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There's a Hole in My Pocket
The Effect: Borrow a coin and have it marked.
You say that you are always losing money through a hole in your pocket
and then you drop the marked coin into your pocket. "What's weird",
you say, "is that the hole isn't in this pocket (the
one in which you dropped the coin), but in this one!" You lift
up your other foot and the borrowed marked coin
is there!
The Method: You need an extra coin. (Well,
how did you think it was done?) Most people have a quarter on
them, so let's say you want to borrow a quarter. On an "off
moment", secretly place the extra quarter under your left foot.
(I sometimes adjust my socks and stick it under
the shoe.) Have someone loan you a quarter and ask them to mark
it in some unusual way with a pen.
Take
the quarter and just drop it into your right trouser pocket. Shake
your leg as if you are shaking the coin into the hole and down your
leg. Then say, "What's weird is that the hole isn't in this pocket (the
one in which you dropped the coin), but in this one!" You lift
up your other foot and the borrowed coin is there!
Then
- and here's where you've gotta have guts - pick up the coin with your
right hand and place it (don't drop it!) into the right trouser pocket
as you pick up the other coin with the same hand. (Just
switch them.) With your hand still in the pocket, look confused
and say, "I'm sorry, did you lend me this or was it mine?" He'll tell
you it was his and you'll return his coin (the
marked one). He'll, of course, inspect the coin for the mark.
It's gutsy, but it works. |
