Hello all,

I have been on SfS and on the Café for a while now and finally have a question. I presently have Decon Dan shells and am having fun with a unique set of shells and I will be getting some Gold Shells (magnetic) and wonder if you should really turn over and show the inside of the shells a lot? Many of the videos show the performers turning over the shells. Do the street guys do that? I LOVE Bob Sheets aquitment! I guess some of it relates to conditioning your spectators to what is allowed and not. Maybe you can do both. But I am curious to what the REAL guys do on the streets. THANKS!
-Scott M

Go to youtube and search the term "bonnaroo grifter". You will see a real street worker.

There also is much information on real street work (as well as this youtube video) on the soon-to-be released Volume 2 of The School for Scoundrels shell game DVD's (what will soon be a trilogy).

Scoundrels Touch: Shell Game Volume II - 2 Disc Set
http://www.chefanton.com/scoundrelsstore/shell_game.htm

Street work is not the only thing that is taught. Go to the page and scroll down to see the info.

I understand this will be released very, very soon. If you have any passion for the shells these are exciting times.

Mota,

Thanks...this is good. I don't have any of the Scoundrels DVD's yet but will soon.

The Youtube video is a good study. What a cool concept in a board that you can carry around and perform on...have to find one or make one up somehow. I will try to find more like it on Youtube.

A friend lent me "The Three Shell Game" booklet and this is good reading for the thinking. I love finding sentences that reveal the psychology of creating desire in the spectators mind to draw them in for play.

I see Phil Cass doing this on his DVD for magical purposes well.

Yes, I have a passion for the shells and SfS will be getting a check soon!

-Scott M

Scott,

The shell game is very addictive, and I mean for the performer. It is fun to perform. The biggest problem one faces is a routine. The reason it is difficult to hold ones attention is that after the first two or three times you fool them as part of your routine they now know it is not going to be where it is supposed to be. That is where a routine such as Phil Cass does is fantastic and probably lasts for about 10 miniutes or longer....it is based on a gambling but I am sure no money changes hands. You would have to watch the video to understand what I mean. It is titled "The Pea & Shell Game" by Phil Cass. It is fantastic. Entertaining as well as instructional.

One suggestion I would make is to get yourself a set of Whit Haydn's School for Scoundrel shells. They are fantastic along with the star of the show "The Perfect Pea". This pea is the best that I have found.

Sorry to ramble. But I love the shells.

Thanks Acesover.

I have the Cass DVD and really enjoy Phils presentation. The way he creates doubt AND confidence to pick a shell reveals he is experienced in TRUSTING him.

I just got the Magnetic Golden Shells and once I got used to the weight, have to say that they are awesome. I will get their videos next.

I also got a "fast & loose" and am really getting into the Scoudrel stuff.

My Deacon Dan shells work awesome with the Perfect Pea and I love Tom's pea with a game called 'BeFooled'. Its a game with shell like cups that you drop colored beans into as you mix up the cups...Tom's pea is a bit larger and I have worked out a routine with that combo.

The 3 Shell book is about the best I have read so far.

Much to learn and to then practice. My fingers are getting bulkier from handleing those gold shells.

-Scott M

Glad you like the shells. I perform them every chance I get.

I have performed them at lest 50 times for my grand kids (twins 10 years old boy and girl) and as soon as I say, "did you ever see the shell game"? they run away. It is now a standing joke around here.

Having done it for many of the people I play cards with they all are amazed by it. I have a very short routine that involoves 4 misses (two of the misses are in the first part) by that I mean when they miss the first time I tell them it was hard beause there were 3 shells and only one pea then I let them pick from the two shells that they did not pick. I hope you know what I mean. Then I go on for two more misses.

John (acesover)

Scott, to answer your original question--I expose the shells at the end of my routine, it sort of signals the "finale" and lets those that have been playing see that the shells do not conceal gimmickry. The SFS stuff is, in my opinion, the best. Keep at it and good luck. (By the way, I also use Fast and Loose following the shells for a quick "ya can't win" moment.)

Thanks hou_dini,

As I work the shells and train from the Three Shell booklet, I realize the shells will be turned over ocassionaly. Osborn lets the reader know that the suckers eyes will look at the bottom (interior) of the shell as it is turned over while the hand on the table can do something else.

I love this book and have committed, for fun, to "train" as the book is laid out and have learned much.

I do like your thought of a finale with the shells up to end your routine.

Maybe a seperate post of following this booklet would be fun for all?

-Scott M