by Devin Dyspepsia

Created on: February 09, 2007

Anybody can yank a tablecloth out from under a table setting. The only hard part is cleaning up all the broken dishes on the floor. Do you want to amaze your friends, impress the object of your romantic attention, but while keeping dishes unharmed? Follow these steps to become the star of the next dinner party on your calender.

When laying out the tablecloth, the edge opposite you should be flush with the edge of the table, while the edge you will pull should hang well over the table. If you're just practicing, you can set up everything just right, but if you're ready to perform, you'll need to make sure you try this trick in the right situation.

Make sure the tablecloth is flat on the table and free of wrinkles. The tablecloth should be flush with the end opposite that from which you will be pulling (the cloth should not overhang the table along that edge). Try and find a table cloth without a sewed edge. You can buy material at the fabric store to use as a table cloth, or just cut off the sewed edge on one that you already have. Let the tablecloth hang well over the edge from which you will be pulling.

Arrange the dishes on the table. Begin with just one plate or bowl right in the middle of the table. Once you master pulling this, add more dishes and put some of them closer to the table's corners until you're prepared to do the trick with a real table setting.

Put something in the tableware. If the dishes are too light, the trick will be hard to perform. This is especially a problem with dishes that are plastic. Usually, however, dishes have something in or on them at the table, so this isn't usually a problem. If practicing, put some fruit in the plates and dishes-it minimizes any problems with spilling.

Grasp the tablecloth with both hands. Position yourself so that you are at about the midpoint of the edge of the tablecloth you'll be pulling. Grasp the tablecloth with both hands and bunch it up to the edge of the table. Bunch the table cloth up to the table's corner. If you've laid the tablecloth correctly, you'll have plenty of cloth draped over the edge of the table from which you'll be pulling. Use your hands to bunch this extra cloth up until you reach the edge of the table.

Yank the tablecloth downwards and step back from the table. Very quickly pull the tablecloth straight toward the floor. As you are doing so, smoothly step back from the table, but do not pull the tablecloth outward. Finish with a strange, yet troublesome look on your face to make your performance look even more impressive.

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