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Now I have to say that i have used the 3 card monte and 3 shell game regularly to make money, as well as a couple of Paul Zenon's cons. Occasionally i even use the ID!

I am just wondering whether you guys do the same at all?

I don't do it often of course (and for small amounts - 10p at a time ) but occassionally if i am in a bit of a tight spot i might...

and for little miss erdnase...

"These are not cons and are perfectly winnable. I have a license...umm...and i am not braking the law in any way, shape, or form..."

I've never used magic to make money...

I'll give people the oppurtunity to "catch me out" or "beat me" in such 'cons' though. Occasionally someone will ask what they win if they beat me, and I say:

"The pride of knowing you beat me?"
'And what if lose?'
"The pride of knowing it was a good magician and a not a hustler who beat you"

Gets a laugh, and far more ethical in my opinion.
Although for 10p etc I can't really complain about morals

Nowadays people actually ASK me to play, and put up money themselves...weird huh?

One thing for certain is that everyone suspects foul play everytime I deal myself a good hand in poker. As if I would sink that low....hmmmm or would I?

lol - same for me...even when i don't deal, and end up with something like a full house, they say i cheated

I guess they never forgave me for hiding that royal flush in my sock three times in a row...

I've done magic for beer...

I might have to try magic for beer...

Someone bought me a drink once when I did "A Design For Laughter" to soem people I didn't know at the pub once.

"Wow... ok... now THAT is impressive... man.. how did you... ah hell. You want a drink mate?"

Who was I to say no?

I sometimes do the old bar bets (Dan Harlan DVD) like 'say 1000 words without using the letter A" and sell money at a profit (i give it back afterwards!).

stephenmagic wrote: and sell money at a profit (i give it back afterwards!).

Do you mean like the old £20 in a matchbox trick?

So close!! That is a great Video (i think it is DVD now) and i recommend it to all magicians. You can do the most silly things such as:

Drink a shot without touching it, write on someone's face without them knowing it, add 3 to 11 and get 2 (think about it guys and gals!)! and my favourite 'write any colour with a pencil'

There are so many There are 4 Videos (and maybe DVD now!) in the set. Silly stuff that really fools people.

"I bet you can't rolla 2 pence piece down your nose on it's edge... Whats that? I was wrong? Ah well"

A good old classic way of writing on someones face

I like "I bet you 50p I can down your pint without touching it in anyway, or using a straw etc..." (let them name any number of conditions)

Pick up their pint and drink it, sliding a measly 50p across the table towards them. Cheapest pint ever!

The "bet you can't land a matchbox on it's end" is a good trick too.

Blapsing_Beard wrote:lol - same for me...even when i don't deal, and end up with something like a full house, they say i cheated

I guess they never forgave me for hiding that royal flush in my sock three times in a row...

I know the feeling. Once people discovered I did magic I spent a good year or so with everyone refusing to play cards with me.

When they did finally give in, I palmed a card from a black tiger deck and stuck it in my hand (we were using regular bikes). It got a laugh, but made them watch me closely for the rest of the game ...

I am confused. So when you say "do you do magic for money", you are not talking about getting paid for doing magic?

He means making people lose money by doing the old tricks. My bar bets are part of my walkabout and i never take money from anyone.