Coin through Ashtray(#137)
Here's a fairly simple effect thats been around for some time, but it usually requires a little prep that makes it difficult to perform in a walk-around or restaurant location. I've simplified it to the point where it can be performed at a table with a minimum of preparation.
Begin ideally with a small tin ashtray. It can be one of the little disposable foil ashtrays like those seen at fast food restaurants. I have also found them in packs of ten or so in grocery stores if you need to purchase your own.
It's not necessary to tell your audience what you're going to do... just do it. This sometimes increases their curiousity, as they are not only watching you, but trying to figure out what you're going to do.
Take the ashtray and place it on top of a glass. Remove a piece of paper from your pocket, about the size of an index card, along with a coin about the size of an American quarter. If you want to be brave, you can also take out a sharpie and ask someone at the table to please make a big 'X' on both sides of the quarter. Specifically tell them a " big X " to eliminate the possibility that some highly focused individual will make really small X's.
Once done, recap the Sharpie and casually lay it on the table in front of you. Take the quarter, put it in the center of the paper, and fold the paper from the top edge to the bottom edge. Fold the paper again, from left to right and then right to left. Pause during the folding process and make a comment or two. This gives the spectator just enough time to 'forget' exactly what directions you've folded so far.
If you're using fairly thin paper you can hold the folded paper, coin inside, in front of you using both fore fingers and middle fingers on one side and both thumbs on the back side - facing you. Momentarily make a little 'small talk', like " has any of you ever seen a real coin pass through a solid object ?", as you squeeze the coin front and back, forcing it to leave a raised impression in the paper.
Secretly allow the coin to slide out the bottom of the paper packet into your palm, as the coin is only sealed from the top and the sides. There are other ways, detailed in many magic books, to fold the paper, but this is the most straight-forward. Taking the packet in the hand without the coin, reach down almost as an after-thought and pick up the Sharpie with the other hand and drop it - and the coin - into your shirt or jacket pocket.
Put the packet into the ashtray, take out a pack of matches or lighter, and light the paper. As it burns, focus everyones attention on the glass - where they will shortly see the quarter pass through the ashtray and fall into the bottom of the glass.
All you need as a set-up is a quarter with two X's drawn on it, attached to the bottom of the ash tray with a small bit of wax. Of course, the heat from the fire will melt the wax and allow the quarter to fall into the glass. Use the right weight of paper to give the wax enough time to melt. Flash paper is way to quick, and cardboard may take too long to burn or produce to much smoke. Experiment.
A glass full of water will increase the amount of time the spectators have to watch the quarter as it falls. If you're using your own ashtrays, you can have the quarter already attached. Glass ashtrays are usually too thick to heat up properly. Since an 'X' is fairly generic, the spectator is not apt to realize that it's not their X on the coin.
It's worth the effort - if you take time to develop the proper patter and presentation...
Here's a fairly simple effect thats been around for some time, but it usually requires a little prep that makes it difficult to perform in a walk-around or restaurant location. I've simplified it to the point where it can be performed at a table with a minimum of preparation.
Begin ideally with a small tin ashtray. It can be one of the little disposable foil ashtrays like those seen at fast food restaurants. I have also found them in packs of ten or so in grocery stores if you need to purchase your own.
It's not necessary to tell your audience what you're going to do... just do it. This sometimes increases their curiousity, as they are not only watching you, but trying to figure out what you're going to do.
Take the ashtray and place it on top of a glass. Remove a piece of paper from your pocket, about the size of an index card, along with a coin about the size of an American quarter. If you want to be brave, you can also take out a sharpie and ask someone at the table to please make a big 'X' on both sides of the quarter. Specifically tell them a " big X " to eliminate the possibility that some highly focused individual will make really small X's.
Once done, recap the Sharpie and casually lay it on the table in front of you. Take the quarter, put it in the center of the paper, and fold the paper from the top edge to the bottom edge. Fold the paper again, from left to right and then right to left. Pause during the folding process and make a comment or two. This gives the spectator just enough time to 'forget' exactly what directions you've folded so far.
If you're using fairly thin paper you can hold the folded paper, coin inside, in front of you using both fore fingers and middle fingers on one side and both thumbs on the back side - facing you. Momentarily make a little 'small talk', like " has any of you ever seen a real coin pass through a solid object ?", as you squeeze the coin front and back, forcing it to leave a raised impression in the paper.
Secretly allow the coin to slide out the bottom of the paper packet into your palm, as the coin is only sealed from the top and the sides. There are other ways, detailed in many magic books, to fold the paper, but this is the most straight-forward. Taking the packet in the hand without the coin, reach down almost as an after-thought and pick up the Sharpie with the other hand and drop it - and the coin - into your shirt or jacket pocket.
Put the packet into the ashtray, take out a pack of matches or lighter, and light the paper. As it burns, focus everyones attention on the glass - where they will shortly see the quarter pass through the ashtray and fall into the bottom of the glass.
All you need as a set-up is a quarter with two X's drawn on it, attached to the bottom of the ash tray with a small bit of wax. Of course, the heat from the fire will melt the wax and allow the quarter to fall into the glass. Use the right weight of paper to give the wax enough time to melt. Flash paper is way to quick, and cardboard may take too long to burn or produce to much smoke. Experiment.
A glass full of water will increase the amount of time the spectators have to watch the quarter as it falls. If you're using your own ashtrays, you can have the quarter already attached. Glass ashtrays are usually too thick to heat up properly. Since an 'X' is fairly generic, the spectator is not apt to realize that it's not their X on the coin.
It's worth the effort - if you take time to develop the proper patter and presentation...
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