Table Hopping Stuff...

[Rneogy]

So I know there has been threads on things like these already but, I have a specific question....

I had a "gig" tonight and it was quite fun... I went from tables and then a crowd grew and all of a sudden, people were asking me for MORE AND MORE!

So at the end of it all when people slowly left... Well let me first tell you my first question...

I was performing Extreme Burn a lot... And people just kept wanting to see it over and over again... It was kinda annoying... Although Extreme burn is an effect that can be repeated, I just cant keep doing it over and over... Worst thing was that they had an excuse to see it again... Every time they wanted to see it, they grabbed a new person and told me that he/she hasn't seen the trick yet... They were more interested in the Changing money than the cards... Can someone tell me how I can avoid this or handle it at least? Maybe make Extreme burn last in my routine?

Second question....

At the end, I was expecting a little pay... So ONE person just gave me ONE dollar.... Kinda cheap if you ask me... but whatever... So I was fine with that, since she set an example that I work for tips... But no one else gave me money... Any help on getting people to give you money? And more than one dollar? This same scene happened later, when another person gave me a dollar... (what can you expect everyone was indian)(no offense, I'm indian too)... So again, no one else gave me anything... So yeah? Help?

Thanks guys,

Rupayan

 

[chriswiehl]

I have the same problem.
some ideas

Print out a little card (bussiness card) with the rules of the magician. make it look official and be like. im sorry. according to section A paragraph 34 , magicians shall never show a trick more than once.
be like i can be kicked out of hogwarts for breaking that rule.

do a bill switch with their borrowed dollar, and change it from a 1 to a 2 dollar bill. then be like lets try again, anyone have a 5? then change that 5 into the 1 dolalr bill (you can use a TT) (this only works for certian crowds, that you feel would think its funny or not mind. If they doo, you can always have 3 dollar bills in your pocket and give them 3 or 4 dollars back.

do more money magic. suggest they give it to you. like can i have a 1 dollar bill. take it and be like, its how much this show costs you. haha

or if they ask if they'll get it back, you can say sure, unless you thihnk the show was good enough for me to keep it (it usually is)

it also depends on the venue. if you are doing street magic, you might not get much because people rnt in the mindset to shell out money.
i was working at an icecream shop, and i got some good tips, because everyone had money to hand out and stuff.

so yea. just dont listen to what others say. bring your rule card and just have fun. have a good atitude, and remember. magic isnt all about making money, its about memories, which is worth more than gold for many people. so just have fun and if you are good and have a good atitude and they like you, they are more likely to give you tips.
thats what i have learned from my experience.

 

[nIvan]

Lets start out with one of the more important questions:

How old are you?

Seriously, this plays a huge part. People won't take a kid doing tricks as seriously as a well dressed adult performing miracles. I'm not saying that your quality of tricks are worse, they're probably the same or better, but the older you are the easier it will be to make money.

Where was this "gig" and with whom did you set it up? You said in connotation that the gig wasn't really a gig and your post made it seem like it was just practice. If you wanted to do this properly you would ask the manager of the place for one of two things.

1. A salary. Something small just a stipend even. Below minimum wage is probably what you'll get, but with tips you can get over that.
2. Permission to ask for tips. Managers will be upset if you are "stealing" the tips from the waiters (some restaurants pot all the tips and split evenly at the end of the day, you will not get in this deal and by asking for tips you are in essence taking away from the restaurant and it's workers).

Just keep trying. Chances are: money is not a priority right now and you need all the showmanship experience you can get.



EDIT: I only addressed money.

For tricks, don't pause and give them a chance to ask to see it again. "Do it again" is like watching a video. They're likely to see how it's done and they're expecting what to see. MOVE ON FAST. Have a few effects lined up, I like to start and end with a money effect. Start because it grabs their attention, end by taking an automatic 75 cent tip (greed, borrowed dollar handed out quarter). Don't give them a chance to react before getting set up for the next trick.

 

[Rneogy]

Thanks for all the advice...

nIvan, this was kind of a little professional fun get together, and the person who organized it asked me to do magic there... Not really a professional thing... I'm thirteen... So yeah... This was a practice kinda... But still, I want to know this for future things...

 

[Justin.Morris]

Sounds like it was a great opportunity for you.

As for repeating the effect, sometimes, it is totally fine (as perhaps with EB). However, anytime you don't want to repeat something, simply be firm and confident in your reply (whatever line you chose. I sometimes say "everyone knows a magician never repeats a trick") and then if the situation is right, you can do it again, but make sure they know you are doing something really special just for them because you like them. This will make them feel like they are part of something unique to be able to see it a second time. They won't ask for a third showing. If a new person asks to see it you simply say something like: "I've already done that one tonight. Ask them what they saw. You will have to take their word for it.

As for tips, I find tips are sparse unless you let them know you are working for tips. The most direct way is to learn and practice a few "Hat lines". These are lines you put in somewhere in your routine (street performers would insert through out the show, and then ask for tips right before they do their big finale.) that indicate to people that you accept/expect tips.

Thanks for sharing!

In your situation you could have said to the group. "Okay, since you have all been awesome tonight, I will break the rules just for you this one time, and I will show you again. But just because I like you. And because you are going to tip me really well after..."
If you say it lightheartedly, people will laugh, but they will now know that you expect tips.

That may be too forward for you, but find something that works for your personality and try lots of new things to see what works best for you.

 

[Randy]

Sometimes it's best to say to no if they keep bugging you to perform the same bill change or whatever over and over again. I know the urge to make them happy is there and that's probably what makes you want to do it. But usually when you repeat something, specially Extreme Burn, You end up diluting the effect and taking something that should be a miracle, into the "neat trick" status. Also it makes you look like a monkey.

 

[TeeDee]

When I used to work tables, I would perform one trick for the group, then say something along the lines of, "Now, that was just a little warm-up, but to be absolutely honest with you, this is what I do for a living, so if I show you something that really freaks you out, would that be worth a couple of [insert local currency] from each of you?"

I would reference that again towards the climax of the next trick, e.g. "If I could do something with that card that's between your hands, that's got to be worth some money, hasn't it?", or "If that card that's been on the table the whole time turns out to be your card, that's got to be worth some money, hasn't it?"

 

[Aaron.Williams]

I'm 13 years old too and its pretty hard for a lot of audiences to take you seriously. But last winter i did a "gig" for a business christmas party. I didn't get paid officially but i did get a couple tips. My best advise to you is to make a list of around 10 tricks and make a routine of what you want to do. (I would end with Extreme Burn, even though I do Prophet). and never do a trick more than once for the same crowd. No matter how many times the beg and pester you, don't give in. Seeing a trick more than once decreases the audience's level of amazement. And if you are looking to get tips if you aren't officially getting paid, you can just make little side comments after every other trick like "and if you're wondering, I do accept tips" don't be afraid it really works. So for the next time, just keep some of these things in mind and make a routine to keep them interested and save your most killer effect for the end.