I just started pickpocket magic and right now I SUCK, ive tried it on my friends around school a few times and every time I try they always feel my fingers in their pocket. How can I get to where they can't feel my hand? Also, wat are some tricks I can use to distract them and give me an excuse to put my hands there. I mainly like going for people's wallet in their back pocket. I already have the book "Mastering the Art of Pickpocketing" but it didn't really do much for me besides the basic watch steal. Any tips are greatly appreciated as I would like to become better at this.

Sorry I meant the movie "Matering the Art of Pickpocketing"

>> every time I try they always feel my fingers in their pocket.
>> How can I get to where they can't feel my hand?
You need to dull their sensation...
Jim Ravel's book dedicate a chapter on touching which is essential in making your subject sensation dull...

>> wat are some tricks I can use to distract them
>> give me an excuse to put my hands there.
There are many tricks that could fullfill you request
In Jim Ravel's book, Trick For Trade chapter
he gave you 40 ideas on using common, classic effects to do your pickpocket.

>> I mainly like going for people's wallet in their back pocket.
You can use Jim Ravel's Million Dollar Wallet Steal
it really makes you wallet steal a lot easier
James Coat's The Encyclopedia Of Pickpocketing Vol 2 DVD
teaches you most of the wallet steal technique that you find...

>> I already have the book "Mastering the Art of Pickpocketing"
Like what Ricki Dunn mention in his book..
You need a reason to get near your subject,
a reason to touch your subject,
a logical reason for diverting attention away...
Finding the reason isn't hard, you just need to put in some thoughts...

The DVD only teaches you how the methodology only
The knowledge in this DVD is not sufficient ehough
to make you a pickpocket.

You need more books and DVDs to help you to be a better pickpocket
Try getting Ricki Dunn's & Jim Ravel's book first..

Thnx, ill look for them

Make sure that you have permission when you try your stuff. Hate to see you in magic jail. There was an article in the newspaper last year about someone practicing pickpocketing - his excuse was that he was a magician in training. Unfortunately he had a criminal record and was sentanced to 1 year. I clipped the article - funny...

Read the book "Whiz Mob" by David W. Maurer (http://tinyurl.com/2khhys) to get a feel for how "real" pickpockets operate. Ricki Dunn's "The Professional Stage Pickpocket" looks helpful (http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8388). And, apparently, the instructional videotapes by the British pickpocket James Freedman are the best around at the moment (http://www.pickpocket.co.uk/p_secrets_dvd.htm). Also, take a look at Apollo Robbins and Shoot Ogawa's Cultural X-Change DVDs. Robbins, who is probably the best in the world at what he does, doesn;t tip any of his pickpocketing methods in these DVDs, but his way of thinking and approach to physical choreography is invaluable. Especially the trick "Pits to Pocket," which is a masterpiece of choreography and attention management. Good luck.

'Magicguy89'

It seems that a lot of people have given you some advice on pickpocketing.

You need to read some books and watch some dvd's. People are always going to feel you - however the art of distraction is the most important. Watch some of Greg Wilson on the spot footage to get some idea. http://www.youtube.com/jayjayentertainment

Watch some of my footage to get a idea too.

JaY-JaY

Samuelchong thanks for all the info, I came on here today to look for some tips on this and those are great!

Mind you I’m not master, but I do well for myself

1) Make sure everyone knows you are an entertainer first, and NEVER EVER do this type of entertainment to hecklers. You are better off ignoring all hecklers; things can go very wrong very fast (Esp if they are drunk)

2) Learn the trick "Quick Silver" on Gregory Wilson's on the spot - it's PUT pocket techniques that are employed here, and that will help you understand the mechanics of direction of attention. There is also some playful pick pocketing with sunglasses on the DVD

3) Start with another form of magic first so you get the basics of misdirection

5) Don’t practice on your friends, practice with one friend.

6) I forget was 6 way for.

7) Start with the watch steal - I gave all my relatives leather band watches for Christmas one year full filling two needs at once, their need for a gift and my need for unknowing volunteers. If you tell people that you are going to pick their pockets or you are learning pick pocketing they will always be more guarded, but you can use the misdirection of telling someone that you are going to take his wallet but take his watch instead.

8) Study KINO from pickup artists like Mystery - this is the action of touching someone without creeping them out.

9) Be interesting - Misdirection is not about distraction it's about occupying the target's mind. You can do this by getting the mark's attention with magic, and detail oriented patter. Quick silver is a great trick because it is stunning and also directs attention to various places

10) be patient - at first you are going to be thinking about the mechanics and this will show through whatever else you are saying and will arouse suspicion, wait for key points to happen. The high points of emotion, the climax of a trick, the beginning of an instruction, the eruption of laughter, a gigantic fart....just kidding hahaha.


11) Study a pro in action - personally Coats gives me a weird vibe, check out Apollo Robbins on you tube. There are plenty of videos. Apollo tells them he's going to burgle them, but it's not about that. He does take things, but the victim....I mean volunteer is enjoying them self the whole time.

12) Pick pocketing is one skill that you'll have to keep in your back pocket and keep working on when you can get away with it. I learned the watch steal like 5 years ago and use it on rare occasions.

13) Lucky 13....take improv classes to get your quick wit, laughter is the best misdirection.

Hi guys.. I learned the very basic of pick pocket from Gregory Wilson's on the spot.. As there are a lot of information in here and got a little bit confused, could someone point me in a good book or dvd (i prefer the book) where I could learn some pick pocket or misdirection?
Thank you very much..

Dear Magno.niko.

The list is long... As a start, please consider running a few searches right here on the Café to pick up such advice.

Then, after some initial searching, re-post your question, letting us know what you already know about (from your searches) so as not to have repetitive info.

Jonathan

We had some pickpocket 'training' several years ago. I didn't use it much, but here are a few things I remember.

- The large motion conceals the small motion. This is a basic magic principle. To prevent someone from 'feeling' that light touch on their back pocket, apply pressure to another area on their body. Using your arm to 'press' on their back will make your fingers in their pocket less noticeable.

- Misdirection. Again you need to either have a purpose for touching them (such as doing an interactive trick), or you just need to come off as an extremely friendly (but preferably not creepy) person.

- There are often several steps involved. You can't do it all in one step. There is preparation and the final execution. If you try to rush things or 'force' it all to happen at once, it will be unnatural and will seem like you are up to something, even if they don't know what it is. Allow the process to take the time it takes.

I'm no expert, but just offering some thoughts.

Watch the emc 2010..

Apollo Robbin..

Inspiring..

Watch the video from the website of professionnal pickpocket like
Bob Arno; http://www.bobarno.com/
Christophe Ambre: http://www.pick-pocket.ch
Michael Halvarson: http://www.halvarson.com/en/
etc.. Even if some of the video are edited you'll learn lot of things if you watch the video carefully.

nice share dude..

and watch Borra too..

cheers

I've seen a pickpocket in a Belgian casino recently (Tom Saeys, AKA Tom Bibo) and what I noticed, he 'distracts' his poor volunteer in an extreme way (it's part comedy, so it's a good thing), he goes for the wrist watch, wallet, cell phones, some money and I've seen him try and undo a tie, but it didn't really work :p The other show he succesfully gotten the guy's belt off without him noticing..

I think if you bring a person on stage, he'll be so nervous that you can grab anything without him noticing, then again, talking, asking questions, putting them 'on the spot' all seem to work very well.. It's just a thought I've been having

But it's really pickpocketing?
I mean, audience are impressed but they think like you did so they think "ok, it works like this, not so difficult"
Now if the pickpocket is more smooth and touch touch, push, hold, talk for nothing all the time and steal the spectator without too much emphasis and movement, this man steasl the show for the audience!
For me, pickpocket steal with "elephant comedy" and too much spectator move " go there,no go here, hmm yeah perhaps there was better", they're not pickpocket

Hey guys.

Just wanted to ask the same question and than I found this thread. Great tips and advices!

Thank you very much.

I really appreciate it

Cheers

Nikki

Wow, yuo guys work with precision, heh... I've been wantign to get into pickpocketing but I don't think I could be slick enough for that.

I have been playing with pickpocketing lately...I've been watching some videos on it etc and realised the best way to do it is in conjunction with a magic effect. If you take their focus and attention and direct it toward the magic trick then that's where their focus is and that's what they will be concentrating on. If for example you tell them to hold a deck in their hand, then put their other hand on top, then stretch both of their arms out in front of them and tell them to focus on the deck and imagine all the cards going back into order, or imagine their card now reversing in the deck, triumph etc then you have the perfect opportunity to stand behind them. Then in asking them to take a step forward for example you can dip into their pocket and they will walk themselves out of wallets, phones, keys etc

I am also quite tall so putting my arm over someone as I greet them is easy and at this point you can easily remove sunglasses, pens from pocket protectors etc...

I can't wait to lean this