“Gadabout Coins Revisited” is one of the Ron Bauer Private Studies Series booklets. I just received the new revised version and wanted to say how terrific it is. (I had the older version.)

Moves-wise, the booklet adds a clever handling for one of the “utility switch” moments. It’s more natural, and I’ve never seen it elsewhere.

More important, the premise, plot, script, and handling have been improved to make the routine flow even more seamlessly, be entertaining, and completely baffle an audience.

The routine is constructed so spectators are fooled three times, even as they think they’re catching on. This makes "Gadabout Coins Revisited" a very useful study in how to construct a routine.

The support for the series is also impressive. You can go to http://www.thinklikeaconjuror.com (the website for the series) and look at videos of the moves, as well as download an additional idea for Gadabout Coins that takes the effect in an interesting new direction. My impression is that the folks behind the series really want to do a complete job of teaching magic.

Like many people, I’ve been doing Gadabout Coins since I got a copy of Bobo many years ago. Ron Bauer’s “Gadabout Coins Revisited” is definitely a step forward. Just wanted to recommend it.

Cheers,
Jerry

Sssshhh! It's a secret!

Kidding aside, Mr Bauer's handling of this classic is fantastic. You're always a psychological step ahead of your audience, the moves are fairly easy to get down with hard practice, and the scripting and blocking is great. It's an absolute keeper.

His other scripts are very good, at least the ones that I have. He's one of those people that I would hope to have to the good fortune to meet & learn from in person someday - as humbling as that would be.

The illustration of how later thoughts improve effects is also well illustrated by considering an intermediate version: Bill Tarr's "Three in the Hand, One in Pocket" from 'Now You See It, Now You Don't.' Bauer acknowledges Bobo as his inspiration, but I don't recall him mentioning Tarr. In MCM, Bobo says a 1950 Linking Ring explanation by George Wright inspired his Gadabout Coins. The progressive improvement Bobo->Tarr->Bauer seems to me to be a convincing illustration of the huge gains possible when extra thought is given to a basically fine routine. I suspect the evolution would be even more impressive if one considered the 1950 Linking Ring version.

"The Comeback Coins" is the routine in the Tarr book. Is that a relative of Gadabout Coins?

I second the motion. Bauer's Gadabout Coins Revisited is excellent. The Kort "In the Well Vanish" is killer. I showed the routine to a very well posted friend who is really into coins. I had no idea that he would get toasted by the Kort vanish. It's very cool and fits the routine very well.

Mike

I'm not much of a coin guy, but I do this one all the time. I love the Bauer Private Studies series. It's an excellent series in performance with outstanding tricks. I've learned a lot from these -- can't say enough good things about this series.

The last phase depends on vanishing two coins at once using an "In the Well Vanish". I find this difficult because my coins - rather soft Liberties - still make too much noise. I know one solution is to get even softer coins. Another solution is the Bobo route of vanishing the two coins separately. Any others? Are there any vanishes that vanish 2 coins simultaneously? Thanks.

Does a little noise really matter? The hands are together at that point and I don't think they will be able to tell which hand the noise is from.I used to do this all the time with English coins that were in circulation condition and never got busted.

Thanks. The coins make noise as the right hand dips the 2 coins into the well, yes. But I find the 2 coins also make noise as the right hand moves away from the left to pick up the third coin - and *that's* what bothers me.

I agree with you here, my old friend.

I have done this, Bauer's wonderful take on the classic effect, too, and the little, if any noise to it really makes for little difference. Most of any of this perhaps may bother the magician much more so than the specs...They have no clue.

Also, more practice with this will lighten your touch as you do it (Along with the pattering) and help to make you more comfortable with the effect as you present it.

*Oh, and soft coins are nice but not completely necessary as to this. I'm just sayin'.

And welcome to the Café, AG.

I rarely get any noise during this move. Perhaps more practice will help to eliminate the noise?

Jim

Are you trying to palm the coin? If so, don't. Just let it sit there. You can also try aligning the coins just before they enter the fist. That allows them to go in as one unit...so to speak.

Best,

Dorian Rhodell