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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
I'm looking at a trick in one of Jim Steinmeyer's "Impuzzablities" books. Four coins are laid out. Put a finger on any one of them. You can move either left or right, one coin at a time, for a certain number of moves. (I don't want to get into the whole description here.)
I tried this for a reasonably bright 12-year-old, and the plain description didn't make sense to him at first. We really had to work at getting down the thought of "Move your finger one coin in either direction five times" (or other words to that effect). He's a friend, so he stayed with me, but it didn't make it any easier. I thought it might be easier for him to grasp if there was a story of some kind behind it that would help make the actions more sensible. (Not a bad idea anyway!) The only thing I could come up with is something like a frog hopping from rock to rock, maybe eating a fly from each rock he jumps to. Anything better out there??? Ed |
Sam Sandler Inner circle 2487 Posts |
Not familiar with the trick however it kind of sounds like those tricks that with a certain number of moves leaves one card or coin which you already know based on the starting position - like the stuff Copperfield did on tv
any who why not make it about life choices. and instead of 4 quarters use 4 different coins and have them land on the most valuable one at the end or make it about buying a piece of candy what it use to cost and what it cost today. just my first thoughts. so where can I read about this trick what is the name of the trick and what is the name of the book' thank sam
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
http://www.samsandler.com http://www.deafinitelymagic.com |
SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Hi Ed!
A shameless plug here --but also a desire to help. I've been doing script creation and editing for years, and I've begun coaching/direction by Skype. I'll work out a very affordable deal for you for this one time project, and I’ll GUARANTEE your satisfaction. For you and others interested in more dynamic stories or presentations, I'm also going to tout (well McBride did too lol) my book "Tales of Enchantment." You are also welcome to PM me to brainstorm a little with you. Magically, Walt |
RealityOne Loyal user 227 Posts |
I suspect you are talking about the coin tricks in Further Impuzzibilities. With effects like Steinmeyer's in the Impuzzibilities series or Tamariz's Verbal Magic there is a certain knack to giving the instructions to spectators.
Part of it is to give the instruction, demonstrate and then give the instruction again. I want you to count off five cards, taking each card one at a time and putting it on the table... like this counting out loud as you do it... one, two, three, four five. Now I want you to do it. Count off five cards one at a time and put them face down on the table. Part of it is to break it down. For example, if the spectator can count moving to the left or the right, don't tell them to "count the number going either to the left or the right." Rather tell them, "In a minute I'm going to have you count. But first you need to pick a direction. You can count moving toward the left or the right. So pick one direction, left or right. Do you have that? Good." Follow that with the rest of the directions (each step broken down), demonstrate and repeat the directions. I agree that a story would help justify the actions, but I think that about pretty much every effect. Just an idea for Steinmeyer's effect -- I would substitute an English Penny for the U.S. Penny. You lay four coins out on the table -- three U.S. Coins and one English Penny. There are certain things in life that draw us to certain objects or even persons. It can be something of beauty, like seeing a famous actress walking down the street. It can be something that stands out because it is different, like seeing a teenage girl with a pink spiked mohawk (for a kids show you could use animals at the zoo -- a graceful Zebra and a flatulent Warthog). Sometimes we stop and look and other times we try to divert our attention. You can see that one coin is different form the others. I want you to pick a coin, it can be any coin. It doesn't have to be the coin that is different - you can choose to distract your attention. Or you could pick the coin that is different. It doesn't matter. Whatever we choose to look at we think about. I want you to think about the coin that you have chosen. But first, I want you to decide if you are going to look left or right as you are thinking..." [insert counting sequence as thinking of coin]. "Now your finger is on one coin. Despite whether you decided to to pick that coin at the beginning or not, you were drawn to it by your choices. Your finger is on the English Penny, isn't it?" If you really want to adapt this to a kids show, use pictures of a Zebra, Lion, Warthog and a Monkey with the spelling of their names at the bottom of the picture.
~David
Any perception of reality is a selection of reality which results in a distortion of reality. |
MagiCol Special user Dargaville, New Zealand 929 Posts |
Hey, I like the ideas in this thread, to make instructions easier for the helper to follow.
The presentation makes the magic.
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
It's "Coins in a Strange Land" in Jim Steinmeyer's "Further Impuzzibilities". As far as I can tell, the instructions can be given over the phone or radio as well as in person.
I was trying this by email. I'm looking at this again and I did not follow the instructions exactly. But I'm still not sure a kid would be able to follow this without a story line to help. I'm not stuck on doing this, and I may not do it again. But it was an eye-opener on how much the presentation matters to hold a kid's interest, and how challenging it can be to craft a decent story around a routine. Ed |
John Breeds Veteran user England 336 Posts |
I would try to bring the coins to life by giving them names. For example, "This is Tom, Dick and Harry. The fourth coin is called George." (or whoever is the named President on that coin).
If all four coins are similar denomination you could shake them in your hand and place them on the table in the order, Tom Dick and Harry... and of course, George. Pick them up, shake them and again place them in a line of the table as you say, "Look, despite them being shaken they are still in the same order... Tom, Dick, Harry and of course, George." "Now Tom doesn't like the finger put on him, whilst Dick and Harry likes going for a spin" [toss coins]. "George just stares you in the eye!" So keep your right eye on Tom, the left eye on Dick, and your other eye on Harry. "I want you to place a finger over any coin. And I do mean ANY coin." Keep tapping Tom and the helper will think you are trying to force that coin onto him. There's all sorts of fun you can have here. The point is give the coins names and constantly call them by their name. In this way it will add and maintain interest for kids as well as adults. John |
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