Bar Gig

[chriswiehl]

So i have a bar gig tonight.
Ive never worked a bar (like behind the bar). and i was hoping i could get some pointers from someone who has.
like what tricks to do. something i could learn tonight that would be helpful.
its only an hour tho so it shouldn't be too bad.
just a little nervous haha.
thanks

i tried to search "bar" but its not long enough, and bar magic pops up with every topic on the site.
so yea

 

[RikAllen]

I've never been behind the bar either. I would say use any tricks that involve items around you.

Void by Daniel Garcia (off of Symphony) is a good one using a straw.
Card Tricks are good, both in the hands and something using the bar as a table.
This is a perfect time to use those angle sensitive tricks (where people can't be behind you) as the bartender will be busy making drinks and everyone else is on the other side of the bar.

I don't have much else in the way of advice except make friends(if you're not already) with the bartender and ask if there is anything you can do to help them if it gets busy (let them know someones drink order or that someone wants to order drinks). They'll appreciate the effort and be less likely to think of you 'in the way'.

Just a few things, I don't know too much other than what I've read or heard before, maybe someone else could show me where I'm a little off and possibly help you out with more information.

Oh! Flash paper! Drunk people are attracted to shiny things and fire. Well, everyone is attracted to fire...it's just so damn awesome.

 

[Sean.Cinco]

I have a friend in Hawaii who does magic behind the bar almost every night. Alot of the tricks he did were very simple and almost all the time, the spectator was the one doing the trick and he was just telling them what to do because he would be making drinks at the same time. Of course, this was all done with cards. When he had a break, he would do magic with other stuff (coins, cups and balls using the martini shaker, sponges, etc). Oh, and Prohibition was a big hit behind the bar too.

Hope that helped a little. Good luck with your gig!

 

[supernaturalone]

As the greatest bar magician to ever live (Heba Haba Al) would say: GTFM! That stands for Get The F*cking Money!

That is the whole reason you are there. The help them make more money. Keep that in mind while you perform tonight.

I've got to go now but will elaborate on this later.

 

[chriswiehl]

well this is just a trial at this place. so i dont plan on making money. but i do plan on making the owner and staff happy. so yea thanks for the advice so far.
i plan on doing some stuff.
maybe something like prohabition would be cool.
but yea keep the advice comin!

 

[RickEverhart]

Think about what is sitting at the bar and / tables around. You have straws, napkins (watermark), sugar packets (Thumb tip work), salt shakers, bottles (coin or cap in bottle), caps, mixed drink glasses (card under glass), people's dollar bills (vanished, changes, mismade bills), etc.

I would think about what you could do with these types of items although since the gig is tonight I don't know if I'd be trying to create new effects or "trying" things out tonight. Blow them away with what you are already doing.

I'd stick to what you normally do while table hopping at your last gig. Use your fork bending, card effects, and sponge balls and you will still knock them dead man. You are good and I've seen your stuff even just messing around on cam.

That hour of time is going to fly by before you know it.

Just my two cents Chris.

 

[chriswiehl]

Thanks Rev, Hopin you would find this ha.
im just thinking of something i could do that i might already know that works well.
like some easy straw tricks or something too y aknow.
but yea i plan on doing the same stuff ive been doing.
just wondering if i have to keep moving or what not. or just do my tricks.
im gonna try to drag out the tricks a bit. try to be clever haha.
i'll check some stuff out. maybe i'll just go there now and again to work for free if its fun haha.

 

[Cedric Taylor]

So i have a bar gig tonight.
Ive never worked a bar (like behind the bar). and i was hoping i could get some pointers from someone who has.
like what tricks to do. something i could learn tonight that would be helpful.
its only an hour tho so it shouldn't be too bad.
just a little nervous haha.
thanks

i tried to search "bar" but its not long enough, and bar magic pops up with every topic on the site.
so yea

hey man i would have said get the sankey restaraunts and bar DVd...but i can help you out there...



i will give you a list of effect but anythign with cans/cards/matches/ beverages/ drawings/napkins/clothes/ coins/cellphones/bottles/pens/pencils/ small objects/

effect i would do...

sinful, the ultimate bar trick...

matchbite....

DG's "chi"(piercing a coin with your finger)/ pressure(optional)/ warning

ACR's.....any version of it....

anythign Lee Asher...

coin across or coin matrix.....

french kiss.....

anythign jay sankey...

flourishing is something i wouldn't do...they don't want to see that...

if you PM me, i got personal effects i can give to you....

no mentalism...takes too long unless you have a full crowd....

card stabs....(any version)

thats just some

ring spit....

i vanish....

hope this stuff helps....

 

[RickEverhart]

Cedric gave some good examples and I agree with a lot of them but like I said...I don't know if I'd just be "trying" new effects tonight at a gig unless it is kind of a laid back easy crowd.

Kostya's Warning would have been perfect for tonight at a bar setting.

Anyway...I wish I could sit here and make a huge list for you but I have a staff meeting after school. Let me know how it goes tonight. You really need to get some rubber band work going. I can hook you up with the size 19 bright yellow bands that I bulk order if you want.

 

[chrystal baller]

Personally, I believe you are making a mistake by doing a trial night for no pay. Many times the owner or manager that scheduled you never intends on hiring you, they see you as a free nights entertainment. As far as your question goes, I'd say stay in your comfort zone. If it were me id hav a few decks on me: one straight deck for impromptu tricks and maybe two decks set up for tricks that reset instantly. also maybe coins. These people will be drinking so put on a good show, relax, and have fun.
Let us know how it went!

-Clay

 

[RickEverhart]

Chrystal,
I would agree with you if this bar was making him work 3 hours tonight but it sounds like this is 1 hour test run. If Chris blows them away and people are buying drinks and going nuts.....he will be asked to come back I guarantee it. If they don't then shame on them.

That is when the ball is in Chris's court and he can play the price game somewhat.

On the flip side, I do see your point, that the bar owner could basically just being "using" Chris for tonight and then next week find the next Joe Schmoe who will fill in for a free one hour.

It will be interesting on Chris's comments when he gets back.

I love hearing how people's actual gigs went rather than looking at the next...Vote for this deck thread...ha ha.

 

[chrystal baller]

I love hearing how people's actual gigs went rather than looking at the next...Vote for this deck thread...ha ha.

AMEN

-Clay

 

[chriswiehl]

Well i just got back. and it was somewhat free. he offered a pizza ( its nice pizza) but i said rain check for next time i come in to really work.
it went well. one hour flew past.
BUT
working at the bar was very difficult. the place didnt pick up untill around 715, i ended at 7, soo i wasnt able to get too many people, but many of the people wanted my business card and it was very very promising in that aspect.
not sure if i'll get a job there quite this year, hopefully , but im not sure , maybe after christmas break.
but it was fun. and next time i will hopefully be working the dining hall. which is a little less hustle and bustle as a bar is.

 

[Randy]

Make everything you do quick and visual, as well as simple. Think about it like this, when people drink, their attention span reverts to that of a child. So you have to be quick and visual with what you do. You can have them doing the magic or you can have things appearing in their hands. But make it quick, simple and visual.

 

[chriswiehl]

Yea Randy. THis was at 6 tho so no one was drunk enough not to pay attention.
but i planned on doing some visual fire stuff and what not

 

[RickEverhart]

Chris, it sounds like even though there weren't many people I'm sure you learned a little bit from the night. As far as where it was good to stand, angles, type of space you have to work with, etc.

That was weird that he had you work from 6-7. I would have thought he would have wanted you there later in the evening.

It is good that people wanted your card, that means they were at least interested and felt you were good enough and not some little kid trying to fool them.

What effect(s) did you feel went well last night?

 

[chriswiehl]

biddle, wow, triumph.
haha
i did some fork bending, but i didnt have the closeness i need to make it very intimate. but it went well.

 

[Chrisfecto]

My suggestion for next time would be first off get your test run in at a more busy time. Also, don't worry two much about the intimate more so the flash and bang aspect. Catch them off guard hit them hard leave them wanting more. Every set should end with enjoy "Have a few more drinks, and enjoy your night here at *name of venue*" This will show the effort on your part to drum up sales but will also remind them that you are the magician at this venue.

Its all marketing. Also, I'm not sure if you were, but I don't know of any bartender that will let anyone behind their bar.

Best of Luck!

 

[RickEverhart]

Great point vintage,
You do need to end the set with a line promoting the business and yourself.

 

[chriswiehl]

yea that all happened. and i was behind the bar.
i didnt pick the time to trial. i said, how about i come in and work for like an hour or 2 and show u what i do.
he said alright. 6-7
so yea. idk.