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slyhand Inner circle Good ole Virginia 1908 Posts 
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If anyone has experienced something similer, I would like to know how you handled it.
One of the places I work in is a bar/restaurant with over 20 flat screens surrounding the place. There is also a young girl who is there every week with her parents. She waits just inside the door for me to arrive then waves and greets me as I walk in. When I get to her table and start performing, her attention goes to the screens and she misses half of what is going on. Keep in mind she wants me at the table and loves magic (cards are her fav) but if she looks up at me there is a screen just a glance away no matter where one is sitting. I have tried doing everything low down on the table but the draw of the TV seems too strong. Also this is the only person that this happens to, so I don't think I am boring. I am not sure if I should do nothing or should I say/do anything to help solve this. She may have A.D.D. for all I know.
I am getting so tired of slitting the throats of people who say that I am a violent psychopath.
Alec |
Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts
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Nope it is normal .... Everyone does it whether children or adults. Hell I find myself doing it too!!
When I notice kids a wandering I will say "hey! 3D (point) 2D I win!" Parents laugh. Worst is the parents that won't make the kid put down the DS system...
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy As seen on the TODAY SHOW www.balloonguy.net Creator of Bad to the Balloon DVD series Go to my store: http://tinyurl.com/Bad2theBalloon |
montymagi Special user Slidell La 752 Posts
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Happens to me from time to time. I act like I am hypnotising them with a balloon. Gets a laugh and their attention.
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slyhand Inner circle Good ole Virginia 1908 Posts
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Quote:
On 2009-09-10 11:56, Bad to the Balloon wrote: I like that line... mind if I use it?
I am getting so tired of slitting the throats of people who say that I am a violent psychopath.
Alec |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts
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Quote:
Worst is the parents that won't make the kid put down the DS system... Ain't the the truth! What I do, is I just grab it from the kid and do Pressure! I leave it sealed in the balloon and say "you'll get it back after the show." It not only sits on the table fully inflated showing it inside the whole time I'm at the table, but it gets a good laugh! Don't recomend doing that for everyone...but that fits my character and style pretty well. Just make sure you PAUSE the game first so the kid doesn't totally freak out.
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
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markmiller Special user 731 Posts
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Best to avoid sports bars and other TV intensive venues. With so many bars and restaurants on the face of the Earth why aim for places that you have to compete with a tv?
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts
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Quote:
On 2009-09-10 12:57, markmiller wrote: Maybe because the sports grills are my best and highest paying family clients and the sports bars are my most supportive adult-venue clients. I've never heard of a venue that didn't have some kind of distraction issue.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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Michael Peterson Inner circle is where I'm trapped, because of my 4071 Posts
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JIMclubber64 Loyal user 269 Posts
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Quote:
On 2009-09-10 14:19, Michael Peterson wrote: Yes, I can see it now! Magi: "And now for my next trick, I will make all my competition dissapear!" *click* Someone else: "HEY!"
"Magic should always have a purpose. [...] Find your purpose for performing. Only then will you be able to find the right trick!" -- Jay Noblezada
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slyhand Inner circle Good ole Virginia 1908 Posts
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I have seen those before and thought about using it for a trick but wasn't sure how to present it. It might turn off every TV in the place.
Hmmm, during the Super Bowl might be fun.
I am getting so tired of slitting the throats of people who say that I am a violent psychopath.
Alec |
Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts
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Alec, take this for what it's worth (which may not be much)...
I do not claim to be the smartest or most experienced. I can only speak from my experience. If this were happening to me, (and it has in the past) I would be very careful about saying something or taking something away from a kid. It's not my kid, so it's not my place to correct him. The guests are paying to be there, and you are being paid to serve them, not the other way around. There may be times where such situations are unavoidable, or maybe a kid does have ADD or something. But my first thought is that I need to take responsibility. Maybe my presentation isn't strong and compelling enough to hold attention. I know that if I were watching the Super Bowl and someone levitated a foot off the ground across the room, my attention would move AWAY from the TV! Christopher's action with the video game might well work for him, but I would never do that, even if I could get away with it. There is a chance that you could alienate that kid (and maybe his entire family) for life--even a possibility of getting fired if they put up a fuss. IMO, a much better alternative is to say, "Oh, I see you're in the middle of a game; I'll come back later when you're done." The parents can then, if they choose, take the initiative and tell the kid to pause the game. I think it is important to remember that as a restaurant magician, you are not the primary focus. You are an "add-on" to help IMPROVE guest relations. Things that are perfectly appropriate when you have your own off-Broadway show are not appropriate when you are working a restaurant. Interruptions and distractions are to be expected. The guests have come to dine at a place where there just happens to be a magician--many don't even know a magician performs there until they walk in and notice him. Keep that in mind, and a lot of the answers start to reveal themselves, IMHO.
"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
My Lybrary Page |
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montymagi Special user Slidell La 752 Posts
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Feel free to use it.
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Alan Munro.jpg "View Profile") Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts
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Some restaurants have too much stimulation. I remember one chain that had me performing at one of their locations for a time. Business dropped off because people couldn't take the sensory overload, as management kept adding more and more - too many large screens, trivia games, raffles, prize drawings, etc. I know that I was happy to leave that place, so that I could hear myself think. They closed all of their locations in my area and may have gone completely out of business.
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slyhand Inner circle Good ole Virginia 1908 Posts
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Thanks everyone. I would not take anything away from a kid (at least not while the parents are around)
But I have done the balloon thing with an adult and their phone when it was making a racket. Everyone including the guy thought it was funny. Now that I have been really thinking on the situation, what do I care if she pays attention to me or the screen. I get paid, she is happy, I go to the next table. I think my ego was in the way. Cool, I think I just grew a little there. Thanks again for everyone's thoughts. -Alec
I am getting so tired of slitting the throats of people who say that I am a violent psychopath.
Alec |
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BCaldwell Special user is really regretting his 524 Posts
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Quote:
On 2009-09-10 15:23, Scott F. Guinn wrote: This is a really important piece of information that I hope everyone takes notice of. Thanks Scott!
"...that's just my opinion. I could be wrong." Dennis Miller
~Bob~ |
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Michael Peterson Inner circle is where I'm trapped, because of my 4071 Posts
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Quote:
On 2009-09-10 14:54, slyhand wrote: I would attach it to a pull
Mike |
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renricker7 Regular user Halle, Germany 150 Posts
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Hi,
just recently i´ve heared that the tv is the modern version of the bonfire. maybe you like to think about! rené |
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Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts
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Quote:
On 2009-09-10 12:05, slyhand wrote: Go for it!!
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy As seen on the TODAY SHOW www.balloonguy.net Creator of Bad to the Balloon DVD series Go to my store: http://tinyurl.com/Bad2theBalloon |
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MarkTirone Inner circle palming not 1 coin, but 1139 Posts
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Find some nice and shiny coins to perform with or maybe a trick she can learn or do something with a giveaway and tell her that she will be able to bring this home with her.
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts
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Quote:
On 2009-09-10 15:23, Scott F. Guinn wrote: Scott does bring up a VERY GOOD POINT so let me clairify real quick. If you ever choose to do something like this (and I suggest you don't) it's very important that you know how to "read" your audience. I am able to quickly figure out the type of table that I'm performing for very quickly. I'm an excellant judge of character and consider myself a student of human movement. There are tables that I can tell are very dull, boring, and sqaure so I always play those tables a bit more "straight" vs. other tables that I feel are "cooler" so I can play those tables a bit more loose. When I walk up to a table and I see a kid on a DS I never just grab it from him. I begin my opening routine and if he's still knee deep in the game and I can tell the parents are "annoyed" by the fact that the kids still on it, then I grab it and perform Pressure. The level of amazement seems to override the fact that I just took the kids DS. But again...my character, demeanor, attitude, confidence, etc. lends itself to do this and have it play very well. Never once since I began doing this have I offened anyone. That's not to say it won't happen at some point...but again, as long as I continue to read my audiences correctly, then I feel I'm fine. So again...if your character doesn't lend itself to this type of thing...don't do it. For me, it's an icebreaker that works very well! Thanks Scott for tossing out that very well thought out concern. = ) Christopher
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Table hoppers & party strollers » » I am in competition with the TV (0 Likes) | |
Posted: Sep 10, 2009 03:05 pm 
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