Every single Magician I've seen over the last 3 years has done this trick.

I'm talking about the one where you get the spectator to put their hands back to back and then cross over etc. At the end the magician can turn his hands the right way up, but the audience can't.

Now, it's a pretty good trick, and get's a laugh, but why is EVERY SINGLE Magician doing it. From the Busker at Clearwater Beach, to the Magicians doing small shows, to Keith Barry when I saw him in Dublin, to David Copperfield and Lance Burton in Vegas.

Surely to goodness someone can come up with a different stunt to kick off a show.

Any thoughts on why this is so popular with Magicians. After the show if you talk to spectators they remember lots of tricks, but not this one. I thought it was kind of amusing the first time I saw it, but I'm sick of it now.

The only entertainment I get from it is spotting how the magician will get his hands into position.

-Richard

Everybody does it because it works. Take a hint.

Sometimes people include tricks for many reasons. To fill up time is one. Because they don't have money for props is another. Or maybe the public are sick of card tricks.
I've only performed the trick a few times, but the reactions you get are great.

Steve

Does anyone know the originator or source for this trick?

> Everybody does it because it works. Take a hint.

hmmm. I don't know. I've seen it done by magicians great and small and it gets a laugh, nothing extraordinary. It's just to loosen everyone up and get their intention, and to that extent it works, but anyone who's been to a magic show in the last couple of years is now likely to have seen it. Anyone who's been to two is likely to be tired of it.

I know I'm unusual in the number of magic shows I go to (not a huge number, but far more than the average lay person). But I'm absolutely sick of this trick. Everytime I see a magician launch into it I roll my eyes, please not again.

The only entertainment I get out of it is that I can turn my hands the right way up, so people around me are confused as hell.


> Does anyone know the originator or source for this trick.

Magic For Dummies teaches it and says it was contributed to the book by Aye Jay.
But that doesn't necessarily mean he invented it.

-Richard

If it helps, I have no clue what you are talking about. I guess that means at least one magician isn't doing it.
Steve V

Me neither, Anybody care to elaborate?

That proves it! Cool magicians don't do it!
Steve V

Wow, I'm cool, too.

Me too. Care to elaborate on the routine?

Is this the one where the hands are held out at arm's length, thumbs down, and the hands are clasped together with the palms touching? From there, the knuckles of the hands are turned towards the floor following through to the chest and then upwards. Ask a person to move one of their fingers by pointing to it without touching it.

From there, into the "Hands Trick."

Is that the one?

I don't think so. This one is a cousin to the "Twisting Arm" trick. You start thumbs down and hands clasped similar to what you describe and then you rotate your arms so your thumbs are up. Of course they can't. What they forget is you let go briefly to "correct" someone in the front row, doing the "work" by counterrotating your arm in the process.

But it doesn't have to be done that way. I saw it done without this method and it fooled the heck out of me.

I saw Copperfield do this without approaching the audience, and I'm totally bamboozled - can anyone help?

I do this sometimes before I lead into any other magic effect with a group of people or friends. Gets them everytime. I see magicians start out their show with this routine too, but it does not bother me because it is a quick way to get the audience involved.

Here's Copperfield doing it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MQe7LTO_58

The Copperfield video amazes me, I need to learn this. how neat

Oh, he's doing it the same way... they just cut away and you don't see him let go and reclasp his hands. Watch it again and look at how his hands are before and after they cut away.

That's the one!
That's the one!

Same effect! I'm describing a different "get-into."

There’s other ways of performing tricks like this too, with the arms, or hands.
Tom Mullica is a good source for these, and does a few different types on his warm ups with the audience.
Like have your hand palm up, and without twisting your wrist, make your palm face down, even when he shows you how to do it, it’s a bit confusing at 1st. lol

Please stop yelling!