talkmagic.co.uk

Hey guys,

I've been developing a part of my Con man act to include a demonstration of Proposition bets and bar bets done for the spectators mainly for comedic purposes. It builds nicely but I'm having trouble deciding on how to end it.
I am debating on inserting my cups and balls routine at the end calling it a con game and routining it as such
Or ending with my three card monte demonstration.
My worry is that pulling out the cards afterwords will not make them think of it as a game and more of a magic trick (for this sequence my goal is to involve the audience by getting them to literally play the bets. That way I get a better interaction and rapport with them through the show) and I know a lot of people mistake the three shell game with the cups and balls so it could easily pass as a game. Any tips?

-a charming cheat

I apologize I just noticed I probably should have put this in the advice thread not the misc.

No problem, it's been moved just like that !

How about a three * monte, where the * is anything except a playing card?

* Examples:

- Beer mat
- Credit card
- Photo
- Virtually anything in an envelope

T.

There is a theory that the original version of cups and balls was the same idea as the three shell game. Under which of these three cups did I place the ball?

However, I don't really see why bringing out a few cards to do the three card monte would have the result you think, unless you plan on then going into a full card routine. Find the Lady is a classic rigged game, and I've seen it being played for real on Oxford Street not that long ago. Just do it straight, and avoid any clever finishes, like all three cards being queens.

Perhaps you could substitute another rigged, or very difficult, game, like Cover the Spot or Fast and Loose?

Or, do what Ted suggests, and try a monte routine with a different item. I think it is sometimes done with leather mats, one of which has a spot on the underside.

It's all about the presentation

Present it as a magic trick then it will be seen as a magic trick. Present it as a con artist and it will be seen as a con game demo

Im not sure how bringing cards out would make them think its more of a magic trick than a con game, considering the wide use of playing cards for gambling. Add to that the fact that the Three Card Monte is a widely known con, Id say bringing the cards out would fit quite well.

Teds suggestion of using something else instead reminds me of a Monte effect I saw on the Real Hustle. Instead of cards they used what looked like round leather coasters - one of which had a white dot. I quite liked the look of them.

Using the Cups and Balls for a 'find the pea' game would work fine, or better still use the traditional shells. An inexpensive (and very workable) set can be made from 3 standard bottle caps. A good pea is essential though - I recommend the 'Perfect Peas' which work great and can be used on ANY surface.

jim

I like the idea of using the shell game rather then the cups and balls. Use match boxies instead more natural now days.

As for the 3 card monte I don't know much about it. But try not to do a "magicians" one do a street hustler style one it would look better then just a magcian trying to fool his audiance a propper monte has mone then just a guy and 3 cards.

A good demo of this is on the school for scandrals dvd, also there 2 dvds on the shell game is a great resource for the monte I would go for scarne's book too as well as the scandrals dvd.

But shy away from the cups and balls as a con, big old brass cup coming out screams magic. If you are interested in cons find a version of fast and lose too.

THank you for all the advice guys. I rather like the idea of using something other than cards for the three card monte it fits into the act quite nicely and prevents the association to my previously done card routine.

But shy away from the cups and balls as a con, big old brass cup coming out screams magic.

I completely agree with this and never thought about it that way.

]Im not sure how bringing cards out would make them think its more of a magic trick than a con game

My main issue is that I am mainly a card man so I find I give that part of my act a lot of focus. And after they see what I can do with cards they think of the three card monte as a cheat and I've noticed that when they don't think they can win right in the begining they don't react as strongly in the ending.

A charming cheat

On a wee tangent, are you aware of Martin Nash? He was an exemplorary card mechanic who was known for his gambling themed routines, and went by the moniker of 'The Charming Cheat'. He passed away a couple of years ago.

I mention this because somewhere down the line you might run into magicians who find your handle a tad disrespectful. Not unlike billing oneself as 'a Professor'.

Take care, Ian

Thank you for your congeniality on this matter it is greatly appreciated.
I was unaware of Martin Nash my choice of the name came from a review I got about two years ago for my act where I was called a charming cheat. It is not the name I bill myself by in my restaurant act. It was simply the name I had decided to go by on the forums when I returned to the magic community after my auto accident.

Coasters is what they use a lot on the Southbank now over cards. I think the version with coasters is the Trinidad monte. Almost the same mechinces as the card version too.