I am currently a police officer in the United Kingdom. The majority of the time, I deal with teenagers; moving them on from street corners, advising them regarding underage drinking, etc., etc....

I am new to magic too and recently purchased Modern Coin Magic by Jean Bobo and I also bought a s**** coin, a pen to be used with the "pen though...." series of tricks and also a pre-torn 50p piece.

Now, I want to learn a variety of money tricks to perform on the teenagers when I'm out and about. Basically, along the lines of, "If I can make this 50p piece disappear, will you lot disappear and stop hanging around this corner?" Hopefully the magic will break down barriers and build up a good relationship whereby the teenagers will respect me.

Just wondering if people can name a few tricks that I could perform whilst out and about on foot? I would usually carry money on me and a pen and paper. Likewise, if you could provide links to see the tricks, that would be great. Remember I am a beginner and I will be standing up close-up to the teenagers.

For a s**** I like Peregrinating Halves.

I do a routine that uses two tricks from Bobo's. First Winged Silver then Gaddabout Coins. Neither uses a s****.

I'll post a clip of my performance for you this weekend. I'm sort of busy during the week.

Buddy of mine that is a cop does a bill switch using a TT and gives a patter that starts out with a dollar bill and he asks what happens when you add a good education to it and it turns into a twenty. Next time he sees them he starts with a dollar bill and asks them what happens when you use it for drugs and alchohol and he changes it to a summons. He made the summons on his computer in the exact shape and color of a bill, looks pretty cool.

There is an excellent effect for you, perfect for your job called thumbcuffs. These are cuffs that you can put first in their fingers. They cannot escape. Then you can put in yours and you can escape like Houdini style. Easy to do and it is a lot of fun.

Also I am sure a lot of these kids smoke. Learn some tricks to vanish their lighted cigarretes with a TT. The effect is pretty strong because you can pretty much take a cigarette ourt of their mouth still burning. Ask them if they do not go away you will vanish them like you did with the cigarette. The vanishes with TT are pretty strong and there are a lot of DVD's and books that can teach you how.

Have Fun.

Once you learn how to do a finger palm or thumb palm (read Bobo's for that information), you will be able to pull coins out of kids' ears and noses, which is always pretty impressive. And once you learn how to perform those sleights with both hands, you can also perform the "Miser's Dream," a coin classic to which Bobo devotes an entire chapter, and pull endless amounts of coins from the very air itself.

In the meantime, you might want to pick up a Copper/Silver coin CLICK HERE, or a "Scotch & Soda" coin set made with Euro coins CLICK HERE and scroll down. Both of these gimmicks are discussed extensively in Bobo. There is also a "Cigarette Thru Quarter" using Euro coinage, CLICK HERE and scroll down.

These are some basic and useful gimmicked coins that will permit you to do some amazing things right under people's noses, especially when you can combine their use with a few basic coin sleights. Although I've provided an American source for these items, I'm sure they must also be available from UK magic shops. SETH

I was hoping this thread was about tricks you can perform to cops when they pull you over...

At least he did not ask how to make things appear from the jackets and sleeves of those he meets on the job.

I was going to ask how I can plant things on suspects - hehe

Thanks for the suggestions so far. The majority of these teens are lippy and like to answer back and try their luck, so any tricks that will just astonish them and make them shut up would be appreciated.

More suggestions welcome

Slow burn if you are looking for money tricks. Sorta likethe if you add an education you can turn your 4, 5 pound notes into 4, 10 pound notes. The cigarette up the nose is great. I forget who does it, but there is a killer one from a guy here on the Café. Kosnitsky??? maybe. I also pm'd you about something else.

Travis

Have you considered spooking them into silence using mentalism?

Do you know how much change you have in your pocket?
I'm getting an impression

Now I'm getting an impression of some youngsters having a misfortune.

Here's a couple of effects that might shut their mouths.

Not sure if this is available in Euro but "Karate Coin" is a suggestion.
Easy enough to make too.

Bending coins as a show of strength. Again, not difficult to make.

Tearing a coin almost in half? Not as easy to make.

This is fascinating because I find it hard to imagine street-smart troublesome teenagers being impressed with magic tricks. But you're the policeman so I guess you know best. These are going to be extremely challenging conditions to perform in, aren't they? Aren't they going to grab, and not stay where you want them (for angles etc)? If a trick bombs, or you're burned, what's that going to do to your authority?

Not saying this is a bad idea at all, but I'm interested in how you see the social dynamics of it.

I would suggest mentalist tricks. Not only would it impress them, it might put them on their toes as to just how much you know and can sense about them.

With that in mind, pick up a copy of Corinda's 13 Steps or anything by Anneman. The Time Machine watch is a great time prediction device.

Good luck with it -- the force is made that much better by officers like you who take the approach that teenagers on the street can benefit from outreach. As an attorney in the U.S., I see all-too-often police who start with the premise that a teenager on the street is a lost cause.

Having been a "street-smart" troublesome kid, and having been part of a Chicago copper's family, I can definately recommend ...fire! Yep, a simple flint flasher & some flash cotton & you have their attention. After all we all know how to train a mule.. First you must get it's attention.

Joe

Why not combine the cigarette vanish with fire? That always blows people of all ages away. Just stuff a TT with some flash paper. Don't forget to line the TT with some foil or you'll destroy it after a few times. Fire magic is powerful, especially in low light.

The Bent Cent by Ray Koenig might work the problem is that they don't seem to sell any
with British pennys.

vash

Check your p.m.

How about the very old effect
called
Cops and Robbers

I would suggest you stay with sleight of hand with coins. I would not go along with anything that is bulky for your pockets because of your duties. Learning sleight of hand with coins will requires you to use any type of coin. Carrying gimmicked coins may cause you to loose concentration of your job. I was about to mention bill tricks. The best area you would be able to keep a bill from getting sweaty is in your wallet. I would not recommend a police officer to pull out his/her money wallet when on duty to show a magic trick. I would not recommend any escape tricks because a officer should always be ready and alert for safety. Try watching dvds and read more books on coin magic.

I say all this because I use to be an officer too.

Dynamike

Many thanks all for your PMs and your advice. I am aware that my personal safety is my main priority and it goes without saying that I will only perform tricks (if I master them) on small groups on younger teenagers who I know anyway and have built a rapport with over time.

Thanks once again all. Will let you know how I get on.