|
|
Go to page 1~2 [Next] | ||||||||||
David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
There are always two warring influences when you do this for a living. On the one hand, you need to make as much money as possible -- especially during this white hot Christmas BOOM season. On the other hand -- your reputation and/or referrals from past clients are what bring you the booking in the first place -- and what will be damaged if the show isn't as good or better than they think it's going to be.
Here's a conversation that took place this afternoon: "I was talking to (a previous client of mine) and I told her that our Christmas party was on the 20th. But we wanted to do something just after people arrive that would just amaze them. She suggested you." (That squeeky sound you're hearing is my head swelling just a little. This is followed by an assortment of small talk as I go through my iPad calender and find out that I am already booked on the 20th. The show starts at 9:30.) I ask her what time they are wanting the performance to start. "We were thinking 7:00," says she. "There are about 30 of us and everyone should be there by then." Hope is peeking...well...hopefully from around a corner in my mind. It MAY be doable. I ask her for the venue and she gives me an address that is, no doubt through an act of God, only three blocks away from where my 9:30 show is booked. Hope is now grinning widely and rubbing his grubby little hands together in anticipation of a twofer. TWO paydays in the same night. And the second one fell right out of the sky onto my happy lap. (Wait...that came out wrong.) I ask her for the name of the establishment and when she tells me, my lap is no longer happy. Hope is hanging his head...but a new character named GREED jumps into my awareness with a nasal sounding TUH-DUH! Let me explain: the establishment is a pub. It's a noisy, raucous place with loud music, heavily drinking patrons and line-ups. "Have you booked the whole pub out EXCLUSIVELY for your event?" I ask hopefully. "No. We have the back part booked, though." ...the back part...sigh. I know this place well. There is no "back part" -- there's a squalid assortment of tables grouped around a huge television screen. But the pub is just one big room. If the public's in there while I'm performing...no one will be able to hear. The sight lines suck. And the only bathrooms in the whole place are along the back wall -- right near where the party will be held. You heard me tell you that GREED has replaced hope at the forefront of my mind. He's a slimy little guy who is reminding me that I COULD still do the show and...well...yeah...it'll suck because no one will be able to see what's happening. But I will get my fee. I can just blame it on bad communication from the pub. Or the client. I make a half-hearted attempt to try to see a way around this...even though I know there isn't one. I could suggest that, instead of a stage show I do walkabout -- but I know that will also end in disaster because there are places were strolling mentalism works well -- but a noisy pub isn't one of them. I'm not a snob...but the idea of taking my mentalism into this place just doesn't fit. In some way, I think it is a betrayal of the art, if that makes any sense to you. The client has noticed that I'm not saying anything and she prompts me. I take one last longing look at GREED...then sigh. I tell her "You know something? A mentalism show isn't going to work in that place." "Oh it will," the client says. She goes on to recount what her friend told her I did at their event and how that "kind of thing" is EXACTLY want they want. She drops the "M" (money) bomb and tells me that she's ready to book today. With payment. "It won't work," I say. "It would be wrong of me to take your money. I'd be delighted to work with you on another event. This one though? Nope." There's a long silence. I try to fill it. "You wouldn't be happy," I say. "I wouldn't be happy. Trust me." There's another silence. I can see her on the other end, thinking I'm going to crumble under the tremendous pressure she's exerting. I'm not. In fact, I'm getting just a little annoyed -- and have flicked GREED out of my consciousness with a single gesture. He mutters something nasty about "marketing minded mentalist...my ***" as he disappears into the shadows. The perfect conclusion to this story would be to say that she booked me for a convention they're doing in the spring at...TRIPLE my fee. And the convention was being held in Hawaii...and just because I am such a swell guy they're springing for two first class tickets for Sheree and me and throwing in a 3 week stay on Maui. But that's not what happened. She just said a curt good bye and hung up. I know, of course, that I did the right thing. In the long run, this whole situation was a recipe for disaster. The notion that I even considered this for the short period of time I did is ludicrous. Accepting the show would have disrespected my mentalism and my audience. I would have reduced myself to the level to a money grubbing hack. I know all this. But sometimes you need little tests like this -- to let pennies from heaven slip right through your fingers -- because it's the right thing to do. **sigh** David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
|||||||||
IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Good on ya...
I've asked to be banned
|
|||||||||
mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
I would have taken the gig. Those are exactly the kind of joints where I cut my eye-teeth. I would, of course, have worked to the entire room, whether they were with the party or not. That would be the key to making it work. (Along with demanding that the juke box be turned off. )
I described a lot about those shows I did in "Working It." |
|||||||||
hashtagmagic Regular user 140 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 11, 2014, David Thiel wrote: You should have demanded more money and centered your routines around talking to their dead relatives. |
|||||||||
David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
I know you could have done the show, Bob. Completely. Not me, though. I wasn't comfortable with it, so I didn't do it. I'll give you their phone number if you want though. It might be one mother of a travel fee...
David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
|||||||||
Sean Giles Inner circle Cambridge/ UK 3517 Posts |
David, I love reading your stories. You should do a book dude, I'd buy it 😄
And we'll done for kicking out Mr greed. He can be persuasive. |
|||||||||
Scott Soloff Special user Philadelphia, PA 960 Posts |
David,
I have no doubt that Uncle Bob could handle it... I know I couldn't. Kudos for knowing where to draw the line! And as always, thanks for sharing. Best to all, Scott
'Curiouser and curiouser."
|
|||||||||
Julian Kestrel Loyal user 268 Posts |
It was the right move.
|
|||||||||
damien666 Special user canada 513 Posts |
Surely if you could do a children's festival in North Battleford; you could pull off a pub in Edmonton!
Working for Drunks and kids aren't that far off from each other - haha Seriously, I get it.. I used to do nothing but bar shows, but now.. I doubt I could pull it off. You can get spoiled doing corporates so much that you forget how to deal with the grungier side. |
|||||||||
David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
HA! Hi, Damien! You look a LITTLE different than you did in Saskatchewan...
I was thinking about this the other day. The thing is I've NEVER worked in noisy pubs. Not as a magician...not as a mentalist. I've done biker parties...but those guys pay careful attention and if the pres is watching no one makes a sound. Frat houses? Same thing. I've done hospitality suites...and parlor shows in grungier areas of town. But this one was one BIG pub -- split into three "sort of" different sections. I simply couldn't see it working for my show. More's the pity. I DID pick up a quasi-juicy walkabout show earlier in the night, though -- so it all worked out in the end. Hope you're well, pal. I just might let you buy me a beer the next festival we work together. But you'll have to leave the horns in the hotel room, or I'm going to pretend I don't know you. David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
|||||||||
DynaMix Inner circle 1148 Posts |
Wow that is quite the story. For my own educational benefit can you describe the "worst" situation you WOULD book? What is one level above "noisy pub" that would have made you feel comfortable? Is it because of the material you do specifically or is that unimportant? Sorry for so many questions and definitely let me know if I am out of line asking them.
|
|||||||||
David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
That's a good question. Keep in mind the answer only applies to my work. Others have very different ideas.
It's not so much a case of the venue. It's a case of the CONDITIONS at the venue. I want the audience to be able to SEE what I'm doing. I had a show ONCE in another pub where the booths were lined up along the wall and the stage was in the middle of the room. This meant that half of the people there could not see what I was doing. People who can't see you, don't participate. It is reasonable to ask them to come out of the booth and set themselves up in chairs so they CAN see what's happening. It is also reasonable to perform 'in the round' so that the whole room can participate. I've done this. It's not ideal for me -- although people like Bob C. would have no problem with it. Second: when I'm traveling far out of home -- at a grandstand or mainstage, for example -- they have to be able to HEAR me. Wherever possible I use my own sound system. But sometimes it's just not practical. If they can't hear a mentalist, the show's dead. Mentalism is about communication. Visual is important. Audible? Critical. Finally: I will always insist on a private room...or at least a private area. Why? Members of the public, wandering through -- people with no vested interest or no link to the group that is paying me...can be very disruptive. Again: people like Bob can work these groups very well. I don't. Take a look at Bob's book "Working It." Great advice in there. But if I can be seen and heard by my audience in relatively private quarters? I'm in. The bottom line is that if I'm not comfortable with the setting, I won't agree to do the show. If it's a show I'm already contracted for (an out of town event...or a last minute venue change) -- sometimes it's necessary to change up what I'm doing. I need to put the needs of the show in front of everything I do. That means I have to have a good handle on my own limitations...and the smarts to be honest with myself about what I can do as well as what I can't do. Hopefully that's helpful. David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
|||||||||
DynaMix Inner circle 1148 Posts |
Extremely helpful. Thank you so much.
|
|||||||||
mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
Here's an account I wrote in "Working It." The rest of the book is about how I handle situations like this:
Quote: Showtime in Hell |
|||||||||
Sean Giles Inner circle Cambridge/ UK 3517 Posts |
Come on Bob. Great story but what happened next?
|
|||||||||
Sean Giles Inner circle Cambridge/ UK 3517 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 13, 2014, Sean Giles wrote: |
|||||||||
mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
How do you think I get people to buy the book?
Okay, I'll tell you. Here's an abbreviated version: Rather than argue with the sponsor I just said (shouted, actually), "Tell the kids to sit down and then go ahead and introduce me." She tried. No one responded. Probably because they couldn't hear a word she was shouting. A panicked look came over her face that said, "Help! What should we do?" I took her out on the deck and explained to her that it would be a much better show if I just opened for Belante when we got to the island. She agreed. So I ended up doing the show in the gymnasium, but at least we had good sound and lights. The moral of the story is that sponsors usually don't know anything at all about putting on shows, so you have to tell them. The show was a big success. |
|||||||||
Rolyan Special user I'm fencing in my land; so far there are 590 Posts |
I remember learning that Pat Page could do any show, any place, any time and it would be successful. I also remember learning that I couldn't. I'm no Bob, I'm more David.
To be fair, I turned down more shows due to political beliefs than conditions, but that's me. Be true to thyself. |
|||||||||
Sean Giles Inner circle Cambridge/ UK 3517 Posts |
Thanks Bob, the cliff hanger was killing me
|
|||||||||
Mortimer Graves Special user New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. 556 Posts |
I've worked on a "Yacht" like that. I wanted to set it on fire. That would have been a show worth watching.
And yeah, they meant well, but the people who hired me had no idea what they were doing. If I'd known the boat was going to be so small and crowded, I'd have turned the gig down. It wasn't worth what they'd offered me to do the show. I had to totally rework everything, and ended up doing impromptu-style close-up behind the bar with cocktail shakers and napkins and stuff. The people liked it, but it wasn't what I'd been hired to do. I try to at least get a good look at any venue before taking a gig now. It's saved me a lot of pain and suffering. I could never work with the above-described pub scenario. Not to anyone's satisfaction, anyway, especially my own.
'Tis an ill wind that blows no minds.
Hastur, Hastur, Hastur! See? Nothing hap- ...and if we rub each other the wrong way, let's try going in another direction. - Pokey the Porcupine |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Penny for your thoughts » » Sometimes Being A Pro Sucks (22 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 0.07 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 < |