I was called upon to do a show recently in a small room. I thought I could work my show almost anywhere but I was wrong!

I was backed up against the wall, and there were people seated on my right and people seated on my left. If I worked to the people on my right then the left couldn't see and vice versa.

This got me to thinking about tricks that can be done surrounded. It seems a good one is the Miser's dream. However, I'm trying to think of what sleights to use. Has anybody done the Miser's Dream surrounded?

Looking at Bobo, I see the thumb p*** is recommended for many versions, but for one version in said the back of thumb p*** was more angle proof. However, I think this means if the audience is seated all on one side of you, some seated and some standing. I don't think this would work well surrounded.

The next obvious choice is the Downs p***. Does anybody think this would work?

It's all possible...

Your best bet is to grab a video camera and set in one spot of the room and work it from different angles. Watch the tape and see what you see.

Some approaches will be more suitable and fit your natural style. Others will rule themselves out.

Try not to think so much about the concealment. After the coin is plucked, dropping it in the bucket and reaching out should be secondary. If all sights and sounds are consistent with a coin going into a bucket, there is basically nothing to conceal. After it is established that the coin is held, your mind and eyes should be searching for the next one. Dropping a coin in to a bucket takes no thought and is not magical. If the audience is engaged in what you are doing, your hand should be fairly invisible in plain sight.

There is a gimmicked version (believe it or not) that does not allow the palm or the thumb to be displayed. I saw a competent clerk demo it very effectively once.

Thumb p is good. But mix in some classics to show some freedom in the thumb. The amount of palm displayed in a Downs would be limited in a surrounded show, but it's certainly usable. Pull some coins from high on the back wall while facing the audience, if you want to do some open hand moves.

Why not use the classic instead of thumb? This will give you fewer angle problems.

If you watch your hand position, and as long as the audience surrounding you isn't below you, you should be able to do it surrounded. When you look at someone like Al Flosso's routine he practically sticks the kids head in the bucket. If you can do it that close with the audience member, you should be able to do it surrounded.

Eric Evans does street magic and has a pretty great misers dream routine that he often performs surrounded.

you can reach him at http://secretartofmagic.com/

Ill have to double check if its surrounded, but reed mcclintock had a close up type misers dream in genii