Coffee house style magic...need help...

[Mr. Mysterious]

hey so a few of my friends are starting a coffee house and I was wondering what kind of magic tricks would be good for the coffee house type setting? Any ideas?
I'm not doing a stage performance or anything of that sort. I'm also not doing the kinda stuff like balloon animals...
I need the kind of tricks that are 1-on-1 tricks. I'm NOT trying to attract a crowd. I need some tricks that I can sit down at the table and be able to entertain one or two people with. Also, I'm not going to be walkng up to people. I want them to come to me. The tricks I want to do aren't going to be advertised or anything...i'm just going to sit at a table and wait for someone.
Do you get the type of setting I'm going for? I'm not going to be a special guest or anything of that sort.

Ok so if you get what kind of setting I'm going for, do you have any ideas? I was thinking of a cups and balls routine. The cups could just sit on the table and I could wait for someone. The cups would be all shiny and would catch people's eye, (or maybe I would catch their eye! LOL :D ) and if they sat down asking me what the cups were for, I could go from there.
So that's one of my ideas, but what other effects could I do with that style in mind? I need something catchy, but nothing like a hummer card or anything...
Thanks for any help in advance! :). Oh and sorry if this post is a little confusing...hopefully you guys will be able to help! :)

[magick]

I need the kind of tricks that are 1-on-1 tricks. I'm NOT trying to attract a crowd. I need some tricks that I can sit down at the table and be able to entertain one or two people with. Also, I'm not going to be walkng up to people. I want them to come to me. The tricks I want to do aren't going to be advertised or anything...i'm just going to sit at a table and wait for someone. Do you get the type of setting I'm going for? I'm not going to be a special guest or anything of that sort.

The cups could just sit on the table and I could wait for someone. The cups would be all shiny and would catch people's eye, (or maybe I would catch their eye! LOL :D ) and if they sat down asking me what the cups were for, I could go from there.



i don't think your going to have much success with that kind of format.....

you cant just sit there and wait for someone to ask you to perform....it doesn't work like that.

i have spent 17 years performing in bars, restaurants, and i even worked in a coffee house for a while, and it's not going to happen like that.

[Mr. Mysterious]

i don't think your going to have much success with that kind of format.....

you cant just sit there and wait for someone to ask you to perform....it doesn't work like that.

i have spent 17 years performing in bars, restaurants, and i even worked in a coffee house for a while, and it's not going to happen like that.

Dang it.....
Ok so what approach should I take? The type of coffee house we are starting is a non for profit coffee house so this isn't something where I'm getting hired.

Seeing as you have been doing this for 17 years, what kind of effects are good for a coffee house? I'm guessing the coffee house is going to be low lit, music playing in the background, and kinda like an actual house not like a starbucks...

Also, I want to know what kind of effects I should NOT do. I'm thinking card tricks aren't too good for a coffee house, but what about sponge balls? And how about fire type tricks? (flash paper). Would something like that draw too much attention?
Sorry, but I need some pretty specific answers here because I'm not exactly asking the manager if I can do this...(Which should be ok for him, but I don't want to draw a crowd...)
So is the kind of style I'm looking for really not possible with magic?
Or are there not very many effects that work the way I'm hoping they will?

Thanks for the help already magick. Maybe you can answer my real question now that I've restated it. :)

[magick]

ok maybe im confused........your friends are starting a coffee house....but you don't want to ask the manager if you can perform?????????

anyway. i have a couple questions....first how old are you? and second, is this something you want to do regularly or are you just talking about once in a great while type of thing?

[Bubba Smith]

I would suggest getting a PK ring (don't sigh yet).

The BEST trick with one is to have a dollar bill (balled-up) with a small name-tag magnet inside.

You keep the bill in your pocket...and get an empty coffee cup, and you are ready.

If possible borrow a dollar and ball it up...and do the "is the ball in my pocket or under the cup" routine...switch out the borrowed bill for the gimmicked one.

Just like a chop-cup...with every day objects...Just remember to switch it back for the borrowed bill at the end :)

I get lots of "pops" with this one...and you can make it go as long as you want...milk it out.

You can also write a prediction on the bottom of your coffee cup with a Sharpie...sit down...force the card...and reveal it by drinking/showing the bottom of your cup :)

[sonny]

" Would you like some magic with that coffee?"



That's a Good approach to someone.

[Mr. Mysterious]

I would suggest getting a PK ring (don't sigh yet).

The BEST trick with one is to have a dollar bill (balled-up) with a small name-tag magnet inside.

You keep the bill in your pocket...and get an empty coffee cup, and you are ready.

If possible borrow a dollar and ball it up...and do the "is the ball in my pocket or under the cup" routine...switch out the borrowed bill for the gimmicked one.

Just like a chop-cup...with every day objects...Just remember to switch it back for the borrowed bill at the end :)

I get lots of "pops" with this one...and you can make it go as long as you want...milk it out.

You can also write a prediction on the bottom of your coffee cup with a Sharpie...sit down...force the card...and reveal it by drinking/showing the bottom of your cup :)

hey that's a pretty good idea! I was looking at getting a chop-cup, but I also want to get a PK ring. I don't want to waste $20 for a cup with a magnet. is the PK magnet strong enough to hold all the way through a coffee cup or would I have to use a paper cup?

I also like the sharpie idea. I got a frixon pen so I could do some stuff with that too.

[Mr. Mysterious]

ok maybe im confused........your friends are starting a coffee house....but you don't want to ask the manager if you can perform?????????

anyway. i have a couple questions....first how old are you? and second, is this something you want to do regularly or are you just talking about once in a great while type of thing?

sorry this is so confusing...I went back and read my posts and I got confused too lol.

The type of coffee house he's starting isn't like a starbucks. It's more like a house, that sells coffee. It's revolving around family more than customers.
That's all I was trying to say there...

I couldask the manager, but the impression he would get from it would be me "working" there. And that's not the setting he wants for the coffee house. Most people that are going to be "working" at the house are all volunteers.

So basically, I'm going for a "street" style magic where I'm just walking around, but I want the effects to be appropriate for a coffee house.

As for your questions magick:
I'm only 16, but the guys who are running the coffee house are only 18-35...

Also, the coffee house isn't going to start for about 6 months, so I have time to practice...
I want to be able to preform almost every time I'm there (or at least be prepared to) but I'm not going to be at the coffee house very much...well, by that time, I should have my license by then. So I will be there probably a lot.

Mr. M

[ntroberts]

Dimly lit setting? If so, you're gonna love working with Invisible Thread.

[magick]

sorry this is so confusing...I went back and read my posts and I got confused too lol.

The type of coffee house he's starting isn't like a starbucks. It's more like a house, that sells coffee. It's revolving around family more than customers.
That's all I was trying to say there...

I couldask the manager, but the impression he would get from it would be me "working" there. And that's not the setting he wants for the coffee house. Most people that are going to be "working" at the house are all volunteers.

So basically, I'm going for a "street" style magic where I'm just walking around, but I want the effects to be appropriate for a coffee house.

As for your questions magick:
I'm only 16, but the guys who are running the coffee house are only 18-35...

Also, the coffee house isn't going to start for about 6 months, so I have time to practice...
I want to be able to preform almost every time I'm there (or at least be prepared to) but I'm not going to be at the coffee house very much...well, by that time, I should have my license by then. So I will be there probably a lot.

Mr. M

well if you plan on doing this there a lot then it would be a good idea to get a formal blessing from the owner/managment.....

that means you can present yourself as part of the staff......which means you get more respect from the patrons before you even start your performance.

[kobe45]

coin to sugar packet?

[magick]

coin to sugar packet?

thats a good one.....signed coin to sugar packet.

or bill in sugar packet.

[magic 1]

Hm.. I don't really know, maybe coffee to pennies? :confused:

[Mr. Mysterious]

Hm.. I don't really know, maybe coffee to pennies? :confused:

could I get a link on how to make the gimmick for this? I had it once, but I lost it...I think it was on here...but idk...

EDIT: So here's what we've got so far:

Use of Invisible Thread
Sharpie reveal
Use of a Frixon pen
Impromptu chop cup
Coin to sugar pack
Coffee to pennies

thanks a lot guys! :) keep 'em coming! :D

how's the signed coin to sugar packet work? is it just a coin switch at the end?

[magic 1]

could I get a link on how to make the gimmick for this? I had it once, but I lost it...I think it was on here...but idk...


Sorry, I don't have a link, I kind of forgot how it was done too. :P

[Bubba Smith]

hey that's a pretty good idea! I was looking at getting a chop-cup, but I also want to get a PK ring. I don't want to waste $20 for a cup with a magnet. is the PK magnet strong enough to hold all the way through a coffee cup or would I have to use a paper cup?

I also like the sharpie idea. I got a frixon pen so I could do some stuff with that too.

That will depend on how strong the PK ring is and the small name-tag magnet is...I've use "normal" ceramic cups too...never had a problem.

I like using stryo-cups...depending on how loud your enviornment is, you may hear a very slight click, which can also be explained by your ring hitting the cup...but I go stryo or paper :)

The Frixon's are great for reveals, by placing a business card across the top of a "hot" cup of Joe.

[shawn225]

I would suggest getting Cultural Xchange 1&2 with Shoot Ogowa & Apollo Robbins. Also any of David Stone's trick on Basic Coin Magic 1 & 2. Also I would suggest investing in The Sponge Ball Tool Box w/dvd by Steve Dacri. It has everything you need to do tons of sponge ball tricks.
Working at a coffee shop can be a great spot. You have to be personable.People in a coffee shop are relaxed & layed back.This make them more receptive. You have to be the kind of person they would invite in their house. Thats the personality you must have, otherwise they will heckle you. Even for a 16 year old. Your magic needs to reflect that. Your tricks should be simple for the spec to follow. It should be something that can be done right in front of their face. It is definitely a plus if it involves the spectator or the trick is made so the spec does all the magic. That's why sponge ball magic is so effective, even amongst adults.
I can give you a list of well over 100 tricks you can perform. What you should be practicing is your people skills. Practice interacting with people as much as you practice performing you tricks. It will go a long,long way.

[Jferkin]

Ninja rings.... ninja rings can look so amazing for close up at a resturate/coffe house unless you'll be like on a platform and then perform...

[Jferkin]

could I get a link on how to make the gimmick for this? I had it once, but I lost it...I think it was on here...but idk...

EDIT: So here's what we've got so far:

Use of Invisible Thread
Sharpie reveal
Use of a Frixon pen
Impromptu chop cup
Coin to sugar pack
Coffee to pennies

thanks a lot guys! :) keep 'em coming! :D

how's the signed coin to sugar packet work? is it just a coin switch at the end?

Coin to sugar packet has no switch.... here is a bad tutorial but tell's you how
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/K_fV8mf-RFs&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/K_fV8mf-RFs&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[magick]

Coin to sugar packet has no switch.... here is a bad tutorial but tell's you how
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/K_fV8mf-RFs&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/K_fV8mf-RFs&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

that is the worst method for the effect i have ever seen......

you can actually do it so the signed coin really is in the sugarpacket.