As for the jmauthentics site, worth looking for another thread that deals with this guy. http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......orum=218

Do any of you have suggestions for how big a mat should be? I know it depends on the circumstances. Right now I'm performing for family and friends at my place at the table. I want to have enough room to do ribbon spreads without being cramped; on the other hand, smaller mats are less expensive.



Thanks,


Bob

Bob G,

I made a closeup stage that is 36” x 24” that I use on the dinning room table and on a gaming table in the family room. It’s not lacking for space for card work and the Cups and Balls. Total cost for everything less than $25 a and an hour to make.

Take care,
Bruce

Hi Bruce,


That sounds like a great mat. I'm not handy, so I doubt your solution would work for me.


Bob

Bob, with card work go as big as your budget will allow.

If I'm strolling, I don't use a close-up mat most of the time. The reason is this. If I'm performing at a restaurant, I will have to clear part of the table in order to put the mat down. This also restricts the size of mat I can use. So I do things that happen in the spectators' hands. This is also true of corporate parties where I'm working with spectators who are standing up.

If the situation allows for it, I'll carry a small piece of automobile headliner material, usually black, that I can lay out on a table. This will be about 9 inches by 12 inches. I can perform my chop cup rouine on a piece of mat this big and get excellent results.

The size of your close-up mat is actually determined by where you are performing.

There are some alternatives. For example, if you are performing in a stand-up corporate party context, you can also carry a small stand, such as a "side table" with a proper surface for your magic. The main thing is to be flexible.

Thanks, Bill. I'm far from being able to perform (except occasionally for friends and family) ,but it's still useful to hear your experience. May I should hold off on the mat till I know where I'm going with magic!

Bob G,

Don’t hold off getting a mat... you will enjoy performing with one. Whatever you get won’t be the last you ever purchase.

Good luck... take care,
Bruce

Thanks, Bruce -- I very much appreciate your encouragement.


Best Regards,



Bob

Here's one of Pattrick's Mats. I used it to make my table top.

Click here to view attached image.

And here's a picture of the table. I put it together out of available parts. The base is an Xfinity keyboard stand (8.4 lbs), and the top is a framed piece of plywood with one of Pattrick's mats (4.1 lbs). (Plywood from Home Depot; framing courtesy of Michael's.) The height is easily adjustable so you can either sit or stand.

Click here to view attached image.

Barry,


This is very helpful. I saw these posts of yours after I saw the one on the other thread. I like the way you ingeniously used parts from various places, and didn't have to do the work yourself. That would fit my style well. I'm curious: how low does the Xfinity stand adjust to? Having a lower table (maybe card table height) for sit-down magic might make it easier for me to show the the tops of cards rather than their fronts. Also, where did you buy the stand?


Thanks again,


Bob

I bought the stand for $30.00 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/RockJam-Heavy-Dut......y&sr=8-1

The height is easy to adjust. When I'm using the table for my stand-up cups and balls routine, I set the top to be 33.5" from the floor. (You could adjust it to be higher, up to 38".) The picture shows the table at the height I use for seated performance, about 29.5" from the floor. I can adjust it to be 27.5" from the floor, but to go lower, I'd need a wider table top.

The stand is designed so that it won't slip. I put marks on the teeth in the middle so I can quickly set the stand to the desired height. (1 = 33.5" high, 2 = 29.5" high)

Click here to view attached image.

Thanks, Barry!