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I know that we all know this trick, but is there any way to make it look amazing and have it look real great... I have made different tricks starting with the french drop and misdirection to create some good effects and even tho the drop is so basic you can get some good reactions from people that arent exposed to much magic and trickery.
has anyone had any success using the french drop...

I do a little tactic on people that involves presetting the trick and involves alot of sneeky moves... you then go to the frech drop, use alot of misdirection and the coin is gone and into there pocket, Im most likely thinking that there are a few of you out there that have done this already.

Absolutely! The french drop is a fantastic move! I don't use it much my self, but it;s a fantastic vanish. So errm yeah.

I tend to forget about this one and go for a retention vanish, but it is surely one of the best IMHO.

I use it a lot for coin work. I normally follow it with a changeover pass, and then produce the coin from under my hand. Occasionally I use for cups and balls.

I 'ent no expert, but the french drop is nearly 100% about acting as far as I can see. It has had a fair amount of exposure, but can still be very good if it's done correctly. Practice taking the object, then not taking the object, and repeat practicing until it looks the same whether you take it or not.

The trouble with it is that the actual move is so simple that people think it doesn't need to be practiced...

1) Make sure you focus your attention on where they should believe the coin is.

2) It's obviously better if you can keep your fingers closely together on your holding hand, to make sure you don't flash anything, but it should look natural, and not cramped.

3) Don't drop your dirty hand quickly - in my experience it should remain in place for a couple of seconds after the object has been "taken" - at least until the taking fist has got to its new position. Timing is important to it being deceptive. Again, check what it looks like when you do actually take the object.

4) When you drop your hand, try to make it a natural move, without closing it into a tight fist. You don't want to distract attention from where the coin is supposed to be.
It shouldn't be used as a trick in its own right, but as a part of a trick - you always need to remain one step ahead of the spectator, so don't reveal the vanish unless you have already ditched the object, or have it in a position where you can make your hand look natural and empty (a la spider vanish)

Gary Ouellet's "Close Up Illusions" has a whole chapter on different types of French Drop including The Ultimate version


Shanester

Can you use misdirection to dispose of the coin just incase anyone asks to see your other hand?

I use misdirection for this trick or else it will get exposed... I get rid of the coin in about 10 seconds

It appears that I shall have to give my great wisdom and advice on the matter. There are two points to be borne in mind when doing this sleight. First you should study the description given in the Dai Vernon Book of Magic by Lewis Ganson. You are instructed not to put the coin into position in order to take it. You should pick it up already in position (say from the table) and you should have a reason for the coin to be taken in the first place. For example you can pick up an object with the supposedly empty hand. Your reason for having the coin taken was to free the hand to do this.

If I am not describing this properly then read the Vernon book and all will become clear.

However there is a little tip that very few people know about. It is not even mentioned in the Vernon book. If you do this the deceptiveness of the move will be doubled.

Remember that I am MARK LEWIS and by dint of this cannot possibly be wrong.

Let us assume that the coin to be vanished is in the left hand. MOVE THE LEFT HAND TOWARDS THE RIGHT which then does the vanish in the usual way. The optical illusion (if that is the correct expression) will make the move far more effective and illusive.

Try it and see.

Misanthropy wrote:Can you use misdirection to dispose of the coin just incase anyone asks to see your other hand?

You will need strong misdirection if you are to dispose of the coin after you have revealed the vanish... It's not really practical for most people I suspect.

Three ways of dealing with it are

1) Make sure that it's apparent that your dirty hand is empty before you reveal the vanish. For this you will need some kind of palm that allows your hand to look empty, and preferably be able to gesture and use objects. An example of this concept is the (Marlo) spider vanish.

2) Work the vanish into a routine where the coin is ditched while everyone still thinks it's in the taking hand. This still needs strong misdirection, as you don't want people to analyse it after the effect, and work out that you pout your other hand in your pocket to ditch it. One way of achieving this is with a coin flurry, where the coin(s) appear and disappear from different places consecutively, and usually rapidly, making it very hard for people to work out how you're achieving the effect.

3) Use a method of showing your hands empty when they are not. This probably means either using a hand-washing technique , or developing a really really good revolving front/back palm which allows you to show both sides of your hand empty This option is probably not the best.

EDIT: ignore this, and follow Mr Lewis' advice. Any man who can use the word "dint" in all seriousness and get away with it is indeed a force to be reckoned with (I use it often, but suspect I don't get away with it )

If you do the move properly they won't ask to see the other hand. Besides there are ways of disposing of the coin if you really have that much of a guilty conscience. For example you can lap it or sleeve it but on second thoughts if you are having trouble with a French Drop you are probably not ready for lapping and sleeving which take a fair bit of skill.

One thing you can do is the breast pocket vanish which I shall describe momentarily. However there are a couple of snags with this too. One is that only old people like me wear jackets which have breast pockets and two is that you would have to do the vanish with the coin starting out in the right hand as opposed to the left which is the usual way. (although in the Vernon book it does describe the vanish with the object starting out in the right hand.)

Vanish the coin and end up with the coin in the right hand. You now roll up the sleeve of the left arm to show that you do not cheat. Actually pull up the sleeve with the right hand would be a better description. In the pulling up process your hand will come over the breast pocket and you simply let it drop in.

If you palm it correctly you can use your thumb to hide it and then flash your hand to show its empty. I practised handling a coin in both hands so I knew how my left hand should act.

That's nice. It reminds me somewhat of Bill Simon's "Gone" (Listed in Bobo). The act of ditching the coin while showing fairness in rolling or pulling back the sleeves is very appealing.

hmmm. i recently found out that when i do the french drop. i kind of leave my dirty hand thumb on my hand that supposdly has the coin. making it looking like im tucking the coin into my hand. then i open the hand with the thumb on my hand or near it. works for me and people say it looks really good

and if you wear hooded tops with a large pocket in front you can slip it in when nobody's looking. Breast pockets also work.

A lot of people say something like "watch the coin" as they do a Frecnch drop, I find though, if I hold in The possition ready for the drop talk a bit do the move as I look at my hands moving my empty hand away but looking at it and say " now watch" it seems to work.

I hope that makes sense.