In your opinion what is the Best Marketed Table Hopping Effect? thanks.

Besides a deck of cards, some coins and some rope, I'd vote for Side-Swiped. It gets unbeliveable reactions, it's a give-away type of effect and it is not too hard to perform.

Bob

$100 Bill Switch

Multiplying Rabbits, no comparison. It is the greatest for Table Hopping.

Professor's Nightmare, hands down. I've performed this more than 7,000 times to consistently great reaction.
You start clean, you finish clean, and it's great magic; what more could you want?

Sponge Bslls - Quite simply a classic of magic.

Notice how everyone has mentioned something different? There's no such thing as "the best" for everyone.

My Professor's Nightmare routine sucked, so I stopped doing it. I'm sure Peter Marucci's routine is great. On the other hand, there are effects I perform to great reaction that I've seen fall flat when performed by others.

If you're looking for what will play best for you, asking others what plays best for them won't necessarily help.

It depends on the situation, as with most everything. I personally have gotten great reactions from couples with Anniversary Waltz by Doc Eason and Red Sea Passover by Aaronson. For families with youngins, I have found sponge balls and Star Gazer (rubber band trick) with some other rubber band material to go over well. Everyone seems to like card on ceiling, I do the Michael Ammar version specifically. I wouldn't say there is one best trick for table hopping, because I likewise wouldn't say there is only one type of audience encountered while table hopping.
So those are some of my ideas.

Chris

I know when I table hop every Tuesday I am asked to do my sponge rabbit rouitne.I tell them they seem it 10 times and they still want to see it.
I think anything done in the hands get a great reation.
Shawn D

Short, easy to follow, happens in spectators hands
Think what fits that and you might have a good beginning
Personally for me
Sponge Balls and a few select props that give laughs
Sideswiped is great also

Good point by Larry Davidson; not every trick is for every performer.
By trial and error you will find out what is best for you (and only you). Go with that.

There is starting to be a trend here. Sponge routines seem to be a good place to start. If we were looking for a staple of Table Hopping Magic, Sponge Routines would IMO be in the top 5.

Jered

Jiggernaut is a very nice routine easily carried in your pocket.

Mini Chop cup,
Skinner's Monte,
The ever faithful TT

Rannie

Something just came into my creative thought process.

Does anyone walk up to a table and grab a bit of food, like a fry, or a piece of brocolli and DO A TRICK WITH IT?

The line I use to "steal" a fry is I look at one on someone's plate, pick it up and say, "I think this one is flawed... let me check." I take a bite then say, "No, it's OK, want it back?" Then eat the rest of it.

GO LAKERS

OK you walk up with a styrofoam cup... say, "I'm thirsty..." Pick up someone's water glass, pour it into your cup (slush powder ready). Quickly turn it over and put it onto your head mouth down.

Now you look like you are in trouble... buy you say, "Hey, I'm a magician... watch."

Lift cup, no water... on with the show.

How about the time-honored "...did anyone loose a white pocket knife? I asked those folks at the other table, but they said the one they lost looked like this black one.." And on and on

I agree with Brother Davidson, but for me it's always been Color Monte, A Deck of Cards, Sponge Balls or Rabbits, and the TT.

Doug

Anything with sponge...it's light, easy to carry, and gets the spectators involved as much as possible.

I used to do a sponge ball routine, but then discovered 3d rabbits (Ammar) and have never looked back!

You will never top magic in their hands. It doesn't have to be songes-it can be coins or cards. If they change in their hands under impossible conditions-you ahev a miracle!!!

Peter.
You using standard patter to professors?