Cocktail Hour: Turning an Interruption into an Asset
When I am hired to do table-to-table magic for corporate events, I often end up delayed even though I show up an hour early. Seems odd, right?
When the company members and their families arrive at the event, they take their time getting settled. They grab a drink and talk shop before they find their seats for dinner. Sometimes a half hour will go by before I can start performing table-to-table! In other words, the first ten to twenty-five percent of my hired time becomes a cocktail hour gig.
I hate having to interrupt people who are already entertaining themselves and enjoying each other's company. On the other hand it's a bad look if the event coordinator sees the talent they hired standing around.
The best solution I have found for this situation is to break into their circles and, instead of going into a set of tricks, welcome them to the event, introduce myself, and promise something for later. A *quick card trick to establish my role is enough. Even if they ask for more, I tell them that I’m saving the good stuff for the “show” that I’m bringing to their table.
If you try this, you will immediately realize that any anxiety you may have experienced before approaching tables will be gone. You know each other’s names, they are expecting you, and they have a basic idea of your personality and the quality of your work. You will not be walking up cold.
Many of us do strolling gigs as if we have an internal checklist. We must get their attention, introduce ourselves, and do a series of tricks all in one tableside visit. That’s more engagement than most people are used to giving to a stranger during dinner. After that we take out another internal checklist: we finish performing, check them off, and then never interact with that group again.
There is nothing wrong with this. Sometimes there are hundreds of people we need to entertain in a short period of time. We need to move it! But for those like me who frequently find themselves in cocktail/strolling situations, spreading out interaction and using an unexpected cocktail hour as an asset instead of an interruption has taken the fun and professionalism of my gigs to new heights. I hope it’ll help you too. Have fun out there!
Here’s a *QUICK TRICK I might use in a situation like this:
A Special for Specs with Spectacles
Memorize the first (three of diamonds) and third card (queen of spades) from the top of the pack. GIve the pack an overhand shuffle, injogging the first card as you explain that you have marked cards and special glasses that help you keep track of cards in the deck. Lift up on the injog and cut when you are ready to begin.
Slip cut the top card into the center of the pack, and push it forward using the right second and fourth fingers. Examine the back for a second and say, “Even in this light I can tell by the markings that it’s the three of diamonds.” Show that it is. Insert the card into the pack.
“I’ll do it again. Let me show you what to look for.” Holding the pack in dealer’s grip, have them look at the back of the top card of the pack. Make up something about the dots or markings. “I can tell that this card is the queen on spades.” Show it to them but don’t look at it yourself. They will say that it’s not the queen.
“Really? Hold on there must be a smudge on my glasses.” Execute a top change as your left hand (which is still holding the deck) removes your glasses. Hold your glasses to the light and then look at the card. Look at the face of the card yourself but don’t show it yet. Act perplexed. “I’m seeing the queen. What did you see?” (“the nine of spades”) “Here put on these glasses. How many fingers am I holding up? What color is my tie? What card is this?” Show them the card. They will be surprised to see the queen of spades.
Top change as you take back your glasses and put them on. “You might need some glasses too. Too much screen time, I think.” casually flash the nine of spades again as you say this.