I recently went to the Safehouse in Milwaukee to learn that my all-time favorite magician Mark Bond has retired. He did the best magic that I've ever seen close-up, and he did it all. (cards - coins- cups / balls - everything)
During his routine, he would take brief breaks after a performance and take drink requests (as all bar magicians are required to do). Here is my poll / question:
Should Bar Magicians be Magicians / Bartenders or Bartenders / Magicians?
Mark Bond was a Magician / Bartender - doing his magic, then taking drinks as there were spaces in the performance. You could go there and watch magic all night long, and enjoy it over a few drinks.
The new bartender is more of a Bartender / Magician. He will do two tricks, then do drinks (which takes awhile), then do a couple more tricks, then do drinks again.
For those that go there specifically to see magic, it puts a lull in the performance. However, I know the bartender is under the constraints of management, and they may want him to pour more drinks and do less magic - to pull in more money to the establishment.
Here's the catch 22. Do you think that people go to places with a magician at the bar to see magic, or are people randomly there just to drink? I know it's a mix, but what do you think the majority is? With a Magician doing fewer tricks, I would be less likely to return.
Me personally, I go there to see magic. If I want to go out to drink, I could go to any other bar with less expensive drinks and a dance floor or something (though I can't dance). So, here's the question once again and feel free to give your opinions.
Should Magicians that tend Bar be Magicians / Bartenders or Bartenders / Magicians?
During his routine, he would take brief breaks after a performance and take drink requests (as all bar magicians are required to do). Here is my poll / question:
Should Bar Magicians be Magicians / Bartenders or Bartenders / Magicians?
Mark Bond was a Magician / Bartender - doing his magic, then taking drinks as there were spaces in the performance. You could go there and watch magic all night long, and enjoy it over a few drinks.
The new bartender is more of a Bartender / Magician. He will do two tricks, then do drinks (which takes awhile), then do a couple more tricks, then do drinks again.
For those that go there specifically to see magic, it puts a lull in the performance. However, I know the bartender is under the constraints of management, and they may want him to pour more drinks and do less magic - to pull in more money to the establishment.
Here's the catch 22. Do you think that people go to places with a magician at the bar to see magic, or are people randomly there just to drink? I know it's a mix, but what do you think the majority is? With a Magician doing fewer tricks, I would be less likely to return.
Me personally, I go there to see magic. If I want to go out to drink, I could go to any other bar with less expensive drinks and a dance floor or something (though I can't dance). So, here's the question once again and feel free to give your opinions.
Should Magicians that tend Bar be Magicians / Bartenders or Bartenders / Magicians?
