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Five years ago as a very inexpreienced magician I plucked up the courage to suggest to the manager of my local Chef and Brewer pub that he ought to have a magician as well as a disco for Halloween. He told me that he had blown his budget for entertainment on the disco so I offered to do the gig free of charge. He asked me to go back and see him the day after the gig and he offered me two hours work every Sunday lunchtime from 1.00 to 3.00. This was my first paid work as a magician and over the years it expanded in to Bank Holidays, Christmas, Valentines day and other odds and ends of special events. From my contacts through this gig I got wedding work and parties for adults and for children.

On Saturday I was informed that Beefeater management, owners the Spirit Pub Company, were with immediate effect pulling all expenditure on entertainment and my slot was cancelled immediately. The one day notice was due to the fact that the manager had been on holiday otherwise it would have been four days notice!

In the five years i had been there I had one very modest increase in my fee and i would be emabrassed to say here how much I was charging knowing that I was well below the going rate. In that time I had built up a number of customers who came back for Sunday lunch because I was there but my actual value to the pub in terms of takings would be impossible to calculate. Managers have come and gone and I was always kept on so think I was doing something OK. It is a bitter blow to me to lose a regular spot like this and because I have a full time day job as well I have never had time to canvass for more business very energetically.

So, it is back to square one for me. I will still get the odd party or wedding I am sure but the business card dropped on to the satisfied customer in the pub has always been my main marketting tool. I don't have any complaints, all good things do come to an end, but at the moment it feels as though a hole has opened up in fronnt of me that I am not sure how to fill.

Think of the positives, you have gained a lot of valuable experience from this gig. If you could watch a video of you then and now, think of the difference. You can now take that experience and use it somewhere else. This time, when you start somewhere new, you will be building on all that performing time you have already done. Also you can now tell any future employer of your vast experience. As you said 'all good things etc' but there will be new opportunities!

So find another place to work!

And I would certainly ask for a very strong testimonial letter from them. It sounds like you deserve it. And it will help you to find another venue.

Sorry to hear the news John but it seems typical of the harsh style of 'management' in sectors of entertainment these days.

The regulars will feel the loss, let's hope they make a fuss over it so the message sinks in. In the meantime you hage a great track record to offer other places.

I do find it odd that they would suddenly terminate you without notice after 5 years. I don't know what excuse they gave you but there may be something going on that you don't know about. Sometimes a single incident happens and they get rid of you with some excuse or other but don't tell you the real reason. Search your memory. Have there been any incidents recently with grumpy customers or anything untoward? Whatever it is I think it is important you find out. Sometimes there are two reasons given for this type of thing. The reason that sounds good and the REAL reason.

It seems a very harsh way to end the show... I feel a bit gutted for you!

On the up side... you have 5 years of invaluable experience performing now! I'm CERTAIN that you'll be able to find another regular gig now... In fact, why stop at just one regular? As one door closes, another 50 open!

mark lewis wrote:I do find it odd that they would suddenly terminate you without notice after 5 years. I don't know what excuse they gave you but there may be something going on that you don't know about. Sometimes a single incident happens and they get rid of you with some excuse or other but don't tell you the real reason. Search your memory. Have there been any incidents recently with grumpy customers or anything untoward? Whatever it is I think it is important you find out. Sometimes there are two reasons given for this type of thing. The reason that sounds good and the REAL reason.

This is obviously something I have been thinkng about and yes it may just be me. I really can't think of anyone i could have upset, I have always been so careful about suceptabilities, feelings and beliefs. I have always walked quietly if turned away from a table and have always been so cafreful not to interrupt people while they are eating, backing off if food is served while I am performin. However there are signs that this is not just an islolated case. I have been told that all pubs in the group have had the same short notice instruction and the pub quiz at this pub has also been pulled with no notice. Also I understand from staff at the pub that hours have been drastically cut despite the pub being really busy

I have been around a few companies in my working life and have been in and seen situations like this before. The final act of a company in trouble is to cut staff and cut even the most insignificant of costs to the bone. I suspect that the Spirit Pub Company may be in deep trouble.

Many pubs are closing in the UK these days, the usual reason quoted is the effect of the smoking ban in pubs but I suspect the real reason may be the high cost of alcohol in pubs compared to the prices in supermarkets etc.

I was in your neck of the woods recently for The Illusionists show in Oxford and visited the Weatherspoons pub/restaurant on the way from the car park. There was an active campaign going on for VAT to be reduced in pubs and to bring it in line with the amount paid in Supermarkets thus giving the trade a much needed boost. On this basis perhaps the pub trade is heading downhill but, even so, the short notice you received still cannot be justified except by assuming it came form upper management who really don't care and are just number crunching. All businesses have to run at a profit to keep going but pruning staff, cutting entertainment and other aspects which actually draw in customers is a very negative way of going about it. Why not have a word with Weatherspoons and see if they feel like taking on an established and time-proven professional entertainer?

I did a gig for three years every Saturday morning in a cinema. Then it was cancelled on a week's notice. Nothing to do with me; they just decided I had built up the audience for their kids club, and they didn't need me any more. It happened with a hotel too. The cinema was right; their kids club was well established and it thrived. The hotel had made a mistake, and their kids club dwindled to nothing.

It suited me that the cinema cut me; I was looking for a way out anyway. But in your case, I can see how it would be upsetting. Just remember it almost certainly had nothing to do with your performance.

Thanks everybody for your positive comments

corindaman wrote:Think of the positives, you have gained a lot of valuable experience from this gig. If you could watch a video of you then and now, think of the difference.

This is so true. I think I would blush to see myself as I was on those first performances!!

Mandrake wrote: Why not have a word with Weatherspoons and see if they feel like taking on an established and time-proven professional entertainer?

Good thinking Mandrake, Weatherspoons may well be the sort of place that would try something new. There are actually two of them in Oxford believe it or not!

mark lewis wrote:So find another place to work!

And I would certainly ask for a very strong testimonial letter from them. It sounds like you deserve it. And it will help you to find another venue.

Solid and sensible advice, especially the bit about the testimonial. Thank you!

TonyB wrote:I did a gig for three years every Saturday morning in a cinema. Then it was cancelled on a week's notice. Nothing to do with me; they just decided I had built up the audience for their kids club, and they didn't need me any more. It happened with a hotel too. The cinema was right; their kids club was well established and it thrived. The hotel had made a mistake, and their kids club dwindled to nothing.

It suited me that the cinema cut me; I was looking for a way out anyway. But in your case, I can see how it would be upsetting. Just remember it almost certainly had nothing to do with your performance.

Thanks for both points. Its something that happens, I just need to get myself out there and find somewhere new.

Onwards and upwards, and Blackpool to look forward to. The thing I am pleased about is that I paid fro Blackpool weeks ago. I might have cut it if this had happened before I booked everything!