talkmagic.co.uk

I know I can't do a muscle pass with coins. I know this as I have tried variously and intermittently for about 6 months. No movement or anything, just sore hands.

While looking through some articles on coin work this evening, I saw a section detailing the muscle pass.

I snorted derisively, and picked up a half dollar to demonstrate that it was impossible. Placed it in classic palm position, and squeezed, just as I had for the last x-hundred attempts.

The coin flew out vertically about 8 inches, surprising the out of me.

I tried twenty or so more times, and got varying results, mostly less high, and in some odd directions, but every time I squeezed, the coin moved. This definitely gives me something to build on with the sleight, hopefully I'll be able to get it more under control with more work.

Moral: Try stuff you know you can't do.

Steverino wrote:Moral: Try stuff you know you can't do.

I like... I like...

Any indication where these articles can be found, this move has frustrated the bejesus outta me!!! Gave it up as well as most coin sleights, I really struggle for some odd reason even with palming a coin. BUT having heard of your success I now wish to try again and if you'd point the way, why not with the muscle pass!!!

coinvanish.com has a small section that I was reading (foundations).

I just got a bit lucky with this while messing around - It's probably not worth putting a lot of time into unless you have a use for it. Quite pleasing when it works though.

Steverino wrote:

I snorted derisively, and picked up a half dollar to demonstrate that it was impossible. Placed it in classic palm position, and squeezed, just as I had for the last x-hundred attempts.

The coin flew out vertically about 8 inches, surprising the :Shocked: out of me.

I know what you mean with this. I'm not much of a coin man, more of a card man. But any Cardies reading this will hear my pain when I spent a long time trying to do the Erdnase Colour Change. Similarly I did the same with the Classic Pass. I tried them for a long time and it was not only that I couldn't do them at a performable speed, I couldn't even get the basic technique to work no matter how hard I tried. I dunno how it works but with both sleights (and it still happens with some stuff) I found that I would try it one day and suddenly the basic technique was suddenly there. Obviously it would require some honing but was actually able to do it to a point where I could practise it properly by analyzing where I went wrong and what to change. Then I would try it on one of my test subjects (anyone who is bored enough to follow all of my posts will know of my friends, Kate, who always makes me mess things up - so if I can get something past her then I know it's good) and if it flies I'll start using it in my repertoire properly.

Anyway, Steverino, I feel you pain with this learning stuff. At the moment I'm practicing the change Brad Christian uses in his Gaff Ghost deck video which has the card face up sticking out of a face down deck and it changes as he waves the deck. My brain is perfectlty knowledged on how it works but apparently my hands aren't. It'll get there.

everyone should try one thing each day they know they can't do.
i do, but this usually ends in me hitting myself in the nuts with a staff of some poi, or dropping a metal contact ball on my toes

Larry wrote:everyone should try one thing each day they know they can't do.
i do, but this usually ends in me hitting myself in the nuts with a staff of some poi, or dropping a metal contact ball on my toes

You do that contact juggling stuff?

I've wanted to have a go at that ever since I saw David Bowie pretend to do it with those crystal balls in Labyrinth (Michael Moschen apparently had to hide behind him and do all the moves without being able to see what he was doing - awesome )

I used to mess around juggling clubs and torches, but haven't really done much for years. The other day, I was vaguely looking around for some contact balls, but wasn't really quite sure what I should be looking for. Hmm I need to look into this further...

DAVID "GODDAM" BOWIE!!! that's all i ever hear about contact juggling.
ha ha, well... I'm over it. but no, it's not bowie doing it, although for what he does at the start of the film i could teach you to do in a day probably, so i don't see why bowie couldn't take some time out of his life to learn to contact juggle! grrr.

but anyway... have a go at it dude, get down a home furnishings store and find an 80mm metal ball, usually go for about 2quid. and that's all you need to start you off, apart from perhaps some tuition.

this should be the "thing you can't do" that everyone on here should try. it is after all the only form of juggling that looks truely magical (that's about the fifth time i've posted that sentence on here).

hehe yeah.

It makes me chuckle to think of the poor guy having to crouch down behind bowie for hours on end, doing juggling moves blind

I did think it was bowie doing it when I originally saw the film, but the dvd extra features section has a bit that sets the record straight. They probably figured they could train him for a few days to do the basics, and he'd look rubbish, or they could pay an expert to do all the moves for him, and make everything look great.

On the other hand, he's probably indirectly done more to promote that sort of juggling to the mass audience that anyone else. I doubt many people have seen much other contact juggling, other than a few people doing simpler looking stuff at festivals. All looks cool though.

Now if only I could get a puppet show going, complete with miss piggy contact juggling with multi-coloured crystal balls. I'm sure Henson wouldn't sue

Maybe I'll see what I can pick up at a DIY store them. Hmm 80mm...

These days with a bit of CGI, they could make Bowie (or anyone else) look like an expert!

Mandrake wrote:These days with a bit of CGI, they could make Bowie (or anyone else) look like an expert!

Hey, does that work in real life as well?

Maybe I can download myself some CGI from [fill in name of leading cheesy magic supplier]

I understand your frustration with the muscle pass, (interesting that I didn't know this was the name for it, I've always called it a squeeze pass, personal name)

Anyway, try this pass with a one dollar coin, the larger size make the movement easier, also it's easier when the hand is being moved in a slight upwards movement, (i don't think this is giving any secrets away.)

I learnt this technique with a one dollar and found (don't ask why) that the transition to a half dollar was made easier. I'm not saying that you should use one dollar coins in your routine just that for practice purposes the one dollar coin seems to strengthen your hand muscles more quickly.

It is possible for this also to be used as an effect of a jumping coin and believe it or not is quite difficult for lay persons to detect your method.

Hope this helps.

Perry