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Jaxon
Inner circle
Kalamazoo, Mi.
2459 Posts
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Posted: Nov 7, 2005 2:11pm
Before I get into a method of vanishing a small object that uses no sleight of hand and no gimmicks. Let me first explain why I'm writing about this.
First of all I don't expect anyone to use this trick on a regular basis. One could if they wished to but that's not the reason I'm writing about it. I'm going to go over this method because it helps teach a valuable lesson that I learned a long time ago in my magic studies. The point is this:
The methods you use to create your magic is really the least important thing. Magic wouldn't exist without the methods but without the skill this "no sleight/no gimmick" method employs your magic won't be very successful. No matter how many sleights you know. No matter how many gimmicks you use. Unless you know how to present what you are doing then your reaction will be limited.
Let's go over the no sleight/no gimmick vanish of a small object.
Quote:
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EFFECT
A small object such as a coin vanishes. The coin can then be produced from anywhere the magician desires.
METHOD
Display a coin in your right hand. Then you must talk to your spectator about something that has nothing to do with the coin in your hand. As you talk to them casually lower your right hand to your side as you address some other issue. Let me give you an example of something else to call their attention to. Ask them if they are right or left handed. Now all attention is on them and not on you or your hands. Whatever their answer is have them hold that hand out. Now lift your left hand up in front of them as if it's holding the coin (The coin is really palmed in your right hand). As long as you "act" like the coin is in your left hand then no one will question if it's really there or not. Close your left hand around the "coin" (There's really nothing there) and have them hold your fist with the hand they are holding up (NOw they understand why you asked what handed they are). Tell them to hold your fist so there's no way you can do anything to the coin in that hand. If you wish you can go to your pocket for a magic wand at this point and ditch the coin in your pocket.
You tell them that the coin is now gone. They let go and you slowly open your hand to show there's nothing there. If you used the wand you can put it back in your pocket, steal back the coin and produce it from anywhere you wish.
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I know. Kind of boring huh? But it demonstrates the point I want to make perfectly. Your sleights and gimmicks are only other methods of doing what I just described. The method of the trick I just described is simply acting. It's presentation and it makes use of the fact that your spectators only know what you "show" them to be true. Your actions speak much louder then your words. If I where to do the above trick but say, "There's a coin in my hand" then they would probably want to see it. But I never said there was a coin in my hand. Instead, my actions suggested their was. The only time I made any mention of a coin being in my hand was after the coin was already gone and they where holding my hand closed. Now their concentration is on not letting me do anything to the coin in my hand. The coin that is already not there.
This trick is nothing new. The principle of distracting their attention so they don't remember the location of an object is used in many tricks. I know of a few card forces and deck switches that use this kind of method.
One very common mistake magicians make is that they try so hard to prove things are genuine that in the process they actually feed their spectators a possible methods. For example one might state that they are using a normal deck of cards. That statement alone tells the spectators that there is such a thing as an abnormal deck of cards. They might not of even though of that possibility if you hadn't brought it up.
So remember that your actions speak more clearly then your words or even your hands. Continue to master the tricks you decide to do but just remember that the method of that trick is only a tool. You have to be able to present it as if it was magic or it'll continue to be a just a trick. You won't believe how much this will cut down on spectators treating your magic as a challenge and be more willing to just enjoy it.
When in doubt the above no sleight/no gimmick vanish can be used as a reminder of how effective acting and presentation can be on a spectator.
Ron Jaxon
"The map is not the Territory"
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Chris Miller
Loyal user
Rochester, NY
229 Posts
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Posted: Nov 7, 2005 2:52pm
Thanks, Ron. This is a useful essay to ponder for making our magic simpler and stronger!
Chris
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Kipp Sherry
Elite user
Boise, ID
469 Posts
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Posted: Nov 7, 2005 10:45pm
Hear Here.
That could be a good title for your soon to be published collection of these little gems. They will be published soon won't they?
Keep up the good work Ron,
Kipp Sherry
What is Kings Fool?
The only business card you'll ever need!
http://www.kippsherrymagic.info
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pkg
Inner circle
The City of Ithobaal I son of Hiram I
1348 Posts
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Posted: Nov 8, 2005 5:20am
Not boring at all! it has a bit of sleight of tongue n mind! extremely simple and extremely effective!! thanks!
Double posters should be shot!
No really!!
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Donnie W
New user
51 Posts
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Posted: Nov 8, 2005 8:40am
Thanks Ron for the great info. I too would like to see a collection of your helpful thoughts 73 Donnie
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Magnus Eisengrim
Special user
There's nothing funny about
856 Posts
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Posted: Nov 8, 2005 1:49pm
Well, well, Ron.
I was skeptical at first, but I made a show of your vanish to my 12-year-old. She watches me practice, and is really hard to fool (I thought). Well, she was amazed and I'm still giggling about it. So much for so many misconceptions!
Thanks for the insight.
John
What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.--Neil Postman
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Parson Smith
Quality Control
1855 Posts
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Posted: Nov 8, 2005 4:34pm
Thanks, Ron.
I always love your posts.
As you know, I always do this stuff singlehanded and that is almost exactly how I vanish small objests.
Thanks for sharing.
Peace,
Parson
Here kitty, kitty,kitty. 
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The Magician
Loyal user
Liverpool
266 Posts
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Posted: Nov 8, 2005 4:57pm
Thanks Ron
The Magician
Expect the Unexpected
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TheFourWinds
New user
27 Posts
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Posted: Nov 8, 2005 9:10pm
I too have had experience on such sleights. For instance, just this weekend, I was doing some vanishing silk stuff, and noticed that the spectators were just as busy drinking their drinks as they were watching me. There is a moment or two when no one is paying attention. Only for a slight moment.. and I sought to take advantage of that moment. And this is when things went from one hand to another and then all together someplace else. And no one was the wiser. They all though I had some gimmick in my hand.. and I showed my hands were quite empty. I even offered for them to search me and touch my hands. And again, I waited for the right moment and it came again, and once again I was holding the object. They were stunned. They thought they knew the method, until I proved them wrong. And all it took was a moment in time when everyone was looking elsewhere.
Thanks for letting me share with your experience.
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Jaxon
Inner circle
Kalamazoo, Mi.
2459 Posts
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Posted: Nov 18, 2005 3:57pm
Anyone else tried this out? You'll be surprised how easy it is. If you act like magic is happeneing then you'll get away with it. It's all about your ability to act like everything is normal until the moment something magical is suppose to happen.
I'd love to read how it goes.
Ron Jaxon
"The map is not the Territory"
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Loual4
Special user
Montreal, Canada
534 Posts
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Posted: Nov 19, 2005 8:15am
Hi everyone!
An other "no sleight vanish" I have used quite a few times is the following:
Pull out a hand full of pocket change from your pocket. Show it all around, then pretend to take one coin in your other hand, putting the rest of the change back in your pocket. Just the fact that you show your closed hand, as you explain that you are about to vanish the coin, people are indeed convinced that are holding the coin. And they certainly are amazed when they discover it has vanished.
This little trick sounds corny when explained like this, but it certainly works well.
Louis Jutras
The Montreal Magician Le magicien de montreal
My magic review page
fete d'enfant
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Cory Gallupe
Inner circle
Nova Scotia, Canada
1279 Posts
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Posted: Nov 19, 2005 11:04am
There is a vanish without a gimmick oor sleight of hand? Now thasts magic!
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saranacbo
New user
75 Posts
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Posted: Dec 4, 2005 4:00pm
That coin vanish louis jutras described is actually in Bobo. And more interesting (at least to me) is I've done it for magicians and fooled them big time. They're always looking for something they already know, some spectacular sleight or handling. but when there's no sleight, and in fact, not even any handling, it's boggling. fun to be reminded of it.
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novice
New user
25 Posts
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Posted: Dec 5, 2005 7:32am
Just a week ago or something like that, I showed at a party some tricks......and I also show them the vanishing of the coin. All I did, I just downs palmed it, then I did that for a few times more and then I explained them, how I did it, while I was talking to them I ditch a coin that was in my right hand in my left hand and then in the left pocket, of curse nobody saw that and then I told them, that I made an improved vanish, I "threw" the non existing coin in my right hand again and they believe that I still had it in the hand, but when they search my hand a second later, they were astonished and I was happy:)
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John Long
Inner circle
New Jersey
1273 Posts
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Posted: Dec 10, 2005 4:22pm
Ron
That is great. Not because I want to rush out and use that method, but because it makes a very important point about misdirection, routining, and presenting (in contrast to tricky gimmicks and slick slight of hand).
This no gimmick/slight vanish should be considered as the starting point for young magicians. I will need to work on it myself.
John
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