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jimvines Regular user Brooklyn, NY 161 Posts |
I've worked up a Shell Game routine and am going to test it in my weekly table hopping gig this Saturday night.
Was wondering if any magi here have done the Shell Game in the table hopping environment. Seems like it'll be a fun thing to do at the right tables. Best, Jim
Magic & Mentalism
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twistedace Inner circle philadelphia 3772 Posts |
I have used it table hopping. I used the S4S a Street Shells. The shells don't make the tell-tale hop on smooth surfaces. It works great for kids and adults. I always made the first phase a very easy sequence to follow, let the kid choose where the pea should be then said " most kids pick there, but their parents always pick this one over here" pointing to the shel, with the pea. I then look at the adult and ask, "right?" As soon as the adult replies "right!" I show the pea under that shell. The kids and adults are surprised and everyone watches a little closer. The shells are great because it's not magic, it's inherently fun, and everybody knows what they are supposed to do. Have fun with it and let us know how it goes!
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ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
Keep this in mind: the table you play on is owned bij de the people sitting at that table. I mean that if you play it they will try to pick up the shell without asking. this can ruin some plays.
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twistedace Inner circle philadelphia 3772 Posts |
I give out numbered poker chips and explain they are to put the chip in front of the shell they think has the pea. This prevents them from grabbing the shells and lets them know the order they guess in. I also state that they are not allowed to touch the shells when telling them the rules of a real shell game. It's audience management.
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benhart New user 65 Posts |
If you use the Bottom Ridge Shells it does not matter if they pick up the shells. These shells work great for hands on play because they can be fully examined. The bottom ridge keeps the pea in the shell when the shell is moved in all directions, which makes it a fair game. You are never forced to take the pea. You can take the pea when the timing is best for you, to make it an unfair game. They also work great on a table surface and the peas are the best. http://www.3shells.com has a big selection of shells and are all high quality shells. I have many sets and the shell game has become my favorite thing to do after getting the BRS.
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Avocat Elite user 446 Posts |
I mentioned this in another thread, but seeing Gamblin' Sam's Bonnaroo grifting video got me thinking about stand-up shells
In case you haven't seen it, he runs the con using a balled-up rubber band as the ball and plastic bottle caps for shells. But what got my attention is the fact that he performs standing up and surrounded, outdoors with no table at all. He used a jewelry display pad as a table, and move the shells around one-handed while holding the pad aloft with the other hand. The pad's too small to use with typical S4S Street Shells, but I've made my own "close-up stage" using a canvas from a craft store (the kind that's already stretched over a wooden frame so you can begin painting on it immediately). I wrap the canvas & frame in velvet, and the result is an attractive close-up pad that's both rigid and light as a feather. For table-hopping, a close-up stage like mine could be placed on the table, or simply held one-handed if you don't want to be intrusive. I've actually experimented with doing an entire shell routine, complete with final covered loads, using only one hand at a time. It's surprisingly easy, and just as effective. |
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twistedace Inner circle philadelphia 3772 Posts |
Gambling Sam's demos are great
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ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
Quote:
On 2014-02-06 19:54, Avocat wrote: after seeing sam's way of working I I developed a routine. using a board and performing surrounded. the advantage that they can not grap the shells because you turn away. I am in charge. my routine is based un the beaumont routine. ending with the fingers on the shell. |
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Avocat Elite user 446 Posts |
Good point, Robert, thanks for pointing it out.
Performing one-handed not only gives you the ability to move the table around to show everyone how fair it is, it also allows you to pull the table away from grasping hands, even while not actually looking at them. It's a wonderful audience management aspect of the handling. Incidentally, my canvas is 12" by 16" - not at all small but still light as a feather and rigid as wood. It's big enough AND strong enough to allow me to finish with both shells covered. |
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ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
My board is 10" x 15". an additional feature is that you can turn the board around. giving extra posibility for that extra dificult spectator.
and you can use both hands. just by changing the hand that holds the board. sometimes I reveal with my left hand then again with my right hand. |
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Magic_son Regular user 195 Posts |
Been doing shells for quite some time. I also use the poker chips, I also use Bob Sheet's Stack to have "just in case", with a two other chips on top.
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jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
Incidentally, my canvas is 12" by 16" - not at all small but still light as a feather and rigid as wood. It's big enough AND strong enough to allow me to finish with both shells covered.
[/quote] What's it made of? |
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Avocat Elite user 446 Posts |
Just google "stretched canvas" or look up "canvas" in art supplies
It's a canvas stretched over lightweight wood, normally what an artist would paint on I just stretch velvet over the canvas and staple-gun it down to the wood. The result is cheap, lightweight and gorgeous to behold I'll try to attach a photo of my silver shells set-up Click here to view attached image. |
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jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
Quote:
On 2014-02-18 15:11, Avocat wrote: Neat. Thanx. I never thought about using stretched canvas. Have you tried using it without the felt? |
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Paul Rathbun Inner circle Michigan 2543 Posts |
Has anyone ever found that the gambling aspect of this game has offended anyone? Particularly families? I work for families and have thought about doing the shells, but I don't want to offend anyone. I doubt I would, considering they play the shell game on the Price is Right which is a G rated television show. Thoughts?
https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/9160
Sleightly Better Magic Reviews - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9rkXnNp8CxftN-rxU_WcbQ |
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ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
Paul have you ever played a game with some friends and one of them was a sore loser? became angry because somebody cheated, but was not? that is the human kind. not matter what game you play it will be there in some way or another. this aspect has nothing to do with the 3 shell game it is in the human nature. I played this game for a charity event where people put money down. I learned that people are hard to the shell game man too and try to beat him also, in a not so fair manner. or are you overanallising this and are you scared that you might offent one person and because of that that you might lose money?(this might seem hars but is not so intended. see, now I am afraid that I offended you) you can't do it right for everybody. it is the way you do it.
and if they say they don't like it because of religious reasons you can stop and do some close up magic. so my question to you is DO you have a problem with it? one point I sometimes find hard is when you play with children. do you let them win all the time. if you have a group of children you can't let them winn 10 times. I don't want to give them thier first thrauma. so for me I play for the adults and when they are wrong, again, I will ask a child to point out the right shell. the child is right. |
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twistedace Inner circle philadelphia 3772 Posts |
No, I haven't had a hard time with it. I actually use a few presentations for families. One is that you get better at it as you get older - the parents always win and the kids lose. It drives the kids nuts and the parents love it. I REALLY play down the gambling aspect and simply call it a guessing game.
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Paul Rathbun Inner circle Michigan 2543 Posts |
Robert,
No, I don't personally have any problem with the shell game. But I do live in the Bible belt where there is a church it seems on every corner in my area, and a lot of religious people that go to them. I just don't want to offend someone that thinks of the shell game as gambling. That was why I asked. I like the idea of playing it up as a simple guessing game and nothing more.
https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/9160
Sleightly Better Magic Reviews - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9rkXnNp8CxftN-rxU_WcbQ |
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twistedace Inner circle philadelphia 3772 Posts |
That's a great point, Paul. You need to know your audience.
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ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
Paul good point. if you don't play for money it is not gambling just a guessing game. I had it once that somebody did not want to take or touch a card because of thier religion. I respect that.
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