I've checked out ALOT of coin bending utility items and after last night I'm sold... YOU DON"T NEED THEM. I was asked last night to do some magic and all I had in my pocket was a pre bent quarter that I had drawn sunglasses on with a sharpie. I borrowed a quarter and with some patter made it seem as if my friends had come up with the sunglasses idea. In the midst of setting the pen down then giving it to someone to hold I switched out the coins and started a Geller or Spelmann type coin bend. I can't imagine any better reactions. I just can't. How many different ways do you need (and how much money do you need to spend) to get to the same end result?

I guess it depends on style or comfort or whatever... I've found my tried and true though.

I think the key here is how you steered the conversation to make them believe the sunglasses were their idea. If you have that sort of control during a presentation, you can't lose.

It isn't really how many different ways we need, it's the quality of the gimmick and the effect it presents. Some people find it necesary to pay the extra price to get something good. Personaly, I prefer to use something effective but cheap. It always depends on the person. Some people like using switches and others like using gimmicks in order to bend coins.

Anyway, the way you seem to have presented the coin bend is pretty good. I like it.

Chrix

MixEddie, I've had pretty much the same experience as you and couldn't agree more! For people in the UK, in his book "Pure Effect" Derren Brown has a nice method of being able to guess the date of a spectator's 10p coin, and if you use a bent coin with the same date I usually find this is enough of a convincer.

I don't disagree with anything that has been said. I'm still partial to Niel Tobin's Xpert, however.

Thanks,
Keith Mitchell

Be wary of the type of quarter. Those state quarters can mess you up. I think that's why some may prefer an actual bending gimick.
-Sandwich

Good point. I think the government made those new state quarters as a way to flip the bird to magicians. The man is against us. I get by the type of quarter problem by asking for change and pretending to take a coin while finger palming the one I intend to use. I never ask for a quarter anymore. The Xpert is a great idea. It's one of those..."why didn't I think of that" ideas.

I guess I should read the Derren Brown book again. I got really annoyed that there wasn't a "YOU MUST HAVE HUGE HANDS TO PERFORM THESE EFFECTS" warning on the book. I can't do half that stuff. I don't have pygmy hands either. Oh well. I'll check that date idea.

Derren's date idea used to work fairly reliably. Not any more...

IIRC there was a whole LOAD of 10p pieces issued in 1992 and then not many more...until recently, which renders the trick much riskier.

Consider the Quantum Bender 2.0, & all the problems are solved! Why switch the coin WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO!!! I hope this helps.

As always, choose your audience well when working. I do lots of adult walkaround shows and used to use the dodge of palming an already bent quarter, then doing the routine. I also do lots of routines for teenagers. That method does not work well for them... as they always know exactly how much change they have in their pockets. Hum... in fact *I* usually know exactly how much change I have, and the kids I work for often have far more money than I do!

I have seen this effect when using the Kennedy paddle trick with the different colored shapes. Adults always buy the premise. I have never had an adult say "hey look! They all changed!"... but that was a regular event with young kids. So, save your money and buy a Quantum Bender. (Dang, I am going to have to squeeze a commission out of JTSheets for all these posts on the QB!)
Bob LaRue
Omnibozoologist

Excellent!
I always have a pre-bent coin in my coin pouch too

I also use prebent coins for this kind of routines.
why spend a lot of money on a bending tool when you can pull it off so visual?

-Matt

I have the bending tool, but still prefer to use pre-bent coins! It's just so much cleaner without having to ditch the tool, and gets practically the same reaction.

Right on Shots ! in the end it is the fabulous reactions we are seeking.
so prebent coins have a tri-facto to them: 1.much cheaper because you don't have to purchase the tool 2. in my oppinion!-same visual aspect 3. same reactions

-Matt

Ross,

Hmm yes I did think exactly this too with regards to the date of the coin. Asking for an "older" coin ("because the metal is slightly different and has unusual properties" or whatever) could be an idea. It does work if the spectator has lots of loose change, and they give you a newer coin I guess you could always do another effect at the worst. Unless there are any neater ideas for this...?

Well if they give you a new state quarter, fake transfer it, place the fist with the "coin" over their hand, say something to the effect of "These new quarters will not work because they're flimsier," show it gone, remark, "See it disintegrated already! Now do you happen to have an older quarter?" Problem solved?