I was doing the salt shaker through table trick for my Uncle and Aunt and when I dropped the shaker into my lap, it hit the chair. A loud noise was made, and my relatives sarted laughing. I did some more tricks however and they were impressed.

Yep, one of the problems with lapping is the catching. You went on to recover like a pro it sounds.

My advice for you is not to try to lap anything that weighs over a pound. Believe me when I say that if you 'catch' the item the wrong way, it will lead to a very painfull and embarrassing moment.
Daniel

"It's just the spirits of the Fox Sisters, rapping on the table."

Good point Pinto!!!

I've PM'ed you with a Eugene Burger tip to avoid this happening again.

I've had that happen to me once,and it was a coffee cup.ouch!

Instead of anything being wrong when this happens, just change your motivation for the trick into a pushing the salt shaker through the table.

At the resturant I work at, the shaker ends up hidding on the floor next to my leg, if someone at the end of the table ever looks down, and happens to see the shaker, I simply act like I pushed it through the table, on purpose. Then I take the fifty cent piece that I use in the trick and proceed to show every one where the "magic holes" in the table are.

When the magic gods give ya lemons, make lemonade....with "hospitality"

scott

I did the same trick once with a large salt shaker, (trying to impress a lady, you know) the type that had a thick glass bottom. It missed my lap and shattered on the floor with a loud crash. The thick bottom actually rolled out into the middle of the floor and slowly fell over and rattled around to a stop. It was quite loud on the hardwood floor in the quiet restaurant. Surprisingly it was just cleaned up as no one thought I was doing a trick, they thought I just dropped it. My date and I both thought it was hilarious!

What a great story John!

At a restaurant I made a spoon disapear, it felt on my legs, felt down on my shoes, without a noise on the ground and I was able to push it under my chair. They had no clue!!

That is why I like lapping cards... they don't make any noise lol

Don't let the saltshaker fall in your lap, but steal it out with the other hand.