Hopping Half Recommendation

2025-01-18

Hey everyone, lately I've been messing around with my street magic kit, and with the Hopping Half, when I show the coins (one copper and one silver), everyone says to me, "Isn't one thicker than the other?"

I've done this for a couple of family members, and they've all said the same thing. So when I finish, they tell me, "The one that was thick is the same now; it must have had a layer of something on it."

I'm asking this to find out how you guys present it. I try to downplay it by giving the coins a couple of spins so they see they're normal. Since they're not everyday coins, they assume they're gimmicked somehow. I hope someone can help me by telling me how you present it or something similar.

Thanks a lot, and best regards!

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@elayudante

2025-01-18

As @Zeta says, your attitude is key. Naturalize the coins.

Another option: the switch.

First, let them examine normal coins, and then you switch them for the gimmicked ones.

Joaquín Matas used to do it using a coin purse and with a lot of nerve. No problem at all.

Only you know what's going to happen, so you can use that to your advantage.

All the best!

@david.gala_rodriguez

2025-01-24

Good morning:

I'm adding this a bit late, but if it helps at all...

The pants I use have two pockets on the same side (just a normal pair of jeans), and at the beginning of the routine, I have two regular coins that I hand out for examination. While I'm explaining how it works, I put the two coins into the first pocket and make the switch. In the final step of the trick, when I put the two coins away, I bring out the regular ones again and hand them out for examination once more. I hope I explained myself clearly. Best regards.

@rubencarrera

2025-01-24

I do the switch too... Pretty much the same way.

Honestly, I've never been caught.

@zeta

2025-01-18

Hey @ElSergio02.

Family can be tricky when it comes to performing our magic 😂.

Generally, when we're working with gimmicked props, we're the first ones who need to act like they're totally normal and ignore the fact that they're gimmicked.

It really shows (especially to those who know us) if we're too focused on it.

For me, coins have been a sticking point for a long time; I hardly ever perform coin magic and I'm not very good at it.

But I'm used to handling all sorts of props for magic, and I think you can apply this concept: sometimes, before the actual trick, it's good to just casually handle ungimmicked objects (as if you're just playing with them). This way, you can even (as if it's no big deal) let your future spectators play with them or simply hold them for a moment to confirm they're normal.

Then, subtly, we make the switch and perform the effect.

I do this with a lot of props. For example, with Hanson Chien's Ozone effect (for those who aren't familiar with it -->), I first hand several balloons to the spectator, and they choose their balloon and my balloon. Therefore, they've ALREADY CONFIRMED that the balloon they hand me is a normal balloon.

When I perform the effect, no one tries to grab the balloon directly because they've already checked it beforehand, and that gives me time to "eliminate" the evidence and hand the balloon back.

And it's the same with all sorts of props.

Anyway, let's see if anyone else has some specific advice regarding coin magic.

Best, and good magic to you!!!

@dabeno

2025-01-26

I carry silver dollar coins in a coin purse, and when I show them, I explain that they're fantastic for magic because they seem to vanish so easily. While the spectators are chuckling and checking them out, I take out both coins. I only draw attention to the copper one, saying I like to use a different color for better visual contrast. By this point, you've got the audience perfectly misdirected, and no one has ever noticed or mentioned the difference in thickness between the coins.