Hi guys,
Nice to see this is still a topic of interest. To steal the concept of Dunniger’s quote, “For those who (understand), no explanation is necessary – for those who do not, none will suffice”. I am starting to feel this way about the topic – Shane, thanks for understanding and doing your part for yourself and coin magic to improve the inherent problems. I really enjoyed your post.
Chicken – good to see you posting and questioning motivation and logic in our effects. Keep up the good work.
Sorax – You have some valid points…well, one - Coin magic is good; now to talk about your misguided attempt to dismiss this thread. I am not wrong. Actually, I think you are confused with the concept of logic. Something can be logical in premise, but defy logic. For example, look at MC Escher’s paintings/drawings – they are logical, but defy logic. You can have a logical premise in magic while having a plot that defies logic. I find your response very similar to those we have dealt with in the past, in that it lacks any real world experience and critical thinking skills – Ask yourself - Do you really think that someone who “hates” coin magic would spend so much time on the topic of coins? When you said, “If you think they suck and don't use them, your loss” I found this to show no understanding of our goal, which Shane nicely quoted from Nate Malini. I could reverse it and say, “keep doing coin magic the way you are doing it now…your loss”. Lastly, I find it very old school thinking to believe that because coins are common place that this is a pro, when it could be considered a con as well.
So, I have been doing much research and questioning on coin magic myself – trying different things. After showing random people some magic (random - as not friends or family, as they can be a tainted crowd) I asked these random people questions and listened to comments about what they saw. Here are some of the things that were said when asked about coin tricks, and sometimes coin tricks in relation to the card trick when it came to responses and enjoyment. There are actual responses I have written down from my show and others, with my interpretation in brackets.
“Every time I see coin magic, it just seems like juggling”
(I think the spectators way of saying, it seems method heavy with lots of moves that make no sense or lack logic. This kind of statement points to the general consensus of what is interpreted by many coin effects).
“I was disappointed you didn’t pull it from my ear” or “I am just glad you didn’t pull it from my ear, I think that is so corny”
(There is this preconceived concept that exists that coin magic is hokey. Coin effects tend to have, at least at first, the same sort of “rabbit out of a hat” reputation that makes people think this. Can we use this to our advantage)?
“Are those trick coins” or “Wow, your sleeves are up”
(I wrote these two together, because these are both common conception…not misconceptions, but conceptions on how coin magic is done. It is not a misconception, because it is true sometimes – it is odd. I have done ungimmicked and gimmicked versions of Hopping Halves – what do you think played better? Gimmicked? Because it looked moveless? Nope – the UNGIMMICKED version played better. Actually, I find with the exception of some shell (or shell variant like flipper or slippery Sam) that gimmicked coin effects appear…well, gimmicked. I will probably take heat for this, but this is just my experience both personally and in watching other magicians and the comments I hear. However, I roll my sleeves up to avoid the “using the sleeves” accusation, and Ortiz talks about the importance of doing this in Strong Magic. If this is so, do you think we have to stop using gimmicked coins to a certain extent? I think that a mix of sleights and gimmicks, as seen in shell work, may be the best combination).
I never liked coins, as they seem pretty simple to figure out – isn’t it just always in the other hand.
(For this girl, I wasn’t even doing an effect where this was true – however, this is common perception about coins. Even when I see someone mimic a coin magician with NO idea of method, they will replicate putting the coin in the other hand to make it vanish (Tyler Wilson shared this story with me too). I think this, once again, speaks to how method dependant coin magic seems to be. Also, I would like to point out the bold truth to this girl’s statement, as this IS often true. Moreover, I think many people can watch coin magic and realize that what they are seeing is sleight of hand – so the idea is to make coin magic look like there are no moves, this could be difficult, like I stated before coin magic is often so sleight dependant and move heavy. There are so many layers to other types of magic (like cards) that it really plays on the psychology of the spectator, and in turn they fool themselves, so although there is a method with cards – the barriers are very strong and creative…when in coin magic, unless they are gimmick heavy the barrier is exactly what people think. I wish we could find more barriers within coin work – but for what?).
Food for thought - thanks again.
