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Definitive Guide to Restaurant Magic by Wayne Goodman Review:

One book, and unknown number of pages and $30 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Effect/Method

The effect? Getting a gig at a restaurant . . . that's what this book covers. This book doesn't cover any tricks. So there are no methods and no effects to discuss. This is all about getting gigs. It covers everything from approaching the manager/owner to follow up, marketing, retaining the gig, contracts, publicity, approaching the table, etc., etc., etc.

Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy makes no audacious claims or promises. It simply states what the book is about, so not much to say here.

Product Quality

This book, though full of excellent information, is very poorly produced. There are no page numbers, and no table of contents and no index. That was a bit frustrating when I wanted to go back and re-read a section of the book. Typically, I'll go to the table of contents and find a chapter title that I think contains the section I'm looking for. It's very much a pain to find information in the book after you've read it. You can't write down the page number as a reference.

The layout is a little cluttered and messy in some places, but again, the information is solid. Just about any question you might have regarding performing at restaurants is covered in this book. Some of the information is "nothing new" but all of it comes directly from Wayne Goodman's hard earned experience.

The only thing I didn't really like was when he discussed tricks. He basically just listed the name of the tricks/products that he uses in his repertoire. It would have been more useful if he covered a little more depth about the effect (not the method), just the type of effect it is. Is it a card trick? Coin trick? Audience involvement? Time to perform? etc. This would have given the reader a better sense of the type of material that Goodman feels works best in the restaurant environment.

Other than that, everything is covered.

Final Thoughts

If you're wanting to break into this market or even if you're not sure if you want to break into this market, this is a great first step. It's written from the perspective of someone performing in the UK, but 99% of it applies to (at least) the United States and very likely other cultures. If you're a working pro who performs at restaurants regularly, I think you'll find some value here as well.

Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem

7 Comments

  • Bart says:

    Thanks for the review. I was wondering about US vs. UK, glad you mentioned that.

    I didn’t realize it was possible to publish a book without page numbers, that definitely would be a major PITA for referencing things!

    While I agree that there should be more information about what tricks to perform and when to preform them (even though it is all in a restaurant there are many different dynamics from one group to another), the ones you mention are easily found.

    Is there any talk about performing for adults only vs. families? Or using a restaurant gig as a way to get bookings? I think there would be a big difference in what you perform if you are trying to get follow ups doing children’s parties vs. close-up.

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Bart – Thanks for the comment brotha! I agree that some of those tricks may be easily found, but what I felt was missing was the “why” – why those tricks? What about them is suited for restaurants. What types of tricks does he perform and why? As for using the restaurant to get gigs, he does cover that, yes. Adults vs. families: I’m 90% sure that he also addresses that, but it’s a pain in the butt to try to find it in the book (no page numbers; no index), but I’m pretty sure he covers that too.

  • Rob Butcher says:

    The book is about restaurant magic for both groups of adults and families, not necessarily about getting additional gigs from the customers. That’s surely down to them liking you and your work.

    The book covers trick lists from Wayne and four other restaurant pros. Why would a justification about card or coin tricks be needed? This book works on the basis of you selecting routines that you are competent at and entertain in restaurants with a limited space for you to work on. A blend of tricks is suggested so magicians won’t expect to just do one style ie not just card tricks. I thought the advice given was good, especially compared to other texts that simply taught a few card tricks that were pretty dull and lifeless.

    The suggestions in the book work on both sides of the Atlantic – I’ve worked in restaurants around the world.

    My irritation was the lack of page numbers, so I wrote my own on for reference. Hopefully this will be addressed in version 2.

    Overall for my £18 I thought it was money well-spent, even after eight years of working restaurants I still learnt a few bits that I’ve applied over the past six months.

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Rob – thanks for your comments. Keep in mind, that I wasn’t suggesting that he tip methods. I was just pointing out that a list of effect titles doesn’t do the reader much good. You asked the question, “Why would a justification about card or coin trick be needed?” Well first, listing the title doesn’t tell me if it’s coin or card . . . or rope for that matter. I wasn’t saying a coin or card trick needed justifying. I was pointing out that the trick titles tell me virtually nothing.

      Further, even if I somehow knew they were coin or card tricks, I still think further info was needed. E.g., why this particular coin trick or that particular card routine. If the reader has never worked in restaurants and decided to purchase a book called “The Definitive Guide,” they would, likely, be expecting more information about what tricks are best suited to this environment and why. That was not really covered in what I would consider a “Definitive” way.

      All that aside, I do agree with you. It is money well spent. I wouldn’t have given it 4 stars if I didn’t think so. 🙂

    • Yochanan says:

      Hey Rob what other books would you recommend for learning restaurant magic? And where can I buy them?

  • Thanks for the review and the comments, a table of contents and page numbers will be added in the 2nd edition as well as some more information on certain subjects (you are not the first to mention the tricks) and also more chapters will be added.

    it means a lot to get the feedback and I am working to amend the notes you have made.

    wayne

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Wayne – Excellent. Thanks for letting us know. I’m glad you kept a great attitude. So often, a minor criticism like this gets people upset. Thanks for being so cool about the whole thing.

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