talkmagic.co.uk

me_simon wrote:Side question - who pays? Does the restaurant pay or will the table pay? Because if I'm approached for anything in a sit-down food place, I always say no early on because I assume they want my money for something.

There are books written on this very subject. It is also why most successful restaurant performers I know don't take tips. And pretty much start out by telling the guest that they are paid by the restaurant to do this, so it's a free service, no need to even tip! There are several ways to say this and it always puts the guests at ease.

Becuase you are so right. The last thing I want is yet more money to leave my pocket when I go to eat.

I wish to brag that I am a historical figure. I was the second magician in the UK to ever work a restaurant. The first was Mick Chardo who later became a traffic warden. I am certain that there is a moral to this story but I am not sure what it is.

mark lewis wrote:I wish to brag that I am a historical figure. I was the second magician in the UK to ever work a restaurant. The first was Mick Chardo who later became a traffic warden. I am certain that there is a moral to this story but I am not sure what it is.

First the worst, second the best, third the one with the hairy chest?

Beardy wrote:

mark lewis wrote:I wish to brag that I am a historical figure. I was the second magician in the UK to ever work a restaurant. The first was Mick Chardo who later became a traffic warden. I am certain that there is a moral to this story but I am not sure what it is.

First the worst, second the best, third the one with the hairy chest?

Iain was the third magician ever to do restaurant work in the U.K?

I doubt Iain was the third. It was about 45 or more years ago when Mick Chardo decided to crack the restaurant market in the UK. And he did. Quite an amazing feat when you think about it since at the time the idea was unheard of in Britain. He had an aggressive personality and managed to talk quite a few restaurants into the idea.

He worked at Ley-on's in Soho and I heard that he had left so I traipsed down there and persuaded them to take me on as his successor. So I was the second one to do it. I have no idea who the third was because it was many years after that before the idea caught on.

And while I am bragging I wish to also state that that I was the first magician on colour television in the UK. Truly you are privileged to have me within your midst.

I have detailed all this in my wondrous memoirs "The Lives of a Showman" which seems to be selling in some very odd places and I have no idea how it ever got to those outlets.

mark lewis wrote:He had an aggressive personality

Explains his career change.

That was funny!

Could you not set a trick up for the people that dont like magic, i.e. have a peice of paper palmed in your hand that says you will not like magic at table .x. and make the paper "magically appear" in your hand and let them read it.

You know where im going with this so wont explain anymore.

If they are still not impressed then MEH' there boring.

dP

Could you not set a trick up for the people that dont like magic, i.e. have a peice of paper palmed in your hand that says you will not like magic at table .x. and make the paper "magically appear" in your hand and let them read it.

You know where im going with this so wont explain anymore.

If they are still not impressed then MEH' there boring.

dP

Danielmp007 wrote:Could you not set a trick up for the people that dont like magic, i.e. have a peice of paper palmed in your hand that says you will not like magic at table .x. and make the paper "magically appear" in your hand and let them read it.

You know where im going with this so wont explain anymore.

If they are still not impressed then MEH' there boring.

dP

If they don't like magic then they're just going to think you're a p***k imho.

Vanderbelt wrote:

Danielmp007 wrote:Could you not set a trick up for the people that dont like magic, i.e. have a peice of paper palmed in your hand that says you will not like magic at table .x. and make the paper "magically appear" in your hand and let them read it.

You know where im going with this so wont explain anymore.

If they are still not impressed then MEH' there boring.

dP

If they don't like magic then they're just going to think you're a p***k imho.

Even if they do like magic i still sometimes feel I'm left with this outcome.

Stick to balloons, people like them. Especially drunk people.

Throw a lit flash paper note in the air ( as part of a trick, preferably!). usually gets some attention

Tomo wrote:You know, I really think it's time that restaurants not only asked what you want to eat and what you want to drink, but also asked if you'd like to see the house magician. The performer would know which tables to visit, and the punters who don't want to see something wouldn't feel hassled.

I agree.... Only the waiters will know how long someone has to wait for their meal. its pointless you approaching a table if the meal arrives half way through your introduction.

if you leave a card at each table, before the guests sit down at their table, then guests can read this and those that really want to be entertained will add the magician to their order (so to speak)

A really busy restaurant, in a town centre, will have several diners just turning up without a reservation. They are usually happy to wait up to half an hour in a bar area for a table to become free. Others with a reservation may arrive early and have to wait 5 mins in the bar area.

Work in that bar area and be ready to be called over to a table if the waiter tells you that a particular table is requesting you.

If you want to work there again you have to impress the restuarant staff as well as impressing the diners. Become part of the restaurant team.

Just walk up without your props in hand and simply introduce yourself, if they want see some stuff then do your routines. If they dont, then thank them for thier time and move onto the next group.