Christmas party shows last weekend

I arrived at the EMP 15 minutes early. Met the woman who hired me and she paid me before I even started, got to like that. This was going to be a cake gig as most strolling gigs are. It was a company christmas party luncheon with an open bar cocktail hour, sit down buffet lunch, DJ, Bono Look Alike, and a dance competition for company departments with a $1000 cash prize.

As people started milling in, I didn't want to approach them too quickly. I like to start my rounds after they've had a chance to get a drink and settle in a bit. Then I get to work. It's a delicate moment when approaching small groups of people talking. You have to capture their interest without being overbearing. I usually explain that I am there to amaze amuse and mystify them. I ask them if they would like to see a little magic. . . or if I am interrupting. And so the fun begins. Mostly cards and coins, my tried and true 6 tricks performed over and over again. MIx it up a little when I approach a group where there might be a person or two that I performed for already. I was put on the spot to fool a few company know it all's. What can I say, I did not disappoint.

The music was cranked up a tad more than I would have liked, but my training at the Fenix had taught me to go into pantomime mode. Magic is a visual medium it can play just as strong without words. Incidentally the DJ had the smallest rig I have ever seen. Two ipods in a mixer that delivered excellent sound.

After 45 minutes the dance contest started and was pretty fun to watch. Then came the delicious buffet lunch. I was invited enjoy the meal and I did. It was a first class meal. This is usually my favorite part of a gig like this. I innocently invite my self to sit at the head table of executives. This is where the real fun begins, impromptu effects using things on the table. It never fails to amaze me how interested people are in what I do. I give them the whole Industrial Strength Magic Riff and pass out some business cards. Then disappear into the afternoon/night .

The next gig was a 45 min. after dinner performance in one of the private dining rooms at Daniel's Broiler in Bellevue. Nice place on the 21 floor with a nice view. The show was an intimate performance for 28 people. Dinner was running about 30 minutes late, but I assured Sue, the woman who had booked me that I was very casual about the whole affair and that I would practice a bit in the hall, get my hands warmed up and be ready when every she was wanted me to.

After a generous helping of high energy comedy magic, sleight of hand, we wandered into the realm of Magic o the mind, intuition and experiments outside the realm of trickery. I performed the 3 card mental problem which couldn't have gone better, I followed that up with the Zingone 12 Card Mental Problem. I finished up with the Deans Box, the Bra trick and the Linking Rings. Both the booker and I were very pleased with how the show came off.

Later that night English Beat played the Fenix Underground. Finally I band I had hear of and actually like their Ska Music. Nice sets there too.