|
|
Go to page [Previous] 1~2~3 [Next] | ||||||||||
MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
Well said davidpaul$. I'm proud to be a restaurant magician. I know people enjoy what I do. I love interacting with kids and being part of their childhood memories. I also love interacting with adults who really appreciate the sleight of hand.
You can't have a thin skin and be a restaurant magician. You can't be a diva. You can't be a snob. You have to love people and you have to be ready for anything. |
|||||||||
magicalaurie Inner circle Ontario, Canada 2962 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 25, 2015, Dannydoyle wrote: Thanks for that perspective, Danny. |
|||||||||
magicalaurie Inner circle Ontario, Canada 2962 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 26, 2015, Mike ODonnell wrote: This is something I've been considering. Thanks. |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 17, 2015, magicalaurie wrote: I have never done anything like this but it seems interesting if you can manage to pry valuable revenue generating space away from them.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
magicalaurie Inner circle Ontario, Canada 2962 Posts |
Bring your own (little) table/chair? I've worked elsewhere with just a chair and my wooden close-up case on my lap as a "stage" and found it very practical and more comfortable than working behind a table.
|
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Yea that would not work at all for me but to each his own. If it works great.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
Mychine New user 59 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 17, 2015, Dannydoyle wrote: I've been involved in programming restaurant table-layout software for servers and this quote makes me laugh a lot - I can feel your experience in your tone. |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I am not sure if that is good or bad.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
Mychine New user 59 Posts |
Hmmm, not good or bad - just agreeing that good managers at busy locations use every lick of space, and I assumed you knew this well by this phrase: "if you can manage to pry", hehe.
|
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Absolutely. I agree completely.
It is just that many here have told me I am wrong. A good manager knows exactly how much each chair and bar stool will generate over a given year. Getting them to part with space is not easy.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
magicalaurie Inner circle Ontario, Canada 2962 Posts |
How much space does the average magician use in a restaurant? If you sit at the table, you're using a chair, yes, Danny? Restaurant's chair or your own?
|
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I have no idea what you are asking. You can't seriously be asking if it is the physical chair that generates money can you?
The thing I was responding to was the idea of having your own space to perform at. IF this is done it is at the sacrifice of valuable money generating square footage. It is not the physical chair that is the issue it is the square footage this chair occupies. Any restaurant or business owner will know how much money they generate per square foot. (Well successful ones will.) Every business must generate X dollars in order to survive, and Y dollars to have a profit. When square footage that can be generating money is being used for a non money generating effort it causes managers to have fits. There is only so much square footage in any establishment. This is why the work of laying out a restaurant can be such a huge deal, and that was why I used the term "pry" square footage away. I am not getting into if a magician generates money, brings in business or helps the bottom line. Whether they do not isn't relevant to the discussion. What exactly are you asking me?
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I have also not mentioned whether I think it is a good or a bad idea to try to have the "space" for magic.
I have not done it and it might very well work. I have no idea. I only am talking about the money per square footage problem. Nothing more.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
magicalaurie Inner circle Ontario, Canada 2962 Posts |
Straight questions, Danny. I get it. My point is would there be much difference between using a chair in a designated magic space and using a chair at a customer's table? If a magician doesn't help the bottom line, what would be the motivation in hiring one? I'd say that's very relevant to this discussion.
|
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
There would be a HUGE difference. First off a chair that is a permanent dedicated spot will generate zero revenue. It is that simple. A chair at a customers table that you sit in only has you there for a few minutes. Plus if it is a 4 top and there are 4 people you will add a chair or stand. It is revenue neutral. Again you are hung up on the physical chair and it is not about the chair. It is about the space in the universe the chair takes up.
As for helping the bottom line this is a tired old discussion. Look through some old threads it is all there. Here in short are some of reasons to hire entertainment beyond the bottom line. Almost nobody will go to a restaurant for the very first time based on the fact that there is a magician there. A magician is a net drain on the bottom line. I will say that a lot of people will RETURN to a restaurant because a magician is there. This is the important part. It can become an important factor in the customer making a decision to return. It is difficult to quantify, it is difficult to track but it can happen. It is certainly a good thing to have customers returning because of you but it does take time to build that up. When a restaurant pays you in dollars it makes those dollars back by selling food and drink. In this equation that means they have to sell between 4 and 5 times what they pay you just to be even. Square footage in a restaurant now is about generating money. A space that can have a magician can have a table for people who will pay for dinner. If you do not generate money in that spot, it is like losing money for the restaurant. Add to this the amount it costs to even hire a magician in the first place and the cost of what it becomes to have to pay that back in sales and you can see why managers and owners don't always see the value in a magician. There are lots of reasons to hire magicians. Ambiance, family nights, or just to sort of set the place apart from all the other restaurants. As I said eventually it can and generally will help the bottom line when done well. It is simply not the point I would start with when doing the selling that is for certain.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
magicalaurie Inner circle Ontario, Canada 2962 Posts |
I'm not hung up on the chair, Danny. I was asking your opinion. Thank you for giving it.
Of course, I understand your point, Danny. My questions were geared to finding out whether it's worth approaching restaurants at all, you see. It is, I think, and I will but trying to find a motive for them to hire is what I'm working on. Like I said before, small town. Maybe some new open minds, though. We'll see. |
|||||||||
jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
So lets say you put a table in.
Are you going to be there for the breakfast crowd and lunch crowd? Are you going to be there 363 days a year? (When they could be using that seat to generate money) Space = money in the business world You need to get around, on your feet and stay away from the wait staff and don't interfere with their schedule. Any one complains for any reason and it's your fault. The only exception is if the restaursnt is layed-out wierd and they have a small cubby hole that isn't large enough for a table and they don't want to use it for a station If here was an tiny outside chance that the restaurant says "Sure... take that table over there. Use it whwnever you want" , that means they don't have enough business to fill all the seats. It sounds to me like you need to do a stand up show in a dinner theatre and take part of the door charge.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Jay fantastic points about the staff. No doubt that is the truth!
Laurie the motive is what I have laid out. It works. I don't care if it is a small town it works the same with business. But the big problem you might run into is regulars. Once you have gone through those who want to see it then it becomes about new material. Not an easy thing. I lived in Key Largo for 3 years. Yes a tourist town in winter but summer it is nothing but a small town. Worked 7 nights a week even in slow parts. it can and does work even in small towns.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
magicalaurie Inner circle Ontario, Canada 2962 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 18, 2015, jay leslie wrote: ? Jay, around here, the restaurant could be laid out "weird". Above, I was just weighing options, so I was asking 'bout the possibility of a "cubby hole", as you put it, because, who knows- the space might have one, and the owner might prefer the magic work that way, instead of table to table. Danny, Great, thanks. Appreciated. |
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Do you have experience with table to table?
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Table hoppers & party strollers » » The End of restaurant magic (25 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page [Previous] 1~2~3 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.04 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 < |