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cinemagician Inner circle Phila Metro Area 1094 Posts |
Does anyone perform Vernon's Spellbound exactly as it was written? I'm trying to re-approach coin magic by going over some of the old classics and resisting the temptaion to make any "improvement's" or to search any further.
I've worked for several hours today on Vernon's classic spellbound exactly as it appears in Stars of Magic. Just curious if anyone out there performs Vernon's exact routine, if so how does it play for real people?
...The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity...
William Butler Yeats |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
"original"?
If by that you mean is routine from The Stars of Magic as opposed to the Edward Victor routine or Chapender's routine or Sol Stone's routine or Ramsay's routine... well yes long ago and it played very well. I recall bright peers in high school trying their darndest to open what they thought was a mechanical coin. Add in the last change from Vernon's routine which was published in Ganson's The Art of Closeup Magic and you have something special. Since then (1940s) some new stuff which is AMAZING looking has been developed. Check David Roth's book Expert Coin Magic for a collection of goodies. You can find another collection of goodies in Kaufman's CoinMagic. Then there is Kainoa's Coins on Edge which has some EG tools for the routine. :)
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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cinemagician Inner circle Phila Metro Area 1094 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-06-18 22:15, Jonathan Townsend wrote: LOL- thanks for the great reply. Since I am coming off a bit of a layoff- (had my first little show in 12 years just 2 weeks ago) I want to sort of go back to learning some standards the right way. I thought I might economize by selecting some routines that teach good fundamentals and at the same time are acceptable to perform (as is) in "the real world". Too many hooks, and slices, and dishonest adjustments to the score card during the first 9 holes. Looking forward to a strong and honest back 9. - Then then time to buy back all the books I sold like ECM-
...The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity...
William Butler Yeats |
jerdunn Inner circle 1734 Posts |
To answer your question about the Dai Vernon routine in Stars of Magic - yes! And I recall meeting David Roth many years ago in the bar of the Magic Castle, and he did Spellbound pretty much exactly as published. It's a great routine, with sequences that cancel out possible methods in the spectator's mind.
As noted, many other moves have been published and passed around. I think the goal is to work them into a routine that doesn't require shifting or repositioning the coins, etc., so the routine flows without any busyness. It's also fun to pick a "move" and think about how to apply it -- for example, a Goshman Pinch or backclip. Cheers, Jerry |
cinemagician Inner circle Phila Metro Area 1094 Posts |
Thanks Jerry, for the futher validation... I'm going to see how good I can get the Vernon handling to look before moving on with any minor changes, thanks guys for helping me to stay on par for the course.
-Mark
...The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity...
William Butler Yeats |
Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
Vernon's 'Spellbound' is a good place to start and works OK.
When I first started using this, a couple of folks caught on to what was happening. Probably because of a lack of practice on my part. Nowadays I'll use some of the moves Vernon did but tend to mix it up with moves from some of the books JT mentioned. Currently I present it as an illusion using a small, common coin which may be borrowed. I then transform it into a larger coin, a half, a dollar or dollar sized penny or one of the black and gold chinese coins that have a hole. I end with the coin I started with, thus the illusion. I think there's better contrast in using these than with an EPenny. Best, |
cinemagician Inner circle Phila Metro Area 1094 Posts |
Thanks Jaz, some good advice there. Since there seems to be some interest in the topic maybe It's O.K. if I expand a bit-
When staying true to the original, the first "illusion breaker" seems to be the tendency of the right thumb to "pop out" as the move is executed over the coin in the left hand. Furthermore, the left thumb also wants to peek over the right index finger. These motions need to be eliminated for the change to look magicial. Thirdly, I find that the placement of the Left hand coin in thumb crotch need not be exagerated and the coin can actually "rest" on the right thumb a bit instead of snaping directly into TP. I have found that instead of "staring at the coin intently" I give the trasformed coin a little revolution which gives me the misdirection necessary to "get position" for the next change. Thanks for your help-- I never really did much coin magic (at least for audiences anyway) the only coin magic I performed in my strolling demo two weeks ago was the coins accross routine I have been doing for years. _ Mark
...The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity...
William Butler Yeats |
Craig Petty V.I.P. UK 2298 Posts |
Lance Delong has a great triple spellbound routine on his Sleight of Hand required DVD set (volume 1). This is the spellbound routine I use in the real world. I find it plays very well.
Hope this helps Craig P |
Curtis Kam V.I.P. same as you, plus 3 and enough to make 3498 Posts |
What do you guys think of this? I suspect that a large part of the effectiveness of the Vernon presentation depended on two things which aren't likely to happen if you do the routine today: 1) He started and ended with the spectator's half dollar, and 2) His cleanup.
Because he borrowed the coin,and changed it to a coin that was then recognized to be of lesser value, the experience for the spectator may have been something akin to borrowing a fiver and changing it into a one today. Perhaps this enhanced the feeling of being "suckered" a little. It also may have made the transformation more relevant to the spectator than it would be today, where the magician supplies the coins. In other words, it may not be possible to perform the routine "exactly as written" today?
Is THAT a PALMS OF STEEL 5 Banner I see? YARRRRGH! Please visit The Magic Bakery
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-06-20 06:11, Curtis Kam wrote:...In other words, it may not be possible to perform the routine "exactly as written" today? Borrow a Sacajawea dollar and change it into a quarter? silver to bronze and back?
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
The same idea could be done by borrowing a quarter and changing it to a washer.
I have been calling my washers in the nearly normal routines, "Brain Washers." It started back when I worked with addicts and alcoholics. Some said that AA was brain washing. I told them it was more like a "dry cleaning". Be safe, well and creative. Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
Mediocre the Great Inner circle Rich Hurley 1062 Posts |
Great Idea with the washer Harris! And Curtis you have an excellent point!
I have had fun doing the spellbound move with a rock, that's thin and round (the same size and shape of a silver dollar)that I found on the beach. It has a grey speckled color and I change it into a well worn and dark colored silver dollar using Vernon's rountine right out of Stars of magic. I ditch the coin in the end, placing the rock in the spectators hands to ponder the mystery of the magic stone.
Mediocrity is greatly under rated!
-------------------------------------------- Rich Hurley aka Mediocre The Great! www.RichHurleyMagic.com |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Rocks are great to play with. I used them way back in the Ren Fest Days.
A flat rock can also be used to Muscle Pass, but I digress. Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
Mediocre the Great Inner circle Rich Hurley 1062 Posts |
Yes, and what a nice digression it is! As a matter of fact, my thin rocks do lend themselves nicely to the muscle pass! I found my my rock in an "uypseydasium" mine.
Mediocrity is greatly under rated!
-------------------------------------------- Rich Hurley aka Mediocre The Great! www.RichHurleyMagic.com |
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