I was doing a coins across from Mr. Rubenstein's book at my fave cafe and the response I got was "you're getting pretty good at that."
Does that mean it didn't go well? Or was she just being nice and didn't like my performance of it and I should take up sword fighting as a hobby? Or did it go well?

On “Fool Us”, have Penn or Teller ever told a magician, “You’re getting pretty good at that.”

I think you know what she meant. Yes?

I would just take the comment at face value and enjoy it. Not every trick needs to require a jaw-dropping reaction (although I'll take it if I can get it!). It sounded like a compliment, so I'd just take it and thank the spec for it.

The problem is that specs aren't always honest about what they see. Sometimes they aren't fooled but want to be polite. Sometimes they are fooled, and reaction is laughter -- which is fine if you're used to it and/or are expecting it. So it's often tough to know exactly how things played out.

A mirror or a video camera will always give you unvarnished and accurate opinions about angles and sleights. But unfortunately, they're not much help in judging misdirection. Doing the same trick multiple times for different audiences is probably the best way to get an accurate gauge of how you're doing. SETH

Water off a duck's back, man... Either way, just let it roll off ya.

I will just take it as a compliment.

I'd like to make an analogy to the musical world. I play in several different bands, and after a gig, people sometimes come up to the bandstand to chat.

When people tell me they enjoyed the show, I've learned to simply accept their compliments and say "Thank you, we're glad you liked it." If you had some problems during the gig, maybe you played a few clams here and there, or somebody blew an intro or an outro, just let it go. If you tell the person that the show wasn't as great as you had hoped, then you're almost insulting them by implying that they don't know what they're talking about, or they didn't listen well enough or whatever. Although you thought the show sucked, they liked it, so why spoil their day?

So you're right, just take the compliment and then fix whatever problems you may have had for the next gig! SETH

Well put, seth

Of course, any Rubinstein Coins Across routine will be well received (smile emoji):)! My take is that if you performed for this person before, she is complimenting you on not just your effect, but the way you performed. Had she not seen you perform, she couldn't have made a comparison comment. I feel she liked this performance better than the last one she saw, and that is indeed a compliment, especially if you performed well the last time! Curious as to which one you performed. If it was one where the last coin appears in their hand, the compliment to me is the look of surprise on their face when they discover the last coin has traveled into their own hand! Regardless, if you were happy with the way you performed, you did well!!

Thanks. Indeed it was. And it was. I think I will keep that one in my repertoire.

Is this routine in your book?

I took a look at the table of contents and the coins across routines, but none seemed to be this particular effect.

That wasn't the name of any of the routines. What I meant there was that any of the coins across routines in my book would have been well received. I am not sure which one was performed.

Yes, I recognize now that I misread your statement. Thank you.

BTW, I was also a college student at Syracuse.

I was at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse, from 73-77. They called us Stumpies.

I had two SU roommates in an Environmental Science and Forestry program. Is SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse a different school/campus?

Quite a jump from Environmental Science and Forestry to Veterinary Medicine!

I was there 1982-1983, having transferred as junior.

Anyway, probably should end the sidebar.

Thanks for the coins across clarification.