Been a long time since I was in this thread.
A few thoughts,
The emotional hook happens in the SPECTATORS MIND with coin magic. They see 4 coins gather invisibly from separate corners of the mat to the side, and they don't think "wow... they travelled invisibly".
They think to themselves about how it's possible... and they can't figure it out.
It's more than a puzzle,... I've had people come back a month later needing to see it again.
People thought Criss Angel was possessed when he first came out on TV in the US... they want to believe in this crap.
Besides, with card magic, the spectators know you're just doing a bunch of cuts and shuffles to find their card. It's the same game of HIDE AND SEEK, except you hide the card in the deck to "lose it" (when we know it's not lost... it's in the freakin deck). Same game.
Scott.
I agree mostly, but most coin magic is much easier to pick apart then cards, I still get "its in the other hand" sometimes, even when its not.
Here is a problem here, this is from morgician
1 “Look at you (the audience)” magic – where the magic moment happens in their hands or they do the magic, example: participant cuts to aces or sponge balls - arguably, very strong magic and most often the most convincing, because of its hands off nature.
2 “Look at us” magic – where the magician has the magic happen in their hands, but the participant is involved throughout the process – sign the card, pushed it in, shuffles the deck. Involvement ranges, but more than just holding something or examining an item. Example – (depending on its structure) – ambitious card, crazy man’s handcuffs. This type of magic has people involved, and the magic is happening with them – but not in their hands. This kind of magic is not as strong as “Look at you”, but is still strong in impact – not reaction, as anyone can get reactions – but I digress, as this is another essay.
3 “Look at me (the magician)” magic – where the spectator is just watching the magician, like they do a TV. I say “spectator” instead of “participant” because they are just watching or observing. This magic can gain reactions – but the impact can be limited, depending on the effect. Again, still strong magic – yet, I argue not as strong as the two other kinds. Examples are plentiful – floating bill, flourishes/cardistry, many card routines, and yep - coins effects…almost all of them.
Now, most coin effects fall under category 3 and some under 2, with a few under 1. Most coin tricks really lack the audience participation, which downplays it. Also to add onto this is something Randy said, is that while most coin magic to the magician looks truly unique and special, to the spectator, most of it looks the same. We can look at a spellbound, a 3 coin vanish, or a coins across and be looking at something that to us is stunning, but to the spectator most spellbounds look the same, as with the 3 coin vanish and most coins across.
Which is why, imo, one of the strongest effects dispite it being illogical, is a signed coin bend, this is what the spectator says to a friend about it. "I took out a coin, signed it, he took the the coin and showed it to everyone, placed it in my hand and told me to squeeze as hard as possible, when I opened my hand, the coin, which I signed, was bent" That is going to stick with them for a long time, there is so much spectator participation in an effect like that, it feels like you did almost nothing and they did all the work.
Where as a 3 coin vanish this is what they'll say "He somehow got 3 coins, each one vanished a couple of times and came back in the end." Still a good reaction from it, but it wont leave the impact that will make it so memorable.
Now dispite all this, I still am a coin guy, all I do with cards is flourishing and working on controls, passes, and shifts. I never enjoyed card magic very much, I love working with my hands, and I enjoy coins more then anything, but this argument shouldnt make you completely change your opinion and thought on coin magic, it should be food for thought, taken with a grain of salt like all things, and to leave you thinking, how could I make my magic better?
Also another thing I like about coin magic that doesnt seem to happen with any other kind of magic, is when you take out cards, some people dont seem very interested, but this never happens with coins, a kennedy half, a walking liberty, a barber, a morgan, even a quarter, they seem to just trance people, almost inviting them to inspect them, they want to see more, that and people love money, you cant deny it, you drop a quarter in a crowded room and most the people turn to see what happened.
Out of the coin effects I do for people, the one that they remember the most and ask me to show they're freinds, is something using the muscle pass. For some reason people people love the coin that falls up, I have amazed an entire room of people just with the coin that falls up. When it is hidden in an effect, people still remember it, Jet Coins, probably one of my top 3 favorite routines, somehow people always remember it. I did it for some freinds, and a few days later I overheard them talking about it. "I dont get it, I saw him place the coins in his hands, I saw them in there, his hands never came together, and somehow they went to the other hand." Idk why its so memorable, it just makes me believe that the muscle pass is one of coin magics most powerful moves, but thats another discussion itself