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WazMeister Loyal user 233 Posts |
It's rare to find bars/pubs to have a bar magician.
How do you become a bar magician, what pubs/bars are there in UK/Kent that take on magicians? Do most bar magicians just put their services forward to a bar and hope they hire him for a few nights? Also say you have a routine, a few good tricks that you praticed till death. You perform your routine one night.. and then do it another few weeks later. What if repeat visitors are there? Are you meant to know about 100+ tricks to mix things up? Bill Malone on his Loose dvd says his routine his kept for 25 years and done a lot with it, does it not get repatiative? |
CamisBoss Regular user 128 Posts |
I would love to know of a few good pubs in London with some bar magicians. I'm here for about a week just traveling around, and I would like to stop in and see one! Anyone, Anyone?
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Irfaan Kahan Veteran user 346 Posts |
I do a bar night every friday. I stand behind the bar with my close - up pad and perform for about half an hour. This takes only about 3 or 4 effects. Then I usually chat with patrons, serve some drinks, maybe do some more magic. I'm there for two hours, and perform on average for around 1.25 hours. I get a flat fee for this.
I never perform the same routine twice in one night. And my professional repertoire is such that my "sets" will last me for about two weeks there, then I start to repeat. This isn't a problem at all. Often times customers will ask to see a specific trick, sometimes they'll see the same one 5 times and seem more amazed each time. I also perform a lot of "quick tricks", which is the perfect opportunity for me to try out a new card or coin or whatever trick that I may have just learned.
I'm a Magician playing the part of an Actor
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WazMeister Loyal user 233 Posts |
How did you get that position in a bar?
Just put letters forward explaining your services? How dod you know when your good enough to do such things, after a about 4 years pratice? |
Irfaan Kahan Veteran user 346 Posts |
Actually the bar job came as a result of a referral, so I was lucky in that regard. As for experience - well it depends on you. How ready are you? Be honest with yourself.
As I said, sometimes I'll do a trick that I've just learned, and ad lib the patter as I go (I only do this as quick tricks, my actual set is completely routined). I enjoy ad libbing, as it fits my personality. I often chat to the spectators, and by the end of the show we are all speaking quite freely. Sometimes I'll do a show and one trick may take 3 times as long because of the extended interactions. I enjoy this, its my style and makes me comfortable. Put together a set, routine it - go out there once you feel you're ready (only you can know this), and JUST DO IT. Best advice I ever got. I asked a famous, experienced magician: "How will I know if I'm good enough?" To which he responded: "The only way you'll know is to go out there and DO IT." Everyone here will have a different opinion, but remember at the end of the day you will make these choices and these choices will make you! Be honest, work hard, have courage and DO IT. Good Luck
I'm a Magician playing the part of an Actor
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WazMeister Loyal user 233 Posts |
Great advice, Thanks!
So say I go out and do it, in my own home and performing for family I'm confident and doing well. I go out and DO IT! and cards fall all over the place, I miss pinky cuts and double lifts show etc etc. What do you do, walk away crying with embrassment and back to drawing board to practice more? |
Irfaan Kahan Veteran user 346 Posts |
What ifs . . .
You'll spend your whole life asking that question and never get an answer. What if you work hard, be honest as to your readiness and are a success. Oh wait, what if you're not . . . Or what if you're just mediocre. Maybe. But what if you can't find a gig, so that never happens? OH - What if you do? Who Knows? Not me. What if I did? What would I say? I don't know. guess you'll have to just DO IT and find out! Good Luck (what if you need it?)
I'm a Magician playing the part of an Actor
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Dark Deck New user 11 Posts |
I agree with Irfaan. You can spend your whole life asking "what if" questions but they will just never be answered. In my opinion, anyone feels the need to ask "what if" questions is just a sign of lacking confidence and/or nervousness. People with real confidence in what they can do do not ask these "what if" questions. So practice more, perform more in front of different audiences to build up your confidence until you ask these "what if" questions no more.
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MagikDavid Loyal user Cincinnati, OH 297 Posts |
Waz,
Great advice so far. I believe the most important advice given so far is from Irfaan, who said, "... be honest as to your readiness." Performing for family is good for 'moral' support, but working in the 'real' world can be a bit unerving. Keep in mind that no matter how confident you are, and how polished you are... sometimes you'll mess up. Try to plan ahead on how you'll handle the situation, when you 'miss a break' or 'drop the cards. Just make light of it and continue on. Watching the professional, Simon Lovell, as he was shuffling, a card popped out of his hands and dropped on the floor. He just pointed to it and said, "Hey Look!!! A deserter!!!" Everyone just chuckled and he picked it up and moved on. So it might help if you try to plan ahead on what to say when things go wrong. Just keep it fun and friendly and most importantly... entertaining. Hope this helps. Dave
One good thing about being wrong...
Is the pleasure it brings to others. |
Simon Lovell V.I.P. 506 Posts |
I'd love to say that was an ad-lib but to be very honest the dropped card and 'deserter' line are actually done in about 90% of my shows. The hard part to learn was to really make it look like I was accidentally dropping the card as I shuffled the deck. I's a funny and very disarming bit that convinces them that I'm shuffling the deck without controlling anything.
As an aside, during a multiple selection routine at the end of my Strange and Unusual Hobbies show I'll often drop, during a shuffle, a dozen or so cards (still controlling my stock of course) and say, "Well at least now we know they are shuffled!" I gather up the cards and then go into the routine. It's stronger because they now truly believe the cards are mixed. All the best, Simon |
gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3526 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-27 01:56, WazMeister wrote: Here's how you do it: You pound the pavement, just like any other job seeker.... You get an awesome looking resume together that stands above the rest and sets you apart from the crowd, and you wow them in the interview. Your magic skills and your customer service gives you an edge other applicants just don't have. You know when to put the sponge bunnies away and you know how to exit a conversation gracefully without leaving anyone's feelings hurt. You are a naturally funny guy who also knows how to be deadly serious without losing your cool. You look good, and it wouldn't hurt you to have an in with a few people who work there as well... Knowing a bar from top to bottom helps too... Do you know what a Ramon Fizz is? Do you know the reason why, off the top of your head, no bar in it's right mind serves them any more is? How about a Rusty Nail? It used to be that every bar owner would ask an applicant what one was, if for no other reason but just to weed out the people who didn't know enough to know that! If you're not familiar with bar culture, be ready to waste a lot of time in bars on the drinking side of the bar just observing how it works. Seriously... The reality in the USA, today, in 2009, you can probably count the number of bar magicians that are actually working professional "Bar Magicians" ala Doc Eason or Hebba Habba Al (god rest his soul...) on your fingers (and maybe, possibly your toes too -but I don't think so...) The rest of us are bartenders, and were also magicians. The alcohol business just doesn't have the time to do much else other than bang out the drinks as fast as people order them. That's how people drink, for the most part, here in the States. Anything that is not seen as a "value added" is not needed OR wanted. Frankly, you'll almost be getting a job despite your magic as opposed to because of it... If you're a good bartender, you can also be a bar magician. Maybe even a good one.
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
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MagikDavid Loyal user Cincinnati, OH 297 Posts |
Simon,
I kinda knew that the dropped card was intentional, but to the lay person it's pretty convincing. Your thinking on this is genius... because it does dissarm their thinking as to whether or not you're 'controlling' the cards. The way you work a bar/pub is definitely entertaining. My main point to WazMeister is be honest with himself and his readiness to perform for that crowd, so that his performance is entertaining. Confidence will only come with experience as you well know. If mistakes happen... just make light of it with a comment like yours, or... another comment like, "That's the last time I'll buy anything from TRICKS-R-US." P.S., I'm still lauging my A*** off from watching your "Slight of Tongue" effect for the ladies in the pub. Dave
One good thing about being wrong...
Is the pleasure it brings to others. |
Simon Lovell V.I.P. 506 Posts |
NP Dave!
Your advice is spot on by the way. If a mistake happens (and they will) it's wise to remember that te audience doesn't know what you are going to do so just change track if you have to. The worst error you can make is to say, "OOOPS I messed up, let's start again!" Always finish the effect somehow even if it's not the one you started! All the best, Simon |
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