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ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
What I can do so that at the end of the evening the guests will be talking about me?
are there certain tricks of the trade involved here? |
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Josh Chaikin Inner circle Kansas City 1430 Posts |
Do you mean talking about you after the meal amongst themselves, letting friends know, telling the manager they had a good time?
Putting something my high school forensics coach said into this context, you have to be so good, they have no choice BUT to be raving about you. What this means is different for different people. You can fool them utterly, like Ortiz, make them laugh uproariously like Williamson, or just be as genuine and sincere as you can possibly be like Fleshman. There are no hard and fast rules, unfortunately. Just be the best you can be. The best way for them to keep you in mind though, would be to do at least one effect where they're left with a souvenir. |
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ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
Thanks josh
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Pete McEwen Special user Durham, N.C. 576 Posts |
I think the answer is simple... BALDUCCI LEVITATION!
Sorry, I had to. If there was a simple trick then everyone would do it. The problem is that being entertaining isn't easy. There are few of us that can actually do it well and keep a restaraunt job where we are constantly talked about. You have to figure out how you can be memorable. It comes from taking notes every night you perform, looking back and seeing why it went well and why it didn't. It goes into careful study of your effects and making sure they are conveyed properly and get the reaction you want. In other words, it takes work... a lot of it. Your job is to work extremely hard when no one is watching and knowing you are doing it, then performing and making it look like you're not trying and you're naturally gifted and can always entertain a crowd. Good Luck Pete
The magician formerly known as SPEEDcuber
"no one will believe the things we do if we don't believe them ourselves." - Slydini PeteMcEwen@mac.com |
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pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts |
More than anything, it's not about the tricks, it's about YOU! Be charming, friendly, ask where they're from, what they had for dinner, (ooh, linguini and clams, that's my favorite here.) As I mentioned in another thread, some magicians can go and second deal all night but people will be bored to tears. Others can take spongeballs and an invisible deck and people will think they can walk on water.
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Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
You mean they aren't?!
I'm not trying to be mean, arrogant, or anything else. But the thing is, for me at least, if they aren't already doing that as it is, you need to look at the reason why they aren't talking about the magician. The one thing I've always tried to do, and have been successful at so far, is getting a connection built up, and creating a relationship with them. Make them feel like one of your friends so-to-speak. That, and do a *** good job entertaining them and putting on a good show. Personally, I don't think it has anything to do with your material here. It's all you (and that goes for both the good and bad). What's something unique about you that your audience will remember? Something that helps you stand out from the crowd. Find a way to relate to your audience, and they WILL start talking about you. Be MEMORABLE and UNFORGETTABLE and the rest will come naturally. Let the flaming begin. Steve |
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Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts |
Pick up the check?
Looked at your website... it looks like you already know how to gather a crowd. As to being memorable, find a trick that bends reality and that they get to keep. Things that come to mind: • A really cool photo that is original with you. (I have a balloon Motorcycle on my card) •Mutated Money tricks .... like quadaflex or turning a single unit of money into a ridiculous amount. (don't know the exchange rate for your country. • Salt shaker thru table. Hope this sparks some ideas.
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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Spydur Special user PDX, now San Diego...back to PDX 966 Posts |
One thing I do is remind them to tell the manager that they enjoyed themselves as the Manager loves to hear that sort of thing.
Sometimes you have to tell them to talk about you. There are some people that are just low-key about boasting about things they enjoy. They keep to themselves, so if you cue them they will talk. Much like a stage magician clapping his hands after he bows to get the first few people to clap. There is nothing wrong with this and it helps to break that ice that so many people have about making noise and such. One of the things that I tend to do is get the table to clap really loud when I first get there. It goes something like this, "First and foremost I want to thank you guys for coming out here because with out you there would be no me. So give YOURSELVES a BIG round of applause." This gets them making noise and clapping. If that barrier is broken in the beginning of the set it wont be there during the rest of your routines. Your audience will be more likely to clap and thus more likely to make noise. People will know that they must have had a good time with your magic. Just something you might want to try, Corey |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-02-06 16:43, Spydur wrote: Absolute best advice I have read on this forum from anyone (including myself) in a LONG LONG time. This thread should be locked as this piece of brilliance will doubtlessly be overshadowed by flame wars. BRAVO!
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Great advice so far!
For me, I involve the patrons as much as I can. I personalize the magic as well. For example: I perform a card routine where I ask the patrons if they have any pets at home. I ask questions about the pet(let's say it's a dog/the most common) Is it a boy or girl? , it's name?, who does the dog listen to the most? Anyway I draw a picture of a dog on the back of an indifferent card. He then jumps from card to card several times, becomes invisible and then the person tosses the invisible dog towards the deck that I'm dribbling and materializes on a card. It's the original signed card with the dogs name on the face. I went into a little detail on this effect to give you an example of memorability. I performed and effect they had a vested interest in. They were emotionally involved in what I was doing and they WANTED to see the outcome! This is just one example. If you can strike an emotional cord whether it be like the example above or doing an effect where you have 2 people put their hands on top of each others hand to make the magic happen, this makes it all the more meaningful. Get people involved, ask about birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions. Maybe two people are out on a date. Do something special that makes the guy the hero and impresses his girlfriend. This kind of performance will leave your spectators with YOU in mind. The management will hear about you and you will become a valuable asset to the restaurant. It's all about making the customers have fun and feeling better walking out of the restaurant then when they came in. (Wait a second that didn't sound right, but you get what I mean) David Paul
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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RicHeka Inner circle 3999 Posts |
Great advice here from the workers!I will only add ...if you want to be a 'HIT' 'LONG TERM' at a restaurant...you should evolve into more of a 'familiar and friendly',representative of the restaurant.
There are many instances where if time permits,I just converse with folks[even if they don't seem interested in having me perform]. Most folks,love to engage in a little friendly conversation....which many times...even will result in a request to perform something...this has been MY experience. Well executed Magic is important...but equally important... is briefly acknowledgeing the guests who do not wish to see any Magic. Many returning guests,who have no interest in seeing your magic,will gladly exchange greetings...this IMO is an extension of traditional Hospitality. A friendly hello,and a sincere smile...will go a long way..to ensure a long term gig. Best. Rich A.E.R.P.W.N.C.L.B.C. |
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pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts |
Could not have said it better Rich. I very often see regulars who always want to chat. These are the people that whenever I have something new, they are the first to see it. It's usually something I haven't done in a few months and have just pulled out again. But regardless, they love the friendly chitchat.
Magic Steve made the comment that you need to find out why they aren't talking about the magician. Umm, maybe because they're not there to see magic, they just want a nice evening out. You can't have an ego when it comes to stuff like that. Also, you said you need to make them feel like your friend. That's like asking, "How do I seem like a nice guy?" Just BE a nice guy. Just BE their friend. No ego, if they say no, it doesn't reflect on you. Most of the time, they aren't there to see magic, you're just icing on the cake. |
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-02-07 00:48, PaleoMagi wrote: Quote:
On 2008-02-07 01:00, pepka wrote: Well Said!!
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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kammagic Inner circle 1304 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-02-06 18:46, Dannydoyle wrote: Yes this is very important. I always tell my guests to let the management know you had a good time. Another nice trick is at the end of your set before the last trick tell the group you will do this last effect under one condition and that condition is that you make a lot of noise when I'm done! So imagine the management seeing tables cheering for you and other tables see it and want you at their table. It works really good walking tables at private functions because your employer can't follow you around all night but they can hear the cheers coming from your tables. Believe me they like that. , Jonathan |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I am not such a fan of pandering for applause.
It seems way to self serving to me. It is one thing to tell them to mention having fun on the way out the door. IF they had fun that is. BUT to have them cheering, well they should do that anyhow shouldn't they? I mean they already had fun and are complimenting you and all you do is tell them to let someone else know. The other seems to seedy to me is all. Just not my style, but then again, I usually have them making noise in the first place so it is not an issue.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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JayH Regular user Finland 140 Posts |
And one thing about the regular customers.... REMEMBER THEIR NAME AND USE IT!!!!
Like when he is business kinda guy and walk in with business partners imagine if he liked that when you say him first: "Hi Jack! Having a good time around?" and so on. Every people like to be important and everyone like that when they are noticed! So use their names!!!!!!! Jay |
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
I would never ask a table or group to applaud for me. I would hope the noise would come from them seeing something that blew them away and they just start yelling.
But...having the tables or group appluading loud is good-just have them do it for someone else in their group. So...pick someone and make them the star. And just say "folks, this will be a miracle if this works, so evryone applaud and yell when Danielle reaches in and pulls the egg out of the bag".. sort of thing.
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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erlandish Inner circle Vancouver, Canada 1254 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-02-07 02:01, Dannydoyle wrote: I'm not a restaurant worker so I don't know how much weight my opinion carries here, but I totally agree with your point, Danny. It also seems weird to me to resort to pandering, because after all, the most important thing is that they're cheering, not who they're cheering for, right? There are effects in magic which can allow one of the table members to get all the credit despite impossible circumstances. Certainly even if they're uncomfortable showering you with praise, I can't imagine them not getting excited about clapping for one of their own. Tommy Wonder's Elizabeth IV is a great example of a routine of this sort, and even if somebody doesn't want to tackle Wonder's own methodology for that trick, certainly that presentation can be applied to any number of effects. |
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pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts |
Well said Christopher.
Poll time! As a performer, what gives you a bigger thrill, applause, stunned silence, or an inappropriate expletive that might shock some other diners nearby? To me, the 3rd is the most genuine response. |
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RicHeka Inner circle 3999 Posts |
While I do not promote or approve of it...when a 12 YO proclaims..."what the *@&%"! at the conclusion of an effect,and then watching the parents and/or grandparents bug out...is 'inwardly' hilarious to me.
Rich A.E.R.P.W.N.C.L.B.C. |
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