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I have recently started to practice sleights but feel that having a small hand is a disadvantage.

Is this likely or will that impression go with practice?

Does anyone use anything to help coins stick?

Funnily enough I have smallish (well they are for cards) hands but for coin stuff they feel overly large.

Anyway.. I struggled with coins for ages (still struggling) but it gets easier with practice (where have you heard that before) as your hand muscles build up (this will take time) and get used to the moves etc... If you think the coins are too large then try a smaller coin (probably already beat me to that suggestion).

I think for beginners, like me, large coins are slightly easier to get into palm etc.. but obviously harder to hide (watch those angles).

As for sticking coins.. I've never heard of anything.. but then again I'm a newbie at coin magic (having concentrated on cards mostly) so someone here maybe able to offer more advice on this.

Hope this helps

Slippery.

There's an old saying that 'where there's a will, there's a way'.

This topic has been raised in another pos recently and the view, which I agreed with is that in the majority of cases, size doesn't matter Technique, experimentation and practice will usually overcome most problems.

I seem to suffer from what is known as "dry hands" and sometimes the coins slither about all over the place.
I have found that washing up without gloves is a disaster - it takes all the oils from the skin. (Goshman recommended not washing your hands apparently- and I have to say it works).
You really need some moisturising cream. The secret ingredient is glycerin. This however can take time to dry sufficiently and you can over do it. So I have made up a mixure which I am experimenting with: 1/3 glycerin/ 1/3 surgical spirit/ 1/3 water. I seems to work a treat, in that it dries almost instantaneously, and you can put more on if to build up to your required strength. I only use it on the palm-side of my hands though.
The other thing that David Roth recommended somewhere is to rub the edges of your coins on a rosin block (used by string players on bows). I have tried this, but you need to be careful, because everything you touch can become very sticky.

Can I ask what type of sleights people are wanting to achieve by going to such lengths

Are you wanting to perform advanced sleights to magicians or do basic stuff for Joe Public ??

I perform 2 or 3 days a week to Joe Public and I've said before with card sleights, you don't have to do the mind bending stuff to bamboozle them. Its performance that counts, not an amasing dexterity.

With coins I do very little, I do Hopping Halfs that needs next to no skill and I do an effect of my own involving a coin switch. I don't think that I am a good coin merchant but a simple switch using the palm and the thumb palm (or clip) work more than enough for Joe Public to ever grasp I've cheated.

I'm 6' 2" and have hands the same size as my wife who is 5' 3" (No she doesn't have giant hands). I can palm and thumb palm everything except the little ones, 1p, 5p and 20p and I can manage on that because I know my limits.

I have said this before, you do not need to be a rocket scientist to perform. Spending your practice time at being a good performer is more important than learning a fancy coin or card sleight.

I love close-up, perform it all the time, but I don't go for the mega whiz stuff. But what I do perform, I do it well. Even when I've been out all night in the pub, or pubs, and that is what is important, performing well.

I've just been asked to do a magic show as a starter in a rock pub before the acts come on

I'm giving serious thought to this as it might damage my reputation If I give it more thought and contemplate it, I'll seek advice on what everyone thinks I should go for

I'd be the starter in a dingy dismal and dark room, and that has its advantages On stage, before 6 rock groups come on Now how does a 50yr old cope with that

Hi Tenko

I thought that what you wrote made a great deal of sense. I perform three or four coin tricks with very few sleights and can confirm that it's the performance that counts to the lay person.

With respect to the offer of a gig, the 'rcok' crowds are usually made up of good people and I wouldn't be put off by this. Like everyone else, they're out to be entertained and if you can do this then I think that you're onto a potential winner. You never know, you may get a residency and your own following.

After all, magic rocks!

Not wishing to draw inappropriate comparisons but Rolf Harris went down a storm at Glastonbury a while back and dear old Frankie Howered found himself to be an icon amongst the student fraternity - both were, er, well over 50 at the time!

In other words, just get in there and stun them with your finest routines - best of luck!

Dat, I've already got my following in the tap room

Dunno what i'd do for a stage performance though Well, I'm thinking about it ?? .....

Ronaldo's flaming torch as an opener
Cig in coat/jacket cos I already do it
A version of card to wallet I do which has the card stapled between two pieces of card inside the wallet
A water jug I have which lets you pull the paper away while its over the spectators head and then pour it out with nothing holding the water in
Healed and Sealed Soda
Blood Feast of the Sun by Ken De Coursey, have the original manuscript for that And a good quantity of the necessary
Possibly something with a n**l wri**er (Who wants to be David Blaine) ??
And also something with silks, maybe silks from newspaper and then different vanishes of said silks ?? Maybe one with a TT and I have a nice little pull which I've never used but has a compartment to house a bit of flash wool and with a 'Flash' they're gone.

As you can see, I'm considering all options but looking at stage effects which may have a bit of raz in a darkened room. Usual close-up stuff has to go out of the window


Mods, If you want me to start a new thread, I understand. I have my own forum so I'm happy to go with the flow

I'm working purely on what I've heard here but how about a zombie or equivalent levitation? I like levitations .

Kati