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do any of you have experience of busking magic with a fold away table

what tricks work well?

db

If you have a table for busking then I would imagine that this opens up all sorts of things but at the same time I would assume that you still need short visual routines that string together well.

One that immediately springs to mind for table busking would be cups and balls and any number of monte themed card tricks.

One very important point to consider here is the type of folding table you are using. Most of the full time Buskers I know prefer a waiter's table in that they tend to be sturdy and easy to fold as well as set into place.

The other option I know of, are the prop tables that "appear". Harry Anderson used to have one and if I remember right, it started off as a magic poster then opened up. Of course the old Cane & Top Hat tables are quite cool depending on your style.

Another point on the tables is the kind of top you use. If you are fortunate enough to have an in-door or semi-sheltered site the old Black-Art well tables are awesome for busking simply because it's an old technology few know of now days so it comes off as "new"... they are just a music stand base which makes them easy to move around.


I'd suggest you look up Danny Hustle @ the Busker's Cafe or get in touch with Whit Hayden or even our own Mark Lewis in that these are people with a considerable bit of experience in and around that kind of work who can give you better guidance than I.

excellent. I was asking around about tables with no replies. does anyone have any plans of these designs? Or know of any suppliers.

The waiter's folding stand Craig mentioned I've just recommended on another Forum ( Is there another Forum??)

You simply lay your case on top of it and use that as a table top, ditching the props back intio the case when finished.
Make SURE your case has a good strong top. Perhaps one of those aluminium cases might suffice.

If you want a tripod table Paul Howard Pro Magic, Harrogate sells the tripod (Smart Table) at £23. If you decide on this do ask about the flange that screws into your case. Is it included?

Matthew Johnson ( late of the UK..now Canada) showed us his about 3 years ago. he is over here again this Sept. Aluminium Case on a tripod with interchanging signs for each Act.

IF you are serious about busking you really ought to look at Peter Wardell's 2 dvds 'Crowdpuller'.Cost is £40 from Merlins of Wakefield.
These discs cover everything and have a number of his best routines explained on them as well. To quote Mike Caveney, 'From stopping the crowds to passing the hat, Peter Wardell is the complete package'.

£40 may seem a lot but you cannot out a price on practical advice gained from long experience.

Allen Tipton