I'm not doing table hopping so may be way out in left field.

At Walmart I noticed a palmsize keychain photo display device that holds 100 photos downloaded from your PC ($12) I could envision having a little Slide show intro of yourself and perhaps a menu of twenty 'popular' effects you are prepared to perform. You have a couple of these to be left by the hostess at each new table. When you arrive they would know who you are, know that you are a magician, and have some suggestion of what effects they would like to see.

Of course, you get the device back and vanish it -- then hand it off to the hostess.

Awesome idea

A quick check - $9.99 from Amazon, and places like Walgreens and Target carry some too.

Great title slides can be made with PowerPoint and saved as jpegs, then scaled down

Killer idea!

That keychains are very nice!

While I believe that this device may have some strong possibilites as a promotional tool, I also believe that the device will not last very long in the resturant enviorment (spills, sticky hands & of course kids!)
I'm also having a problem with the concept of my audience ordering magic off an electronic menu, as I want my audience to wonder what will happen next and the effect to be a total suprise.
just my 2 cents.

Sounds like a wonderful idea!

I'd be more comfortable with out it, though. Just walking up and doing your thing. I like to know what routines I'm going to do before hand.

I like the idea of useing those chains in magic - but personally, I don't like the idea of handing over my autonomy to the audience - I like to decide what effect to do and when and if I had a digital "menu of magic" it would become a nightmare for resets and pre-preperation.

I wouldn't want my audience to dictate to me what they want to see. They want to have fun and I provide it. That's the only say they get.

I guess I was thinking more of shots you you doing effects so that you got a feeling whether they liked rings, cards, whatever. A list of effect names wouldn't mean anything -- just preference ideas.

I think this has possibilities, especially if you want to "frame" an effect in a certain manner. a visual frame of reference outside of the context of performing could be a valuable way to make a certain idea about a trick "gel" in your spectators memories...

also, I can almost visualize a situation where you would want to build up a visual expectation in the spectator's mind -perhaps to lead them down the garden path to an even bigger surprise?

Either way, this could be a very valuable tool for some!

I like this idea and I feel that you have brought up something we could all use some how. Theres been many topics in the Café about weather you advertise your self as a magician for hire and the things you supply why at a venue. Obliviously it between you and the person hires you. However the idea I am having is get some of these and put a few photos of me and the crowd having a good time at hat venue. Then I would put a couple of photos from my summer festival and one of me doing parlour show. Also put your web address on it.

There a idea for you to shake around this could be a good marketing tool. Cheers for the tip.

For a marketing tool to reach an agent, for about $40-60 you can get one with 31/2X5 photos, music and voice overs. Of course, on those notebooks you cna havea 2 hr movie of your whole performance -- a a series of clips of "best effects." If these get too good, though, a restaurant can just put one on every table and you can stay home ;-)

How about you upload a photo of every card - except for their chosen card and they can flick though and see the only card there is their 'freely' chosen card missing.

Then which you say;

"this card is special and as such I wanted something more tangable than a digital photo - under your seat is an envelope and inside is a photograph I placed there last month"
you get the idea