talkmagic.co.uk

Greetings all,

I am real noob to the site but I have been really interested in the threads dealing with restaurant work and the like.
There seems to be a lot of discussion (and some disagreement on everything from rates, routines, etc). This line of thought is very intriguing to me, particularly because there is no real market here. I have lived in this area (read: the small city of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada) for nearly three years and I have rarely seen anything resembling a true magic show even advertised. My wife and I are out a fair amount on the town and we haven't seen a magician or anyreal entertainment market capitalizing on the decent tourist trade here.
My background is mostly clowning, with some cards tricks and prop tricks to augment my juggling, balloons, etc. and worked as greeter/ wandering entertainer at an amusement park three consectutive summers, so I do have some professional/ rountine experience. However, I have performed as a comedic entertainer without clown gear for myriad events. The majority of which I have done in a volunteer capacity, normally in a fundraising capacity. (I know there have been posts condemning freebie work to gain experience, but that is not the real issue I am seeking resolution to.)

*some one in the back just shouted "Sum up!!!" so I will come to the point.

In order to break into, or kickstart a restaurant market here what are the prerequisites (experience, persona?)? What length of routines are required? What type of magic is appropriate? And finally how do you approach management? I am going to avoid asking the question about rates, because I know each city/ country is different and I don't want to open up that old wound!

Any help would be great, and muchly appreciated.

It matters what your audience is going to be..there is going to be a difference in tricks if the audience are 11 year olds or 25 year olds. Also you should have a 20-30 minute show..i know people that do 1 hr shows. I recommend searching the site for threads like yours with many opinions.

Do they ever have a parade in Fredericton? If so, that's a way you can begin to get noticed. Dress up in your clown gear and join the parade. Don't worry about whether or not you've been invited... your clown outfit convinces everyone you belong. Be prepared with business cards that have a hole punched in one end. For every balloon animal you make along the way, stick the end of the balloon through the hole in the card to attach it to the animal that you are either selling or giving away.

Check out local recreation departments during the summer to see if you can run a "clown class." Teach really basic stuff, but keep giving out your cards and brochures. Eventually you'll make contact with the people who are paying. Walk into the restaurants you are interested in performing at in your clown gear and point out to the manager how much attention you can attract for his business. You're doing HIM a favor just by being there.

Start in clown gear, as long as you have the experience, and gradually you'll be able to drop the clown and work as yourself. The key to that is to charge extra for the clown performances. After all, you do have more expenses when you work in full clown make-up.