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I'm in a bit of a hole with a stunt I'm putting together and require patter to cover the real reason behind a set of "odd" actions I'm requesting the spec to do.

Basically, after requesting he deposit his spare change on the table, I want him to flip all the coins heads up in a nice line in front of me. This is so I can quickly review the coins for their suitability in the effect.

I don't want the spec to register that I have studied the coins and will be picking out a select few based on certain criteria. What I do want is to immediately dismiss what I have asked him to do (once he has done it) as merely a prank leading up to a punchline.

e.g. Now that the coins are heads side up and Her Majesty is looking to the right on each one: "Sorry [spec], I was just messing you about there.. The Queen looked unwell during her Christmas TV Speech the other day. I felt so sorry for her I just wanted to see her looking right". Stinking right?

Could anyone help me with better cover-story/joke/general BS than this to act as verbal-misdirection please?

Hopefully rewording my original subject title will pay off and I'll get some (polite) responses!
Patter Pickle! Prattle Profs Please Palliate Poor Peformer's Parlez Predicament

how about after all of them are heads up call out
"off with there heads" and have him turn them face down "look at them turn there tails and run", actualy i just wanted to see that your coin selection arn't marked you see i sign so many coin's i just wanted to see you didn't get one of mine back in circulation.
if you'd had it would have saved me signing it though wouldn't it, anyway back to the trick.


a few spycological sublties that persuade the audience that you are indeed using unprepared and unmarked regular coin's

How's about when the spec turns them all heads up, you then ask him to turn them all over so they are all tails up . You then explain that you wanted to make sure that the spec didn't, unwittingly, have some double sided coins in their possesion as the "trick" that you're about to show them, only works with normal coins .

If the coins need to end up all heads face up, then you ask them to place them all tails up initially and then ask them to turn them all over so they all end heads facing up

I don't know what trick you're doing - but could you use this or some improvised version of it

I like both of these approaches. Especially the fact that I would be giving the spec 2 things to do (turn them up AND turn them down) - You've seeded some other little ideas in my mind now, cheers!

A bit more info, if anyone wants to give this further thought:
My examination of the coins is on the heads side, it only takes a second or so per coin, I'm quite happy for the spec to turn them tails side up after that if need be.
The "diversion" part doesn't have to have anything to do with the effect that follows, this way the spec won't relate it either.
The effect will be totally impromtu - I will be using the specs coins, no gaffing, no sneaky switches - but I will only be using a small selection of the coins he initially puts on the table (ones that I pick for specific reasons )

I'd appreciate any more thoughts - give me an excuse for examing the specs coins without me touching them.

My ideal would be something that resolves on an *ahem* adult theme (the more 'adult' the better).

aherm cough cough ok then.

for a girl spec "i'd like you to give me some head"....."i meen turn the coins all head side up.
"now show me a bit of tail"..."ok you can turn the coins tail side up if you like but i'd realy like to see your tail"

honest I'm not realy that bad but you asked for it.

you can use the old gag can i hold your hand and stare intently into her eyes, after a wile say thats not part of the trick i just wanted to hold your hand.

anouther one tell her to turn the coins all head side up and ask her to pick one and to rub the head vigourously, after a wile ask her if its getting excited when she shakes her head say maybey your rubbing the wrong head try this one....

moonbeam wrote:.......You then explain that you wanted to make sure that the spec didn't, unwittingly, have some double sided coins in their possesion........

I like this idea Moonbeam!!!

Have them then turn the coins over tails up, and say, "I tried this once, but you had no idea the spec was a magician.....it turned out to be very embarrasing. So from now on you examine the coins in the specs pocket.......if you see any double headed ones, you no you are dealing with a trickster!......" Something along those lines and tell a comical story about it....you could even go into a quick coin routine and say that you asked the man to hold one coin, it turned out he had two, etc.....do a quick 10-20 second routine. you can then move from there into the original routine you planned....and they are none the wiser!

Disco: Calm down, you're getting over excited! I figured some "Head" and "Tail" references might crop up - lowest common denominator and all that

Moods: "do a quick 10-20 second routine. you can then move from there into the original routine you planned....and they are none the wiser!"
That's great (and so obvious.. D'oh, why didn't I thnk of that!) I would have to dispose of the coins I use in the interim routine as it's essential the coins in the final stage are above suspicion - no problem there though, just hand them back to the spec.

Thanks guys, your ideas have led me to "Just seeing if you had any double sided coins.. I would love to get hold of one of those so I could could do some proper magic" Short, sweet, mildly humorous and instantly dismissed once I go into the effect. It'll give me an excuse to have a damn good look at the coins too rather than furtive peeking!

I'll drop in Disco's "..and it's nice to have some head before a little tail" if I'm feeling naughty on the adult gigs.

Keep the ideas coming if you have them as this trick will become a party piece and I'd like as much variety as possible for repeat performances (they'll only be getting this one once per nite tho!).

If it involves heads/tails in any way, I'd be tempted just to tell them that some fool tried to catch you out with a double sided coin the other day, so you're not taking any chances!

Edit: oops, didn't read the rest of the posts properly well, great minds...!

Step,

I don't see that mentioning heads or tails or double sided coins serves any purpose.

What about suggesting that you are going to perform a very royal and majestic effect using coins of the realm and everyone must stand up because when the coins are placed upon the table the Queen must be uppermost and because of royal equitette people must not be seated when the Queen enters the room. After the coins have been put on the table you may then suggest that if they are turned over so that you do not offend the Queen eveyone may sit down.