion, just my thoughts, if you don't like any of it - thats fine...

i ask bar managers regularly if its ok to be there doing stuff...its never gone badly, sometimes you get told "don't ask for money, we're not lisenced..." - but a) i never ask for money if I'm in bar, nor do i accept drinks.... b) all this asking, talking and so on will help you with your initial reason behind wanting to do mentalism...to work on your social skills and how to engage with people...

by the way, i know this doesnt directly answer your question - but it will give you the experience to do what you want to...

it'll improve your cv as it were, and when it comes down to getting the gigs you want - you won't be quite so nervous...

You can't fault advice like that!

So basically the same thing, but without the money?

Hmm... That does sound like a good plan, the thing is the reason I wanted this job was to give my life a sense of meaning and accomplishment somehow, and I'm not sure that would do it.

My currant plan is to offer to do a weeks free trial when they ask me how much I cost, and then see if they like me enough to pay me.

as many have said, without pointing it out.
If you do go into bars and resterants, Dont introduce yourself as "a mentalst" because its almost 100% on, they wont know what that is.

your a magician.

but one who specializes in magic of the mind..

Eshly wrote:So basically the same thing, but without the money?

Hmm... That does sound like a good plan, the thing is the reason I wanted this job was to give my life a sense of meaning and accomplishment somehow, and I'm not sure that would do it..

if you say in one sentence - "the same thing but without the money", then the next sentence say "I'm not sure that would do it"

do you see how contradictory that is? if you just want money - get an evening job...(and do you also see how those comments can be annoying? )

tom - you say yourself you are lacking in confidence, so why not simplify it?

Do you know anyone who works in a bar or restaurant? They needn't be management but could make introductions for you, especially if they already 'get' what you're about.

Iain's advice is very good. I know it's not going to earn you any money to start with but what it will give you is experience, you'll learn how to interact with strangers, what works and what doesn't and how to deal with the things that these sorts of performances throw up (hecklers, messing up effects etc.) and all without the added pressure of knowing that you've got to put on a good show because you're being paid.

IAIN wrote:

Eshly wrote:So basically the same thing, but without the money?

Hmm... That does sound like a good plan, the thing is the reason I wanted this job was to give my life a sense of meaning and accomplishment somehow, and I'm not sure that would do it..

if you say in one sentence - "the same thing but without the money", then the next sentence say "I'm not sure that would do it"

do you see how contradictory that is? if you just want money - get an evening job...(and do you also see how those comments can be annoying? )

tom - you say yourself you are lacking in confidence, so why not simplify it?

No offence Iain, but its people over at the cafe who constantly bully me, so I want to feel like I can say I am a "semi-professional" or something... just for my own sense of confidence. :p


Maeve herself works in a restaraunt, and I'm trying there first :p

Its not the money I want, its the knowledge that someone would pay me to perform that I want.

Tom
xx

Tom, if you're having trouble with the horrible people at the Cafe then don't bother going over there? It's not the friendliest place and some people's opinions stink, that's the reason I don't bother with the place.

You don't need a label to be respected, hard work and dedication will earn you that in this game.

why worry about faceless drones that you'll never meet, nor ever really interact with? they all dissapear when you log off don't they...its like worrying about shadows...

well, i've tried to help, thats it from me...i try to understand your situation, and try and help in the small way i can, with realistic, achievable goals...if you think its not for you - fair enough...

resigning from this thread as of......

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NOW!

say you'll do it to gain experience and to hand out your business card. Any money you make from donations will be put in the manager's charity collection tin [they always have some sort of collection on the bar]

Tell him that once you feel you have gained the experience, you will discuss how to possibly make it a regular thing [dont mention money at this point]

Do some research on the restaurant/cafe/pub before you ask. If its part of a large chain they may say that you have to contact head office for permission.
Check if they have any themed nights you could be part of... or nights to avoid such as a jazz evening where you would not be heard.

P.S. Dont pick any of the places where I am doing magic in Newcastle.... lol

Ok, I am comming round to the idea of not doing it for free. But I must ask the question again:

What do I say?

"Emm... exuse me, can I perform here?" :/


*worried*