|
|
gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3526 Posts |
Hey all!
I recently spent an enjoyable afternoon modifying a Belmonte Orchestra Music Stand (model 5050BK) into a very servicable, and very affordable, performance table. I think I saved about 50 + (at least!) doing so. The whole project cost me about 60.00$ US. the "table" is now 20" x 15" after bending down the lip (which was very easy as the lightweight alloy is both sturdy and malable - pounding it down with a hammer was a snap!) 20" x 15" seems to be a pretty good space to work with, too. The table is slightly offset to the center, due to it's original purpose; making the use of a servante (or even prop storage, if you want to built that as well) almost invisible, especially if the table is slightly tilted forward- in fact, the whole table is very adjustable- the tripod, the height, the angle of the table- all adjust. Apparently, orchestral sheet music is pretty heavy, as it seems to be designed to hold a good 20+ lbs. or so- a LOT heavier than anything I ever plan to put on it! I strongly suggest anyone looking for an affordable performance table check this product out- with a mere few hours of modification, you've got something that is built to last, and for a fraction of the usual price. Hope this helps someone save some money- I know it did for me! Gaddy
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
|
ttorres Special user Rock Hill, SC 513 Posts |
Hi Gaddy,
Do you have a picture of your table? Thanks, Tony
...the magic that creates Memories!
|
gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3526 Posts |
I'll post one soon! thanks for your interest!
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
|
gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3526 Posts |
Here is a link to a few images of my busking table in various positions...
in presentation position for "Einstein's Demise" http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/r......0032.jpg Hey! where'd that other ball come from ?!?! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/r......0031.jpg stowed position, quite small: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/r......0030.jpg
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
|
WoodRat Loyal user California 233 Posts |
Nice table! and yes, conductor's scores can get pretty heavy when you have 4 or 5 on your stand...
Learn something new everyday.
|
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I'm sorry, Gaddy, but that table is too small for busking, and a single column is unstable at best. After you have used that stand for a year or two, you will find it coming loose at the bottom and the top.
Unless I added a larger top, and put some kind of draping on it, it would be totally unacceptable in the places I perform. To make a table that is really good in all situations, you need to have support that keeps the center of gravity within the footprint of the base, even when you have moved all your gear to one end of the table or the other. The only solution for that is a four legged table with a footprint the size of the top. I prefer a trestle table. I don't use a waiter's tray stand. I build my own. The materials alone for my trestle table cost roughly $150, including stains and other finishes. I'll post photos later.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3526 Posts |
Hey Bill- thanks for sharing! I really appreciate your insight. You are right, I'm afraid...
I'm finding that the tabletop is just too small, I'm planning to rectify that soon as I can (and to add some draping- maybe some tassels The single column can be slightly unstable, but the footprint is quite large, which mostly counteracts that; however, I'd prefer a four footed base (waiter's stand type) rather than a tripod stand. The photo shows the tripod base mostly upright (to accent the height of the stand) but it extends out to approx 30" per side, which is nice... But probably not enough, overall. The thing is built to last, due to it's original purpose, and I've given it a good amount of use, and I feel I could go on using it for a while; but the table is the *stage* of a close-up magician or a busker and the table I built is only suitable for a much smaller show than I'd like to put on. Once again, I turned to Gazzo's works (he's probably the most prolific busker out there) to guide me- I'm going to build a new table soon as I can, but I'd sure love to see those photos of your Oak, Bill! PS- Chris Capehart is coming to lecture later on this month in San Francisco, and I cannot wait to pick the brains of another well known street performer in person!
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
|
WhoDeanie Loyal user 211 Posts |
Hi Mr. Palmer,
>To make a table that is really good in all situations, you need to have support >that keeps the center of gravity within the footprint of the base, even when you >have moved all your gear to one end of the table or the other. The only solution >for that is a four legged table with a footprint the size of the top. I'm aware that I'm certainly talking to an expert here, but at risk of being wayyyyy outta my league...I don't have a busker's table per se, but I did create what I call my closeup table from one of those metal cases that you get from Lowe's and a heavy duty tripod stand. To make it sturdy and to keep it solid, I put say a piece of 12 X 12 by say 1/8 inch metal plating on the inside of the case that the flange is bolted to thru the case. The closeup mat is mounted to the top using velcro. I concede its not really a busker's table but, as I call it, a closeup table that allows me to store quite a bit of stuff in there and carry it from place to place. (The tripod legs screw away from the flange.) Anyway, I guess my point was that with that metal plate connected to the flange, it can take a bit of pounding and is pretty stable. (I concede not to the level of most busker's tables, but still serviceable, at least to me.) (I've considered making one or two to see if there would be any interest in them with a magnet placed towards maybe the back of the table top (I already have this in there) and also sort of a "black art" close-up pad for card and coin steals from the rear of the pad. I've also been looking for ways to put one of those mini amp/PA systems in the case, but that might be squeezing it and increase the cost significantly.) A servante would be nice too, but have been trying to consider what special features I might want and how it should mount. And I guess I've gotten far afield now, but just wanted to point out that with a solid piece of metal plating bolted to the flange of some of these cases they can become surprisingly stable and solid. ***And I concede you've probably seen rigs like this 100 times over...just throwing that out there...thanks for your insight.
Magically yours,
Dean Burgess |
Magic1 Elite user Los Angeles 408 Posts |
Hey guys,
A waiter's stand with a piece of wood as a tabletop is great for a street performing table. (Wooden (as opposed to metal) waiter's stands look great and you can get them at restaurant supply shops.) Among the many types of tables Jim Cellini uses, is a waiter's stand with a leather strap attached to make it easy to carry over-the-shoulder. (I have used magician's rope as a sling to carry mine) You can also attach the table top to the waiter's stand with hinges, making the table an all-in-one unit. To complicate/help matters more, you can create a cloth sign and attach it (hook and eyelets/strings/etc.) to the four corners of your table. This not only allows you some cover and some advertising, but when you end your act, you can just roll up your sign and pop it in your bag. One more neat trick I picked up from Cellini (although I used this type of table (without the carrying strap) long before he and I met. Jim takes a huge rubber band. (I think the kind that banks use for enormous stacks of bills) and stretches it all the way aound the width of his tabletop (left to right). Then, whenever he uses playing cards, dollar bills, or other props that might be blown away, he tucks the cards under the rubber band. They're still visible, but anchored. Good luck to all of you buskers! |
Autumn Morning Star Grammar Hostess Today, I corrected grammar in 1378 Posts |
In Italy, I saw many street performers effectively using a tall cardboard box as a table. With a small table cloth on top you never even noticed. The dimensions were about: 12" X 12" X 36" with a rectangle of cardboard affixed to the top. When they moved on, they simply collapsed the box flat and nested the top. It took about two seconds to set up and break down. Talk about cheap and easy!
I ended up making a similar lightweight table out of clear corrugated plastic like you use to make a greenhouse or sunroom. It flys in my luggage with virtually no weight to speak of. I velcro the top to the base with thin strips of German velcro. German velcro GRIPS hard and releases when it should. Autumn
Wonder is very necessary in life. When we're little kids, we're filled with wonder for the world - it's fascinating and miraculous. A lot of people lose that. They become cynical and jaded, especially in modern day society. Magic renews that wonder.
Doug Henning |
gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3526 Posts |
Acting on a confluences of ideas I've built, yet another, busking table! This one has a large area (18" X 30") and a tall tray stand base.
Here's a slideshow of the table: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v213/r......05df.pbw enjoy! G
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
|
Jondalawyer New user 63 Posts |
Nice Job Gaddy.
|
gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3526 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-09-21 11:09, Jondalawyer wrote: thanks! The whole job only took about 6 hours (after I gathered all the materials of course) and it cost just over 100$ all told. It's very nice and looks like a professional carpenter made it (if I may say so myself). If anyone wants more detailed info on how to make one like this please let me know! It was easy and enjoyable. G
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
|
gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3526 Posts |
>
>Gaddy, Nice job and great looking. I would be interested in the makings of it and >also did you do the sign yourself?? > >Once again great job on that table. > >All the best... > >George > thanks! I did, indeed do the sign myself! I took the wheel of fortune tarot card and had it enlarged to about 1/2 the size on the sign, and then did a x2 grid transfer and that allowed me to draw it freehand onto the canvas, then I painted it. I love the "Wheel..." card. It's (mostly) non-threatening to lay people and, frankly, I can use all the luck I can get! LOL! The lettering I cribbed from a graphic arts book and just enlarged all the letters until they fit my needs and then traced them onto the canvas, then painted them. I painted the sign with durable and flexible acrylic paint and paint pens. My goal was to make a sign that was equally applicable on the street or at a ren faire. The table is a piece of 3/8" plywood and 4 pieces of wall edge moulding I bought from the lumber yard. The insert is a piece of 1/32" plywood with a layer of industrial quality carpeting epoxyed to it, and a piece of green velveteen tacked tautly to it. The lumber yard would only do straight cuts so I got all the wood cut as best I could and did the rest of the cutting at home with a hobby saw. After I finished the insert I "discovered" a new fabric- a sort of "fake suede" that I will definitely be using when the velveteen wears out. It's got an amazing "tack" to it and it looks like it will last forever! After carefully measuring the moulding, I cut it to fit the edge of the table *and* so the insert would fit into the frame the table would form around it (trust me when I tell you it's not very easy to cut 45 degree angles without a mitering box, but you can do it if you're careful I then attached the moulding to the big plywood board with C clamps and a thin layer of epoxy, and then screwed the moulding to the board from the bottom (that keeps the moulding looking nice on top) and I filled in the gaps in the 45% angle cuts with epoxy putty to make it look nice. Then I painted it with maroon spray paint and put a few coats of dull coat polyurethane on top for durability. The frame is a tall (40" tall) waiter's tray stand that I bolted hardware to that allows me to attach the tabletop to it, and hardware that allows me to clip a shoulder strap to the frame so the whole unit can be carried from pitch to pitch with ease! The ideas of Bill Palmer, Jim Cellini and Gazzo made this possible, the only original thing about my table is the actual construction of the tabletop/insert which I developed on my own. Hope this helps! G
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
|
JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Very nice and stable table, gaddy.
|
Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Looks great
Cards never lie
|
epoptika Elite user Florida 477 Posts |
Great job on the sign. And the table.
Whatever happened to Gaddy anyhow? He has not posted here in ages. |
magicians Inner circle Teacher and Legend 2898 Posts |
I used a wicker baby table for years. Has wheels, and opens to reveal props, but closes to secure them.
Illusionist, Illusionist consulting, product development, stage consultant, seasoned performer for over 35 years. Specializing in original effects. Highly opinionated, usually correct, and not afraid of jealous critics. I've been a puppet, a pirate, a pawn and a King. Free lance gynecologist.
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The workshop » » Portable performance table... (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.05 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |