I have had a problem when going for sports watches, I seem to find the initial part of the steal is tripping me up. It is something about the rubber straps that I am finding quite hard as it has such memory some sports watches have almost moulded straps.

Does anyone else have this problem? Any tips? I have had to resort to a two hand steal executed in two parts before but I was wondering if there was some knack to doing it one handed?

Cheers,

Ben

Hi Nechto,

From what you describe, I genuinely believe you have found the best (sure-shot) solution.

Two handed steal is sure to do the job in a way that will go unnoticed (if your misdirection and touching/conditioning interactions are well done).

One handed steal "may" work at times, but is always risky IMHO, since you never know what yo uwill encounter.

Hope this helps.

Perhaps other Café members have alternate methods and , as a result, have experienced great success with one-handed steals on sports watches. If so, please post... I (too) am ready to learn.

Jonathan

It's not a problem, it's the way to steal them.

Two times, two hand.

Apollo showed me a criss cross two hand to steal leather band who works perfectly for this kind of watch.

These watches are always problems, because mostly they are big, thick and tend to flick back once you have removed the pin.

As parmenion and jonathan said, you can take them, however I believe the less you can touch someone the better. The more you touch their wrist and fiddle with the watch, the more chance of getting caught. And honestly, I would rather have taken 5 watches without getting caught, then try and taking 10, but getting caught 3-4 times.

The criss cross version works good - also just using two hands...can work as well. As jonathan said, you just need proper misdirection.

I used to hate people saying this, but I have learnt that sometimes you need to just leave it and move on. I do a fair few gigs on the coast near the beach, and a lot of people wear the surf watches. I will have a little fiddle, but if the band is really thick and very rubbery...I will not bother.

Let me know.

I agree with Jay.
More you're implicated in pickpocket more you understand you don't have to try to steal everything.
Pickpocket is not magic.
Never think like a magician, it means don't try to prove your are the best in the world.
For pickpocket is useless and dangerous.

Exactly Parmenion,

Pickpocketing is not magic. It is more technique and sleight of hand....however that does not mean you can not sell it as magic.

A friend of mine, takes a watch then does some wonder words with his audience so at the end of the show, they always say, He never touched me.

It all depends on how you want to sell it.

For me, I have magic in my show, but people understand the pickpocketing is my sleight of hand and technical ability. I like to have variety in my show. Some unexplainable things, some funny things, and some very quick/clever technical things.

Once again, this is what works for me. That's how I play it at the moment....

Jay-Jay said:

I used to hate people saying this, but I have learnt that sometimes you need to just leave it and move on. I do a fair few gigs on the coast near the beach, and a lot of people wear the surf watches. I will have a little fiddle, but if the band is really thick and very rubbery...I will not bother.
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Excellent point, Jay-Jay. Spot on!

Jonathan