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Norm Regular user 124 Posts |
I was wondering what your opinion was of performing strolling magic for a paid gig and doing ONLY coin magic. What are you thoughts? I know of many friends and acquaintances who do cards ONLY, mostly because that's all they care to do, but what if I was to bring only coins and coin related props to a gig? Is it your experience that people enjoy this? I wouldn't just do random coin tricks, but instead, would likely routine the whole sequence so that it "flowed" nicely. I personally think it might be a little refreshing, since, IMO, people expect to see a deck of cards with a strolling magician.
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Cory Gallupe Inner circle Nova Scotia, Canada 1272 Posts |
Well, sinse noone else is answering, I guess I will. I like to have some variety, and don't normally like to have too much of the same type of trick, (Although sometimes I will break my own rule) but that's just me. It could work well. Talk to some experienced coin guys and see what they think.
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Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
If each the strolling sets were each different and last but a few minutes I think it would be OK. Maybe a transposition set ending in the spectators hands, then a tranformation set ending with a jumbo coin, then a coin penetration set ending with a Chinese coin on a string, etc.
Cards are much more versatile. 52(or 53) different faces in a deck and tons of possibilities and available 'accessories'. I have sets just with coins but prefer to building sets that use couple of objects like cards & elastics, string & finger ring, etc. To me it's more colorful and I would rather be seen as an all around magic guy rather than a guy who only uses one prop. |
iwillfoolu Special user Upstate NY, USA 746 Posts |
Whether or not it is just cards or just coins, there are going to be spectators that ask "Do you do anything besides cards (or coins)?" Perhaps you should design a 5-7 minute coin "act" and perform that as a set. Then you can see if you like the idea (for you). The really good news about coins is that no one has to remember a specifec on (or forget it for that matter). Check out work by Gary Kurtz, Curtis Kam, and Kinoa Harbottle among others.
Joe |
martysh Special user Greenville,SC 522 Posts |
I think it is a great idea to do just coins.. (though I carry a deck too when I do walkaround).. solid objects ..can be examined and better yet the magic with these solid objects can be put in the spec's hands when the magic happens... it is probably the strongest stuff you can do with solid coins... Personality is the only extra ingredient to pull off your repetroire ... I am sure you have it.
Marty P.S related.. try a few things with a finger ring |
Cpontz Special user Daupin PA 553 Posts |
You can do only coins if you have a routine that flows and keeps the people interested.
You start with something like a production, then go into a script to merge the story with what the coin is doing. You can do a lot of different things from this point. It is up to your creativity and imagination to create something that will entertain and mystify. Craig |
Larry Barnowsky Inner circle Cooperstown, NY where bats are made from 4770 Posts |
When I think of strolling magic what comes to mind is a few minutes with each table or group. If you have a coin routine that kills then use it. When I do strolling magic, I perform magic with coins, cards, ropes, rings, sponges etc. I think using different objects is a good idea because it provides variety so you're more likely to connect with more people because of the diversity of tastes that exist. Also consider the limitations of your audience and venue. For example, a dark restaurant might make it hard for the coins to be seen well. In that case rope magic or magic with sponges may be a better choice.
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Kainoa Elite user NewArk, Delaware 424 Posts |
One of my favorite gigs of all time was on a dinner cruise boat in Hawai'i (Curtis can attest to this, since we were working the same show) where I had nothing but four half dollars. I probably would have ran back to the car to get a deck of cards if I had had enough time. I think Curtis gave me a jumbo coin because he felt bad. But it was a good time, and my handling of Trio was rock solid by the end of the trip (though my feet were wobbly). Just a few months ago I did a walkaround gig where I limited myself to coins just for kicks: if your coin material mixes the visual and the interactive you might as well give it a try.
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Curtis Kam V.I.P. same as you, plus 3 and enough to make 3498 Posts |
When working a large gig in conjunction with other magicians who do indeed only do cards, or silk, ring & rope and sponges, I've done coins exclusively in hopes of making us each seem unique. It avoids the "I've seen that one before" and the "All magicians do the same tricks" problems, as well as the "Gee, you're not as good at that as the other guy" problem, which hopefully isn't your problem.
So yes, it can be done, and there are times when it makes sense. Other times, I've been hired because someone saw me doing coin magic, and they specifically requested it. In those situations, it makes sense to do coins exclusively so that there's no chance that the client will happen to see you in the one moment you're doing a card trick. Before you embark on such a thing, however, be sure you have coin effects that involve effects other than appearance and disappearance, presented as such. You'll find no end of coins acrosses available, but make sure you also have penetration effects, transformations, interactive effects, comedy effects, sucker effects, and even(they're out there) mental effects. If you present a good variety of effects, and focus your presentations sometimes on the spectator, other times on you, other times on the coins, you'll find that no one will notice that you haven't changed your props. In fact, given how short most strolling sets tend to be, it would be a waste of valuable time to switch props to present an effect you could perform with the props already at hand.
Is THAT a PALMS OF STEEL 5 Banner I see? YARRRRGH! Please visit The Magic Bakery
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Curtis Kam V.I.P. same as you, plus 3 and enough to make 3498 Posts |
And as I was typing the above, Kainoa provided another good reason to be able to do an entire strolling set with coins. Sometimes, that's all you have.
I remember that gig, and that it was also a good reason to have enough card material NOT to do any coins, since that was all Kainoa was doing.
Is THAT a PALMS OF STEEL 5 Banner I see? YARRRRGH! Please visit The Magic Bakery
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Another possibility it to say you will limit yourself to 'money' magic. The addition of paper money into the equation ups the variety considerably without adding very much in the way of bulk! There are some killer bill tricks that reset automatically and are perfect for the walk around venue. Best,
Brad Burt
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Michael Rubinstein V.I.P. 4665 Posts |
I only do strolling coin magic, because if I jog no one will be able to watch! I only do coin tricks when strolling. Actually, I only DO coin tricks, so I really don't have much of a choice. I have varied my sets when strolling - I will do one set with Barbers, and one with Kennedys. I showed a woman one of my sets, and she took Liberties with me. And more gan once! Now we are strolling together, proving that coin magic pays! OK, this was bad, I'l stop (as long as I see that you've checked out our web site and bought the coins across DVD, which exstrolls the virtues of such routines in your repetoire!
S.E.M. (The Sun, the Moon, and the Earth) is a sun and moon routine unlike any other. Limited to 100 sets, here is the promo:
https://youtu.be/aFuAWCNEuOI?si=ZdDUNV8lUPWvtOcL $325 ppd USA (Shipping extra outside of USA). If interested, shoot me an email for ordering information at rubinsteindvm@aol.com |
ithomson Veteran user 330 Posts |
My problem with just using coins when "strolling" is visibility. Many venues I'm booked at have a mixture of small groups and large tables, combined with poor lighting. With time restrictions I often need to do just one effect for a large group or table, and I find many other routines (ropes spring immediately to mind) more suitable than coins for this sort of display. Hollingworth talks about this in "Drawing Room Deceptions".
Out of interest, Goshman had some interesting things to say about limiting yourself to one style of magic. Ian |
clamon86 Special user 508 Posts |
I think its good to have some variety. Unless you're like Kainoa or Curtis Kam and have a large repetiore of strong magic, its very limiting I think.
I think its a good exercise, and you will polish effects as you go along, but not at a paid gig. I do magic with as much as I can up to a point. just my two centavos |
KirkG Inner circle 1391 Posts |
Can you do 5 solid minutes of engaging, entertaining coin magic? If so, then no problem. I would venture to say, most magician's can't simply because they haven't applied themselves to it. As Curtis said, there are way too many coins accross plots and that includes hand to hand, through table, etc.
Stop and think, what 3-5 coin tricks with very different plots would you do? Kirk |
Magical Dimensions Inner circle 5001 Posts |
USING ONLY COINS!
Yes, it can and has been done to great effect! I like the rule of three. Three effects per table or group. I like to do my first effect as eye candy (for lack of a better team) to warm them up and to show them that I am a magician. But the next two effects I always involved the spectators. Letting the magic happen to them or in their hands. Remember, just because you like the effect and it really kills does not mean that you have to do it. If the magic happens in their hands then the effect becomes truly magical. Simple and easy to follow effects that involves the spectators will make your strolling event a greater success. This will limit the effects that you can do, but it really will pay off for you and your spectators. Let the magic happen to them and they will remember you. Coins are great for this! I hate to work from the spectator’s table, not everyone can see what you are doing. Keep your magic chest high (if possible). Ray Noble |
Norm Regular user 124 Posts |
Thanks everyone for the great comments. I definitely have enough "coin only" material to fill up a 5 minute strolling set, AND it routines nicely. It's cool to see that some of you actually do coin themed gigs once in a while cuz I REALLY enjoy that.
It's funny that Curtis and Kainoa mentioned that cruise, because I actually started this thread after reading about the situation in Kainoa's lecture notes. In addition, when I met Curtis a couple of years ago here after a Magic Castle lecture, I noticed he carried a [small] pouch of coins and coin gaffs only, yet he was able wow us with different effects for almost the whole hour that we all sat down to eat! Anyhow. I will always bring along some sponges, an invisible deck, and rubberbands, in addition to my coins whether or not I decide to do all coins, just incase! |
vincentmusician Loyal user Toronto 265 Posts |
Interesting posts. From all the Magicians I have seen doing basically just Card Magic, I want to reintroduce my old Coin Magic routines back into my reportoire. I like coin Magic. However, I think you need to pick the right audience and place for it. Some already mentioned the visibility factor. If the place is dark, other Magic may be more appropriate. However, I feel Coin Magic is great and very fun for spectators. Cheers!
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Michael Rubinstein V.I.P. 4665 Posts |
Wow, an old thread revived! By strolling magic I assume this is for table hopping, although perhaps it refers to walk around. My feeling is that there is quite a lot of variety in coin magic, and you can amaze by inserting variety. My go to coins across routine will be out soon, and uses poker chips. Perfect for both table or walk around, and changes it up from just coins. Different coins and props make your set more interesting. Think Charming Chinese Challenge, copper silver effects, etc. My CSB routine from Rubinstein Coin Magic can last several minues, and is modular.
I could go on, but my best advice is to figure out how much time you need for your set, and what variety of effects you can do to keep your audience entertained.
S.E.M. (The Sun, the Moon, and the Earth) is a sun and moon routine unlike any other. Limited to 100 sets, here is the promo:
https://youtu.be/aFuAWCNEuOI?si=ZdDUNV8lUPWvtOcL $325 ppd USA (Shipping extra outside of USA). If interested, shoot me an email for ordering information at rubinsteindvm@aol.com |
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