Restaurant and Party Gig yesterday

[ArmanMagic]

Hello you guys,

Yesterday my mother's friend hired me to do magic and her husband's birthday party. It was in a party room at this restaurant and there was about 25 people there. First I did a 15 minute show and then I walked around and did magic to each table. I was paid $50 and got dinner at the restaurant.

For the show I performed the iDeck, the vanishing coke, the invisible deck, the magic insurance policy and then my rope routine. The main problem with this show was that I usually perform this by throwing out a beach ball and using that to select people but since this was at a restaurant I thought it would be inappropriate to do that because It could hit the silverware and plates. Also the second thing was that people were eating while I was performing so they couldn't focus and eat and then it was difficult to pick out spectators. I never performed in a situation where I could use a beach ball to pick on spectators so I just asked people.

Now after the show I performed to each table and I performed to two pairs at each table and handed them a business card after I performed. Some people didn't want to see magic, which I could understand, but I didn't really know how to react to it. Then afterward, this one girl who I performed for previously wanted to see more, so I showed her and we talked a little bit.

Overall it was a great experience and I think I'll post a video of the show performance later. If you could give me some tips or any advice that'd be great.

 

[RickEverhart]

Arman,
It is really NEVER a good experience to have to perform while the guests are eating. Typically you will have the "clanging" of silverware on plates and some people who may not wish to see magic are just going to talk among themselves anyway. It is better to perform prior to the food being served or arriving and setting up while the meal is being finished (if it is strolling and you don't need a mic) If it is a stage show you and you need sound and music, then you need to be there way before the meal to do your sound checks and everything.
You'll know for next time. You need to be the one to speak up and tell the client that performing during the meal is not conducive to the show and that you would really need to perform before or after the guests dine.

You are correct, you are not going to throw beach balls around the restaurant for volunteers. All it would take is one glass of liquid getting spilled all over a patron and your show could be heading south very quickly.

Your age probably has a little bit of factor into why some of the adults at the tables did NOT want to see magic. Believe it or not, in their minds you might just be doing little kid crap that they don't care to see. Only "some" of them might know that you have the chops do perform some great magic. As you age, less and less people will turn you down. Sometimes people are not in the right frame of mind either. Perhaps they just received bad news that morning of a sick family member or they are having marital problems. Don't take it personally.

The more you perform at these types of events the better you will become. Each one is a little different, however, by the time you have done about 10 or so under your belt, you'll be able to walk into venues and get a feel for what needs done and how you are going to accomplish it.

Keep up the good work.

 

[Randy]

A bit of common sense will tell you that the best time to approach a table is like right after they've ordered their food or when the staff brought them their drinks. Also, I would suggest not bringing up magic when you first approach a table. Try building rapport with them BEFORE you even mention the word magic. Simply get them to think that you are the owner/PR guy for the place and are just checking up on the tables. etc.

 

[ArmanMagic]

A bit of common sense will tell you that the best time to approach a table is like right after they've ordered their food or when the staff brought them their drinks. Also, I would suggest not bringing up magic when you first approach a table. Try building rapport with them BEFORE you even mention the word magic. Simply get them to think that you are the owner/PR guy for the place and are just checking up on the tables. etc.

Well after I did the little show I told them right before it ended that I'll be going around each table to show them magic if they are interested it seeing it. Obviously some of them wanted to see it and some of them just watched it to be polite and some were just slightly rude and told me they didn't want to see it.

I understand what you mean now Rick Everhart, I didn't really see how eating while watching magic was a bad thing until I actually started performing and was like "Crap, this is not going to work out" so I kind of just had to adapt and deal with it.

 

[Luis Vega]

I would say something...but Rick Everhart has said it all... amazing!!


I think is ok for one of your first shows to have learned a lot... It will improve in time...Next time try to talk to the manager or the event planner and tell them to present you AFTER they are done eating...

Keep up!! you are doing good!!