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Alan Wheeler Inner circle Posting since 2002 with 2038 Posts |
During the intermission, I hope you all won't judge me too harshly for sharing my wife's thoughts on bill transformations.
She enjoys watching magic and usually has some valid thoughts and suggestions! Like Lance (above), my wife Kristin doesn't like effects with "funny money" as well as she likes other money effects. She says it spoils the illusion for her because she "knows" it's trick money. What she says she likes best is when "extra zeros" appear, and she says it doesn't matter to her whether it's a one turning into a one hundred or a five to fifty or a two to twenty. Kristin says this kind of change to a larger denomination is "satisfying." What I think she means is that that the effect mythically flows in the same way turning a small apple into a big apple flows, but turning a small apple into a big orange does not. Truly, a bill change to a larger note is as classic as turning iron to gold and as mythic as the Miser's dream. And it seems fun. I never turn a big bill back to a small bill, and would rather buy a bill from someone to do the effect if it MUST be borrowed. (I think it would be fun to write them a check for the bill, and if during the fun they say they won't take checks, then to cash it magically for them with the still loaded bill.) Personally, I love effects with the mismade bills, partially because I know they are indeed "real." Too me this makes the effect Paul is sharing with us a wonder: he is setting a wonderful scenario and full-environment plot line that is really drawing us in. Wonderful!!! Some other bill-size transformations ideas I have had are these: 1. "same as cash" coupons to cash 2. a real Chinese bill into the similar-looking notes they burn for ancestor worship (familiar sights in China but not here) 3. torn and restored piece of newspaper 4. English words on a newspaper clipping turned to Chinese characters 5. black and white clipping turned to color I am overwhelmed by the wealth of insight and wisdom being shared in this thread, and I wish I had more to offer. Please do not consider this an interuption of Paul's wonderful effect. Peace. alleycat
The views and comments expressed on this post may be mere speculation and are not necessarily the opinions, values, or beliefs of Alan Wheeler.
A BLENDED PATH Christian Reflections on Tarot Word Crimes Technology and Faith........Bad Religion |
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Paul Chosse V.I.P. 1955 - 2010 2389 Posts |
Back again!
Before I continue with the presentation I need to clarify several things. First, the "lines" I am using in this example vary from one performance to the next. RB taught me to write in phrases, not complete sentences, and to be sure the phrases covered all the essential information. The words you wrap around that information, give your presentation "color", a hint of YOUR personality. If you understand the plot points and have those points in order, then it sounds natural if you "ad-lib" the content. This is NOT true in all performance (DON'T, for instance, try to "ad-lib" Hamlets' soliloquy), but in the setting I'm describing it works. Secondly, if you start a sentence that's pretty much self-completing, not finishing it allows the spectator to mentally participate AND draw their own conclusions, which, if you plant the right seeds, can be right down the garden path you want them to follow. Finally there is a whole other aspect of this that includes SUBTEXT, but it is much better addressed elsewhere (just ask if you want the source material). So, upward and onward: You have handed out the bills, etc. and the spectators are examining them. You have just told them not to remove the bills: "These are mistakes! See, the treasury prints and cuts these bills automatically, you know assembly line style? If the cutter gets all balled up, then they get miscut and... Here, gimme those back - lemme tell you the deal..." AS you're collecting the bills and adding them to the ones you are still holding you say: "The treasury is supposed to destroy these, but, I gotta buddy..." "Anyway, I can buy as many as I want at seventy-five cents a pop, so if I pass 'em as regular bills..." "I know, you're thinking what's twenty-five cents - it's a twenty-five percent profit, that's what! Try to get that in the market..." "Here's whatcha do..." "I've got one right here that I already handled, guess the prints won't matter much right now - here..." Remove the one mismade bill you've got on the bottom of your stack (if there are any left), or that you've held onto if you had to give all the rest out (Forgot to tell you - it's pre-creased for the folding...) Oops! Gotta go, back soon! Best, PSC Sorry for the pause - Work beckons but I will finish this. In the meantime, how about some feedback? Best, PSC
"You can't steal a gift..." Dizzy Gillespie
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Steve Brooks Founder / Manager Northern California - United States 3780 Posts |
You're trying to torture us now! More, give us more...oh the humanity of it all!
"Always be you because nobody else can" - Steve Brooks
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Lance Pierce Special user 878 Posts |
Hey, Steve,
As I type this, the topic sits at 46 replies and 751 views. What's the Café record for a single topic? Cheers, Lance |
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Paul Chosse V.I.P. 1955 - 2010 2389 Posts |
OK, here we go again!
You are removing the pre-creased bill from it's envelope as you expain that: "If I fold it in half, and then in half again, see..." You are doing the first two folds. "It looks like a regular bill... might want to tighten it up a little..." Here you are doing the last two folds. "Then you just ask for change, you know 4 quarters, or phone change. You throw the bill on the counter, grab the change, and go. You've made your profits..." As you say the above you gesture as if tossing the bill with your right hand, and act out grabbing change from the counter with your left. "You could have a problem if they get the bill open before you leave..." Start to open the bill. "Well, maybe not - that looks pretty good..." Finish opening the bill and looking at it. (This folding and switching is described in detail in Ron Bauers' Private Studies, and is the best explanation ever of a bill switch!) "See, even if you don't get the change you still make the money!" HERE WE GO!!! This is the point at which thinking people begin to think - "How did he do tha... Oh, I get it, he switched it!" So how do you get them off track and finish the fantasy? Read on... You change direction by posing another problem for them: "You gotta be careful though, there's still a problem. Look, no serial numbers! That's the last step in the process at the mint - if the bills are screwed up they don't even bother..." Remember those white envelopes that are addressed to the treasury? Guess what they are for! In the immortal words of Arnold "I'll be back..." Best, PSC
"You can't steal a gift..." Dizzy Gillespie
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Burt Yaroch Inner circle Dallas,TX 1097 Posts |
Lance, I've seen topics with replies well into the hundreds and views approaching 3000.
But this post will help out!
Yakworld.
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Doogie New user USA 52 Posts |
As an American in London, my solution is to change an American bill into a British bill. My patter revolves around needing to pay for something out in town but only having American cash on me. Once the bill is transformed, I don't change it back.
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Lance Pierce Special user 878 Posts |
While we're in intermission, I wanted to acknowledge and thank alleycat for relating his wife's perspective on these kinds of things. While we always have to be cautious about leaping from the one to the many (deducing the general from the specific), I thought that her take on it was interesting, to say the least...
L- |
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Paul Chosse V.I.P. 1955 - 2010 2389 Posts |
The penultimate post!
You have just pointed out the fact that the rearranged bill has no serial numbers. Leave the bill on the table and reach into the wallet, (leaving something if you want, know what I mean?), removing one of the envelopes. You display it and put the bill in as you say: "...But I got that covered too! All I have to do is mail this back to the Numbering Division of the Treasury, and for 50 cents they'll put the serial number on and send it back, ready to spend! I'm gonna make a real killing on this - don't say anything, OK? Keep it to yourself..." You put the props away and move on to other conversation. Trust me, someone is going to tell you that you are spending 75 cents plus 50 cents, plus the postage, way more than a dollar, for your "perfectly good $1.00 dollar bill"! (If they don't bring it up you do, by saying " I know, I know, your doing the math and doesn't add up right? Don't worry I'm gonna make it up in volume!") Assuming they do bring it up you say: "I know, I know, but it's OK, I'll make it up in volume!" Or: "I know what you're up to, I appreciate the offer, but this is too good to share - I don't need a partner!" If this doesn't leave them with the view that you are indeed a peculiar guy, nothing will. Obviously they will realize you're doing a bit of leg pulling at this point. That's OK, if you've done your job, and given them a "moment", they'll remember you and your personality, NOT that you're "that guy who does the tricks", which was, of course, the whole point of this thread. Best, PSC
"You can't steal a gift..." Dizzy Gillespie
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Burt Yaroch Inner circle Dallas,TX 1097 Posts |
Bravo sir.
I assume there were no serial numbers on the mismade either?
Yakworld.
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Steve Brooks Founder / Manager Northern California - United States 3780 Posts |
Stellar as usual!
"Always be you because nobody else can" - Steve Brooks
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Paul Chosse V.I.P. 1955 - 2010 2389 Posts |
Burt, Correct - although I did this for years without bothering about the serial numbers on the mismades - no one really pays attention to that in the beginning, and by the end all the mismades are out of sight - they honestly don't remember, and just accept that there weren't any - however, if you find yourself with enough ink erasers and time on your hands...
More later about talk lines, structure, subtext, and sources, because, though I would love to say so, I didn't "create" this. In the meantime, how about some criticism either for or against, or some comments on what any of this has you thinking? Best, PSC
"You can't steal a gift..." Dizzy Gillespie
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Alan Wheeler Inner circle Posting since 2002 with 2038 Posts |
Brother Paul:
Wonderful effect and explanation! I do have one question. Do you think other variations (of presentation and plot) of your "backwards working" mismade bill change would lose too much if only one or two mismade bills are displayed? I suppose the printed Treasury envelopes also lend that sense of solid reality to your moment of fantasy. Your ending with the cerial number problem does seem like a satisfying denouement ("falling action") after the climax of your story and not a let down on the order of turning a hundred dollar bill back to a one. Thanks for sharing! alleycat Lance, Thanks for your kind words. It is true, as you say, that we need a larger sample of reactions than one to know the truth! And I wonder if the reactions would vary from culture to culture or be affected by levels of education? I truly don't know, and don't yet have vast performing experience by which to guage. None-the-less, I have really appreciated the issues you have raised and angles you have opened up for discussion. alleycat
The views and comments expressed on this post may be mere speculation and are not necessarily the opinions, values, or beliefs of Alan Wheeler.
A BLENDED PATH Christian Reflections on Tarot Word Crimes Technology and Faith........Bad Religion |
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Paul Chosse V.I.P. 1955 - 2010 2389 Posts |
Alleycat,
It's hard to answer that question without knowing what the variation is. I CAN tell you that the idea of making a lot of money on this "deal", and having an "inside" guy at the mint to provide me with the bills, is more credible if I have a LOT of them! If the cost of mismade bills concerns you, you can buy a sheet of 36 (I think) from the mint in DC for 48.00. Buy the time you cut them up you get 22 bills. A little more than $2.00 apiece, and you can print the envelopes yourself if you have a computer - the most expensive PROP in this whole thing is the wallet you carry everything in - what a deal! Best, PSC P.S. I wouldn't be varying too much until I tried it as outlined, but that's just my way. I try things the way I read them, so I can see what the author is trying to do. After giving it a fair shake, and REALLY learning the material, I MAY make some changes, but even then, only one at a time, so I can tell what's changing as I go. Too many variables tend to obscure my perspective.
"You can't steal a gift..." Dizzy Gillespie
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Lance Pierce Special user 878 Posts |
I have absolutely no criciticms of the routine, Paul. It's wonderful. One observation, though, is that the piece relies so heavily on character that not everyone will be able to do it. One must be able to play the educated oddball, the intellectual idiot who comes up with these fantastic ideas that seemingly should work if it weren't for the intervention of common sense. Here we have a guy who attends to the formulas of business: buy something cheap and increase it's value, but doesn't see why the entire idea is stupid in the first place. I love the blow-off line when the audience tries to explain to you why it's a losing proposition, and you say, "Hey, thanks for your input, but I'm not letting anybody else into the business!" It's as if you're saying, "Hey, I know you guys want into this bad, but I'm keeping all the profits," and in the meantime they're thinking, "Man, what an idiot." It's a great scenario.
I'm particularly taken with how the presentation solves most if not all of the problems inherent in many Bill Change approaches. Changing a one into a hundred? Changing a one to a mismade bill? Well, what about changing a "broken" bill into one that works? Coming at it from the opposite direction (starting with what's broken and trying to fix it) is a great thing, and the character of this self-involved entrepeneur just makes it entertaining as all get out. So, you've managed to take some of the heat off the switch, keep the focus on the performer, build a theme that makes perfect (albeit eccentric) sense, start with intrigue, and everything else. How could it be better? I'm at a loss to see how. Thanks so much for sharing... Lance |
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hat trick New user 53 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-11-20 15:08, pchosse wrote: Hi PSC... I'm curious to know what the reasoning is for the bill to change? In the "Bar Bill Stunt", the bill changes (twice) because you're talking about the difficulties of "tricky origami". In this routine, the bill just changes. Please explain if I'm over looking something. Other than that apparent discrepancy, I think it's a great routine. -hat trick |
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Jeff Inner circle Orlando, FL 1238 Posts |
Pual,
Thank you for the journey that brings us to this wonderful conclusion. I am in agreement with Lance, the structure of the routine does take all the heat off of the switch and I love the backwards bill restoration. Wish I would have thought of that. A great piece of magic theater! Thank you for sharing it with us. Jeff Pierce
Available for order now:
http://www.thecardwarptour.com See new, used, and collectable magic and books for sale at: http://www.jeffpiercemagic.com |
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Alan Wheeler Inner circle Posting since 2002 with 2038 Posts |
Yes, Paul guessed my reason for speculating about using less bills--and answered it--AND rightly warned against arbitrarily changing working routines around.
I should thank Lance, too, for pointing out that the presentation might be too much of a stretch for some personalities and for underscoring the beauty of the denouement. Thanks again, guys! alleycat
The views and comments expressed on this post may be mere speculation and are not necessarily the opinions, values, or beliefs of Alan Wheeler.
A BLENDED PATH Christian Reflections on Tarot Word Crimes Technology and Faith........Bad Religion |
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Lance Pierce Special user 878 Posts |
Wow. I really expected that Paul's contribution would garner more comment and examination than it has, because I see all kinds of lessons in it for everybody. There's a lot of theater going on.
Why the sudden quiet, do you think? L- |
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Burt Yaroch Inner circle Dallas,TX 1097 Posts |
We are all making up our envelopes, working on our inner dialogue, and practicing!!
:cups:
Yakworld.
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