Hey thanks Pab, but I could never be as smooth as Issac Hayes, but glad to be in any comparison to him and his piece of magic called, "Shaft."

Happy you like the magic, the MB Transpo remains a real favorite of mine. Happy to share it with others as there's so much to learn from it as to some good coin magic, as it really puts the base in your face.

In the meantime, here's another wonderful piece of inspiration as to the art, someone as encouraging to my journey as any of the best I've seen. Proving that you're never too old to learn. And so like the great Yogi Bear would say, "Definitely not your average bear," aka, it don't get much better than this...

After looking back here over the past year, I thank you all for so many of the kind comments as to my work and as to me. It is humbling to hear that so many people around the country and even the world enjoy my contributions to the art. I look forward to meeting some of you out there as you look forward to also meeting me .

I remember all the many fine magicians large & small that I came across along my rambling way, and I truly appreciate each and every one of them. They all showed me something worth remembering them by. Which is why I continue to take the time to show you those that you might not have seen, some that you might not know of their works as well as some notable others. It shows that good magic can come from anywhere, and that's about where I learned it from, thankfully from everywhere. And as always, it's not just about me but about us all.

Like Eric Jones, here's another young man I watched grow in the art with pride. I can remember him first being interested in some of my coin work here, and then going on to so much more.. 👏🏽

Yes MIKE IS A TERIFIC TALENTED MAGICIAN HIS RING ROUTINE IT IS THE BEST EVER.PERHAPS HE WILL POST A PERFORMANCE OF HIS ROUTINE

VINNY

So, to answer some questions from PMs (which I love, so keep them coming)...

Sleight of Hand (SOH) or Trick Coin magic?

I've tried them both, and while growing up was always attracted to the tricky coins in the showcase window at the old Tannen's Magic Shop in downtown NYC. I had all the staples like Dime & Penny, Scotch & Soda, Nickels to Dime, Copper Silver coin, etc. And I still like those old tricks, but to be honest, I feel I didn't really learn good coin magic until I began to develop good SOH. It is the "how everything works" part of coin magic, even the tricky coins are developed off the SOH that the creators want to spare you of. So, they are aware of the SOH involved (and usually quite good at it themselves) to come up with trick coins that help you avoid the usualy more challenging moves of manipulating the coins. Clever stuff for sure, but there ain't nothing like learning the deeper understanding of SOH, it's like a key to go through any door, to go anywhere you want.

There is one more aspect to consider here, and that is to mix & match both SOH and Tricky Coins, when you do, you get the impossible. But it all still takes practice, that's the secret sauce that makes it look like magic.

Some of my work uses both, but SOH is always at the base of it all like this favorite...

Thanks Grady, appreciate the kind words and recognition.

And yes, I add new things periodically to the website and appreciate all the comments about it. As a matter of fact, just added another that I've received quite a few notes of interest about...




https://gumroad.com/mb217magic?sort=price_desc#WaszK

Sometimes things get buried down deep under other things that seem more important at the time. It's always a good thing to go back every now & again and check, as that's how I found a lot of my effects that were worthy of their own spotlight. Coupled with some re-newed thinking, approach, and new audiences, an old trick can shine like a new bit of gold again...especially a cutey-pie like this one...

Thanks so much...Always good to have in some way encouraged good people to this part of the craft, especially someone like this that has done the same things in another important part of the art.

It’s great enough to hear from your own choir every now & again, but when a giant of a guy from another forest in these woods chimes in about you, well, that’s something, and greatly appreciated. ☺️

Big, small & all, it’s always good to go together, all for one. 😊👍🏽

Marion, the use of your Liwag Subtlety in all your videos posted above is amazing. Magicians should study your use of this technique, which is so deceptive. A Liwag added here and there in a coin effect can greatly enhance that effect. It's those little subtleties, those little touches. when added to our tricks, which greatly elevate our magic to a higher level.

You named this thread, "Thank you, so much." I want to thank you for bringing the Liwag Subtlety to the attention of the magic community. It is a highly valuable tool.

Hey thanks Ray, appreciate the recognition here.

I've been doing & speaking of this for a long time now. As in the beginning, I just wanted to bring attention to something that no one seemed to think much of up until I did. Think I started mentioning, showing & explaining the greater importance of this in about "2008" or so in some of my published work. Up until then, I don't believe it had been so expressed, it didn't even have a name to it so that it could be better identified, demonstrated and explored as I did. I'm happy to have brought it more into focus and shared its brilliance with so many others, here and across the globe, as I really tried to better sprinkle its greater seasoning everywhere for the craft. 😄

Thanks again for the fine recognition by you and so many others of my efforts. 🙏🏽

Marion(!),
like always,..
a pleasure to watch.

'Powerfull Stuff',..tickles a question out of me, though. (🤔)
In your first Crimp Change tutorial,
is this the 'Blow Change Move' you taught?

The reason I ask, is a bit embarrassing,..
but,
...I origianlly downloaded it to my daughter's computer (😕),
....didn't have my own, at the time.
After learning the 'Crimp',..
I wanted to learn,...'the rest of the story',...
..she'd moved out,..
and won't let me NEAR her button-box today!

Sö,..after all that labbering,..
I guess my question is:
Where do I go to, to learn your 'Blow Change Move'?

Thanks,..
and thanks!
(Ray found the right words,...and thought! 👍)
gallagher

NP my friend, help is on the way.

And thanks for the kind words about my work, and I enjoyed your story about The Greatest, Muhammad Ali (aka, Cassis Clay). I remember him and I having lunch by ourselves during his book tour in NYC back when I covered the sport (Man, I did a little bit of everything). We had a blast sharing our love for magic. He even threatened me with that old snarl, grabbing my collar and putting his fist to my chin, as he wanted the secret to a trick I showed him...of course all in the jest that Ali was famous for. Man, what a journey, absolutely magical...And yes, again some Powerful Stuff!

Thank you and I appreciate all the many PMs I’ve received as to this matter of Liwag Subtlety. My story never changes about it, as I called it as it was from the beginning. Plus, it is too well documented here on The Café to try to embellish or change, and that’s because I’ve always told the truth about it. And I don’t think that that truth, that part of the historical record here, has in any way been disproven really, perhaps a bit dismissed as unimportant in some ways, but not disproven. In fact, it is the absolute impetus for all the discussion on all this, at least that’s about where it all starts, with me naming it. I mean, who knew that this little thing, that initially no one seemingly cared anything much about, keeps taking center stage, sorta like the Ambitious Card relentlessly rising to the top of the deck.

I’m actually humbled by it all, because at the end of the day, I sorta helped it most to take its own bow as something much more special than it was thought to be by the big, small, and all. And for the record again, if you have my “Little Giant Coin Routine,” aka “Egg Roll” (and a lot of folks do) then you have the work of this in full photo and video explanation, all the way back from circa 2008. And as I remember, it enjoyed good popularity as per the old review strings here on the Café from that time. Here’s a photo (from a series of photos) from the download manuscript, of me showing it, just for the record…

Anyway, it is what it is and always has been really. I’m just happy to have shared something provenly more worthwhile than it had been thought to be. Reminds me of the old story of, “Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors,” when young Joe was eventually shown to be much more than the throw-away brother he was initially thought to be…Man, what a triumph.

Click here to view attached image.

"..Now all you have to do is put one of these in each of your front pants pocket, and a back pocket, and even your jacket pocket and you’re ready to go...A couple are popular, even classic, 1 or 2 tried & tested from off the beaten path, and even a hidden gem in there for you...4 pockets, 5 tricks...And that’s it!..."

This is from a download on my new website, where I share a bit of my "Less is More" philosophy. I didn't spend a lot of time speaking of my work, as magic shouldn't be just about the "Me, but more so about the "We." My stuff is still all there for you to take a look through, with even some new stuff coming soon, but this is a special download called A Furious 5, and I offer it for FREE there.

http://gumroad.com/mb217magic

I hope you take a look around and check it out...All are welcome.

Some good thoughts, therein -- to inspire as well as 'simplify'.

Best perhaps is the parting thought that all magic effects and sources can be great if one "follows."


It is wondrous to see how your site is growing.

Hey, thanks funs...

This FREE giveaway was a tremendous success, and I have been happy that people have actually reached out to me about it, even from other forums here. Sometimes, it don't take all that much to extend a good thought or some good magic...

Like just yesterday, a little girl and her grandma were dropping off the community newspaper to my box. Instead of putting it in the mailbox at the curb, she actually ran it right up to my door, where I was sitting on the porch enjoying the day. She was a cute little thing, and as I thanked her, I asked her if she wanted to see some magic. She smiled a great big smile as her grandma yelled, "She sure would...She loves magic, and so do I." And away we go...

So, following my own advice, that "Less is More," I just did a little spellbound set for her and granny. Well, their eyes popped out of their heads, as I jazzed it up just a little and then gave the big Morgan to the little girl to look at. She marveled at it as grandma said she hadn't seen one of those in a long time. As I took it back, I clearly put it in my left hand, and as they watched it, and then magically I pulled the coin from her ear, and her mouth just dropped & here big eyes widened as she also saw that the coin was gone from my closed fist. What fun!

It was nice to do a little magic again for people in person behind all this quarantine stuff. It felt great to make people so honestly smile with enjoyment again...It really doesn't take much.



*Oh, and I know it's been said that I shouldn't wave my hand out to the specs like this, but I bet you can see well-enough why I so cavalierly do with great confidence.

Much thanks!

"... to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics...This is to have succeeded."

It's always a nice thing when you can be as much a part of the magic as the magic itself...It just makes the whole experience even more enjoyable and fun for the specs and the magi. I call that a win-win!

Marion, it's the "waving the hand out to the specs" that gives your Liwag Subtlety its power. It's disarming, and throws one completely off the scent.

Thanks for noticing, and I agree. 🍻

I’ve been saying for a long time now that this is where the application tremendously differs from that of the more stoic and more background use of Ramsey Subtlety. My usage shows a much more dynamic presence, one that is able to invite specs even more unwittingly into the magical lair, so to speak. 😉

And so, your hand stays deceptively in the moments right up close, palm down and even palm up. I certainly “realize” what I’m doing when I use it, and the complete deceit is undeniable as to the magic and the overall responses.

Thank you for this greater recognition and appreciation. It is one that many have incorporated into their magic to great success. And I’m happy to have shared its overall deeper, much more pronounced ability with the craft. 😊

Roy, that is a good question...

I have spoken on balancing out your coin magic with other things many times now, and still believe that it all helps to make you an even better magician, and helps to make your coin work even stronger, sorta like a good intermission act. I much prefer the coin work as presented by guys like an Eric Jones, Jay Sankey, etc., because they mix it up and keep it interesting.

Now, I’ve seen a lot of good coin men but honestly very few of them any better than Eric Jones, truth be told, and despite being a remarkable coin guy on every level, he can do it all, sorta along the lines of the difference between Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra...I mean, Luck be a Lady is nice, but then there’s Billie Jean, Check the differences to see the differences, potentials & possibilities, I’m just sayin’.😁

Ultimately, to each his own. 🙏🏽 Some just play with the coins exclusively and that’s fine but maybe more fun to them than everyone else,😁 except maybe a crowd gathered for just that, where specialty has its place. But variety is the spice of life in all things, and throwing in a few other well-placed effects can work as a good respite and great build up to your greater love of coin magic. You may not know it, but I like cards and other closeup magic, too, and better learned the art from the more well rounded along my way of the big, small & all. I truly appreciate it all, and so while having a specialty in coin magic, I’m happy to be able to do a bit more to some decent degree, PLUS, it’s even more fun. 😁 I have a mini-book coming real soon toward all this, “Gifts From The Old Country” ...Stay tuned. 👍🏽

Thank you for your patience... My latest offering is now available, Gifts From The Old Country: A Mini Magic Book

It's magic for everybody. Enjoy!


https://gumroad.com/mb217magic?sort=price_desc#bUljP