The muggles thing makes me smile every time I read it.

That right.
The FD should be done casually. Preferably not as a stand alone trick but as an unimportant part of a routine.

If you need to take a coin. or anything for that matter, from your hand to free up that hand, how would you do it?
This is something we all do normally but once we start thinking magic the simplicity of just taking an object becomes a studied move.



Good luck,

Hey Will,
Keep perfecting the FD, however as you investigate coin magic and maybe purchase some of the books recommended, you will probably find a better coin vanish (one that will seem more natural to you).
Good luck, thanks,
Bruce

Yeah I'm going to get one of the coin books probably next week. I'll just keep practicing until then.

I love the retention vanish. Nothing fairer than that I think. But it needs to be stressed, that after you make the pass, make it look like you are doing it for a reason... also, wait a few beats before you show the coin vanish... Instant vanish Points the spec to the method... a Little time and distance obscures the method.

Make a magic gesture, snap the fingers. it really sells to the spec when the magic happened. What I do sometimes is after I make the magic gesture, I act all flusterred cause the coin is still there... I then do the gesture again with More emphasis... this misdirects the spec to when the magic actually happened.

This is really, really good advice. For some odd reason, I can practice something for hours or days, and I just can't get it. I give it a break for a few days or a week or so, then I try again, and it's a LOT easier to get. And this holds true with my magic, my drums, and my guitar. It's a really funny thing. Good luck!!!

I also suggest to slow down. Get the motion correct, and then pick it up once it falls into place, no pun intended.

Dai Vernon addresses this sleight in his book "The Dai Vernon Book of Magic" by Lewis Ganson. It is the example he uses when he explains his theory of being" natural". This helped me out tremendously when I learned the sleight many years ago.
Cardamagically,
Dom.
:)

I think my FD is (slowly) getting better. I still have to work a bit on my timing and motions but it's a lot better than yesterday.

Revolution, on the other hand, is godly. A friend of mine let me check out his DVD and it's great. It seems a little angly but I'm sure I'll learn them in practice. But I can't see building a routine around just because it would seem to "finalize" your coin routine. It might just be because I'm still learning and haven't really thought about putting together a routine yet but the way it ends just makes it seem like there is no more coin magic to be had for a while. But the skill is still very useful for smallish objects.

I plan on working on my FD this weekend since I'm off. I'm probably be picking up J.B. Bobo's book also.

The best thing about the FD is it's applicability. You can use it with coins, with sponges, with crochet balls for the C & B routine... etc... basically anything small enough.

I remember once a friend asked me fi I can do some magic, I was coin-less... so I looked around , found a 9 volt battery.. I did a coin flurry with a 9 volt battery.

So keep up the practice.

As an aside, there is value in getting a good night's sleep, and practicing just before sleep. your mind keeps working on the practice even as you sleep. This includes Motor skills. Secondly, a day's break from time to time actually improves your rate of learning.

lastly, don't burn yourself out. Keep it fun. The moment you think of FD practice as a chore, leave it be for a day or so.. do something else..

keep us posted

I find I have trouble keeping my fingers from flicking when I do the secret move in the french drop. It takes a lot of practice to get it natural.

What has worked for me is lining up the pinky of my left hand so that it covers the finger tips of the right hand...giving those fingers some cover. the Pointer of the left hand covers the thumb of the right hand... work hard to NOT move the fingers of the right hand. The ONLY finger that should move is the thumb of the right hand.

The finger placement provides cover for any unnecessary finger motion and flash. I used to flash a lot, and I still do from time to time. So that is one of the things I am always practicing.

Always remember as you pull the left hand away, make a big gesture, while looking at the left hand... This covers other things going on by directing attention. Move the fingers of the left hand to reposition the coin comfortably in the left hand. Wait a couple beats... Then make a magic gesture, a snap of the fingers works very well, as it does a few things at one time. The magic gesture, does a lot to psychologically convince the spectator of the situation. It cements in their mind when the magic takes place. if anything is unclear PM me.

Just a few thoughts...

Hi Will,
Also known as Le Turniquette drop.
Practice without the coin first. As many of the coin moves should be done that way,simply to help coordinate mind and hands. Once comfy with that you can start using the coin. I'm a right handed so here goes. Placing the coin in position by r. thumb and first fingers ( it looks like a big C)both hands are in same position. The right hand thumb on top,the left hand thumb on bottom by the right palm almost touching.I'm sure you know how anyway.The Move to practice: The left hand moves away from you towards it's left, the right hand moves toward you. The left hand makes a grabbing motion to take away the coin in close palm. practice this meny times.
Respectfully DonRodrigo

I'm a righty too but doesn't the coin start in your left hand and "ends up" in your right hand?

What always made the French Drop problematic for me was a tendency for the left hand to "clutch" as the sleight was being performed, which was a bad "tell" and a dead giveaway. Also, I was always leery of the angles, which can be a little dicey. Finally, the whole idea of taking a coin in your fist never seemed very natural to me.

I tried all sorts of fixes, using Arthur Buckley's alternative (and creative) hold on the coin, and then taking the coin at the fingertips instead, etc. Finally, I decided all that effort was better used for different sleights that were easier and simpler for me to execute, and that didn't have so much baggage.

Remember, you don't have to learn every sleight in Bobo; if you can just handle one or two or three well, you will be fine. I think you can still become a member of the Magic Castle without having to do the French Drop! SETH

It should appear that way but NO, not really.



I agree. Be relaxed and casual. 'Taking' the coin with the thumb and fingers seems to be best.
--
Here are some tips:
The move shouldn't be focused on or even looked at. It's done casually and without hesitation.
People will follow the movement. As the RH 'takes the coin' it moves to the next segment of the routine and the LH relaxes.
Follow the hand that's supposedly holding the coin with your head and eyes.

I like to move my LH, which is holding the coin, to the right and to my RH. RH continues this 'flow' taking the coin and moving to the right as the LH lowers and relaxes.

Anyone else think that we are discussing too much on an open forum? Describing what the move is?? I really think we should take a few steps back, and remember that any Curious Tom, Dick, and harry can come around and read this.

While I know that this information may be " out there" does not mean we have to spell it out for the spectators and exposers... I realize that someone MAY end up breaking into my house for example...does not mean that I help him find My hidden cash stash, and Gift wrap my china...

Know what I mean?

I understand what you're saying. I think I have a better understanding of the move and I don't want to be responsible for any major exposure so I'll shut up

Will, it was not only directed at you... It just seemed to snowball, and everyone adding their handlings etc.. I think that secret sessions is there for a reason. I remember only having 1 or 2 posts, and wanting those 50 posts to come ASAP. I just waited, read, asked pertinent questions, made comments I felt were appropriate, and 50 came pretty quick.

I just hate handing out the silverware ... You'll get to 50, then we can discuss french drops or whatever to our heart's content. I did not intend it to be directed only at you. So no need to shut up... We just need to be judicious about what we discuss in the open area...

I know it wasn't directed at me. I was just making a joke. But I did feel a bit responsible since I was the one that asked the question.

Hi Will,

The best piece of advice which keeps popping up, especialyl with coin magic is to leave it for a while, take a break. I remember when I was first learning how to coin roll, it took me about 3 months of solid practice before getting it down remotely well.

Like you, I became frustrated and almost gave up learning the flourish all together. Someone told me to relax and to leave it alone for a few days, when I came back to it I had made more progress in the first hour than I did in the entire last week before the break.

As for the FD itself, another good tip that helps it look natural is to keep the index and thumb holding the coin motionless. Once you "steal" the coin the finger and thumb should still be in the same position for a split second.

Stick with it, but have a day off every now and then, you will find it comes easier that way.

Kit.