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How do magicians know when to approach people eating at a restaurant?

Updated: May 27

We answer “How do magicians know when to approach people eating at a restaurant” plus tips for working restaurants.


QUESTION: How do magicians know when to approach people eating at a restaurant?


ANSWER: They don’t. Magicians should never approach anyone at a restaurant to perform magic while they are eating. Food is the highest priority. It’s important to work along with the servers and staff to provide an incredible experience.


Here are a few tips for magicians who want to start working restaurants


Listen to the full answer below.


How do magicians know when to approach people eating at a restaurant?


Recently on the podcast, Graeme and I were discussing restaurant magic, strolling magic and table-side magic. We were specifically talking about a question that we found on Reddit about how magicians should approach people while they are eating.


Bottom line: magicians shouldn’t perform during dinner service.


No one wants to see a magic trick with BBQ sauce on their fingers. Not ideal for card tricks either. The only way you could approach a table that has not been shown magic, yet because really the key time and you can pace yourself at a restaurant once


Let’s jump into the basics.


Strolling Magic: The Basics of Approaching Tables


It’s essential for magicians to realize that food and foodservice are a priority. Magicians help make the kitchen’s service appear faster by elevating the guest’s experience with a unique, interactive performance.


Magicians help cover kitchen mistakes and delays in service.


If you have never worked a restaurant, be aware of the rhythm and flow of each individual restaurant and how the kitchen and serving staff interact.


It’s a magician’s job to be as unobtrusive as possible while elevating the guest’s experience.



3 Tips for Magicians Working Restaurants

  1. Follow the Menus. Once the menus leave the table, go and do your bit.

  2. Leave the tables tidy. Make sure you don’t make a mess. Leave and in good order.

  3. Keep your sets short. 3 - 4 minutes is a good amount of time.

BONUS TIP

Keep your routines simple and easy to follow. Restaurants can be loud places. Keep your instructions easy to understand and learn to be a little more direct.


Sometimes you’ll find a table with a lot of appetizers or it's a restaurant with free salad or bread. You can be frequently interrupted and if food arrives while you are performing, wrap-up your trick quickly and move to the next table


Here’s how you can approach a table while they are eating

Sometimes the occasion will present itself and a table has been served food. On the podcast, Graeme shared a little script he uses. Walk over, introduce yourself quickly and tell them you’ll come back after they have finished eating.


You can say something like:

“Hi, my name is _______. I'm a magician. I see that you're eating. I don't want to share magic with you right now because you're eating, but can I come by after and share some magic?”

A few tips for magicians who want to start getting into restaurant magic work.


Excerpt from Episode 32 (length: 2min 45 sec)


What is your best tip for working restaurants?

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