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Neil Elite user 486 Posts |
Hi Whit
As a proud owner of the superb Street Shells and Perfect Peas I'm investing a lot of time homing my 3 Shell Game skills. One thing that can crop up is the spectator guessing the correct shell because they suspect that the obvious choice will be wrong - the same as the 3 card monte question in this forum too I guess. Do you think that pushing the shell forward before lifting and thus stealing the pea is a good idea? What tips can you give on this aspect of the Game to make it more bullet proof? Thanks a lot Neil |
Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
Glad you enjoy the Street Shells and the Perfect Pea. I am very proud of them, and very happy to offer them to the fraternity.
There are a number of solutions, but it is awfully difficult to describe them in these short spaces and without photos or illustrations, and besides I don't think it is best to talk here about specific methods. Our book on the shell game will cover everything on this subject, and should be out early next year. Also, Andrew Pinard, the creator of the La Maggiore Shells, should be releasing a book on the shells near the end of the year. I expect it to be great. In the meantime, I highly recommend Bob Sheet's tape "Absolutely Nuts" which shows several ways to deal with this, and is absolutely fantastic. A must have. Tom Osbourne's little book "The Three Shell Game" published by Kanter's is available in any magic shop for a few bucks. It is the real deal. It has the work of the real street hustlers. It is a little difficult to follow in places, but jam packed with information. Hope this helps. |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Who is the terrific guy from Australia that does the shell game (DVD is now out) that really NAILS people with his concept and literally NEVER has onyone go for the winner?
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
That would be my good friend, and great magician Phil "Trust Me" Cass.
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ASW Inner circle 1879 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-09-05 11:53, whithaydn wrote: I was on the East Coast last May and showed Bob's acquitment to a hustler who works the tops (and monte) amongst other things. (Whit - this guy actually had a set of street shells in his kit!). He flipped out and had me teach it to him. (Bob taught it to me when I was in DC last year). This is a truly killer move that would fly in a game - in fact it is a huge advance on the older methods. If you need a convincer (or an emergency failsafe) then I agree with Whit - you need to get Bob's tape. I can't wait for the Scoundrels book - and if Andrew Pinard's book is as good as his shells then I'll have to get that too... Best Andrew
Whenever I find myself gripping anything too tightly I just ask myself "How would Guy Hollingworth hold this?"
A magician on the Genii Forum "I would respect VIPs if they respect history." Hideo Kato |
Bill Hallahan Inner circle New Hampshire 3222 Posts |
Andrew Pinard made me aware of the local SAM assembly. My family frequently sees him perform at a local restaurant.
Andrew Pinard did the three shell game for me at a SAM meeting. I can attest that the pea will never be where you choose! Mr. Haydn, Thanks for mentioning Andrew’s book and other magician’s published works along with your own. I’ll be getting both Andrew’s book and at least a couple of your books. I was only going to get one, but after that post, I think a gesture to inspire others to purchase your books is in order.
Humans make life so interesting. Do you know that in a universe so full of wonders, they have managed to create boredom. Quite astonishing.
- The character of ‘Death’ in the movie "Hogswatch" |
Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
Well, Andrew, Sheets, and the rest are not in competition with us. We support each other, and share mutual interests. All of us believe that the shells and three-card monte are very important for magic. Like the cups and balls, they teach the basic elements of deception.
Andrew has been very kind to share the results of his research with us, and we learn and grow from each other's knowledge and experience. I am sure that Andrew's book and my book will have much in common, and much more that is unique and original. It is fun to share the results of our independent research. I am a fan of the La Maggiore shells. They are very different from mine, and each set has it's own strengths and weaknesses. Many of the best shell performers like to play with the many different sets. Bob Sheets uses many different sets of shells, depending on his mood and the working conditions. He uses the beautiful scarab shells put out by Black Fox, the golden shells, the street shells, and La Maggiore. It is a lucky time that so many kinds of shells are available. For many years it was difficult to find any. When we started the School for Scoundrels, the only sets readily available for our students were the Vernet shells, which really are pretty good, and had really decent peas and for a very reasonable price. But as you become more proficient, you want better working and more aesthetically pleasing tools. I think each set has something different and worthwhile to offer, and we are pleased to offer all of them on our site. |
Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
Andrew:
That is fun to hear--that a real grifter is using our shells. Rich Marotta told me about seeing a guy doing the shell game in New York. He was using a hand-cut pea made from a green pencil eraser. Rich waited until the crowd cleared and walked up and put a Perfect Pea on the table. The guy looked up, picked up the Pea and started playing with it. He said "Where did you get that?" And Rich put down one of our hard plastic non-working peas. Instantly, the guy began doing some wonderful switch outs with the other working pea. Rich gave him a set of peas in exchange for some of those moves. My brother on a trip to Spain took some photos of a shell game guy on the streets of Madrid. He was using small carved-out half potatoes and a Perfect Pea. It somehow makes me feel I've given something back to the street after taking so much from it. |
ASW Inner circle 1879 Posts |
Hi Whit,
Quote:
On 2003-09-06 01:36, whithaydn wrote: I can just see Rich doing that, lol. Quote:
On 2003-09-06 01:36, whithaydn wrote: They ought to pay you a commission! Sort of like "ScAmway"... Hey, now THERE's an idea... cheers Andrew
Whenever I find myself gripping anything too tightly I just ask myself "How would Guy Hollingworth hold this?"
A magician on the Genii Forum "I would respect VIPs if they respect history." Hideo Kato |
Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
Multi-level congames. Andrew, let's go into partnership!
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sashain New user Steve Shain 80 Posts |
Don't forget Jack Chanin's reference on the shell game called "Hello Sucker!".
In addition to excellent explainations of a variety of moves and routines, it has a lay out for the game that will get the money. One position pays 1x the bet, one pays 2x, and one 3x. By controlling the final location of the pea to the one that will maximize the dealers take, the dealer rakes in the money - even though some other player wins something each time. I always thought this could be worked up as an interesting demo, but have never seen it used. Steve
Steve Shain
Houston, Texas |
sashain New user Steve Shain 80 Posts |
Question for Whit or board posters:
Re shell/monte games - Is anyone familiar with a variation played with money wrapped in one of three paper or foil packets? In the 1980's on a trip to Xian, China, my wife and I wandered off on our own. Ended up in the Xian zoo. On the steps of one of the buildings an elderly gentleman was dealing such a game. While I have seen many variations on the shell game and three card monte while traveling, I have only seen the above game in that one place.
Steve Shain
Houston, Texas |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
When I first started playin with the shell game we went to a market, bought the biggest walnuts we could find, then filled the inside with plastic wood, did a little sandpaper work, then got some black weatherstripping and cut our own peas.
I never kept up with learning a solid routine, though... Then later Ken Brooke marketed a version called Tweezers... which I fell in love with. He used plastic end caps (like you put on the end of tubes, chair bottoms, etc.) and the finish was a nest of about 4 or five, each smaller until the last one was so small you had to use a pair of tweezers (hence the name) to get the sponge PEA out of it. I had a custom set made of silver plated pieces with a nest of about 10 or 12. Of late, I really like Phil Cass' routine... but you really need to know how to handle the psych side of the routine out you would be killed.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
Pete:
Do you still have the nested silver plated caps? I'd love to have a photo for our book. |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
yassir I still gots 'em.... let's talk and set a time/meeting, etc.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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