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Ergerbor New user 57 Posts |
A number of thoughts came together in my mind recently after reading various threads on the Café and thinking about my own beginnings (recent) in coin magic. In particular the thoughts below possibly address some questions of “what can I do with coin magic?” and “Which types of coins should I buy _____ or ______?” Often the coins the pros use can be costly and I have been thinking of cheaper alternatives that make sense in the magical context. I’m sure others have thought along these lines before, feel free to add your thoughts.
(1) Someone mentioned that they use poker chips/casino chips. I’m also reading Ortiz’s Stong Magic and he notes the inherent interest in gambling demonstrations. Poker chips seem to offer a natural prop for a ‘coin magic’ gambling routine or even a combination of cards and coins. After all, cheating at cards is only part of the story, cheating with chips is the other (though I am aware of such moves as the Savannah which require more cahones than sleights). Changing chips to higher denomination chips, producing chips when you’ve run out but need to double down, multiplying chips, etc. There’s bound to be some question of whether it’s natural to carry around a poker chip or two, but I can’t imagine it’s any more odd than carrying a centavo or old english penny, it just depends on the story. Maybe I always carry my lucky chip. I used that chip to win (and lose) a small fortune....etc etc. (2) Washers, as in the sort that go along with nuts and bolts. There are many types of washers that have the same outside diameter but the inner diameter differs. Imagine starting with something like a fender washer and ‘enlarging’ the hole with magic. Maybe the bolt you start with is too big and so magic needs to be done? In any case I’m playing with finding a “magic with practical use” patter here. In both cases the props are cheap and as familiar as anything else and can add some other story possibilities. |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
I've been a fan of washers for years..
Mine are called "Brain Washers" as they go along with my on stage persona. The finale for some folks knife routine, led me to some "little solutions" in this area. Practical magic has it's place. For some, so do bad play on words.... My next volunteer gets a free Washer & Dryer.....
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
Consider the sleights and methods used with coins and how to apply them to other small objects.
Dinner mints and chain links work well, and the top of a creamer is that same as a half dollar, i.e. the entire container can be palmed like a coin. I discuss some of the approaches in the ebook "Sleight and the Family Stone" -- free for the asking and a commitment to feedback (effects with small objects).
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
Ergerbor New user 57 Posts |
Harris, I like the plays on words those sound like fun.
Funsway, Okay, I'll ask I'd be happy to read the ebook and give beginner's feedback. Definitely there are lots of possibilities of using methods for coins for other objects and vice versa. I have been working on Tim Feher's One Coin 2.0 as a way to focus my coin magic (since Bobo and Roth can be overwhelming) and so such moves have been on my mind along with the question of how to tweak it to who I am, magically (which is still in process). Thanks so much for the comments so far, I'd love to hear anyone else's two cents (there's a play on words in there somewhere given that we're talking about coin magic |
Ergerbor New user 57 Posts |
More thoughts from the mind of a beginner: Choosing the type of object: coin, chip, washer (or other small objects as suggested by funsway) can also help create a story or patter. I was thinking about the poker chip I've been playing with and it occurs to me that certain magical effects make a lot of sense: I would want to be able to produce chips from nowhere, just like money. I'd like to be able to multiply chips. I'd like to be able to change chips from a lower denomination to a higher one. While I have no doubt that you can do anything with chips given the right personality (for example magically making a chip vanish sounds like only a slightly more efficient way than just making random bets in the casino but I bet there are some angles on it I haven't considered, maybe the chip isn't my lucky chip...it's my unlucky chip. I just can't get rid of the darned thing!)
In this sense it can be less about figuring out which coin should I use for coin magic and rather, which small object or coin like object do I (or my persona) resonate with and that I can create a meaningful context for. This has been an important line of thought for me as I have been rather overwhelmed by the sheer variety of moves or sleights. Starting with something meaningful to me or a story I would like to tell (about a lucky or unlucky chip) essentially provides me with a list of "hows." How do I make my chip appear, disappear, change denomination etc. Then it makes books or dvd's into references. It's not that I need to start on page one and master each and every sleight, but I need to read through it and find the "hows" for my desired story. Which "how" will I use to change the chip? Which "how" will I use to make that stack of four $5 chips into three $5 chips with a $100 chip at the bottom? What is my story/context and "how" do I do it? Thanks for reading |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Seinfeld said the closer to the heart the better the comedy.
The same can be said of magic.
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Nothing up my sleeve... » » Coin magic with things other than coins: ideas (1 Likes) |
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