|
|
Go to page 1~2 [Next] | ||||||||||
Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Hey all....so, I've not had a good day so far. I've called 2 restaurants so far, and both told me the same thing. Red Lobster told me that they don't do magic, period. Corporate won't allow it...whatever. Longhorn on the other hand told me I'd have to sell the idea to the corporate offices in Atlanta.
So...what are your options in regards to selling yourself to corporate? Is it better to just scratch them off the list? Also, when they respond "corp. won't allow it", is there anything to say to them if you know that they do? I'm at a lost right now, and really frustrated. Not looking for pity, just some help. Thanks a lot! Steve |
|||||||||
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Did you miss the advice to hit restaurants that are family owned? There are a couple chains that have good fuzzy thoughts about balloons and magicians and those are joins like Red Robin, Applebees, and Chevys. There are others but I don't know 'em. Red Lobster, that child worker abusing barely a restaurant joint should be forgotten. I've never heard of Longhorn but I'm guessing that is a reference to a cows flesh. Best you can do is send a letter, a real letter, to the director of marketing and tell them you do table magic and that you think you would be a good fit in their restaurant where you are at. If they tell you to blow off then that is that, if they tell you to set it up with the manager and it's up to that person then you take the letter and show it to the manager and say "so what up bub?". I know it hurts but not every restaurant, in fact most of them don't want magicians. Now go get'm and don't spend your time beating a dead horse, or lobster.
|
|||||||||
Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
Don't believe everything that people tell you. I used to perform in a Red Lobster.
|
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
This is an opinion mind you and ONLY AN OPINION.
I am not a fan of the chains in the first place. For a ton of reasons. First off getting hired is a many step process often. The level of management you get at the base level of restaurant is not very high on the decision chain. So it is a pain. Keep in mind that EVERY decision from then on out is by someone who has probably never seen what it is you do or how you do it. You are a line item to the person making the decision. Not a good way to make yourself indespensible. I always like to have relationships with those I work with and for. Tough to do that with some faceless corporate guy you have never talked too let alone met. Want a raise because you are doing really well? Talk to corporate. Want some days off? Talk to corporate. Not a fun way to live. Also most of the chains you mention, well not quite the clientel I would be looking for in the first place personally.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Red Lobster was terrible where I lived. Hey Magic Steve, how big of city are you in? Gotta be more places to work that Red Lobster, but they may just be blowing you off.
|
|||||||||
Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Thanks for the comments guys...unfortunately, corporate places are all we have around here. Red Robin was a task in itself to get. I might have just gotten lucky with that one. I think Red Lobster was just blowing me off..oh well.
Here are some restaurants I'm going to approach, in no specific order. Bennigans Outback Steak House Lone Star Unos Chicago Bar and Grill Applebees Carabbas Thanks! Steve |
|||||||||
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Is that Bennigans the bar and grill? Could be good. I always thought Outback could use a magician cuz of the waits. I've never heard of Lone Star, Unos, or Carabbas so I don't know.
|
|||||||||
Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Can you imagine if it was easy to get a gig? There would be so many bad "magciians" working and ruining it. Be thnakful the climb up the mountain is tough.
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
|||||||||
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
What is a Carrabas? Mexican place?
|
|||||||||
Josh Chaikin Inner circle Kansas City 1430 Posts |
Carrabas is Italian
|
|||||||||
Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Hey all! Josh, thanks a lot for all the info you posted!
Also, I just emailed Longhorn asking about their policy on magicians performnig in the restaurant. Hopefully I'll have a response soon. If they say yes, then I can go back in there. They never said no, just that I'd have to get corporate to agree. Hope it all works out. I'll be sure to let you all know about the rest of the restaurants. Thanks! Steve |
|||||||||
Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts |
Steve,
I PMed you with my method, have you tried it? There 331 restaurants in Fredrick MD. yellowpages.superpages.com Before everyone PM's me with what is your method here it is: How to get the Job!! (Excerpt from my lecture you want fries with that?) 1 Eat at the Restaurant !! 2 Go at an off time (2-5 pm) alone! 3 Talk to the Waiter 4 Find out about the place 5 Speak to General Manager 6 Compliment their store 7 Ask about special nights (family night) 8 Ask if you can do a free 1 hour Demo 9 Make sure GM is in house @ Demo 10 Go to tables and tell them why your there 11 Get people to cheer you on!!! 12 Stop after an hour!! 13 sit down with GM and talk about price 14 Seal the deal with a handshake 15 Offer to finish the night at the agreed price minus the Free Demo Hour. 16 Show up next week 17 Repeat step 16 I have only been using this method for 20 years, your mileage may vary. It really is a numbers game. you will get 9 NOs before you get a YES. So you to places you don't want to work first and try it out. Notice nowhere above does it say to email the GM!!! Get some face time.
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 |
|||||||||
Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Mark,
I think we're misunderstanding each other. I have never emailed any GM's...ever! I called the GM at Longhorn to set up an appointment to meet with him. He told me that I'd have to get corporate approval. I emailed corporate tonight to (hopefully) get approval. If they say yes, I'll go in and talk to him further. Thanks for the help and all the in on your approach. If I don't get approval, I will give it a go. Can't hurt more than getting another no, can it? Thanks man! Ok...so they emailed me back, and asked for more information on my act. They wanted to know more about me, and mentioned "kids night" and "grand openings". I sent them my website and a few other things. Hope to hear back soon...in the mean time, I'm going to be contacting a few more restaurants now. Wish me luck! Best. Steve |
|||||||||
Josh Chaikin Inner circle Kansas City 1430 Posts |
Good luck,
I'm going to try to hit up a few more places in the coming weeks. I'll have to wait until after the convention though. For those who know, hypothetically, say I do compete, and do well in the competition, resulting in press coverage here. How much leverage would that grant me in landing a restaurant job, if any? |
|||||||||
Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Hey all...just got off the phone with the owner of Outback. I got an interview!!!!!!!!! Hahahaha...I'm so excited! Thanks for all the help and encouragement everyone! I really really really really appreciate it so much! Wow! It's all set up for Friday at 1:00pm. I can't wait...I'm going to push for that audition night, 1 hour, and hopefully I'll land the gig.
This time though, I'm planning on asking for $100 for 2 hours. That seems fair for such a place. If I get that, it's going to be aweseom!!!!! Once again...thanks a lot everyone! Steve |
|||||||||
mystre71 Inner circle martinsburg west virginia 1693 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-30 15:36, Magic_Steve wrote: The manager at the Red Lobster in Hagerstown Md told me they have an entertainment budget and gave me a card to call a lady at corporate, but that lady saidthey wasn't interested at this time. Outback was to the point and pretty much said entertainment or not,the customers would wait, so they didn't need the entertainment...lol Best, Joe
Walk around coin box work check it out here https://www.magicalmystries.com/products
|
|||||||||
Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Joe,
I contacted the corporate offices at Outback (before I contacted them first) and they told me that the entertainment aspect was handled at the local or regional level. After doing my homework, I found that the Outback here is a franchise, and thus are able to make the decision locally. I have an appointment tomarrow at 1pm. If he asks me to perform anything, I'm going to push for the audition night (I'll do that anyways), but I'm bringnig the invisible deck and my spongeballs. Wish me luck... Steve |
|||||||||
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I worked for restaurants on a regular basis for a dozen years. The ones that were most amenable to "outside the box" entertainment were the ones that were family owned. The next most amenable were locally owned franchises. The least amenable to differences were the ones that were franchises with their HQ's out of state.
Booking yourself into a restaurant is like any other sales gig. You have to do it in person and you have to be able to accept rejection but not expect it. You must go in with an attitude that says "I like you, your customers will like me, and they will like you because you have me in your restaurant." I noticed that there were a number of restaurants on the list that was given above that some had not heard of -- Carrabas is an example. This is a Texas company -- it started in the Bryan-College Station area, and spread to Houston and Dallas very quickly. This is a family-owned chain. It would probably be a great place to work. There is an idea that I have been mulling over in my mind about how to be a restaurant hero -- it might even be a sure way of getting a gig. I never had to resort to it, myself, but I think it would work. I'll write it up and send it to a couple of you. PM me, if you are interested.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
|||||||||
Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Thanks for the great info Bill! Glad to hear Carabas is family owned, as they're my next choice should the meeting go less than ideal.
I also sent you a PM. Best. Steve |
|||||||||
fib Inner circle 1535 Posts |
I walked into a Harris Teeter supermarket and started doing magic for the staff. Then talked to the manager for the evening. She gave me the number for corporate. We'll see what happens. I'm calling. Where I live, outside Washington, D.C., Harris Teeter is doing really well as an upscale alternative to the old locals Giant Food and Safeway and Fresh Fields. They -- Harris or Teeter -- just might be looking for a little magic to add polish to their glossy image.
fib |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Table hoppers & party strollers » » "You have to talk to corporate" (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 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 < |