Coin Magic Tricks

Best Close Up Pad

Andy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:16:54 +0000

A Close up Pad like none other

The Coin Magic Tricks Blog is proud to announce a new line of custom, hand crafted close up pads. Master craftsman, Ben Zottolo, has been crafting close up pads and close up mats for the magic fraternity for years and has partnered with our website to launch a full line of close up pads.

Ben Zottolo is a master woodworker and craftsman. Ben is a member of the National Guild of Decoupage, Woodworkers Guild and the Woodcarvers Guild. He combines his passion for magic and woodworking to create the best close up pad I’ve ever seen. These mats are the perfect working surface to perform or practice. The Zottolo pad is made of an ultra plush velvet material.

This line of close up pads are hard backed with wood and have four pegs that acts as feet for your performing surface. The key differentiator with the Zottolo pad versus other close up pad surfaces is the material and quality construction. Ben spares no expense on finding the best velvet material for the close up pad. I’ve worked with other close up pads that feel like a computer mouse pad, yet the Zottolo close up pad has a feel and softness to it that is simply a pleasure to perform on.

Your shell coins will separate beautifully without fear of snagging (unlike other pads). Ribbon spreads cascade easily across the velvet surface.

Ben has issues several different types of close up pads although is featured close up pad is the large Zottolo close up pad.

To all fellow close-up magicians:
Several years ago, I was fortunate to be able to buy, what at that time, was a very limited edition Expert Close-Up Pad from THE Benz. Several friends had purchased these pads and referred to them as the Rolls-Royce or MontBlanc of magician’s mats. The quality is superb and there’s no doubt, these hand crafted close-up pads look as if they belong on the counters of Tiffanys for displaying valuable jewelry to wealthy clients. Have already ordered the new “hold-out version” … and no, I will not be selling my original pad!
Thanks, Ben, for helping look like a real table illusionist. – John Oleson

Large Zottolo Close Up Pad

The large Zottolo Close Up Pad has several gimmicks built into the pad that add more mystery and entertainment to your performing repertoire.

Four Coin Hold OutsThe large Zottolo Close Up Pad has 4 coin holdouts that come in dollar or half dollar sizes. The hold outs are the perfect steal for a coin production following a four card routine.
Jumbo Coin Hold OutThe Jumbo Coin Hold Out is another useful utility that can be added to close any coin matrix or four ace assembly. I saw Ronnie Cee perform this years ago at my first Michigan Magic Day. The appearance of the jumbo coin from a close up pad was impressive! The Zottolo pad makes this little miracle that much easier.
Stack Hold OutThe Zottolo pad comes with a stack holdout that holds your own secret stack of cards. The spectator can shuffle the cards and as you ribbon spread them, you can steal and add the stack to the spread. Four Ace productions and stack effects become more amazing after the spectator shuffles the cards.
Built In SqueakerThe built in squeaker is my favorite part of the Zottolo close up pad. A coin can be turned eagle side up and you can “hear the birdie squeak”. You can put a “dead” squeaker on the pad, it will squeak and the spectator can pick it up and it won’t work. All with no palming!

Order a Close Up Pad

The Close Up Pad comes in a variety of colors and sizes. If you’re looking for a quality practice pad that sits well on your lap, check out the smaller close up pad with or without the brass corners. Colors are available in Wine, poker table green or traditional black.

The Bobo Coin Vanish

Andy — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:35:08 +0000

Dennis provides a demonstration of the Bobo Coin Vanish

Tunnel Vanish

Andy — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:25:00 +0000

The Tunnel Vanish is a deceptive vanish as the coin is seen entering the fist only to disappear seconds later

Simple Coin Vanish

Andy — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:15:55 +0000

The Simple Coin Vanish is the standard classic palm vanish that has been used for years. The key learning point is to avoid smacking your hand into your palm, but simply toss the coin into the awaiting hand while retaining it in classic palm. In practicing the Simple Coin Vanish, practice actually placing the coin in the receiving hand so you get used to the motions. Then when you want to apply the sleight, the differences between the two will be minimal.

Here are a few examples:

Another submission by Dennis:

Coin Production from Two Cards

Andy — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:49:17 +0000

The Effect:

The magician shows 2 playing cards on the font and back. After placing the cards together, the magician tips them downwards and a coin appears between them.

Performer: Dennis

Learn Coin Magic Trick – Heads or Tails

Andy — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:31:32 +0000

Marion Boykin and I have been exchanging ideas on coin magic for the past few months and he graciously agreed to let me publish his application of the 10 Switch to his coin magic trick called Heads or Tails. The Heads or Tails effect is a nifty copper silver transposition that will give your Goshman / Tenkai Pinch a workout!

Coin Magic Trick : Heads or Tails Performance

Heads or Tails Explanation

Marion and several others at the Coin Magic Forum in the Magic Cafe’ share the philosophy of Magicians Helping Magicians. With that giving spirit in mind, here is the explanation to the Heads or Tails Copper Silver effect.

Head or Tails Bonus View

About Marion Boykin

Marion has a wealth of coin magic knowledge and he has been very generous contributing to the Coin Magic Tricks Blog. If you’d like to learn more on his approach to Coin Magic, I recommend checking out his coin magic video series at VinnyMarini.com. He has over 20 different videos and has some unique applications to coin sleights including the Tenkai Pinch. I’m a fan of his Tenkai Pennies PHD!

(I’ll see if I can get him to let me post a demo of that one here too!)

Learn Paul Harris’s Muscle Bend Coin Magic Trick

Andy — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:18:34 +0000

The Bent Coin or Bent Penny Trick

The bent coin or bent penny is a staple right from Bobo’s Coin Magic. I’ve always liked the trick for its simplicity. I remember when I was 14 and learned it in Bobo’s Coin Magic , I struggled a bit with the Bobo switch as I was reading it verbatim from the book. Heck year’s later starting with the coin finger palmed or doing a simple change over pass seems much simpler. But I digress…

While searching the web, I came across another Secrets Revealed show from Magic Place.com

In this coin magic tutorial, Luke Dancy hosts a clip from Paul Harris’ Art of Astonishment series featuring the Muscle Bend – his take on the Bent Penny.

Learn the Muscle Bend

Learn The Bent Penny – Muscle bend version

You can check out Magic Place’s Muscle Bend at:

http://magicplace.com/mbn/show/secrets-revealed/secrets-revealed-paul-harris-muscle-bend

Take a look at it and see if it fits your own style. I like how in the Muscle Bend, Paul skips any switch and goes right into the assumption the penny is already in the hand. However, I’ll have to play with the Muscle Bend approach to see what the reactions are like. The only premise I can see when presenting this effect is to do it as a tongue-in-cheek “look how well I’ve been working out” routine. After all, what’s the point of putting a penny in the crook of your arm?

What’s your approach to the Bent Penny?

When I usually present the Bent Penny, I start with the premise of a “challenge” effect where I try to sneak the coin out of their hand.

I’ll post the handling in another blog post. For now, I’d like to hear your approach. Comment on the blog comment section below!

Eric Jones Metal 2 and Metal 3 Coin Magic Now Available

Andy — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:27:12 +0000

The anticipated release of Metal 2 Commanding Coin Magic by Eric Jones and Metal 3 Guide to Gaffed Coin Magic by Eric Jones has been released by Ellusionist last week.

With just a few days to go before good ol’ Santa Clause arrives, I’m placing an urgent call to the North Pole to ensure these are added to the Christmas list. I reviewed Metal previously in my Metal by Eric Jones review and I’m looking forward to reviewing Metal 2 and Metal 3 soon.

The Metal Coin Magic Trilogy includes:

Metal

Concealments and Productions
Vanishes
Utilities
Sleeving
Routines
Tips
Flourishes

Metal 2

Imagination
Impossible Production
Dean Dill’s No Extras
Jones C/S
Coin on Shoulder
G.O.D.H.A.N.D
Body Loading Sequence
Professional Advice

Metal 3

EJ Copper Silver
Tap Change
2 Coin Production & Vanish
Submerged
Ode to Latta
Pac Man Production
Glitch Change
3 Coin Vanish
Flash Coins Re-Lit

From the Ellusionist Blog:

The next chapters of Eric Jones’ highly-reviewed Metal cover the next levels of coin magic, and take coin workers to new heights of beauty, structuring, routining and impact

If you don’t want to wait for the review, you can purchase Metal 2 and Metal 3 below:

Metal 2 Commanding Coin Magic by Eric Jones
Metal 3 Guide to Gaffed Coin Magic by Eric Jones

I also posted a brief write up on Artifact Coins that compliment Metal 1, Metal 2 and Metal 3.

Crimp Changes with the Crimp Palm

Andy — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:14:56 +0000

The Crimp Palm is a truly versatile palm that is a good replacement for the classic palm for the coin magicians who want to avoid the cramped classic palm. Vinny Marini introduced me to the Crimp Palm and Marion Boykin provided additional insight on the application on the Crimp Palm for a series of crimp changes.

What can you do with the Crimp Palm and Crimp Change?

Here is a brief demonstration on how the Crimp Palm and the Crimp Change can be applied in a series of coin magic transformations.

For all the “move monkeys”, here is a break down of the changes.

The Crimp Change
A Bobo Crimp Change
Crimp Palm
Crimp Palm Display
The series of coin transformations taught in Metal by Eric Jones
Crimp Spellbound sequence
Retention Change
A final Crimp Change

I found I really like the Crimp Palm for spellbound effects versus the traditional thumb palm. The Crimp Palm is faster than the traditional thumb palm and you have greater control.

Where can I learn the Crimp Palm and the Crimp Change?

Vinny was kind enough to share his Crimp Palm technique with me over at the Magic Cafe’. I’m working on an article series that focuses on the crimp palm but in the meantime, go over the the Coin Magic section of the Magic Cafe’ and reach out to The Godfather. Marion Boykin also has some great work on the Crimp Change.

You can get a copy of Marion’s Crimp Change work at http://www.vinnymarini.com

If you have Henry’s Hay’s Amateur Magician’s Handbook, you can also learn the fundamentals of the Crimp Palm (i.e. the regular thumb palm, page 132) and the Demanche Change (page 143).

Coins Through Table

Andy — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:38:14 +0000

If you’re lucky, there is a local magic group, assembly or ring in your metro area. My weekly magic hangout is at Camp Ticonderoga in Rochester, Michigan where the local magi all come out to eat, chat and share the latest trick or two.

Tonight’s session was with Ming Louie – Ming the Maginficent and we explored the Coins Thru Table plot. He reminded me of some of the clever approaches Slydini had with this effect. Even with a napkin as an impromptu servant, I always struggled with keeping the coin on the lap during any lapping sequence. Ming fixed this problem by suggesting:

Keep your ankles crossed
Adjust your feet so they rest on the balls of the feet moving your legs higher up underneath the table
Squeeze your thighs together to form a better servant

He also reminded me how Slydini would sit on an angle rather than square to the table. Ming’s showed me the first move in Slydini’s Coins Through Table routine where the lapping occurs just a second before Slydini picks off imaginary crumbs on the table complaining how the table is too messy. Great misdirection!