Sorry if this is a bit basic, but any advice on how to avoid s***l coins giving themselves away by the distinctive sound?

I'm having trouble especially with hopping halves on this one. I know that at least 90% of the answer is 'practice' but I'd rather make sure that I'm practicing the right moves rather than the wrong ones!

Thanks in advance.

Hi Nick, I had the same problem and found that I stopped using them, maybe someone will give the answer to us both, BTW have you got or used Eddie Gibsom coin unique it's a very good trick and there are several routines and they all blow the specs away if you want to know more please p.m. me

regards trevor

I squeeze the coins to hold them together as I place them in the hand. also overlap them a bit so if they do talk the specs think it's the two coins touching.
works for me....

Paul

I seem to be the only one noticing the sound of the coins, this is my favorite effect to carry around because it gets a great reaction & even when repeating the effect for those who have watched me do it before no one has ever questioned the authenticity of the coins.

In addition to above techniques, I've found that well timed patter and interaction with your audience helps - when they're listening intently to you, they're paying less attention to other noises...

Yes, I used to have this issue but with experimentation I have completely eliminated this issue. It is all in the fingers, you need to be able to keep the coins seperated and do not allow the shells to touch when they are being removed from the coins. It isn't easy to explain but it is possible. Another good thing to try is, do the movements very slowly looks good to the audience looks like you are trying to be as clear as possible in your moves and it slows down any possible noise you might cause.

I have also had this problem with the noise, which is a shame, as Hopping Halves is a great trick. Recently I have been performing Mark Jenests version from his video
"Miracles While U Wait". His version does not use a shell, but creates the same kind of effect. Also Carl Andrews has a version which uses no fakes at all on one of his videos. Of course these versions are harder to do than the standard Hopping Halves, but eliminate noise problems, and automatically reset.

Regards,
Iain.

I agree with Vovin, I have just worn out - read that - messed up my second set of Hopping Halves because they go everywhere with me.

Two hints for not messing up your hopping halves.
1. If you keep them in your wallet, don't sit on it as the shells will bend.
2. Don't keep them in your pocket with the coins contacting each other as they become worn and strangely shiny on the high spots.

As for Noise, I used to have the noise problem too, but Vovin has hit on the same two issues that have cleaned up my handling and the noise, keep the coins apart and handle everything slowly and deliberately.

BroDavid

Are there good and bad makes of hopping halves? The ones I have don't seem very snug and I think that if I keep my hand still for too long people will see the grooves.

Any ideas?

Owen

As with any manufactured magic stuff, there are probably good and "not as good" ones.

But as for the specs seeing the edge, don't give them the chance. Keep your hands below their eye level. Keep your hands loosley curved up - not quite cupped - but let the coins sit in an ever so slight valley in your hand. That will make you feel better. And for the really exceptionally snoopy spectator, you have taken away some possible exposed points.

But generally, if you keep things moving along, and don't give them too much time to examine the results, you will be fine with any decent handling.

I think the flow of it, letting them see that you still have two coins, one copper, and one silver, is enough. Don't leave it out there for too long or they will start thinking about how you did it, and you want to control the pace and everything in the presentation right up until the end when you are clean. THEN you release control, and let them wonder not only how did the coins stay, but now they have the added problem, of wondering where did the coins go!

Keep working on it, and you will fall in love with this effect, loose shells or not.

I have two sets, and one is looser than the other, and I really don't care which set I use to perform, because I control what they see, and for how long, and I direct their thinking along the way.

BroDavid

Thanks for the good advice. I will keep on moving!(so to speak)

Owen

OK, if you are looking for a noisless Hopping Halves... Might I suggest "Short Hop" from the "Miracles Whle You Wait Video" With Mark Jenest. Trust me the Video is the bomb and so is the routine.

Enigma

Thanks, I will look into that.

There's some GREAT advice on here. Thanks!

I was wondering which manufacturers you all prefer for Hopping Halves?

Johnson?
Sterling?

Which one do you prefer and are there quality differences?

There's even the set that's called Gold and Silver using Roman-like coins instead of Half dollars and English pennies. Do any of you have trouble with specs thinking that these coins are gimmicked just because they are not real coins?

Thanks for your help!
Nels

Johnson's are better than Sterling's.

I like the Johnson product as well. I like to use the half and English penny set, as I use these (actual) coins in other routines and it all fit well.

In regards to coins being destroyed, I long ago bought a coin pouch from our local magic dealer - something someone obviously homemade. When it's open there are two separate pouches side by side - each just big enough to hold a set of coins (I put hopping half in one side with quarter (in bottle) and scotch & soda set up ready to go in the other). There's a flap that comes down and is held in place with a spot of velcro on each corner and then the whole thing folds in half so the two sides face each other, again held in place by velcro. Keeps lots of coins ready to go and I either get them out while at the bathroom and load into pants pocket prior to performing or, if I'm wearing loose pants, I can actually get coins out with one hand in my pocket (unassumingly, of course, lest anyone ask what the heck it is I'm doing ).

I am using the Carl Andrews routine... the coins can be examined before hand, no noise, no gimmicks and it resets instantly!

Tony

If you play some music such as "Tubular Bells" fairly loudly, you will not find clinking sounds to be a problem.

alleycat

I recently pulled my set out of a dusty drawer to try out the following:

Tickled by a remark at McBride's Masterclass I wanted to compose a routine with the hopping halfs in the vertical plane (a la 3-fly) for stand up work.
I think I did a good job. It can be performed now for up to 30 persons at a time.
There is no thin sounding because of good routining. I'm only days away from performing it for paid venues.
Did anyone else ever try this?
If so, wanna share some thoughts?

I agree with everyone who uses Jennest's Short Hop, off his Miracles While You Wait video. It is a great routine and the coins are examinable at the beginning.

For the record, Carl Andrews routine is basically the same as Jennests, with one or two subtle handling changes I believe. Carl, if my memory serves correctly, asked permission of Jennest before putting his routine on video.