Willie M.
Very impressed with the information contained
Robert A.
Very good tips for my first table gig
James M.
IT takes time to learn and practice it.
Christopher K.
This book is very informative, I am continually learning, and books are an important part of my magical journey. It's always refreshing to find a book on the business side of magic, or the help with other things besides tricks, as in scripting, stage craft, pocket management, getting gigs and the performing side of things.
Saulo O.
Really good product.
Steve W.
An excellent publication to read and absorb!
Mark P.
After I was asked by a local restaurateur if I would consider entertaining guests with table magic on a themed night I came across this free download from Dominic Reyes. Its easy to read and full of useful tips and practical information for an amateur magician like me considering working table magic. It certainly gives you an insight on situations you probably have not even thought of, along with good general etiquette based on Dominic's own experience.
Due to the COVID 19 restrictions I have still yet to agree to perform at my first venue but this book will be read several times prior to me doing so.
I strongly recommend this download for any performer thinking of entering into the world of table magic in a restaurant setting. Thanks Dominic.
Mark
Bruce L.
After I download and read the essays on “magic practice “ and learned so much I knew I’d love this one about “approaching tables” all solid real world advice for the working magician!
Nick G.
Great free download for any magician who’s looking to finally do there first gig!
jason c.
Amazing read. Very helpful
Oli Cavey
Very good ebook with a lot of great tips for a budding close-up table magician. Also it was very well written because it gave some personal opinions and advice which can make your act better as well as what to be aware of and who to talk to before hand. 5 stars and would recommend to anyone of any age
Malcolm Duff
Hi.
Thanks for the ebook – much appreciated and thanks for the opportunity to offer my feedback – if you do not ask for the worst, you will never hear the best – eh?
I found this very interesting and soon realised that this subject is a challenge for the writer.
The audience (for this writing) will be of mixed abilities – a spectrum, if you like.
Some will be just starting out, some will have a few gigs under their belt and some will be wondering why they ever started “doing” magic in the first place.
This ebook caters for all of us. Of course, we – your readers – are not necessarily in only one of those categories that I mentioned above. Far from it.
I found that – whilst reading – I was saying to myself “Well, I know that – doesn't everyone?”.Then the next thing was “Oh! I didn't know that – never thought about it. Good point. I will do that from now on”.
I think that you gave everyone something.
And the price was just knockout!
We will beat a path to your door.
Peter Kitchen
Hi, Dominic
Thank you for producing this guide which I think is excellent! I have been performing professionally for many years, but it is as a qualified psychologist and nlp specialist that I wish to congratulate you. The sections of your guide which interest me particularly are those on affirmation, the use of group words, being yourself, dealing with the alpha spectator and also your opening section in which you stress the need for different approaches. Excellent!
Mik Fenwick
Feedback Really interesting and obviously written from many years experience.
Personally I use an opening gambit ( Has anyone dropped a button, a black, plastic button ?) but understand that it`s not for everyone.
Did find the note on mirrors useful as I got caught out with this for weeks until a waiter noticed!
Thanks for a really interesting ebook.
Paul Preager
Well done, it's a very comprehensive guide to working around tables and one of he best I have ever come across. The amount of detail and thought that has gone into it is really first class and I know it's all true because I have been doing myself for 17 years. Despite that their was still information that I thought useful for myself. It's fantastic for a free document and you have included masses of crucial advice and information for those who are new to to this field of work.
Holmfirth Tiger
Great advice and empathy from someone who speaks from experience
Chris Boulanger
Hi Dominic,
First of all, thank you so much for all the great material you put on line regularly. It's such a huge amount of precious information. I've just finished your ebook "Approaching Tables" and I found it very interesting because it seems to deal with all the aspects of table hopping magic (I hope the term "table hopping" is not offensive) and it answers all the questions I could have possibly thought of.
What I really appreciated is your ability to remember how it feels to be a beginner magician which I am. It is very reassuring and encouraging indeed. I suppose it will avoid me a big deal of mistakes whenever I dare to perform that kind of magic. As I was reading your book I was also thinking at the video in which your perform your great chop cup routine at a wedding and another one by Kirk Charles and I found it quite helpful. I think it would be great to illustrate your words with a few videos showing what you write looks like in real.
Thanks again for your books, articles and podcasts, "Approaching Tables" has become one of my favourite books on magic.
David Croucher
I loved the book on approaching tables. When reading it I thought 'That's me' ! Your right in saying that most magicians just spend time on the tricks and the moves. The topic on presentation of your self and approaching a group is a whole other topic. I have learnt the hard way and have had much rejection. But I think that it does depend on the type of party ? At a wedding, birthday party, Anniversary I have never had a problem approaching people because you are part of the enjoyable atmosphere that is already created. But I have had some very bad experiences at a hotel bar and restaurant - because no one knows who you are ? And - as you say - why should they pay you any attention ? This book helps a lot. So yes a very interesting read - Well done :o)
Phillip Donnelly
Honestly I thought the book was fantastic, at least from the pieces I have read so far. I especially like how the author included his personal experiences in the book, especially at the start about the wedding. This was so helpful for me as I'm performing at a family wedding next week. Keep up the good work.
Derek Steel
Just started reading this E book, but already i can see this will be a vital tool in my progression as a magician.
Sam Brown
This book has many useful advice. I'm a restaurant magician and have learnt many useful things here, especially with regards to part 3 approaching a table, and part 4 general advice. The section "Creating Interest through Variation" has many invaluable advice.
William Learoyd
Your "Approaching Tables" ebook was superb and especially as I regularly work the tables in a local restaurant. This along with the other various articles was very much enjoyed and appreciated.
Many Thanks
Robert Barrie
Excellent and valuable advice for those starting out.
Jack Winterbottom
I've been performing close up magic for 70 years yet you taught me several important aspects to improve my act. My intro is simple. My nickname is Happy Jack so I say, "Hi, my name is Happy Jack. The restaurant has paid a lot of money for me to perform some magic so here we go. Pick a card. (Invisible deck. Many times the target will hesitate not knowing what to do so I tell the table, "Hey, I'm a magician. I'm the only one here with an invisible deck. Go ahead, pack a card." When the card is chosen I say, "She's as crazy as I am." which brings laughter. We're off to a good start.The illusion then proceeds. As a salesman, I know third party introductions are easily accepted. I remember approaching a table of a man in his 60's and a lovely dish in her 30's I introduced myself and performed a wowzer. The chick became enamored with me her eyes sparkling while the alpha man only glowered ready to kill me. I was lucky to escape alive.
Steve Clements
Hi Dominic,
I think every magician, young & old, should read, review & many need to remind themselves of the very valid points you make in your ebook. As always, very informative common sense approach for those wanting to perform as close up table magicians. I found your words very enlightening & will hopefully take your observations & instruction on board.
Thank you again for a no nonsense practical guide.
Walter Lewis
Remarkable and a real guidance for any magician.The name of the game is Excellence and this book tells all.
Brad Lynn
I just read your E-book on Approaching Tables and wanted to thank you for your input on this intimidating part of the table hopping process. You have given me several points to think about before my next performance. I appreciate all of the thought and work that went into this, and hope it benefits a lot of people in our industry. Thanks again.
Andrew Pompei
I thought this was a great help, especially for someone like me who has never table hopped. I would love an idea of good opening tricks as well as tricks that work better for table hopping than others. I predominantly work on the streets and I know that tricks for the street are vey different to close up. I would love to hear about the things that don't work as much as I want to hear about those that do. I also appreciate that different people like different tricks but an overall idea of workers for this environment would be a great help.
Thank you for a wonderful guide.
Brad Monks
This information should be invaluable to most performing magicians, I'd have killed for it when I was starting out.
Fantastic job. Now I just want you to write up your 'pen thru anything' handling that you showed me many moons ago as it was great and I can't remember it!!
James Cunningham
Hi Dominic,
i found the advice given is extremely helpful and informative. Having now performed in stage, pub, wedding, parlour and birthday events, although very new to magic, i can see where i have done some things wrong, especially in timing and assessing my approach technique to tables and groups. The advice on when you make a mistake is great and most importantly in my opinion, is the advice on pocket management. Having said that, the whole thing is great and practical advice and in a world were you don`t often get anything for nothing, here is something that blows that concept out of the water.
thank you chaps,
Jim.
Kurt De Clercq
Highly educational. Realistic and to the point.
Very helpful. Super initiative, I love it, thank You for doing this, it is much appreciated.
Elliot Smith
Very well done and presented. I am a professional close-up and stage magician and all the information and tips you gave was totally accurate and very easy to implement. It took me many years to find out the hard way through trail and error what you did in a very well written e-book.
Congratulations and thanks,
Elliott Smith
Magician, Author, Speaker
Joe Cross
Loaded with great information that I wish I had read when I was starting out .I would advise any magician to read this book
Aku Salmi
Hi,
Just great! Excellent tips, thanks!
I have been doing magic over 30 years but do not perform often. This helped me a lot as I am putting together a short act for a table competition in a couple of weeks.
Thank you very much!
David Brooker
I like the ebook. I find many tips useful for my work, and also it was great to confirm other issues, that I was using in my day by day work and was never able to confirm if it was the rigth aproach.
Thanks.
Darren Hillier
Excellent, as a kids entertainer who would like to go into this field this is what I would find the hardest bit.
Many thanks
Rob Mitchell
I felt the 'Approaching Tables' e-book offered an awful lot more than the title suggests.
Anyone thinking about performing or about to perform at an event for the first time I think will find the tips and advice in the book very helpful.
Frank Farrell
Lots of useful ideas. I shall certainly be using the technique designed to gain an early round of applause.
Dean James Humpage
As a ready to turn pro after 25 years as a amateur it was a perfect read for me ,simple and direct tutoring from a obvious seasonal pro , many thanks Dean James .
Andrew Collins
Excellent, gives a valuable insight into how to work restaurants and make that frightening move to the tables
Eugine lelm
Liked the book, it just gives a person good direction and a newer feeling of confidence.
Roy van Hees
It was a book of great value to me !
Thans verry much !
Peter Hack
Clearly the item comes from someone who has experienced the difficulties of approaching a "cold" audience. I never have. Its down to patience and discerning a suitable lull in the conversation and putting out the subject and assessing a possible response.
Jim Transue
This book had some very insightful advice for someone just starting out in table magic.
Dennis Gallichan
Informative, shows possible pitfalls for beginners such as myself. People skills are a must. One needs careful planing and dress sense for the occasion. Will reed more throughly later today just back from my Granddaughters birthday party. Thank you for Ebook. Regards, Dennis G.
Jack Forbes
I'd recommend this eBook to absolutely anyone. It conquers fears that I believe we've all had at one time or another in a way that no other book could.
Conor Sable
I found this amazing eBook incredibly useful. Soon I will be doing a gig for a friend's dad and will be going around tabled. Since this is my first time doing it, I was unsure about the mechanics of it all, but this eBook cleared everything up. I even know things that I didn't think were relevant before.
Steve Lawrence
I found the book very good and would strongly recommend it
Roy McKenzie
It is evident that the advice in the e-book has been gained from hundreds of performances, and the advice given is crucial to beginners and seasoned performers alike. Any seasoned performer who has any regard for their audience should reflect on the content of this book to see how this sound advice compares with their own style and business approach.
Anthony Jackson
For someone who has never done table magic before this had some really helpful advice. Thankyou
Tony Newman
Found the book really useful, knowing that professional magicians have had the same experiences as me and how they overcame them really helped.
Leon Cowan
Dominic, your e-book on Approaching Tables is excellent! I did not expect you to address so many aspects related to something that on the surface might seem fairly simple and somewhat straight forward. Your insights and thoughtfulness on this subject are very valuable to those of us who have not performed as much or as regularly as you have to acquire this experience first hand. Thank you for taking the time to capture and share your thoughts with the magic fraternity. I intend to put your suggestions to work and use your book as a reference in the future. Thanks again! - Illusive Leon
John Pepper
I found it very very useful as I am just starting out as a professional magician now and one of the things that was making me a little nervous was how to work the tables and approach them. Couldn't have come at a better time and it was very informative. Very well put together.
Steve Blake
Excellent, very helpful,can never stop learning,some very useful tips.
Harry Symonds
This is brilliant book and as helped me gain confidence in my performance
John O'Riordan
The information is so important for anyone who worries about approaching tables. this to me is more important than the tricks. Thank you
John Williamson
Great eBook on "Approaching Tables". Good tips that all magicians can use.
Clifton Jay
I really enjoyed it. One thing that I took from the book. It was a small part but HUGE for me. It was when you wrote about talking to the audience...not your props. Now I thought about this and I do this all the time. Ill be explaining something and just about 15 seconds before I execute the effect I begin staring at and talking to either a prop or my hands where the prop is concealed. THANK YOU!
David Collins
Hey Dominic,
The book is excellent and has many great examples of personal experience. I have quickly skimmed it for most of it's contents but need to go back and apply the learnings to m situation.
Many thanks for your care in mentoring other magicians.
Chris Chappell
I thought it was great. It is nice to know that other magicians feel/experience the same things as me when approaching tables. And the advice is solid gold. Thanks
Peter Brodie
I liked the way you have written this book. It puts forward the requirement to use basic observation skills to give you a solid base upon which to develop your techniques to entertain whilst understanding that you are part of a team. All of this is so important in helping the performer to overcome nervousness because they can see that they are playing one small but important part in satisfying the needs of the guests.
Florian Damböck
I love it !
Barry Voice
Really useful book!
Pedro Matos
First i would like to say that the ebook approaching tables really helps me a lot and gave a different perspective of things and helped me to kind of read the situation. There a probably many things and experiences that can add to it, but I don't remember any case that comes up right now. i believe that this ebook can really help new magicians when they feel confident to try and performe out there and im sure this ebook os just the right guide for them
Cavan B
Very helpful! I am a teenage magician who is just about to perform for a restaurant audience for the first time and reading this may quite possibly have changed my magic career! It is detailed, straight to the point and is like it was written for me - it was exactly what I needed.
Derek Foley
Thought it very useful, very well put together, and would like to pass it on to my club, (the wessex Magic association. Thank you.
Derek Emerson
Excellent ebook with some great tips. I have only ever done this once (approach tables) at a work event and it was totally impromtu, no-one at work even knew I did magic, went down well but I think I got over the nerves by having a few glasses of wine first. Not something that I would do if I was being booked/paid to do this.
Andrew Ormandy
Very helpful tips for a beginner like me - thank you very much
Bob Romanoff
Wish I had read this forty or so years ago when I had my first close-up booking at a 4* hotel. .It actually went well more by good luck than good management !!!
melvyn Altwarg
I thought is a well prepared set of ideas and would be extremely helpful for those just starting their magic careers. Even more experienced magicians could learn a thing or two.
Alex Greene
I've finally read and digested Approaching Tables, and it's a really well-thought out article. The experience and professionalism just shines through in the writing. It is a marvellous read - but moreover, it's opened my eyes to the understanding that the way you approach tables is as much a skill as the close-up tricks themselves, and the way you integrate this skill into the overall envelope of establishing a set is masterful. A remarkable read and an invaluable reference. Thanks again.
Fredrick Werstein
Excellent ideas and suggestions!
Edmund Danso
fter using the book i have noticed that it will be very useful for others and can be recommended to even beginners. thanks for bringing such a book. but i think the basic things such as guard lines that can be followed instantly to be used
Alex Livingstone
I found the book helpful Just started reading it's bril :)
Peter Young
Fabulous 94 pages of very useful information
John Nash
Great information items you could miss or overlook
Michael Tredgett
Fantastic common sense guide to the etiquette of table and function suite entertainment. Well worthy of a read.
Andy Richardson
Thanks for the ebook. I found it very interesting and informative, and will use it for my future in magic
Tony Cullen
Excellent as usual. Thanks for all your tips and advice. Really helpful
Steve Townsend
Really useful advice. Clear and obvious suggestions but so obvious they are frequently overlooked. Useful to be reminded.
Ian Hogg
Great ebook, with so much useful information. I'll give some money to a local charity in thanks for all your effort in putting the book out. Many thanks from down under. I'm also very much enjoying the podcasts.
Toby Costello
I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed the e-books that you have sent me. They have given me more confidence and how to better approach people. Also I have been practicing my magic more and have used a lot of your suggestions from the other e-books. Thank you so much for your help.
Marcos Meneghetti
Thank you so much for this e-book. A lot of information about how approach to make magic tricks. This book give us many tips and tricks how to make contact with people to show magic. I have problems to go to someone to show my tricks, and I think many beginner magicians have the same problem too. And now with this book I see it is not so dramatic as we thought.
Thank you very much this material. Magic is not just make magic, but also how to approach to make magic.
BA Lee
Have passed the book over to my son who is just starting out at the age of 11. He is totally engrossed, so would say that the book is a hit.
