The MAGIC Castle?

[Sal Perrotta]

Last Friday night, I was privilaged to have my very first visit to the Magic Castle. We had a nice dinner served by a waiter who described the Castle as a steakhouse!! We were surrounded by a bunch of 20 something's who were all well dressed but, who were loud and really drunk. Afterwards, we went to the show at 11:15 and were treated to the same 20 something's who were loud, rude and disrespectfull to the performers. Three of the four performers had to tell the audience members to SHUT UP! ALSO, we were never informed by anyone about the other shows.....and as a result, I did not find out till afterwards that DOC EASON was working there that night. So I missed that!! I was fortunate after much searching to find someone to show me around to a few of the rooms.....although, I am sure I did not see it all...

Would someone care to comment about whether my NOT SO MAGICAL experience at the Castle was typical or not??

[Mike Rozek]

Hi Sal,

I think it's safe to say that your experience was not typical. While I have seen my share of rowdy audiences, it's often the nature of the business when that business includes selling drinks before every performance.

What is an absolute shame is that had you picked up the show schedule at the front desk during check-in, you would have seen that not only was Doc in the Bar all evening (he was, as expected, great), but Aaron Fisher and John Carney were performing that night as well (Both were brilliant, as expected).

There are often member volunteers available (The "Castle Knights") who help show folks around, answer questions about the castle, and help give directions to lost guests.

Honestly, if your dinner reservation was for the late seating, and you moved directly to the palace show after eating, then you really didn't have an opportunity to see anything other than the one show. I believe there is 1 Parlor show and 1 Close-up performance directly after the late Palace show, but they would be easy to miss if you didn't move directly to them.

Regardless, I'm at the castle 2-3 nights per week, and if you'd like to visit again, let me know via PM & I'll be happy to give you a tour, etc.

All the best,
Mike

[Glenn Bishop]

Regardless, I'm at the castle 2-3 nights per week, and if you'd like to visit again, let me know via PM & I'll be happy to give you a tour, etc.

All the best,
Mike

If I may add - my suggestion is to find a friend or some friends through one of the magic forums like Mike - before you go and make a plan to meet up with them.

The great thing about the Magic Castle is that there are a lot of great magicians that are really great people that love magic and other magicians. And there are many of them there often and some of them might be happy to show a magician from out of town around.

When I performed in the close up Gallery a few years ago - Tony Picasso and Rich Cowley were very nice - they showed me around my first night there and made me feel welcome. Later in the week I was welcomed again by Whit Haden and Pete Biro and many others all week long.

Just my opinion.

[Doc Eason]

the first trip to the Castle can be a bit overwhelming. Especially with the drunken crew you had to mingle with.. look at the bright side.. you didn't have to perform for them.. I did! and it wasn't any prettier from my angle. It's the bar business... some days are diamonds... some days are stones...the next night.. Saturday, was great... red hot crowds...

But back to the lack of communication...when you checked in at the reception desk, they should have given you a show schedule that listed all the performers and the showtimes. I thought that was standard operating procedure. They are right there on the desk.

The Castle Knights is a great program.. but unless you know about it, you miss out. the next time you go.. and I hope you do... contact a few people on this board (or me) and do a little homework first. A visit to http://magiccastle.com would give you a little more insight in to what to expect.

I hope you'll give the place another try. There is not another place on the planet that is so unique.

Doc

[Glenn Farrington]

well...your first mistake was not calling or e-mailing a friend who lives out here...like...uh...I dont know...me maybe???

Next time...geeez Sal.

[Lemniscate]

I've never failed to have a great time at the Castle, even on the one or two trips where the food ended up being only ok instead of great.

Please, trust me when I say you experience was NOT representative. I'd also recommend that you arrive early if you have a late dinner seating as there is so much to see and do at the Castle.

Lem

[Scott M.]

I have a question: is it possible for a non-member to attend the Castle and not get roped into dinner? I have a guest invite but, honestly, I'd rather just go and watch the magic. Or is the dinner a requirement for non-members?

[Naphtalia]

If you are the guest of a member who is in the house, you may come in without dinner.

If that member is not present, dinner is required.

[Dave V]

Isn't there still a $20 cancellation charge if you don't make dinner? Might be cheaper in the long run. I know it's a loophole that nobody here would ever take advantage of but...

[Naphtalia]

Not sure what the charge is, but seems to me that if you're on this board and you're not a member, you could certainly find someone who is a member to have you in as a guest.

[Brandon Hall]

Like Naphtalia said, post when you plan to visit and I'm sure you'll find a local member who will be kind enough to escort you in, then you wouldn't even need a reservation and can save the pass for another time... It may sound like skirting the rules to some but in my opinion members of this forum are more than just the "general public"...I know I'd be glad to help.

[Scott M.]

Thanks so much for the responses. I really appreciate it and will definitely take you up on the invite offer when I head to L.A.

As for the dinner cancellation charge, you know, that'd be fine. It's not really about the money, it's more that when I go to the Castle I'd like to see as many of the performers as possible. I've only been once, when Aaron Fisher was kind enough to put me on his list, and had a great time seeing shows in every room. Later on a business trip I tried to go by myself with a pass, but when I called I was told I had to have dinner, and I just wasn't into sitting alone in the dining room eating when all I really wanted to do was watch the magic.

[Pete Biro]

Come really early. Friday lunch is great too.

[Sal Perrotta]

Thank you to all who responded to my question. I am glad to hear that my experience was not typical.

To MIKE ROZEK: Thank you for the info and the kind offer.....perhaps one of these days I will find myself in California again in which case I would be thrilled to have a tour.

To GLENN BISHOP: Thank you also for the info...I had been traveling around Califonia for that week and had been calling the Castle every day and was told there were no reservations. It was only Thursday night that I was told that there was an available reservation at 9:30. So, I took what I could get! By that time the friend that I was going to meet up with was no longer available...

To Glenn Farrington: Darn...not only did I miss Doc Eason, Aaron Fisher and John Carney.....I missed a chance to hang out with you!! There is no excuse for that!!!..except that I spent the three previous days in Disneyland with the kids...I was exhausted...I was not thinking....I had left my phone and phonebook behind....hmmm....nope that all does not hold up!! Sorry, I missed the chance to buy you and your wife dinner as it was and still is MY turn!!

To Doc Eason: I have been looking forward to the chance to see you perform....I am kinda glad I did not see THAT performance as I think that audience was the most disrespectful group I have ever seen at any type of performance....I shall continue to anticipate seeing your performance at some time in the future when you can do magic without the drunks and their rude interupting comments!