In Scotland, Magic is a very popular hobby and is an excellent way of entertaining your friends and family. It is also very useful in business and can be used as a great “ice-breaker” when meeting new business contacts.
This series of articles will teach you some simple tricks, that you can perform anywhere, without any special equipment.
These types of tricks are called ‘impromptu’ by Magicians and are considered to be the most powerful and effective type of Magic you can perform.
The Perplexing Coins
This little novelty seems more of a puzzle than a trick. However, with the right audience and presentation, it can cause quite a stir.
How The Trick Appears To The Audience
The Magician points to three coins on the table.
He asks everyone to watch carefully as he counts them.
Rapidly, he picks them up one at time counting one,two,three.
He them lays them down on the table one at a time counting four, five, six.
He picks up one counting seven and another counting eight.
He pushes the remaining coin on the table aside and, without pausing, lays down the two coins in his hand one at a time, counting nine and ten.
This is seems simple and very easy to follow. However, when the Magician hands the coins to a friend, then they cannot do it, no matter how hard they try.
Even though you show them several times, no one can duplicate your actions.
How The Trick Is Done
It is done with an interesting bit if psychology.
The trick count will only work if you start the count with the three coins lying on the table. If you start with the three coins in your hand, then it is impossible.
So, you play a crafty trick on your friend. After you finish your count, you pick up the coins and hand them to him.
Because the coins are in his hand at the start, he will unwittingly start the count with the coins in his hand and get it wrong.
But, of course, you do not tell them that the starting position is important. You act as though it makes no difference where the coins are started to be counted from.
When performing the trick, do it quickly.
When he gets it wrong, pick up the coins and put them back in his hand and encourage him to try it again.
Do not give him time to think.
If someone else wants to try, then put the coins in their hands and ask them to do it.
A Variation
The secret of the trick can be concealed even more if you use someone’s hand instead of a table.
So, your starting position would be to place the three coins in his hand and then start the count.
The act of counting the coins from his hand to your hand makes it even more confusing.
Psychologically, it does not seem important whose hands the count starts from - but, of course, it does.
Practice this trick well before showing it to anyone.
If Someone Does Gets It Right
Congratulate them and ask them to do it again. Very often they cannot. However, if the do get it right a second time, then don’t worry. Ask them to keep it a secret and hand the coins to someone else for them to try. The person who was successful will feel flattered you are letting him in on the trick.
You will have a lot of fun with this.
N.B. You do not have to use coins. You could use matches, small packets of sugar in a restaurant, or any other small objects that are handy.
By: Michael Breck
About the Author:
This series of articles will teach you some simple tricks, that you can perform anywhere, without any special equipment.
These types of tricks are called ‘impromptu’ by Magicians and are considered to be the most powerful and effective type of Magic you can perform.
The Perplexing Coins
This little novelty seems more of a puzzle than a trick. However, with the right audience and presentation, it can cause quite a stir.
How The Trick Appears To The Audience
The Magician points to three coins on the table.
He asks everyone to watch carefully as he counts them.
Rapidly, he picks them up one at time counting one,two,three.
He them lays them down on the table one at a time counting four, five, six.
He picks up one counting seven and another counting eight.
He pushes the remaining coin on the table aside and, without pausing, lays down the two coins in his hand one at a time, counting nine and ten.
This is seems simple and very easy to follow. However, when the Magician hands the coins to a friend, then they cannot do it, no matter how hard they try.
Even though you show them several times, no one can duplicate your actions.
How The Trick Is Done
It is done with an interesting bit if psychology.
The trick count will only work if you start the count with the three coins lying on the table. If you start with the three coins in your hand, then it is impossible.
So, you play a crafty trick on your friend. After you finish your count, you pick up the coins and hand them to him.
Because the coins are in his hand at the start, he will unwittingly start the count with the coins in his hand and get it wrong.
But, of course, you do not tell them that the starting position is important. You act as though it makes no difference where the coins are started to be counted from.
When performing the trick, do it quickly.
When he gets it wrong, pick up the coins and put them back in his hand and encourage him to try it again.
Do not give him time to think.
If someone else wants to try, then put the coins in their hands and ask them to do it.
A Variation
The secret of the trick can be concealed even more if you use someone’s hand instead of a table.
So, your starting position would be to place the three coins in his hand and then start the count.
The act of counting the coins from his hand to your hand makes it even more confusing.
Psychologically, it does not seem important whose hands the count starts from - but, of course, it does.
Practice this trick well before showing it to anyone.
If Someone Does Gets It Right
Congratulate them and ask them to do it again. Very often they cannot. However, if the do get it right a second time, then don’t worry. Ask them to keep it a secret and hand the coins to someone else for them to try. The person who was successful will feel flattered you are letting him in on the trick.
You will have a lot of fun with this.
N.B. You do not have to use coins. You could use matches, small packets of sugar in a restaurant, or any other small objects that are handy.
By: Michael Breck
About the Author:
Michael Breck is a professional Magician and Entertainment Agent in Scotland.
He has been entertaining at weddings and booking entertainment for weddings for over twenty years.
For more ideas about wedding entertainment go to Entertainment For Weddings and Events or Magical Entertainment For Weddings and Events.