The Hollywood Magic Castle is an incredible private club. It’s a really special experience. I’ve helped people get in. I am writing this article to inform people that it’s complicated.
It’s a private club and i’m not a member. I am connected to many performers and members.
Protecting people’s careers
Anyone that i get in would be putting my reputation on the line as well as any member or performer that puts you on the list. Many people – even some of my friends – drink too much or get wild. Then, it’s not good for my business relationships. We in showbiz need strong relationships and we need to be dependable. When I promise someone that folks are cool, I want to come thru on that promise every time.
The castle also has many rules that need to be followed.
So, you could try to develop a friendship with me where I trust you to behave well and inspire me to go through the work of getting in you in to the castle, or you could become a member. The membership would probably be faster.
Guest openings are scarce
When I performed at the castle last time, I was able to bring in 6 guests on a wednesday night for free. Anyone after that needed to pay full door fees and have dinner reservations. Most of these spots are saved for close friends and industry contacts. Since a person’s list is limited they also want to be assured that every guest will show up. If a guest doesn’t show up, or doesn’t follow the rules including the strict dress code, it’s a waste of a valuable pass.
Many people want to come to the castle and it’s a great place for a performer to be showcased. So, they usually want someone who’s good for them to come to the show.
It’s challenging
The way guests are managed is very old school. There isn’t a ticket system or any digital way to organize the guests. That means that a performer or a member must talk to someone about their list. They need to keep track of their own guest list, and the person managing the whole list needs to organize it.
Performers must submit their lists 24hrs in advance
It’s also an option for a member to walk people in. I think they have 4 guests allowable for free each night. After that maximum, the guests each need to pay $25 for entry.
Valet for non-members is $25 + tip
Even the people with dinner reservations who are paying for entry will need to be on a list. After they’re added to the list, they’ll need to call the reservations line and announce they’re on a guest list before making their dinner reservation. Dinner reservations are limited also. Food is not at a competitive price.
If you come to me, I need to…
- figure out what connection I have to get a person in.
- I have to then figure out how to communicate with that connection.
- Then, get approval from them.
- check back in with you
- introduce you two
- make sure that any questions are answered
The connection person needs to…
- check with their current list counts for each night
- communicate with me
- communicate with you
- add you to the list
- they might feel obligated to say hi to you after the show too
I’m your friend
If you’re already someone whom I trust and like, and you want me to introduce you to a performer, the only performers that can get you on the list are the ones performing the night you’d like to visit. I don’t know the booking schedule in advance. So, you’ll probably need to check in with me the week of your visit so that I can check the lineup and see if I can connect you.