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levitate Veteran user 319 Posts |
I've been doing coin magic for a good 8 months now, and have easily learned enough to get together a routine. Most of my practice time has been in front of a mirror or video taping myself. On camera, I look pretty good. When I have performed one on one, same deal. Recently, I have been performing more at school - usually surrounded. It seems before I even get started, I've already been caught; I never would have imagined I could flash in finger tip rest. My question is: What routines work well in this type of sitiuation? and what can I do to improve? I never have this problem with cards. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Michael |
Dan Watkins Inner circle PA 3028 Posts |
You can improve your angles by drawing your hands in closer to your body if you need be.
This kills the angle from anyone at your back. For a right handed performer the left side is usually a bit weaker because that is the side people can catch glimpses inside your right hand. Keep that in mind when you perform and try to kill your hand down so the people on the left don't catch glimpses. You can also move your body away from a bad angle by turning and performing to the people on your right. It mostly takes a spatial awareness, and proper selection of effects. |
Michael Rubinstein V.I.P. 4665 Posts |
Dan makes some good points. Remember, you can always substitute sleights that keep you cozy - Al Schneider's classic vanish instead of a retention pass, etc. Move the coins toward the palm when surrounded, and to the fingertips when you have the angles. Select tricks that you ar comfortable doing in different situations, so you won't be caught off guard when asked to perform in less than favorable conditions. Good luck!
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Sk8rDave Regular user California 189 Posts |
In general when performing surrounded like that I keep palmed coins in classic palm and keep the hands palm down. Don't use any subtleties that would let someone over your shoulder see the palmed coins. Stick to routines where you can do that without looking to cozy.
When it comes to coin magic, some of the most beautiful routines must be held on to until proper conditions arise. When I'm performing impromptu I try to situate myself to minimize my angle problems and if I don't have good enough angles then I don't take a chance on a trick that might get spotted. You only need one guy to bust you to ruin the illusion for everybody. One final note, when I'm performing impromptu my attitude is that I want everybody to have the best view possible. Towards that end I try to situate myself with a table between my spectators and I. Because I'm talk about trying to give them the best view of the magic and want everybody to have a front row seat spectators often scramble to be front and center on the opposite side of the table. If someone sits behind me at a particularly bad angle I let them know that they won't be able to see anything there and will miss out. Then I will adjust my body so that all they can see is my back and the really can't see anything. My whole attitude is that I want everyone to be able to see everything and it creates a very open feeling to my magic. I hope that helps Good luck, Dave |
theonejimmie New user Phila., Pa. 54 Posts |
When I find my audience surrounding me I try to keep my hands close and in front of my body. Kills a lot of bad angles, This also make those who want to see what is going on to move to my front in order to see the effects.
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levitate Veteran user 319 Posts |
Thanks,
The information you guys have given me helps a lot. However, I'm still at a dilemma as to what to open with. It seems as soon as they coins come out, they want to check and make sure there are no extras, which many of my coin work uses. What coin routines that don't use any extras, would work well in my situation? Most of the "clean" routines I know use a lot of pinch, not conducive to my enviroment. At the very least, could I use an expanded shell? Thanks. Michael |
TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-01-20 12:51, levitate wrote: Use subtlties that help prove there are no extras without drawing attention to them. Have a spectator get the coins for you out of a coin purse, for example. I did a simple 2-in-the-hand routine with mints at a valentines party and had one of the speckys get the mints out of the bowl for me with an impromptu feel. I had one in finger palm all the while but I had just previously made sure my hands were shown unmistakenly empty without saying as much. Just gesturing with your hands palm up at a bowl of mints more than does the trick. You could start with a coin up your sleeve. Have the specky put 3 coins in your hand. Drop your hand, shake the coins, and now you have 4!!! After that, it's confidence and generating interest in something besides your hands. At that point you should be directing their attention 100% of the time from point A to B to C. Done properly with confidence there is little room for... "hey dude, show us your hands first. I've seen this one before. In fact, I do it myself, dude!" so use subtlties for the visual proof and use your words to direct their minds. And for ditching the extras if necessary... check out Michael Close's "Too Ahead" routine. I don't do the effect but he uses body language very directly to help. He reaches across his body with the hand that actually holds the known coins and shakes them at someone's ear as he says something like... "Sorry, I don't mean to leave you out of the fun. Do you hear the coins?" During this, he ditches coins in his jacket pocket with the other hand. When I perform, I notice that ditching is about the easiest thing to do. Nobody is watching. They're busy looking at each other, laughing, staring at a prop. Whatever. Practice noticing when the off-beat is. So, you just chuckle with them and put yer hands in yer pockets. Very natural thing to do.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
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shanester Loyal user Darlington, England 267 Posts |
Frank,
how much coin stuff does Michael Close do and what is a good source for it? Thanks Shanester |
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