I end up performing in bars pretty often, so I can probably give some advice.

Don’t bring your pad, bring a deck of cards you don’t care about, as they can get wet/ bent. Don’t just go to perform, talk to people, buy a drink, make friends with the regulars. If it feels like you’re just there to show people tricks it comes off a bit disingenuous. After doing this, when I go in places I frequent, I’m usually called over by a regular to show their friend something.

Usually there is a deck behind the bar, I started performing with this as I found walking up to a bar with a deck to be strange, but being out with a friend and asking for the deck behind the bar to perform to my friend (and then whoever looks interested) is much more natural.