Blog

Episode 31 – Table Entertainment

Please wait while you are redirected...or Click Here if you do not want to wait.

The podcast has ended and is no longer available online. It is available as a USB Package, click here for more info.

7 thoughts on “Episode 31 – Table Entertainment”

  2. rich.reynolds says:

    Hey Paul,
    I just wanted to say a big thank you for the podcast. I’m a full time Magician and perform very little mentalism but I still feel I learn so much from each episode!
    In fact, I have just purchased your “Around the Table” Ebook and can’t wait to read it!
    I perform mainly sleight of hand card magic and sometimes find it difficult to perform to large tables for the reasons you mention. This episode has really got me thinking about how I perform to large tables.
    Hope these podcasts never end
    Cheers
    Rich

    • Paul Brook says:

      Hi Rich,

      Really glad that the podcast has value for you.

      Thanks for grabbing ‘Around the Table’, from what you has shared I think it will be valuable to you directly and also if you read between the lines.

      Performing at tables is it’s own skill. Anyone can get lucky or find a good table, but it is about taking steps to provide consistency in table entertainment.

      Cheers,

      Paul

  3. rich.reynolds says:

    Thank you Paul for taking the time to reply to my comment.
    I have read “Around the Table” and really enjoyed it. The subtleties you include are brilliant and It’s obvious that you have worked these routines a lot.
    I have purchased a Dream Lock and can’t wait for it to arrive.

  4. danster08 says:

    Great advise Paul! Thanks for all the very helpful information you share with us every week!

    To answer your question: I do have a fun story about a rough table that I once encountered, at a wedding reception. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a bad table, but I do enjoy sharing the story.

    I was walking around performing for all the guests and it was going well. I then came up to a group of 4 guys sitting at a table. They all looked like they would rather not be there and perhaps a bit gruff. So I walk up to them and ask how they are doing. One says, “So are you going to show us something?” in that tone of “you cant fool me” or as if it was something just for the little kids. Now, for me, I actually enjoy getting this sort of challenge, because I know I have certain routines that will hit them hard and they will not see it coming. On this such occasion, I performed (yes a card trick) Garrett Thomas’s Standup Monte. If you are a magician and do walk-around, this is a killer routine. Anyway, I am watching their faces as I go and here is how it goes down; first they all have their arms crossed and smug looks on their faces. After the 1st phase, I see that look of “what just happened” (sleight confusion). Then 2nd phase, arms becoming uncrossed and spectators sitting up in their seats to pay more attention. 3rd phase, I see looks of actual enjoyment and even some smiles. 4th phase, audible reactions “whoa, and what the..”. 4th phase, they are actually really enjoying it and hanging on every word/move. If you are familiar with this trick, at this point the last few changes are bam, bam, bam and no one is really prepared for what happens at the end. So I finish the routine and they all start getting up from the table to migrate elsewhere (bar, etc). They are actually smiling, laughing, and enjoying themselves. At this point, there is one guy (who had kept a fairly straight face throughout the routine) and he steps up next to me (kind of to the side), he looks around as I to see if his buddies are still around, and then he whispers to me “that was pretty good” and walks away. Of course I said thanks and continued on to the next group of people.

    To this day, I remember that as one of my favorite moments in performing. Not only did it feel pretty good to see them breaking down their hard exterior and then ultimately enjoying the magic, but it shows that it can be enjoyed by everyone. I always remember this, if I come up to a situation that I am not really sure how the audience is going to take it. I also still reserve this trick, among a few others, for if I have that one person, or persons, that just think they have it all figured out.