Table-hopping is a unique form of entertainment in which magicians perform tricks for restaurant patrons. It can offer a rewarding and dynamic career, a second income stream, or even a way to help fund college or university living costs. Let’s look at a few core points to mastering the art of table-hopping.

Understanding Table-Hopping

Table-hopping involves performing magic tricks for restaurant guests to entertain them without disrupting their dining experience. The goal is to enhance the patrons’ experience and encourage repeat visits to the restaurant. The essence of successful table-hopping lies in making the performance about the patrons and the restaurant, not the magician.

Choosing the Right Tricks

When selecting tricks for table-hopping, focus on effects that are easy to carry, quick to reset, and highly interactive. It’s essential to choose tricks that patrons enjoy, even if they differ from your personal favourites. Some recommended tricks include:

Sponge Ball Magic: Always a hit with both children and adults due to its visual appeal and interactive nature.
Thumb Tip Magic: Avoid overexposed tricks like the “Vanishing Silk” and instead use creative routines such as “torn and restored sugar packet,” in which a sugar packet is emptied into your fist and then seemingly restored.
Paddle Tricks: Simple yet effective, paddle tricks like “Hot Rod” can engage and amaze your audience.
Rubber Band Magic: Tricks like “Crazy Man’s Handcuffs” are easy to perform and leave a lasting impression.
Card and Coin Magic: While card tricks are great for adults, simple coin tricks can captivate all ages.

Approaching and Engaging Tables

Approaching tables confidently is crucial to table-hopping. Start by addressing children, as they are often the easiest audience. Make your presence known without being intrusive. Use humour and engaging patter to draw attention. When approaching adults, a prop like sponge balls can provide a smooth introduction. Always approach tables after the main course when patrons are more relaxed and receptive to entertainment.

Building Relationships with Staff

Creating a good rapport with the restaurant staff is essential. Meet the wait staff early, explain how your performance will not interfere with their duties, and assure them that your presence will enhance their tips. A supportive wait staff can significantly enhance your performance by recommending you to patrons and creating a welcoming atmosphere.

Financial Considerations

Charging the right amount is key to maintaining a long-term engagement with a restaurant. A typical rate for table-hopping is often 4 x one cover excluding drinks. So if an average meal is £20-£25, you would charge £80-£100 per night. Avoid hourly rates, as they can lead to shorter engagements. Instead, focus on demonstrating your value to the restaurant’s bottom line by increasing patron satisfaction and encouraging repeat business.

Managing Performance Time

Limit your time at each table to about 3-5 minutes, ensuring you leave patrons wanting more. This approach not only keeps the energy high but also helps in maintaining the restaurant’s table turnover rate, which is crucial for the business.

Table-hopping is a challenging yet highly rewarding form of magical entertainment. By focusing on the patrons’ experience, selecting the right tricks, and building strong relationships with the restaurant staff, you can create memorable performances that benefit both you and the establishment. Remember, the key to success in table-hopping is making each performance about the patrons and ensuring they leave with a smile, ready to return for more.

For more detailed strategies, tricks, and professional insights, Paul A. Lelekis’s e-book offers a comprehensive guide to mastering the art of table-hopping. Paul A. Lelekis, a seasoned magician with over 25 years of experience, shares invaluable insights and strategies for succeeding in this field.

Tom wants to find the best magic tricks for table hopping.

Tom writes:

‘I’ve just done my first magic show and have been asked to be a table magician, going from table to table in the venue. I’m a street magician usually, I don’t have much of an idea of what sorts of magic tricks I could perform at this party, and wondered if you had anything that you could suggest?

My act so far will include things like: Twilight Angels, Ghost Decks, The Invisible Deck, some mind reading card tricks, etc.

I’d obviously love things like manipulating wine glasses like bending them or placing a ring onto the stem or something like Dynamo does, but I understand that might be unlikely.

What else can you recommend?‘

Congratulations on your first show, being booked again is a great affirmation that you did a great job performing!

Table Magic really is a little different as you really need to address the whole table at once. It can be awkward if you only show a trick to a couple of people on the table. The only time I would ever perform for a couple of people on a table at a time is if the tables were very long, I would then work my way down and around the table. Every once in a while the venue will be too loud (even if I shout), in instances where I cannot be heard by the people at the other side of the table I may break my performance down and perform to smaller groups around the table. The goal is to present for the table as a whole ideally.

I find the best magic tricks are those that can be elevated so they are performed nearer to your face. Rope routines, Chop Cup and card to wallet are a few classic routines. If you want to look further into these ideas I highly recommend the following tutorials/props:

Rope Magic: Fiber Optics Extended by Richard Sanders

Chop Cup: Corporate Close Up by Martin Sanderson

Card to Wallet: 21 Production Wallet

Preparation

Some magicians are happy to spend time prepping their magic for gigs. If you like to prep some of your magic then here are a few suggestions you can try out that will leave your spectator’s with a magical souvenir.

UV Nightshades by Paul Harris Presents

Labelled and Relabelled by Ben Williams

Trace by Will Tsai

These are fun, visual routines that require a bit of prep, but have maximum reactions.

Borrowed objects

There is also a plethora of magic that would suit table performances that are performed with borrowed objects, these always get great reactions as you are using something of theirs. Usually the borrowed object is of value so you must be insured (check www.equity.org for details about performer’s insurance) should you wish to perform these in public. With that said when performing with borrowed objects the reactions can be huge as the spectators know their item isn’t a magic prop! Check these routines and props out for some great suggestions.

Ring Flight – Departure Ring Flight

Bill Switch – Hundred Dollar Miracles by Jay Sankey

Nest of Wallets – By Nicholas Einhorn

Getting permission

There are other magic tricks that use borrowed items, these routines though would be borrowed items from the venue you are performing in, so you would need to make sure it was OK to perform them or only perform them once or twice.

Refraction: Bending Wine Glass by David Penn

Psychokinetic Silverware: Fork Bending Routine by Banachek

Hide and Seek by James Brown: There are some great routines with borrowed phones and bank cards, very cool stuff!

You only have to do two or three routines per table, if you have more time you can go back to the really good tables and then show them things like Twilight Angels and some of your mind reading, they will be a lot more receptive to it then and you can make your performances a bit more personal.

What the magic community thinks

Here’s what the magicians on the Merchant of Magic Facebook Page recommend:

Sean Mccarthy It really depends on when the gig is. If you have time to learn new material then I highly recommend iCandy by Lee Smith and Gary Jones. It has some wonderful close up magic. It is generally a bad idea to go to a gig with new material so if you don’t have the time to learn new material PROPERLY, then just stick to the effects that you already know. A lot of what you already do works in this environment. Invisible deck and twilight angels are very solid effects for tables. The best advice I was ever given was to slow down, and make the trick entertaining.

Connor Elleston If you wanted to keep a running theme of playing cards, you could add in Omni Deck or Bug-O-Me as a powerful closer.

Jason Spear Take your street style to the table. At each table notice what props people are wearing. Rings. Laced shoes. Wallets. Coins and notes etc. then add your card effects. If you usually perform street try not to be tempted to call all the tables over and perform for them all at once though lol

David Punter Any word by Ben Williams is my fave trick to perform at tables.

Andrew Skinner Or you could be honest and tell the organisers that your style and repertoire doesn’t suit table-hopping. Trying to adapt your act or learn new material in time may not work, leaving you less than confident. That could then disappoint you, the client, and their customers. In turn, the image of magicians as a whole could suffer in their eyes, making it harder for others to get work or to impress. Controversial viewpoint perhaps, but the best thing to do might be to leave it to someone who does table hopping for a living, and stick to engagements where what you do best will really work.

Martin Jones Mark James‘s Chop Cup routine (supercharged classics DVD set) is amazing if you are competent with a Chop Cup! If not, learn it and use it at your next opportunity.

Francesco Mattiello street magic is still close up, so your material will work fine, I’ve used the effects mentioned a number of times while table hopping, works just fine, be confident, wear a smile, make a connection and astonish them, good luck!

Jordan Parke sponge balls! fire wallet (Kapps), Omni deck, UDAY sword swallow.

Dave Collins A visual, quick effective opener to grab attention!

Simon South Do the street act but close up!

Table-Hopping – Guide to Restaurant Magic