Hi,

I know by feel what tricks I really like...I had the same feelings with CnB and in fact was an hit for me...

My concern is the risk of being perceived as a scam man...

To mitigate this risk I was thinking of using a cartel with written "Cheater Magic Show" or something like that (and having also the magic wand on the table and the CnB under the table to show to eventual cops as a proof I'm a performer)...

I'm also thinking if to give away some chips to make audience bet (that would be more effective to entertain and keep the crowd) or avoid make people bet even if with just my chips to eliminate possible misunderstanding...

Any idea/opinion from experienced pro (just experienced pro please because it is a delicate thing...I don't want to find me talking for hours with cops)?

Thank you very much

...having shell of silver could be an help too because they look more like a show prop but I will not have them until I test everything and chose to keep the rouitine on regular basis...

...there could be also the risk that after the first group people don't stop if they don't look at the cartel and think I'm doing a scam...

You are overthinking this. make it clear that you don't play for money but for something more valuable: your honor. tell the audience that this is just a demonstration.

btw I am not a cop but my farther was. does that count?

Yes...thank you...

My sign says that I am an honest trickster. I tell them up front that they're not going to win as I pull out my big red hankerchief and pretend I'm crying because I'm tricking people and I feel so bad about it. They play for a genuine plastic gold pirate coin that's not worth anything. I also talk about the street con and how you never win. I have never had a problem.

One of my biggest tips ever came when I let a little brother win who was having a bad day after a big brother and a cousin had lost. The look on his face and his mother's face was priceless.

Why can't you just tell them you're demonstrating why no-one should ever try the shell game for money.

"Repeat after me, ladies and gentlemen.... 'I will never try the shell game for money'"
"Ok, let's begin"

You could even use that as a running gag, during the act.

A loud audience yelling the same thing in unison would probably draw even more to watch your act.

Thanks...I'm developing everything (and waiting some dvd/stuff) and I will try it on the street as soon as possible..

that's how I position my presentation of the 3shells to people "Pay attention and try and watch the pea - Here is why you should never play this game in the future for cash"

Then I mention a few stories of Vegas as that pea does its whacky jumping feats.

Most people leave wiser knowing not to trust anyone with 3 shells and asking for bets!

Why go to all that risk ? There's no shortage of good material, and plenty of other places to play the nuts.

Don't do it if yu're in an are where people actually do the three shel game. Cops will arrest first and ask questions later.

And here we come...this is a very different opinion...Are you talking by experience? I mean did it happen to you (or someone you know well) that while performing in obvious magician fashion (table not instantly closable, cartel with written magic show, other trick with you) police had such a lack of common sense to make "big" problems? ....just asking...

I live in a place where buskers are systematically targeted by police because we are a threat to casino business. I have friends who have been arrested upwards of seven times for simply doing their job. I've had friends who have had cops make fun of them and bully them for fun. Friends who have had cops pay homeless people to ruin their shows and cause them to lose money and even a friend whose tip kar was set on fire by a cop. this is not the case everywhere but it does happen, and this is certainly not to say all police are like this but they have jobs to do and will not always take your word for it.

The 3 shell pea game is an interesting game indeed! As a entertainer who has used this effect in his street show in diffrent cities and countries for quite some time some years back. I included it in my Street Performing manual. My experience is varied, and I have different perspectives and lastly an overall thought that is based on reflection that lead me to dropping it.

First off there are places I would perform this effect and there are other places I would not even dream of doing this efeect! For example a little english villiage were I am clearly looking the part of a street performer I used to perform my routine. But a little villiage Andulucia, Spain I wouldn't dream of never mind how well I dressed up. A city like Cardiff in Wales - where I am from were the police are tolerant and educated in regards to street performers I have performeed this effect as well as a regulated pitch. Street performers in Vancouver will remember me performing this the very first time I worked there on Granville island. Howeever I wouldn't dream of doing this in Las Vegas - you'd be a fool to even think of it. You see there are places you can and can't work this. This is my experience.

That all said and done you still have your audience to consider - what do they see, how do they perceive it. My experience is that my audience has a mixed reaction some get it they can see you are a performer. But there are others who are leaning more towards suspision never mind how hard you try to explain it. Either way peple will stop with a mixed air and feeling towards you. So you have to work twice as hard to win them all over. You have to sell them the image that you are indeed a performer. And even if you are sucessful at doing so the strong association between the 3 shell pea game and money remains a negative of you fooled thme, now pay me. So the hats are efected.

My experiene overall led me to dropping this effect from any of my street shows and when I update my book I will add that to it. much as I love these old con effects there is too many negative angles and misuderstandings for it to be a true winner for a busker in my opinion.

If you want to develop a themed act for fetes, fayres and festivals where you are paid and booked that would be an exception cos now you can play the part with true conviction.

Thank you James and Mario...I really appreciate your help, very useful experience that you shared...

Your welcome.

Out of curiosity, Mario, why wouldn't you do the 3 Shell Game in Vegas?

Real shell workers are a problem in Vegas Jason, so in short you going to get misunderstood from every angle.
Trust me not a wise move.

Makes sense. Thank you, sir.

I've done the shell game on the street for over 20 years with none of the FEARS described above. It's a magnet for an audience. The only trouble I had was in 2 different avenues I had someone try
to goad me into playing for money. I declined. They flashed their badges and said, "Keep it that way." I would dare to say the commentators have never performed shells on the street and are only talking theory!!!