Ran table bookings in Ibiza for a few seasons now, and the same mistake wrecks 80% of DIY bookings: people email the club directly, get a quote, go quiet for a week deciding, then come back and the table's gone — or the price doubled because it's now peak week.

A few things most people don't know:

• Bottle minimums move with demand, not with the calendar. The same table at Ushuaïa can be €800 min on a Tuesday and €3,000+ on a Carl Cox night. Clubs don't publish this — you have to ask the right way.

• Guest list and table are two different negotiations. If you only ask about the table, you're leaving free guest list spots on the table (pun intended). Always ask for both together.

• The best tables (near DJ booth, dancefloor-adjacent) get held for promoters first, not walk-in bookings. If you're going direct, you're getting the leftovers.

• Deposits lock the date, not the table. Read the fine print — some venues will move you to a worse table day-of if you didn't confirm specifics in writing.

If you're planning a trip, start the table conversation at least 3-4 weeks out for big nights (anything with a headliner), and always get the table location + bottle count in writing before you pay anything.

Happy to answer questions on specific clubs/dates if anyone's planning a trip this season.