Dominic Reyes:  Hi everyone! We’re here in the magic shop with Ben Williams.

Ben Williams: Bon Jour.

Dominic Reyes: And Paul Knight.

Paul Knight: Hello.

Dominic Reyes: And myself Dominic Reyes.

So, Ben, how’s you week been?

Ben Williams:  It’s been good. Busy as ever which is good – I won’t complain.

Dominic Reyes:  What happened?

Ben Williams: I was at a gig at the weekend. It was a wedding and there was a good 12 tables to get around, and I did a bit before they sat down and then the speeches started. So, I had a limited time to get around all these tables, the speeches went on a bit longer than I had hoped and I think there was about three or four tables left to do when my contract time ended.

Dominic Reyes: Was this because they had the speeches at the beginning?

Ben Williams:Yeah, literally – as soon as I came and sat down for the meal the speeches started and they were 40 minutes long. It’s a nice little break to have, but I was sat there twiddling my thumbs, thinking I wish I could crack on with somebody’s table.

Paul Knight: Were you clock watching … during your break?

Ben Williams : Not so much, no. You just find a quite place out of the way that you can make sure that you’re ready, prepared and set to go as soon as they stop. You’re battling with the meals as well, because as soon as they stop the waiting staff are doing the same thing. They are waiting to get their starter out. It was a case of – as soon as the speeches stop and the applause ends and everyone settles down a bit – just go and hit a couple of the tables which are not going to be served first.

I had a good few minutes to do each table. I’ve seen all the guests during the walk around session, so there was a lot less ‘getting to know the people’ and they were all kind of anticipating me coming. But you get to the end of your contract time and what do you do? Technically, do you say ‘My time’s up?” Or do you do what I actually did, which was stay an extra half hour?

Dominic Reyes: Where were they in the course of the meal?

Ben Williams:By the end of the time allotted, they were eating the desserts. I had about 40-45 minutes to get around 12 tables.

By the time the desserts came, my time was up, but I’ve never liked to leave a gig and feel like, Oh! I hope I don’t get an email saying,

“we had some people complain that they didn’t see some magic”

I can do the tables, I didn’t have anywhere to go, so I was quite happy to stay on an extra half hour and make sure that everyone saw some magic. Make sure the client was really happy, the bride and the groom were really happy. You end up getting much better testimonials, much better references. People understand that you’re staying an extra bit of time, so it just reflects a lot better on you.

Dominic Reyes:I think an issue can arise if you’re going from that gig straight on to another gig and you’ve built in sort of an hour and a half for travel, so that you can get there.

Ben Williams: I fully understand that, and I agree. If that is the case, then you should be addressing that with the client at the beginning of your gig. If they turn around to you and say, “When we sit down and speeches are happening” you have to almost explain it to them before the gig, so they understand that. But, I don’t know for certain, but I can certainly assume that some magicians may use that as an excuse to just get out on time, because they don’t want to do extra work.

I find that going that extra mile really reflects back well on your character, reflects better in repeat bookings.

Dominic Reyes:So, before the event – maybe a few days before – or do you do this during the gig?

Do you ask for a plan of how the the day is going to run? Such as, if the speech is going to be at the beginning or in the end?

Ben Williams:Yeah, of course. Most of the time, if I do a wedding booking, I will have seen the people either at the wedding fair or at least spoken to them on the telephone. It’s fine doing everything by email, but it kind of a bit impersonal

Dominic Reyes: And plans can change last minute.

Ben Williams: Plans can change last minute, but if you speak to somebody and you reassure them on the phone, they feel a lot more comfortable, than if you just reassure them via email. But yeah, certainly, I’ll ask what the plan of the day is. If I haven’t got that information before, as soon as I introduce myself to the client – as soon as I arrive, that’s one the first things I say. What’s the format for the next few hours. What’s the layout?

Paul Knight:It’s important to touch base with them.

Dominic Reyes:Especially, the restaurant manager, if you go into the room where the tables are being set when you arrive, maybe while everyone is outside and the photos are starting.

Ben Williams:Yeah.

Dominic Reyes:Just take a moment to speak to a restaurant manager or wedding planner, and ask what time do they come in to sit down.

Ben Williams: Exactly, yes. Sometimes you arrive at a gig and you won’t see the person that booked you. They’re busy. They’re off doing things. They’ve always got some sort of wedding organizer that is taking care of the day, who works for the venue, and you can always find them. You can always introduce yourselves to them. That’s a great thing to do for your future business.

 

What we can learn from this.

If you find that you have limited time at an event, it’s vital to discuss this with the client Sometimes the timings for an event can change last minute. If this happens:

• Check timings with the client a few days before the event. Don’t leave it to chance.
• See the planner or client when you arrive
• Stay extra time whenever possible.
• Prepare your material so you can scale your sets down.

Do you have any tips for magicians who suddenly find they don’t have enough time at a gig? Do you have any experiences of this you can share? Let us know in the comments section below: