talkmagic.co.uk

Maybe it's just the fact that I'm up and about so early after another sleepless night but I believe there's one thing amiss here i.e. the logic of paying for coinage at a magic shop when you could simply go to the bank and get a direct currency exchange???

Call me silly, but that's how we generally do things over here before heading out on an over-seas trip

ah... the problem with that is, they dont exchange coins, just notes.which is why its perferctly normal to have forign coins lying about the house

If I do card magic the audience can rightfully expect me to be able to perform with a borrowed deck. And if someone hands me a deck I can perform for them.
It is the same with coin magic. I should be able to perform with the coins in my pocket, or whatever change is left on the bar counter. When I said that half-dollars scream fake to me, I did not mean to imply that I meant gimmicked. What I meant was that these coins are artificial, and as soon as I see them I begin to wonder can he do that with normal coins? That's not a question I want my audience asking.
For years I used coin unique. Then Ireland joined the Euro, and I dropped it from my repetoir until the euro version came out. A few years ago I was on a trip with a group of Irish people in England. I did the coin unique with my euro and fifty cent. Immediately one of the spectators challenged me to repeat it with British coins.
Our audiences are not stupid. They are often very polite and do not point out our inconsistencies. But if you proport to be a magician, you should be able to do the magic with the coins people use every day. If, on the other hand, you see yourself as demonstrating your dexterity and skill, then flashy foreign coins are fine. I just don't like them, and I turn off when I see them come out.

you could always do what Billy did, and have several gaffs on you, of different denominations.

or just say, " when i ask for a coin give me this one... its perfectly normal, you can check it if you want"

TonyB wrote:If, on the other hand, you see yourself as demonstrating your dexterity and skill, then flashy foreign coins are fine. I just don't like them, and I turn off when I see them come out.

again, what is 'flashy' about foreign coins?

and where is the correlation in your mind between using American currency and a flourishy, skill-based performance? I don't see your jump in logic here. Why can't you do non-flashy coin magic with an American coin such as this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSuPCclO ... re=related

?

I think as Magicians we are too wrapped up in tiny little niggly things.

Dont worry about it, use the coins that suit you, suit your style, suit your patter, and that you can physically work with. If your performance is good enough... then nobody will bat an eye lid.



Mark

Mr Goat wrote:Why can't you do non-flashy coin magic with an American coin such as this...

It begs the question, why can't you do that with borrowed British coins?