Does any one have any tips about puting a act together using the old cons?

I do shell game and the Monte, do you know of other con tricks, that will go down well in a show?

Do you have any advice about a theme or character I can thread through the show?
Mario Morris

Docc Hilford has a con act on video you can get from Flora Inc.

Thanks for the advice.
:kewl:

I know Mario doesn't post much anymore, but I wonder what
happened with this. Did this work on the street?

The reason I ask is that I have been considering doing
a pea and shell game as my finally. But, I feel the
effect is so small that it can not possibly be used
as a finally. Then I considered how I could make it
play bigger and I've thought independently to something
similar that Chad did. (How did that work out Chad?)
After seeing his video's it greatly motivated me
to pursue this more...yet I have not moved on it yet...

I"m still considering it...which is why I'm askin...

What do you think?

As it happens I used the shell game for a number of years!
Since this post I worked it on the streets in Canada and the UK.
Their are pros and cons with this.
Number one I have found this is only worakble on pitches that have a good history to it.
In other words an educated audiance who will no your a performer,
don't work this on a pitch if you think they may suspect you of being a con man.

I developed a routine around the the shells that lead up to a mini chop cup as a shot cup.
The finish was three golf balls. I then started using a large chop three baseballs and a large hat load!
Works a treat.

I tend to work the shells and the mini chop cup at close up engaements all if I am not hatting.

Hey Mario. I'd add an effect known as 'Fast & Loose'. It is a classic short con, up there with the 3 shell game & the 3 card monte. It goes by several other names also.

Fast and Loose or my preference Loopy Loop as there is natural progression 3 loops, 2 loops and finally 1 loop. You can also play person who pulls chain against person who puts finger in chain (man vs women, child vs adult etc).

They're looking for an excuse to shut down buskers! Why hand them ammo?

This is an old thread!
Personaly I am not a fan of fast and lose but I have worked it.

I agree with Ed Rhodes if your dealing with cops that hate you and looking for excuse to shut you down don't do it!

On the other hand you be a fool to toatly pass this by as a themed show for events and places where they love you and understand performing arts.

No diffrent to a Medicine Man show, you can do a con man themed show for festavels and events it fantastic done well.

Also some pitches where you will have to do an audition you will be fine because they know your an entertainer, speaking from my first hand experiance.

I performed my routine with the shells for about four years I still do at times. In that time I never had trouble, why because I was selective on where I performed it, get it.

Any way, THANK YOU but this is an old thread, I am no longer looking for addvise on con magic, rather my good friend Solrack (Carlos) is.

The very first time I tried busking I was in NYC. I was doing great until I pulled out "Color Monte" at which point our friendly police officer pulled up and broke up my crowd. (He wouldn't let me move on. He had to "explain" to me first how he could have run me in.) I remember (and this was over 35 years ago) the first guy who'd stopped. He had this great grin on his face like this was something he'd been waiting to see for some time. When the cop broke up the crowd, he hung around. Finally the cop looked over at him and said; "You don't have to watch. He isn't going to jump me!"

Heh.

I actually had a guy (I use this term loosely, he looked like he crawled out from under an ashtray in the back of a bar) walk up to me when I was doing the C&B flip out a wad of cash and ask:

"How much can I win?"

I politely explained that this was a magic show and not a con game. He looked disappointed and left.

What *really* frightened me is he was serious.

There's one born every minute...

Legalities and peculiarities of your own particular pitch aside,
we all should know what we can and can not do on the pitch (I think?).

My question was geared towards how does it play. It's a small effect.
Can it be a closer for half circle show? Is it strictly sidewalk?
After watching Chad work his routine...it seems you could use it for
complete show...

Sometimes I'm surprise how far back people can see what is going on.
For example, I do a coin manipulation beginning of my set to get them
to move in. Some folks still hang back, but last night a couple that
hung back reacted to what I was doing...they where astounded. I was
astounded that they could see what I'm dong from that far. So long
story short; will pea shell game play as a closer? Am I over thinking
it?

Thanks for responses...Thanks Mario

These old threads have priceless, thought provoking posts...there be
treasures in them old threads...

I think any sucker effect as a closer is a poor choice.
There are a host of reasons as to why.

Quite simply, I shall offer you the following;
"Would you want to leave any event feeling like a sucker?"

Having said that, would you be further compelled, to reach into your wallet and pay for this feeling?

Good point Dev...I will keep that in mind in doing what I do...

I am more inspired by watching Terry Ward in Disney,
now called, Hollywood Studios. I know he mixes it up,
but most of the time he closes with the pea and shell game.

Would I reach into my wallet...yep...his show is darn good.
Despite that...

I agree with Devious, but I would go on to say for a lot of effects if you play your audiance as suckers they will feel like one once you finished. Art has no boundaries so you can present this in so many diffrent ways as long as you think out of the box.
Whit Hayden plays this well, you see a scam like show yet it an reinactment for one example!
Playing as an expouser show is yet another way. Working it as a form education is another way.
Remeber you will have to be selective where you do this and you will need to be clear that you are their to entertain them!
I would suggest this is not good for regular sidewalk.

I have a friend who used to be a police officer working vice. He now lectures to police officers around the country on select issues. But, the main point is, he also has an extensive collection of vintage carnival games, all either rigged physically, or by concept so that the player cannot win.

His lecture is hilarious because he uses these devices with actual audience volunteers, allowing them to win when he wants them to, but lose in the end, when it matters. It is of course, an exposure show, but certainly nothing that is damaging to magicians. Not only are the devices and their methods remarkably intriguing, but the "victims" really enjoy getting taken, because it's all done at the hands of a nice guy with a great sense of humor and honest respect for his audience.

If you think closing with a sucker trick is not for you, he proves in spades that an entire act can be made from sucker effects.