Winged Silver WIP

The more I work on this winged silver routine the more I like it. In "Modern Coin Magic" Bobo credits this effect to Nelson C. Hahne. I’m currently working on the “Improved Version” of it. What strikes me about this effect is its reliance on timing and misdirection. The sleights themselves are not difficult. I have a decent and natural looking classic palm so that’s not a problem. But I have to admit that I’m really struggling with the timing and misdirection. For example, a coin must be vanished by tossing it invisibly from the right hand to the left hand. Moving the coin from the finger tips and into position is easy in and of itself. The problem is making it look magical. The other difficulty is the move that creates a clean finish at the end. Again, not a difficult move, but I feel like I’m making circles on my stomach and tapping the top of my head. It seems so easy, but I’m having a hard time following the path of the “thrown” coin with my eyes while making myself clean. I am getting it. It’s slow going, but it’s coming along. Good thing too. Friday will be here soon. This is the first “new” routine I have worked on since getting back into magic. It is deliciously frustrating! I love a fine coin routine. Once I get this worked out, I’ve got my eye on Dai Vernon’s “Five Coins and a Glass”. Brilliant elegance! I hope I can do it justice.


On another note, my classic pass is improving. I have it up to about 90%. Soon I'll be ready to perform it with confidence. One hundred to two hundred times a day. That's the ticket. I have also cleaned up my invisible turn over pass a la Paul LePaul. This will hold me until my classic pass is ready.

Winged Silver

There are few things in the realm of legerdemain more beautiful than a cleverly designed and professionally executed coin routine. What I wouldn’t give to experience first-hand T. Nelson Downs performing the Miser’s Dream! Imagine being totally enthralled by coin magic from the 23rd row. Such was the beauty and presentation of Downs.

I wonder sometimes if audiences are getting burned out on the “big Stuff”. Don't get me wrong, I love a dashing grand illusion performance. But I wonder. If audiences were aware that they were viewing pure “organic” sleight-of-hand, would they enjoy a righteous coin routine? If well presented, I believe they would. After all, why do people that don’t cook tune in to watch Mario Batali roll a tortellini? Or people that don’t paint watch Bob Ross paint a beautiful landscape in minutes. I expect it is because people enjoy watching experts who love their craft doing what they do best with joy and enthusiasm. Each one of us has a gift. Why hide it under a bushel basket? There is joy to be had!
At present I am working on a pretty little coin routine from “Modern Coin Magic” by Bobo. For years I have passed this gem by without giving it much thought. It is one of the routines from the “Winged Silver” section. Back in the day I had my own handling of a 4 silver dollar transposition. A nice routine that served me well but there is something special about this effect I have found. It’s possible that it looks better in my imagination than it will in reality but I’m going to give it my best shot and see what kind of reaction I get.


My biggest hurtle is the thumb palm. The tendons in my right hand are pretty tight these days. A quick and smooth curl of the first two fingers in order to gracefully deposit a half dollar into thumb palm position was a piece of cake before the dreaded hand injury. I don’t mind though. Working this out is physical therapy. So really I’m working on two tasks at once. This is good.
Another aspect of this routine that challenges and excites me is the misdirection needed for the clean finish. In the old days I thought of this kind if chicanery was hokey and ineffective on modern audiences. But now I recognize its beauty. Anyone who has ever seen Slydini perform understands that old school is by no means old hat!