Magic Tricks
From Genco
My field tested magic tricks
I've spent a lot of time in magicians message boards. Quite often my posts there where just ideas I was throwing out and allowed others to contribute to the idea. In here I realize how important it is to field test things before really sharing it on the forum. About a month ago I started a post titled Magic to pick up chicks that explains the idea of creating a book full of magic tricks we can use in our games.
Since then I've been field testing things and trying to learn what provides an advantage and what doesn't. My biggest challenge was breaking out of my habit of being "A magician". So I had to stop myself from giving them a show and focus more on tricks and presentations that aid in reaching the next phase of my game. A trick might be used as an opener, an attraction test (To see what level of attraction I might have gained), a neg, a DHV, isolation and so forth. I should also mention that not all of them are "tricks" so to speak. Some are jokes or games we can play together.
So I'll share a few of the tricks that I have used on the field and tell you how they went. I didn't always get the girl or even number close on every attempt. But I did find them useful in serving a purpose of reaching the next phase. So I firmly believe that when these tricks where helpful if I didn't the girl it was my failure. When I wanted to use these tricks to isolate her from her group to have a reason to playfully touch her they worked.
The arm puzzle This is a phenomenal routine for opening a group. Especially a mix group of men and woman. The first time you do it maybe only one or two of them will play along with you. That's all that's needed. But once that person fails to be able to do what you do just about everyone in the group will try it too. Not only that, everyone in the room will look your way and see that you are leading this group in some activity because all eyes will be on you and laughing as you do it. So it serves multiple purpose.
Click here to see an image of me performing this just last week at the haunted park I'm performing in this month. Scroll down and look at the left most image of the fourth row to see an audience holding their hands out while I perform this.
I know you're probably wondering what the "Arm puzzle" is. I'll give you this image to help explain.
What you do is you have them try to do what you do. Fallow this picture form left to right. First you put your arms out. They are to do the same. Next you cross your arms. Then rotate your wrists and lock your fingers together palm to palm. From here you'll be able to rotate your wrists so your arms are no longer crossed but they won't be able to do this.
The above image show the "Secret process" and it's how you will do it. Here's how. Cross your arms so that your right arm goes under your left. Now you're going to rotate your wrists so you can lock your fingers together but you must do this the right way or it won't work. Dross your arms as I just described with your right arm under your left. Now open your hands so that both of your thumbs are pointing strait up toward the ceiling. Next you're going to rotate both your thumbs clockwise!. This is the part that'll throw everyone off. Most people will rotate their wrists in opposite directions. You don't. You rotate them both in the same direction. Fallow the above image and you should get it.
So the arm puzzle has allowed me to become a part of the group. After this I just sit down with them as they try to do it. Sometimes they try for a few minutes and they often come back to it later too. In fact I sometimes joke that I bet they'll be trying to do that later while they are in bed too. Anyone with in eye site will see this entire group all doing this unusual thing so you're displaying DHV by leading that group you are doing it to. So I guess you could say this is an opener, a DHV and even a bit of a neg.
This turned out to be a long post. I'll share some more I've tested in another post.
There is a good way to do the arm puzzle so it is a lot less noticable than just automatically putting your hands together the fake way. After repeatedly watching the Coperfield video I think he does it my way and you just don't know it as a result of clever editing. This is the way I have always done it:
Give your instructions on how to place your hands to the people in the group, and do it along with them, but do it like you want them to do it. While they are all interlocking their fingers you casually seperate your hands again, using your right hand to gesture to someone at random, saying "Not so high, a bit lower." You can even kino a little bit on your target by grabbing her hands and raising or lowering them slightly. Throw a neg in there too for good measure "Is she always so bad at following instructions?" Keep your left hand extended though so they don't catch on. The seemingly helpful comment is really just a bit of misdirection, because when you place your hands back together you place them in the way that allows you to rotate your wrists. Do it quickly and nonchalantly, then finish the trick.
The misdirection makes all the difference in my opinion.
Money and Pencils
This is a fun bit that I did when I was talking to a few girls at a table. What it accomplished in my game is pretty small. It just gave me something to make them laugh and keep interest in me.
This one isn't a magic trick. Just a fun game to play. You hand her a couple of pencils (Not hard to find in a bar) and 4 or 5 dollar bills. They can be any denomination (You'll get them back).
Here's the game. Have her hold the money in one hand and the pencils in the other. Tell her that we're going to play a game.
You say: "I'm going to ask you 5 questions. No matter what question I ask you you have to answer it by saying "Pencils". If you don't answer with the word pencil I get to take back one of the bills. You understand?"
Her: YES
You: [take one of the bills] "Ah that's one. You didn't answer the question with pencils. Get it?"
Her: "Uh yea"
You: [take another bill from her] You didn't say pencils again. I'll make it easier for you. When you go to the beach what do your legs look like?
Her: Pencils.. [giggle]
You: You're finally catching on. How much money do you have left?
Her: $3 (Or what ever she has left)
You: [take another bill] Well now you only have 2 because you didn't say pencils again.
OK, that's 4 questions. One more to go and you'll get to keep the money. If I gave you a choice which would you choose to keep. The money of the pencils?
Her: Pencils
You: [take the rest of the money from her] OK, you can keep the pencils. I'll take the money.
The above routine is how it happened when I field tested it in my game and it happens that way about 80% of the time when I performed it as "a magician". Sometimes they catch on sooner and won't fall for all the tricks by answering with pencils. But they usually fall for them. If they don't just keep asking until you reach your last question and do the ending bit.
OK, here's a fun one. This routine can serve a number of subtle things but the main thing is again just to get a laugh and keep attention. It can also be useful in lessoning the value of competition (A guy who's going for your target and getting a little more attention then you are for example). Again, this is all done in a very subtle way so you yourself won't come out looking like a jerk. It also has a built in DHV.
Let's say Fred is your target. You tell the story about how you first meet Fred at a convention in Hawaii. In the evening hour everyone would hang out at the bar in the Lobby of the hotel. One night Fred approached me and asked what my secret was. For some reason he was having a little trouble with the lady's while I pretty much had girls around me all night.
Fred's a nice guy so I let him in on my little secret. When ever I buy a drink I let the girls near me see all my money.
[As this is said I open a wallet and on one side is a fan of 20 dollar bills. But they also see that on the other side of the wallet there's a huge condom. Make no mention of the condom but they'll see it.]
Fred said he'd give it a try. The fallowing night he found me again and told me it wasn't working for him. I asked if he's sure they are seeing the money in his wallet and he said, "Yea, I'm even using 100 dollar bills instead of 20's".
[As this line is said the wallet is opened again and on one side there is indeed a fan of 100 dollar bills but on the other side there's a tiny condom].
To do this you'll need a rubber glove. Roll it up and insert it in your wallet so it looks like a huge condom.
You also need one of those rubber that fit on your finger (I found some at walmart).
As for the switch there are a number of ways to do it. The best way is to buy a trick wallet called the Himber wallet. Google search "Himber wallet magic" and you'll find many. They range in prices from $7 up to $200. The cheaper ones are made of plastic. The more expensive ones are made of leather and they do more then just switch things. The himber is kind of like a double wallet. Open one way it'll show what's inside that part. Open it another way it shows what's in the other part. This is the best method because there's no switching and the wallet can be out in the open on the table or in your hand the entire time.
Another method is to have two identical wallets. After you show the first wallet with the 20's and the huge condom. Put it in your pocket as you continue the story. Then at the end just pull out the other wallet that has the 100's and the tiny wallet.
Then of course there's sleight of hand methods for switching the wallet but I won't go into that.
Notice the fact that the entire time you are treating Fred as your friend. He just ends up being the butt of your story. He's not likely to interupt when you said that you meet him in Hawaii.
Also notice the DHV with the money. You're saying the hundred dollar bills are his but they are in your wallet so they all know it's yours (Observed DHV). So you're not flashing money around to show you have it. But they see that you do all the same.
