Should we use a ‘street table’ when doing our magic open-air or in the streets? Difficult question, and I don’t think there is a definitive answer. I used one, and I didn’t use one. I loved it, and I hated it. Depending on the circumstances. Maybe a pro-con list is helpful?
Pros
- You can do the Cups and Balls on it.
- Gazzo uses one.
- Almost every street magician these days uses one as well.
- You can do the Matrix and other flat-layout coin routines. If you do stand-up coin routines like Three-fly, you can stand behind the table. Coins don’t drop to the ground, but on the table top.
- The dealers earn quite a lot of money producing the pimped tray stands for magicians.
- It can have a built-in servante, so you can carry even more useless crap with you.
- It is a barrier between you and the audience (sometimes helpful).
- It makes your show look bigger and more professional.
- You can use it to build, move, and control a crowd.
- The table top can be used for a poster with your advertising and makes for a good display.
- It gives you a central fixed point for your shows (framing).
- You can put your lunch onto it and use it as a kitchen table for your breaks.
- You can use it in your magic room to put crap onto it.
- You can use it as a regular furniture piece in your living room, the garage, or the cellar.
- You have a definitive place to put the hat on for the money collection. It’s more stylish, rather than putting it on the ground.
Cons
- You cannot do the cups and balls (bullshit — you could do it on a rug on the ground).
- Gazzo uses one.
- Almost every street magician these days uses one as well.
- You cannot do the Matrix and other flat-layout coin routines. So you have to refer to stand-up coin material like the Three-fly, which the others are doing as well.
- The dealers earn quite a lot of money producing the pimped-up tray stands for magicians.
- You have to carry the damn thing around, set it up, and then pack it down.
Transportation is cumbersome. - It can look dubious in some environments, standing on the street behind a table with some strange crap on it.
- You cannot move quickly from one place to the other, in case this is needed (police, drunks, hecklers, weather).
- On festivals, people tend to think this table is for all and free, so they start to put their beer glasses, bottles and other crap on it.
- Constructing one yourself is quite a lot of work. Buying one from the dealers is expensive.
A table is not necessary for a good street show. Jugglers, mimes, musicians, acrobats don’t use a table. - Using wooden tables just for the luxury of performing the Cups and Balls is not good for nature.
What are your favourite arguments?