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bishthemagish Inner circle 6013 Posts |
I really love performing the old street swindles like three card Monte. I learned three card Monte from reading Erdnase, Dai Vernon’s Inner secrets of card magic. Later I got tips from both Buddy Farnan and Dai Vernon at his lecture. Most magicians and I have been ending the routine with the crimped corner. This is a great ending and a great way to end the routine.
The problem with doing these swindles for entertainment is that they happen for a while and then they sort of just end. Most swindle routines like this lack an ending that could be considered good theater. And since we are entertainers and not con men and in fact we are magicians the effects that we do should entertain and have some kind of a punch finish. This is the ending I use to end three card Monte. I use two red tens and the queen of spades as the money card. I have been doing the routine while holding the deck in my left hand during the whole routine. And on top of the deck of cards is an extra bent red ten. The deck of cards is held in my left hand face up in the master grip for the one handed bottom deal. I do the crimped corner and then after turning over the crimped cornered red ten my left hand holding the deck turns over the queen. Then I do a one handed bottom switching the queen out for the extra red ten. The one handed bottom is in the same action and the same way I toss the three cards while I do the Monte. I pick up the ten with the bent corner and unbend it and toss it face down on the table and then show the third ten and toss it onto the table and mix the three cards. The queen is now on the bottom of the deck and the audience doesn’t see it as I mix the cards. I set the deck down with the backs up and the face of the deck is on the table and the weight of the deck pushes down on the bottom card the bent queen of spades. Or I just place the deck into the side sport coat pocket or back into the deck box and put it aside. Now there are three red tens on the table and this is the idea I use for the ending. The audience guess and they get a ten. I turn it face up and set it aside. I mix the two remaining cards and say how about two card Monte. They guess again and get a red ten and I set it aside. Now were down to ONE card Monte. They guess and I let them turn over the last ten CLIMAX! Just some thoughts on a classic swindle that I may use on a swindle DVD sometime if I ever get around to it!
Glenn Bishop Cardician
Producer of the DVD Punch Deal Pro Publisher of Glenn Bishop's Ace Cutting And Block Transfer Triumphs |
ImpromptuBoy Special user Toronto, Canada 898 Posts |
Great ideas as always Glenn. Keep up the great work.
With respect, Michael |
bishthemagish Inner circle 6013 Posts |
Thanks Michael I have been lucky enough to hit on good endings for both swindle routines - the shell game and three card monte!
Glenn Bishop Cardician
Producer of the DVD Punch Deal Pro Publisher of Glenn Bishop's Ace Cutting And Block Transfer Triumphs |
ImpromptuBoy Special user Toronto, Canada 898 Posts |
Well, you're an expert at it. I respect and use your ideas a lot.
Michael |
bishthemagish Inner circle 6013 Posts |
Thanks again for the kind words Michael.
I do not consider myself an Expert. The "Expert" should be considered only as promo for a paying audience and my list of clients and for the image of performing shows for people. But after the show is over - I am just a student of this kind of magic until the next show. Being a student is important because I feel that it is important to keep learning and love what you learn. That is the great thing about magic - the more you know - the less you know and the more you want to learn. And being a student of magic is a lot more fun!
Glenn Bishop Cardician
Producer of the DVD Punch Deal Pro Publisher of Glenn Bishop's Ace Cutting And Block Transfer Triumphs |
ImpromptuBoy Special user Toronto, Canada 898 Posts |
Excellent words Glenn. Well, I do consider you an expert because you being in the field of the art of magic and con games, you truly are a a GREAT addition to the list of greats.
With respect, Michael |
bishthemagish Inner circle 6013 Posts |
Thanks but I feel lucky to have come up with good routines and endings for both the shell game and three card monte.
I may do a DVD on this and fast and loose but I may just add it all to the teach in theater at my web site when I have the time. Thanks again for your kind words.
Glenn Bishop Cardician
Producer of the DVD Punch Deal Pro Publisher of Glenn Bishop's Ace Cutting And Block Transfer Triumphs |
NCR New user Northfield Mount Hermon, MA 61 Posts |
Sounds like a very effective ending. I think that you are right that you need something special to end it a turn it into a real piece of magic.
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bishthemagish Inner circle 6013 Posts |
Thanks very much.
When a magician is doing the shell game and three card Monte as a demonstration and for entertainment - it is a lot different that the con artist that is doing it in the street. Because the shell game and three card Monte are performed by magicians for entertainment. I feel that they need the surprise, unexpected ending as a final that gives that wow feeling from the audience. I feel less attention to the street con part of the effect and more attention to the entertainment value of this as a "magic entertainment" effect. The same feeling I get when I read Erdnase and what he wrote about three card Monte in "Expert at the card table".
Glenn Bishop Cardician
Producer of the DVD Punch Deal Pro Publisher of Glenn Bishop's Ace Cutting And Block Transfer Triumphs |
entity Inner circle Canada 5060 Posts |
Bish:
Just curious as to your psychological justification for holding the pack in hand all through the routine. Or do you worry about such things? - entity
email: tomebaxter@icloud.com
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bishthemagish Inner circle 6013 Posts |
If the magician leaves the deck on the mat - in the way - then bends the cards and picks up the deck and puts the three cards down. I have never had the audience ask me why I am still holding the deck with my left hand.
Most audience members have never seen a real street monte worker. So to hold the deck and toss the cards is never really questioned but It looks like I picked it up again to get it out of the way. It works.
Glenn Bishop Cardician
Producer of the DVD Punch Deal Pro Publisher of Glenn Bishop's Ace Cutting And Block Transfer Triumphs |
Tielie Special user 749 Posts |
Isn't the routine a bit weird to perform with your left hand occupied? I mean... performing a trick with three cards when you got a deck in your hand seems aquird to me. But if it works, you should continue to do so I like the ending, quite surprising.
Deal cards, not drugs!
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bishthemagish Inner circle 6013 Posts |
Some of the real street monte con artists play the game with dollar bills held between their fingers.
Holding the deck with the left hand is justified enough for the lay audience and just sounds new to magicians. And it is new. I used to switch out the card by going back to the deck and doing the Gerald Kosky's "Kosky Switch" but to do the move the magician has to take the bend out of the cards first. This way is much faster and cleaner.
Glenn Bishop Cardician
Producer of the DVD Punch Deal Pro Publisher of Glenn Bishop's Ace Cutting And Block Transfer Triumphs |
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