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Skotster Regular user Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania 109 Posts |
I work at Ponderosa Steakhouse as a Dishwasher/Cook. Somehow they found out I did magic and have asked me to be the restaurant magician, I told them I'll have to think about it. The first issue is the restaurant is an all you can eat buffet (walk in, go to cash register to order drinks and any grill item, once shown your table you are free to go up to the salad bar, hot food bar and bread/dessert bar all of which are AYCE)
Being that the resturant is set up that way, it knocks out the traditional time of performing between the order being placed and the meal arriving. I believe the managers were thinkning I could be off to the side and perform for anyone who walks up to me, much like the clown we have now that does face painting and balloon twisting. I fear that it will either be a night where all I do is sit in the corner, or it will be a 2 hour show where guests can come and go as they please. I thought maybe work the line, but even a line out the door only takes 10-15 minutes to get through the register. Do any of you think of a way to make performing work? I'll probably turn them down as I think they want to cut the clown and be able to pay me my regular wage to perform, thus saving the resturant money and not loosing the entertainment for family night. So again: Is it possible to work an AYCE buffet restaurant? Would any of you take the job based on my situation? |
fallingblood New user North Dakota 98 Posts |
Personally, I'd never do a buffet restaurant. You mentioned the major problems. Since there is no wait, you'd either have to have people come up to you, or perform while they are eating. The latter not being a good idea at all. Having them approach you, may not be too bad, but I'd still pass on it.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I would NOT do the buffet style restaurant outside of a resort environment. Just me.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
I will put those types last on my list. If I did give it a try, I would approach the table soon as I noticed a table was finished eating. My other idea is peforming out in the lobby while a long line of guest are waiting a while to be seated if the place is full.
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Certainly not for the same wage. Get at least what the clown gets. Places like this sometimes think they can cut costs by screwing the entertainment. If they want to play, they should pay for the privelidge. They can figure out how to cut costs by making their food operation more efficient.
Table-hopping may not be the best choice given the circustance, but kids will be finished long before the adults will, and parents won't mind pawning their young'uns off on you so they can eat in peace. Assuming you will work mostly for kids (plus the occassional adult that has to carry around a toddler or two, it may be possible to work a set of tricks that go for say, 15-20 minutes. You can easily do that for say, three reps an hour. It is unlikely that you would be working the same people longer than one full set. At the end of a set, pop a sign on your table that says, "Next show in 5 minutes." Anyone who came in the middle of the show may stick around to see what they missed. Longer than that, and they will be eating or leaving. Customers don't generally hang around in places like this all night. Make your stuff easy to reset, or at least such that won't expose anything if you must reset semi-openly in front of people waiting for the next show. Filling the gap in the wake of the current entertainment will be a bit of a challenge. People will wait insane amounts of time standing in line to get something free (greasepaint on their face or a balloon doggie). Those waiting lines become an easy barometer for the manager to judge worth by (Their perception is different than ours). You will have to be noticable with what you do. It's always easy to see where a clown or balloon folder has been... they leave a trail of latex. It's probably not the best place or time for sophistication, but rather colorful, almost over the top character-based magic may do the job. The trick is to be better and more fun than the clown. The bottom line is make sure they are willing to pay you separately for the magic. Don't even let them put it on the same paycheck. If they pay the clown cash in exchange for an invoice or receipt, get the same arrangement.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
TKD27 Elite user Wallingford, CT 458 Posts |
I know someone locally who works at a Hometown Buffet and enjoys success with it, but I can't tell you how he handles it. But it can definitely be done
Connecticut Kids' Magician, Matt Matthews (formerly known as Matt The Balloon Man)
Magic Shows, Face Paintingand, Balloon twisters. |
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Skotster, I agree that a buffet would be tough because folks usually are eating or leaving, and I can't see why the management would want anyone at a table once they are done...I say get new folks in. I do want to comment on your post. It was well thought out, you considered the actual problems with the performing situation, and also likely guessed why they wanted you to do it. No insult intended but why is an obviously astute guy working as a dishwasher? Are you a college student? If you dig it because you want to be a chef and it is a starting point or something like that cool, I say do what makes you happy...but you seem very sharp.
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Ok...so time for the Lyle-ster to chime in as the resident Buffet Magician.
My Thursday thru Sunday gig is at a Buffet Style restaurant. It does take a different approach than working in a traditional restaurant. First of all...I perform for people WHILE THEY EAT. Not a big deal. Think of it as dinner theater on a much smaller scale. I hop the tables like we all do and every now and then I'll post up in the middle of several table and play them all at the same time! I think that most Magicians look down on the Buffet Style places as low class. Not true at all! There's nothing wrong with playing a buffet style restaurant. In many ways...it's EASIER since you're not trying to beat the clock of the food coming out. From the TIPS standpoint (yes I do accept tips and proud to say I do!), it's a gold mine as there's no back lash from a waiter who think your taking their money. My average day of tips for my three hour stint is usually about $70 and for my nine hour stint on Sat/Sun...well...let's just say I make more in tips than what the restaurant pays me (which is pretty sweet). Excuse me as I zip up my flame proof suit for a minute...as the next paragraph may get me in the hot seat. I would charge the restaurant MORE than what the clown charges...as I don't consider being a clown a performance art (UNLESS they work for Cirque or Ringling Brothers). I have my own evil thoughts on the clowing industry but I'll keep those to my self so I don't offend since I'm sure there are some who are no doubt on the Café.' Don't work for tips alone, bill more than the clown and face painter and you'll be doing all right!
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Skotster Regular user Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania 109 Posts |
Thank you for all the replies. I'll start off with the few questions that MagicSanta asked. Yes, I am a college student. I am currently in a local community college to get some cheap gen-ed courses before I transfer to a 4 year school.
I'm not completely without performance experience, but I have never done a restaurant. The closest thing that I have done was over the summer I worked at a Cub Scout Camp. I was in charge of the mess hall, well the front of house portion of it anyways. I attempted to do some table hopping there while they were eating, but dropped that and went to doing one short stage effect at the end of every other meal. Going table to table was just to hard in the situation. Each table seats 10 people and seats are one bench per side. That left my standing spot in the corner of the table which brought an issue with everyone at the table being able to see. Also 500 seven to eleven year olds in a mess hall is loud, it was near impossible to have patter be heard. I could at least control their volume when I stood on stage to perform a quickie, plus at that paint eating was done, and I had the assistance of a microphone. Regarding Ponderosa, I think I will turn it down, I just hope they don't drop the clown. I think I will suggest that since they often have parties in the banquette room, they could extend my services to those people. Often, groups that rest the room have an evening agenda where I could do a short show before they are released to get food. Perhaps the restaurant could charge extra so that I could be paid above my normal wage. I would still like to be work a sit down restaurant at some point, but I feel I have much more to learn. I am technically proficient, but I feel that my routineing/scripting/people skill/development of my performing character is still sub par. Then again when I have performed, I've gotten a lot of positive feedback. I don't know how much it's worth, but a cousin of Paul Gertner thought my show was good. I may be just too hard on myself. I have to say I know nothing about business, anywhere from marketing, to contracts, it makes my head hurt. I wold love the chance to get out of the dish pit and make some money with magic, especially while I'm still a student. Again I thank you for taking the time to reply. Scott |
kammagic Inner circle 1304 Posts |
If I am hesitant about doing a gig I simply quote them a higher then normal fee. That way if I get it I'll be making good money and if not fine I didn't want it anyway.
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Robert Apodaca Special user 504 Posts |
When I do Sunday Brunch at my restunt it is buffet style. The restruant only does buffet on Sunday Brunch. It has never been a problem for me, though it may be quite different for a restruant that is exclusively buffet.
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dlachance Veteran user Mississippi 344 Posts |
I do a buffet restuarant as well...and get this....its a pizza buffet. I love it....it was my first gig and I have been there 2 years. Yeh, you perform while they eat and my cards don't make it thru the night and I have to wash my sponge balls often....but it is great and the tips are great too....
Dorian
-Dorian LaChance
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Dorian,
RIGHT ON SPOT buddy!!!! My gig is a Pizza Buffet too! I wish all gigs could be this good!
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
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