Review of At the Table Live Lecture - Kostya Kimlat

Here’s another great lecture in Murphy’s “At the Table Live” series. Kostya Kimlat’s lecture is strikingly different from others in that its emphasis isn’t on tricks but on the business of magic, particularly with respect to restaurants. If you’re serious about making a career in magic, this may be an important lecture to study.       

Lots of Information
Kimlat has his material organized, but the meandering lecture ultimately covers a wide span of useful information. Generally, he covers: 1) the business of restaurants (how to get gigs, pricing guidelines, how to work the gigs and be successful, approaching tables and more), 2) performing magic on television, 3) how to create a business of magicians performing at gigs, and 4) how to develop and perform stand-up magic.

There’s only two tricks, both of which require props that you will need to purchase. The close-up effect is a great opener that Kimlat himself uses. With this routine, you’ll learn a great variation on the paddle move. There’s also a stand-up effect that Kimlat demonstrates and sells.

The Techniques
Don’t expect any “magic” guidelines that will have clients knocking at your door and calling you. What Kimlat presents is the techniques that worked for him to succeed at restaurants, stand-up and forming a national business that markets magic. The accompanying work will be up to you.

I think that anyone who is serious about making money with magic will find useful information in this lecture. In addition to the helpful advice, Kimlat offered one amazing marketing idea that had never occurred to me and could offer some definite possibilities (hmmmm - food for thought).  

At press time, this lecture was only available as a download but Murphy's says it will be available later as a DVD.

More Reading:  
Review of At the Table Live Lecture - Karl Hein
Heiny 500 by Karl Hein - Magic & Illusion - About.com 
Review of Definitive Guide to Restaurant Magic by Wayne Goodman