"If you have any interest in Restaurant Magic you need to listen to Jim Sisti After years as a pioneer in this area and as the owner and editor for the acclaimed "Magic Menu" you cannot get more insight into this area than you can with Jim Sisti. Jim is a worker. Listen to this man and your magic and your magic business will be better." -Eugene Burger 

"As well as originally being from the same neck of the woods, Jim has been working in the trenches for about as long as I have. His body of work includes The Magic Menu, which contains some of the best material about working in restaurants and bars. His knowledge of the business is unsurpassed! This is an event that any person who is thinking about a career in restaurant magic NEEDS to see. My advice to clear your calendars and do not miss this opportunity to learn from someone who KNOWS what he is talking about." –Doc Eason 

"I've known Jim Sisti for more than twenty years. He's a full-time pro who's comfortable on stage or in close-up venues, and he has the experience to know the material that works best in each situation and why it works best. As far as real-world restaurant magic goes, Jim is as knowledgeable as anyone out there. When a pro shares the information he's gained through a lifetime of performing, I listen. And you should, too." –Michael Close 

"I have known Jim Sisti for over 30 years and can assure you, he works constantly. That’s because he is that good! I have seen him destroy audiences from college students to clients at high-end corporate shows. To me, his is the epitome of professionalism. What is more, I have had the opportunity to watch him lecture numerous times over the years. Jim is the consummate artist and an incredible teacher. His background includes hob-knobbing with some of the past greats in the business and what he covers in his lecture represents the best of the best. If you want rock-solid advice and instruction that will last your entire career, watch this lecture. No ifs, ands or buts – that is what you need to do!" –Richard Osterlind 

"Do you want to know what being a working magician is all about? Talk to Jim Sisti. He has performed in so many different kinds of venues, and made them all work. He knows what practical hard hitting magic is all about. The kind of magic and not only pleases an audience, but also gets him rebooked in the venue time and time again. Jim Sisti knows what he is talking about!" –Todd Robbins 

"Jim Sisti is one of the most knowledgeable magicians I know on the subject of restaurant magic. If you ever want to become a close-up magician and work for paying customers, you should listen to everything he has to say on the subject. He knows what works." –Meir Yedid 

"Jim Sisti had the vision for anyone wanting to perform magic in restaurants. He started The Magic Menu and it is still the "bible" for some of the best information on the subject. Not only does Jim know restaurants but he has great insight on strolling, mentalism, amusement parks, and corporate functions. I have learned from Jim Sisti, and so will you!" –Paul Green 

“Jim Sisti has a deep knowledge and expertise in a wide range of magic, from Stage Mentalism to Restaurants, and is someone who is well worth listening to and learning from. This lecture will be well worth your time.” –Peter Samelson 

“Jim Sisti knows more about Restaurant Magic than anyone. He wrote the book...ok, he wrote the magazine. Not only will you learn about the business side, but Jim also has some really strong commercial magic for any close-up or strolling situation. If you want to do close-up magic in the real world, you need to see this lecture.” -Marc DeSouza 

"One of the things that separates my pal, Jim Sisti, from most lecturers, is his real-world experiences as a magician. Many lecturers today invent one or two tricks and then go out on a lecture tour. Not Jim. He spent valuable years in the trenches, working for real people, gaining real experience that's really important. Jim Sisti is the real deal! Really!" –David Oliver 

"When it comes to practical commercial magic for restaurant work or a social event, I can’t think of a better person to learn the tricks of the trade than from Jim Sisti." –Eric DeCamps 

"If I had a chance to learn magic and the business of magic from someone who has decades of experience with thousands of hours of “flight time,” hundreds of published works, and scores of professional friends, then why would I hesitate? To me, Jim Sisti is the pinnacle of restaurant prestidigitators who has literally seen it and done it all plus he knows how to teach it in a fun and effective way. If you have a chance to see Jim lecture, then you shouldn't hesitate either!" –Scott Wells 
 

What will he teach?

Entitled The Best of the Menu, it comprises effects that were contributed to The Magic Menu during its eleven-year publication run. The material, from many of magic’s notables, was selected based on several criteria – each effect has a strong impact but a fairly easy methodology. Additionally, they are all well-suited for walk-around performance, with special attention to ease of reset with little or no angle sensitivity.

Tramsmutation (Jim Sisti) – A borrowed, signed five or ten dollar bill apparently transforms into a one-dollar bill. The alarmed spectator is assured that what he’s just witnessed is a clever piece of sleight of hand as his signed bill can now be found in the previously examined, empty change purse that was sitting in full view. This trick is also included in the lecture for sentimental reasons – it was the very first trick ever published in The Magic Menu.

Sonata for Ring & String (Dan Fleshman) – A four-phase routine with a borrowed finger ring and a length of cord. This routine is notable not only for Dan’s original moves and his innovative takes on classic ring and string sequences, but also because of the way the routine builds theatrically. This routine is also perfect for the table-hopping or strolling performer mostly because each phase is strong enough to be the climax should the routine need to be shortened due to food service interruptions, etc.

The Two Card Trick (Bert Allerton) - Bert Allerton was arguably the first restaurant magician and this is a perfect example of the kind of commercial magic that he would use to entertain the Hollywood celebrities and society elites who would frequent Chicago’s Pump Room where Bert held court for years. This three-phase card transposition routine is perfect for table hopping as it can be ended at the end of any of the phases if an interruption (such as food service, etc.) occurs. That the magic happens in the spectator’s hand is yet another bonus.

Signature Transpo (Tom Ladshaw) – The performer has a spectator sign his name on the back of one of his business cards and then places the card in the spectator’s pocket. The performer then signs his own name on the back of another card. Instantly, the signature on the back of the card the magician holds changes into the spectator’s. The spectator then removes the card from his pocket to discover that it now bears the performer’s signature.

Aces Under Control (Mark Leveridge) / Estimation Aces (Marlo/Loryane/Sisti) – A visual, yet amazingly easy-to-do, four Ace production is followed up by a variation of a classic of card magic where the Aces are lost back into the pack but easily found by the performer in a variety of ways.

Miracle Speller (Oscar Weigle) – A very commercial effect, easily adaptable for trade shows, that should have been a part of the Frank Garcia issue of The Magic Menu that never happened due to the great man’s passing. A selected and replaced card is discovered by the spectator spelling the name of any famous magician they wish – one card for each letter – and then the magician doing the same with his own name, with the selection turning up on the final letter. Again, this effect can be adapted for honoring a special guest, promoting a product or service, etc.

Grandpa’s Fruit Knives – Jim’s presentation for Michael Skinner’s color-changing knife routine. This is used in the lecture mainly to discuss how to make a trick “fit” your personality and style.

EZ-Peek – An easy way to divine a selected card, even though the spectator has complete control of their cards. No forces, key cards, stacks, etc. Use the information in a variety of ways (in a one-ahead routine, such as Mental Epic, for example, or just a straight-ahead mind reading presentation.

Mixed Symbols – Five ESP symbols are shown and the performer is able to determine which one the spectator thought of despite the cards being mixed by both performer and spectator. Again, this is a highly adaptable routine that can be used with Tarot cards, conventional playing cards, and, for impromptu situations, even business cards.