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gabelson Inner circle conscientious observer 2137 Posts |
OK, after years of practicing, and performing for friends (and sometimes strangers), I'm ready to try and actually go out and perform mentalism in a "professional" venue. Having a pretty good arsenal, if I were to approach a club or restaurant owner and do a couple effects to "show him what I can do", what would you vets recommend as hard-hitting, knock-your-socks-off quickies?
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entity Inner circle Canada 5060 Posts |
He'll want to know that you can do something fast, direct and strong. Whatever you do best that fits those criteria should be what you will perform.
Your job in the restaurant is to entertain after the order is taken and before the food arrives. If you do long, drawn-out routines, the waiters will be interrupting you halfway through your presentation, or standing around waiting with trays full of food that's going cold while you finish your routines. Also perhaps do something that doesn't require you to clear space on the table to present the effect. Something that can be done in the participant's hands is always good. If you do PK Time or something that the manager probably hasn't seen before, the chances of him getting excited about what you do are improved. - entity
email: tomebaxter@icloud.com
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chichi711 Inner circle 5810 Posts |
Wheres DannyDoyle?
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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
As this is my life two to three nights a week, I urge you to try readings. While mentalism is not magic, most audiences that have not been exposed to mentalism will assume you are just doing a different sort of magic trick. Granted, you could demonstrate your abilities to them, showing that what you do is definitely not magic tricks, but, if you can actually read minds, why are you wasting your time at a restaurant? Do something useful.If, however, you are offering a service, in this case, brilliant psychic insight into the customers, you could, perhaps, be excused for squandering your abilities. Bearing in mind that a two-minute palm reading has as much impact as most mentalism you will do, requires no props or trickery (you 't be caught out for anything save stupidity, and you are a bright, intelligent, erudite human being-if not, you shouldn't be doing mentalism- so that is not a concern), that it plays beautifully to the ladies, guaranteeing a good tip, and that it will attract requests from every table around, why would you not at least try it?
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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
Scratch that entire reply. I misread your post; you're trying to impress the proprietor. Ok. Try readings. Most restaurant owners that have not been exposed to mentalism will assume you are just doing a different sort of magic trick. Granted, you could demonstrate your abilities to them, showing that what you do is definitely not magic tricks, but, if you can actually read minds, why are you wasting your time at a restaurant? Do something useful.If, however, you are offering a service, in this case, brilliant psychic insight into the customers, you could, perhaps, be excused for...
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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
No, seriously. Find the highest ranking woman there, read her palm. Tell her what you want to do and ask to see the manager.
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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
In light of recent threads, let it be noted that the previous post using the phrase "highest ranking woman" was not intended to be sexist. My experience shows that women are much more open to such things than men, a matter I am sure that will be confirmed by other readers. I myself have a god-like physique (Buddha) and a media-icon face (santa Claus), but have found that women, even princesses faced with a toad, respond to agenda-free attention. My mother is a woman, as is my grandmother, and I intend no disrespect to the female race.
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gabelson Inner circle conscientious observer 2137 Posts |
Agreed, readings are powerful, but it has also been suggested that it's good to hit quick, and be hands-off. I think I've got to try some quick hits, before I get comfortable doing readings. PK time, or a coin bend would probably suffice for an intro, and perhaps a peek or CT combined with a quick reading for the booker/manager.
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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
The only thing that concerns a manager is whether you will make him money. He is not your target audience, his customers are. Show him what you can do to improve his business. If his staff likes what you do, he will listen.
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gabelson Inner circle conscientious observer 2137 Posts |
True, a club owner is only concerned about the bottom line. But I would think that the more impressed HE/SHE is with the power of what you do, the more likely they are to let you work the room.
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Tony Iacoviello Eternal Order 13151 Posts |
Be careful about what you say, because you more than likely cannot increase his business or profit. But what you can do is keep people happy and entertained while they wait and increase the good experience his patrons will have.
Not knowing what you have for ready material, it is near impossible to make suggestions. For the manager, the material should start out quick, very quick effect with a strong ending perhaps a business card and boon effect. (Don't do pocket writing on the first meeting!) This is something that involves the manager to do nothing more than think of a name, number, or object, make it something personal but not too private. If that goes over well and he/she is receptive, then you can move on to something a little bigger, or something that utilizes props. Whatever you do, it should be light and fun, nothing heavy or complex. If you can, you want to discuss the business with the manager and offer to do a table or two as a sample of what you do, think of it as an audition. You should have a 3 to 5 minute set ready for table work. This material (which you are proposing to use in the restaurant) should be structured with a quick and effective opening, and your other pieces should be modular so that you can stop at any point (when the food arrives, you step off and out of the way). The material should also be in the hands as you may not have any table space, and you will most likely be standing. The material should also involve everyone at the table, if possible. If you are not an experienced reader, stay away from it. This is not the time. A quick palm reading is usually about 3 minutes (and that is pushing it), anything shorter and the sitters feel cheated or let down. It is like seeing a preview for a movie. Suppose you have a table of 4, you cannot expect to sit there for 12 minutes doing readings, and you cannot leave people out, that creates disharmony. (Never mind if the people have problems with the idea of readings, or if someone had recently been through something and starts to cry.) Not what you want for your audition. (I read in restaurants 2 to 3 nights a week and have been doing so for over a decade, I speak from personal experience.) Oh, don’t bend the silverware. Tony |
gabelson Inner circle conscientious observer 2137 Posts |
<<Oh, don’t bend the silverware.>>
Uh-oh. I guess that already rules out half the restaurants (; All good advice, Tony. Thanks. |
John C Eternal Order I THINK therefore I wrote 12941 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-15 23:37, gabelson wrote: I would tell him you will perform for 1 hour for free. This way he can watch you in action and see how you approach tables and how you handle the folks outside waiting for a table. John |
Matt Pulsar Inner circle 1130 Posts |
Simple and fast. If you bend silverware bring your own. I do this but I only do it at large tables who are having something like a birthday party who I think I may get more work out of.
Belief Manifests Reality.
Nebula CT: https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/8517 |
mindpunisher Inner circle 6132 Posts |
Here is another possible approach.
Why not put a complete marketing programme together to help the restaraunt bring in more business. Special nights for groups, ladies nights private parties, open nights. You market special nights that include a mind reader with the package. You help market the nights you get a cut. I know someone who is doing this with some success. You do a deal with the restaraunt to get the cheapest price for the meals you then put something on top for yourself. |
Bill Brunelle Regular user 192 Posts |
I spent many years working 4 to 7 nights strolling in restaurants, and I would suggest that even more important than having the manager see you perform for him is seeing how his customers respond to you. There are many ways to bring this about, but I can't emphasize enough that THIS is the product you are selling---your impact with his customers. A manager may think you're just fine as a performer, psychic, palm reader, whatever. But most of them do not have the creativity to translate that into how it can help their business until they see a couple of tables or groups at the bar start to applaud. Applaud, you say? Yes, absolutely, applaud. That's when they realize they've got something really different and incredibly appealing to offer their clientele.
Granted you may have to show the manager something privately to get to that point, but make it clear that the real evaluation can only be done with them seeing their customers interact with you. Suggest they hand pick a couple of regulars to test you out on. They will then take you over themselves to introduce you. Or better yet, have dinner or be a bar customer and create a happening that the manager can witness. I'm dashing this off in a hurry, so there' lots more to amplify on, but hopefully some of this is helpful. Bill Brunelle |
Reuben Dunn Inner circle Has a purple ribbon wraped around my 1592 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-16 03:23, Tony Iacoviello wrote: Tony, I agree with you 100%! I would ask about the possibility of doing a basic "Tic-Tac-Toe" numerology reading on the back of a business card? It's short, sweet, and rather powerful if done properly. A center tear prediction, design dupliation might be useful as well. Realing that cards might smack of "trick"...a good version of the Si Stubbins stack might be good as well. Just a few thoughts. |
jasons_mind Loyal user 258 Posts |
Gabelson,
I'm in the same boat as you. I'm approaching restaurants and generally performing one or two effects for management or patrons if they are nearby. I choose to use the PCT and perhaps a BCS effect. If they like to see a third, I go with another direct mindreading effect using Acidus Novus. Good Luck, Jason. |
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