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Tell us more Magic Mark... I am intrigued. What are you up to now?

If your material is strong and you've worked out several (easily reset) routines, then your age will not hinder you too much. Yes, your age is going to be a bit of a drawback, but you'll overcome that objection by showing a manager some killer magic and acting mature. So, going against the grain, I say that your age is not a deal breaker.

This is the secret to getting restaurant work: persistance. Go to 2 - 3 restaurants each day, during the week. Speak with the managers and tell them what you are trying to do. Explain to them how having a magician will be of benefit to them (keep in mind, they are in the business of making money and not buying services that they simply don't need). Go to these restaurants between the hours of 1 p.m and 3 p.m., which is a (normally) slow time. Hint: if you go when they are busy and make a nuiscance of yourself, you'll not get any jobs.

Again, persistance. You may get rejected 50 times (something that most restaurant worker's guides don't tell you), but, with patience and persistance, somebody, somewhere, is going to give you a break.

Mike.

One thing I would suggest, is that you should consider the type of establishment that you would feel comfortable working in. For example, macdonalds is probably not going to work, but that is just one end of the spectrum.

The other advice that Michael Close gives about getting into to restaurant magic (on his worker dvds) is that you should spend some time eating in the restaurants, and imagine how you would feel working the tables there. Also you are getting to know the staff and hopefully manager as a client before you start touting for business, and the biggest advantage is that if for example you notive that there is also a delay between ordering and when the food first arrives you can use this to your advantage as a selling point. As you woul dbe the ideal person to fill in at these moments.

However, If the food always comes very quickly after ordering, then it isn't likly that he restauarnt will benifit from a magician anyway. When will you do magic at the tables? you can't do it whilst they are eating, and if you wait until after th emeal, then that is the time the manger wants a fast change over of clients to maximise his profits.

Additional small point, I was in an Italian Restaurant last week and, although midweek, it was packed. The noise from all the many conversations was deafening and I was wondering how the heck a magician would perform under those condiions. You certainly could't bellow, 'CHOOSE A CARD, ANY CARD!' I suppose a silent act would be the only way?

Zack wrote:Tell us more Magic Mark... I am intrigued. What are you up to now?

Hey guys!

Ive just started my new job, which is working in a BIG international hotel, doing reception work, and restraunt work. Also, my name will be put on the books as part of there wedding packages, which ROCKS BABY!

MagicDiscoMan, i dont just do club/stage/stand up work, i do walk around, but only in small quantities as i am the type of magician who likes to use big bulky props.

My personal reccomendations for walk around are:
Dice routines, i use dai vernons routine, as it rocks.

The invisibe deck, people love the concept of selecting a card from an ID, and it being the only faced down card in a face up pack.

Pen thru note, as people normally take cash to restraunts and weddings for the bar etc.

And absolutley anything to can do with a normal deck.

Also, my unequally equal magic wands always go down well

i got into doing weddings and events simply by word of mouth... i would do some street magic at festivals and carnivals, not being paid, just show up and do some magic... people would be like do you do this for parties and events, and i was like, i would like to....

so i got a few calls for small birthdays and stuff like that... then i started getting calls from people that had previously hired me for birthdays and i got booked for a corporate kick-off dinner... i did walkaround there, stuff with a TT, and the Raven were my main tricks, and a bunch of close up in your face magic...

that then made more people call me, and so on and so forth... i was 14 when i started... you just need to get out there at public events and present yourself, show them what you got, and i promise people will ask if you do parties and such....

In this forum no one is really providing any help on how to go about getting a gig at a restaurant you are just telling him that he is to young. I am also interested in getting into restaurant magic and was wondering if anyone could tell me a good way to approach the restaurants. I have made many phone calls but they never really seem to wanna listen and just dismiss the whole idea before they have really heard what I have to offer. If you have any information to help me please email me at s_adamson1@hotmail.com

Hi all--I was a table hopper at 4 restaurants for 7 years. Once I impressed management at the first restaurant, I was recommended to others. You are NOT too young to be a magician at a family restaurant as long as you seem natural and relaxed. I was 20 years ol. Older than you, to be sure, but not a seasoned performer by any means. Once you've practiced on friends and family and have about 6 effects "perfected," you'll be fine. Now, to sell your product, offer to come in one night during dinner and work an hour for free. During that hour, if customers offer you tips, tell them "no thank you. Just tell the server/host/hostess that you enjoyed the magic." It worked for me!! It really did. That free hour was the ticket in. Hope this helps

In this forum no one is really providing any help on how to go about getting a gig at a restaurant

Ok you want help, go and offer yourself for free at a few Charity events, you will be helping a charity and you will gain valuable experience. If you are any good the offers will come.
Interestingly one of my residencies is at a restaraunt with the same name as the poster above.

I agree with Happy Toad when he says that charity events are opportunities to use to your benefit as well as others. Two of the biggest in the UK are the Children in Need and Red Nose day. The amount of leads that I get for work from these two days alone keeps me going for ages, as well as raising money for charity of course.

Local events are often publicised and if you can get involved and even negotiate some press coverage for turning up then you have something that you can take along and show prospective customers.

I see loads of advice being offered on this topic so can't understand why S_adamson hasn't seen it!