Hello,
When you are doing walk around magic at a restaurant or corporate gig where do you keep all the extra supplies/tricks you aren't using?

Thank you!

In a foam-lined case hidden away, but where I can get to it easily.

Unless you have direct control, a locked case is best. People do have an interest in peeking and some would take the whole thing, not realizing you had several hundred or even thousands of dollars in props inside.
Treat your case the way a lady treats her purse when it has money in it and you will be ok.

Great Question!

When I do a gig, I find a secure place can return to for supplies in my close-up case.
Sometimes this is behind a bar, in an office, etc. Then just keep an eye on the spot where you left your stuff! In other words, hid your case. Get to it quick if you need to.

Bascomb

I keep the props in a lockable catalog case. You can find inexpensive ones for $30 at an office supply store. I keep it where I can access it quickly, but it must not be in anyone's way.

I too keep my supplies in a lockable cataloge case. It seems to work the best for me because you don't have to place it on its side to get into it. There was a time that I used a sports bag for supplies as well. The bag should be locked and some place you can get to when you need to restock.

MagicRMA

Honestly, there are no “extra” supplies or unused tricks when I do walk around. Everything I need for the evening is organized in my sports coat, pants and a very small bag (pouch) that hooks to my belt (under the coat toward the rear). Everything used is returned to its place upon completion of the effect. I tend to select self-resetting effects, i.e., tricks that are reset as part of the routine.

I don’t have a balloon look either, I use Kamm Pocket Organizers and don’t carry all that much (there is a discussion under “Where to put it all” called “Exactly what do you do you keep in your close-up case” where I outline the load for one evenings work). My jacket falls flat (or as flat as my pot belly lets it!).

Frankly, I don’t need to carry a lot to do walk around in a restaurant. Six different tricks can give me over a dozen different acts (three or four routines per act) by combining the various tricks differently. I don’t tend to use consumables except perhaps a paper napkin, which will be available at the venue (if not then I don’t do that trick!).

What’s on me is what I am going to use. By the way, I do a signed card to wallet and only carry one deck. I just use a deck that is short a card (or several cards as the evening goes on). No one has ever complained that the deck was a card or three short. In fact I doubt if anyone has ever noticed.

I prefer to have with me a few effects that I don't always want to carry with me, so I have a lockable case placed behind a bar or in a office, but most importantly.. out of the way.. remember that anything you place in this case you must be prepared to lose, or have stolen, so don't keep your Johnson Copper Silver Brass coins in there.. I try to get the establishment to give me some small space where I can privately reset if needed.. I like Harry prefer to have self-reseting tricks, but I don't limit myself to what I can carry. Since I have a tendancy to use special occasion tricks once a night, I don't carry them on me. But you have to decide.. it a personal preferance..

I just go in with a thumb tip--I can do four hours of salt vanishes and they never tire of it.

Just kidding.

OK, Ron, I know you were just kidding about the four hour. So…how many hours of salt pour do you really do? And what else?

I agree with harry, The restaraunt is paying me to go from table to table not table to closet to table to closet. When doing walk around you should have whatever you need in the pockets.

I will keep a couple of bigger things in the car in case the manager has a special someone they wanted to impress. In that case a manager ould not say anything about you stepping outside.

Mat

Exactly! Mat and mumble...oops, sorry, Harry are right -- if you have too much to carry in your pockets, then you have too much, period.
Bar/restaurant table-hopping, strolling, whatever, is not the place for close-up mats, side tables, or cases/bags with your performing gear inside.
Oh, sure, there will be those who say that they do some or all of the above and do it well. That's probably true.
There are also ballet dancers who can do spot welding, too!
But not a lot of them!!!

when I was able to get around and do table hopping, I used a Close-Up Carrier by American Magic co. (now manufactured by Helene's Magic in Philadelphia) It tucks in the inside jacket pocket and hangs down with enough pockets to work from for any performer. And it is true that you only need a few really good effects. Too many magicians today carry briefcases full of magic, some of which they never use. Practice a good 15 minute set, then break that down into a couple of segments and then go table to table. After all you are not there for a full hour at each table, just to keep people entertained while they wait for their meal.
All the Best
Alex

I have a makeup case (from Target)it is black canvas and lots of room with pockets and zipped areas. it is about 8" long 6" wide and 6" deep just about big enough to fit a six pack of soda. I have a bag of balloons and extra cards both playing and business. My comment cards, extra rubber bands, asprin, band aids, sharpie markers, extra sponge balls, extra thumb tip, extra coins, breath mints, my invoice for the night, nail clippers, a small sample of cologne and a few back up effect. I only have to go to my bag maybe once in three hours and thats to fill up my fanny pack with balloons. The reason for the bags is I am prepared for anything. The case is very small and no one ever sees it on the bottom self in server area.
The makeup bag is great it has lots of holders inside to hold makeup thats just the right size for tt's or what ever it keeps my stuff very organized.
You can think you have everything in your pockets or on yourself but if you do walk around magic allot then you should be ready for anything to happen because it will. Like kids tearing your sponge balls or it rolling off the table and you can't find it. You forget your thumb tip. the Dlite battery dies, your string breaks (ring and string routine) loose the balls for the chop cup, I sometimes have 3 cards signed at 1 table do this 4 time you need a new deck. I think you'll see why I carry a case I'm Glad I do because it has saved me a few times.

I agree that you can carry what you need in your pockets. But, I generally have my full close up case out in the car "just in case." In some situations, where returning to the car may be too time consuming, I bring it in. I prefer to leave it with someone (locked, of course) like a receptionist or office manager. I've had very few problems with theft over the years. I did once leave a Chop Cup inside a little bar unit on a shelf when I took a break. When I came back it was gone. But that was my own stupidity, really.
When I go to private gigs to do close up, I always carry my "big little show." These are things which fit into a small case but can play big. Occasionally the situation does not work out well for strolling close up. (Too small a group and as soon as you start to do a trick the whole room stops what they are doing and watches.) In that case, I can switch to doing a "show."
Dennis Loomis
http://www.mindspring.com/~deloomis/dai.html

If it don't go in yer pockets, leave it at home!

Ron, I thought you were going to say that you keep all your extra props in your thumbtip.

So, here I am laughing at a joke you didn't even make. Man, you're funny!

Dennis, is it too much to ask what your "big little show" contains?

I carry all my props in a lockable attache case. In my regular venues, I have an office or secure place to keep my attache. In the one time only places, I try to find the same. Sometimes behind the bar. Sometimes with the band or DJ. There are certain venues where there is no secure place to keep my bag. In those instances, I carry a small bicycle chain with its own combination lock. I simply attache the bag to any non movable object. It will not stop a real thief from stealing the whole bag. It will stop the person that would just pick it up & walk away with it. It is easier to pick up something else that is not attached rather than try to break the handle off the case. That would attract attention & that is not what the the casual thief wants to attract.
I know this may sound paranoid, but I have never had a bag stolen & I know others that have had that misfortune. Again, this is only for the rare instance that there is no place else to keep it safely.

Showing up with ONLY what you're using is a bad idea. One deck of cards? What if they get damaged or something spills on them? Ya gotta have a back-up plan in my opinion. Even if that means just having an extra deck and a few coins in your car.