|
|
Pat Trick Regular user 146 Posts |
Hi Paul:
Saw you at the Castle the year before last with my dad while he visited me in LA from my native Nova Scotia (the Latin scholar in you should know what NS means) and had a great time. Apart from your technical prowess in itself, what I appreciate the most is your understated, wry humour. I think too many magicians rely on squeezing out jokes as opposed to trusting the inherent humour in frying an eagle-eyed audience. Anyhow, to my query: If the first step is picking up a deck as a beginner and getting the basics down (Royal Road, etc; and the second is really learning the chops (with serious study of Vernon, Stars of Magic, advanced Hugard, etc) so you can really provoke a "How the %$^& did you do that?" reaction in your specs; then, to my way of thinking, step three is doing it as a part-time professional. Any advice on breaking out of the "no job without experience/no experience without a job" conundrum? Walking up to a restaurant manager with an impromptu audition? Start street busking? I keep imagining the friends, family, and coworkers who've been my magic homies will suddenly attack me with long knifes if they hear anything resembling "pick a card" one more time. Thanks for your artistry and class.
To try is to risk failure; not to try, to guarantee it.
|
R P Wilson V.I.P. 235 Posts |
Hey Padraig,
There are two ways to improve your chances of getting that first restaurant gig. One is to lie and say you've been working somewhere else. Bad move. The other is to find a restaurant open to the idea and tell them you've been doing private shows as an amateur for years (which should be true) and have seen magic go down really well in restaurants in New York (or any city you like). Explain why magic can be a powerful tool for his restaurant and say that you're so confident that you're willing to work a night for free so he can see how much his customers will love it. Set up the idea so he understands why he should want it - set yourself up as the right guy for the job because you're already a magician with years of MAGIC experience - then give him an opportunity to try it for free. I walked into a restaurant many years ago and said the same thing to the manager. He pointed right at a table of eight people and said "let me see". I went for it. The audience were stiff at first but eventually they were blown away and reacted strongly. On their comment cards they said how much they loved the magic and I worked there for years. I think it's only fair to offer a free night to someone under these circumstances. Even if you have years of experience doing magic in restaurants, if they've never seen it you need to make it easy for them to decide. You may need to try a couple of places before you get booked but if they all accept a free show without booking you, you'll get a lot of free experience too. Regarding material, make sure your act is streamlined, simple, resets immediately and is extremly strong and easy to follow. P |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
NOt a restaurant gig, but I went in for an art related job once and the owner said, "Let's see what you can do, here's a job." We didn't discuss money or anything, I just sat down, did the work and got the job.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
|
Pat Trick Regular user 146 Posts |
Thanks, Paul, and Pete. It's that first ice-breaking that seems tricky. I don't suffer major stage fright, but I wonder how best to approach such an "audition table." I'm thinking that, "Good evening, would you like to see some magic?" might earn an annoyed stare or brush-off from customers trying to enjoy their dinner. The free magic idea is a good one. I remember Michael Ammar saying that one performance is worth a week of practice.
Oh, well. Vivir con miedo es como vivir a medias (a life lived in fear is a life half-lived).
To try is to risk failure; not to try, to guarantee it.
|
R P Wilson V.I.P. 235 Posts |
Si, y camaron que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.
P |
Pat Trick Regular user 146 Posts |
Ja ja! Yo hablo un poco castellano, no mas! Mi linda esposa es de Peru. Soy de Canada, pero estamos viviendo en Los Angeles. Mi bueno amigo, Padre James Mallon, es de Glasgow. As they'd say in Lima if the Celtics played there, "Viva Celtics! CARAJO!"
To try is to risk failure; not to try, to guarantee it.
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The December 2006 entrée: R P Wilson » » Taking step three » » TOPIC IS LOCKED (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |