What's in your pockets?

[Guest]

What kind of magic do you carry at all times in your pockets to perform for just anybody you see around town?

I'll inventory my own pockets:

o thumbtip: for salt pulls and bill switches
o coins: four half dollars and a copper English penny. I find that to perform off the cuff magic, cards are intrusive because once you bring them out, people say, "Oh, here it comes...." Whereas with coins, you can do the magic before they even label it as such.
o Sharpie: just in case I bring out cards, or for performing "How Sweet It Is" in restaurants (initialed quarter in Nutrasweet packet).
o Perfect Pen: for impressing restaurant waitresses when the bill comes and creating a scene in a restaurant, for later exploitation when you ask the wide-mouthed general manager: "Have you ever seen how magic can work in a restaurant like this?"

[Robert Kane]

That's a fun question. Let's see...

1. Tamariz Color Changing Knives w/my set up - 1 red/white, 1 white and 1 red/white color fusion knife in a green felt holder
2. Markburger.com's Hip Himber Double Kaps Wallet
3. Large White Dice w/Black Spots a la Sacks
4. Hopping Halves or Two Copper, One Silver in a lil' black Ton Onosaka Coin Purse :)

[Joe M. Turner]

1. Roger Klause's Bill Transposition is always in my wallet.
2. A silver dollar, two English pennies, four halves and an expanded shell in a small change purse. I think I'm going to take out the English pennies because I put them in for something specific a few weeks ago and haven't used them since.
3. There's a pretty good chance I'll have a deck of cards either in my pocket or in the car if I "needed" it.

JMT

[Guest]

I've got to admit...I too have the 2 copper/1 silver trick in a Ton Onosaka purse in my pocket.
I also have the following:
4 copper coins/1 silver for several coin routines..
Thumbtip and mismade bill (for quick bill switch)
1 queen of hearts in my wallet (have someone think of a card..if they say queen of hearts, you have a miracle on your hands. If they don't, then I respond that whatever card they name is what most people say, then go into something else using that as the intro to the trick.)

[Lance Pierce]

Hey, this IS a fun question.

In my left front pocket, I keep three D'Lites, four Morgan shells, a sponge dong, two purse frames, and a Jardine-Ellis ring. In my right front pocket, I carry some apple balloons, a bill tube, Leipzig's Cap and Pence, some double backers, a squeaker, a moo-can, and a diagonal palm shift. In my right rear pocket are my Real Man's Card Wallet, my Mullica Wallet, my Himber Wallet, my Kaps Wallet, my Balducci wallet, my Bendix Bombshell, and a sub trunk. In my left rear pocket are two decks of cards, three packet tricks, a set up for Card Warp, Gypsy's Curse, Color Monte with tarot cards, a copy of Erdnase, and a secret assistant. In my left shoe is a rock, and in my right shoe is a lemon. In my breast pocket are my linking rings and cups and balls, not to mention my color changing knives and Juan Tamariz. In my shirt pocket is The Mother of All Book Tests.

I'm ready for anything, but one time I fell over and couldn't get up by myself. Lucky me; on that day I had my appearing pole in my sleeve. I usually don't carry that one around.

Lance

:D

[Sean Macfarlane]

These days I'm carrying four silver half dollars with two shells an english penny and copper/silver gimmick, thats all in a purse in my left pants pocket. Back trouser pocket is a jumbo coin, right trousers pocket are 4 sponge balls, right back pocket is a deck of cards. In my breast pocket in my notepad and business card holder I have Mike Skinners Ultimate Three Card monte and two double facers ready to go for Ryan Swigerts "Kickback" Oh yeah I also often have U3F with the deck of cards in my right trousers pocket. That's a lot of killer material

[Matthew Field]

Lance -- is that magic in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

I carry a Thought Transmitter, a Doug Edwards Wonder Penetration (and I also own John Cornelius's original Pen Thru Anything and the Perfect Pen, purchased from John C.), a Hot Rod, a small, illegal switchblade for Frank Garcia's Card Stab, a Black & White Surprise, and a small wallet with some packet tricks -- Color Monte, Mutanz, Wild Card, and a bill prepared for Bob Neale's wonderful effect which Bob Taxin has a great handling for. My deck is set for Chicago Opener. If I'm not doing that one, I just leave the red backer in the case.

Many of the places I go with clients are not approprite for whipping out a deck of cards. But the Thought Transmitter is perfect.

Don't worry, Lance, I'm not getting on any airplane with the knife. Don't you try boarding an aircraft with that load in your pants.

Matt Field

[Dustin Stinett]

Whenever this question comes up all I can picture in my mind is Billy McComb fishing through his front trouser pocket saying, "Plums? I don't remember bringing plums..."

Dustin
(Perfect Pen Through Anything; a few coins; mis-made bill)

[cataquet]

OK, here are my pockets:
- Thumbtip setup for mismade switch
- Film cannister with four small dice (used for dice stack)
- 2 casino dice (used as jumbo load for above routine and Sachs routine)
- Three half dollars and expanded shell
- 6' of 1/4" rope and a small pair of scissors
- Matching set of equal-unequal ropes

I never carry a pack of cards, and the above is also my normal "going to a party but don't really want to perform" loading. If I'm going to a party where I want to or am likely to perform, I carry more rope and a set of 5" rings. I also usually secretly place a pack of cards somewhere in the house where I am likely to perform and where it can easily be found by someone when I ask "Does anyone have a pack of cards?"

Bye for now

Harold
===============
Harold Cataquet

[Tom Dobrowolski]

Change, (pennies, dimes nickels, quarters) car keys and money clip with bills. With these everyday items "people" (i.e.non magicians) actually carry with them and with the few items you may find laying around wherever you may be you should be able to perform impromptu miracles.
My good friend and teacher the late Jim Ryan used to perform all kinds of fun impromptu magic at restaurants with just the items on the table and a few toothpicks. He WAS truly a magician. Just ask any of the many waitresses or patrons who saw him perform these miracles with what was on his and THEIR table(s). (O.k. he also carried a thumb tip for a neat vanishing lit match trick)

P.s.-I have a feeling Lance Pierces' list is actually closer to the truth for most magicians, especially when they're attending some one else's show. The only thing missing on that list was the flashing lit up "Magician" lapel pin.

[Sean Piper]

Originally posted by David Groves:
What kind of magic do you carry at all times in your pockets to perform for just anybody you see around town?

Do you guys really carry all this stuff around everywhere you go, or just on special occassions?

I generally never mention magic when I'm out, but if it does come up and I'm requested to perform, I'll just use whatever is handy (rubber bands, napkins, glass, borrowed coins, etc.)

Mind you, I can appreciate the power of a 'set-up impromptu' performance. I recently snuck away from dinner to shove a card inside a lemon. I couldn't of asked for a better reaction!!!

[Guest]

In my pocket, I carry a smith and Wesson 9 mm...hey, I live in a bad part of town. Besides that I usually carry a stack of quarters, color knives and a thumb tip...also at times I have 2 dice as well.

Mike

[Lance Pierce]

Originally posted by Matthew Field:
Lance -- is that magic in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Matt Field

Hey, Matt,

That magic in my pocket is BECAUSE I'm happy to see you, if you know what I mean, and I...

...never mind.

L-

[Joe M. Turner]

The bill transpo lives in my wallet, and the coins live in the coin pouch I use to carry my pocket change and prevent the walking jingles. The only magic prop that I ever actually add to my normal clothing is the occasional deck of cards, which is determined in large part by whether I expect to be sitting somewhere for a long time waiting...
- for my child to get out of school
- for my wife to come out of the store
- riding in the van to a distant destination
- in a doctor's waiting room
- at the airport gate
- with a group of magic-expectant friends at a restaurant
- etc.

Sure, I went through a phase where I felt I had to have something in every pocket. Thumb tip, sponge balls, hot rods, gaffed decks, etc. Now I feel more confident in my ability to improvise if necessary, but a couple of coins and the bill transpo are more than enough magic for nearly any casual situation. If I have a deck of cards with me, it was probably intended for my own amusement.

[Pete McCabe]

In my pockets are three quarters, two dimes, and a nickel. Also two quarters held together with a piece of blue-tack.

Plus a ball-point pen.

On my left hand is my wedding ring.

I can do six solid close-up effects with just that. Can't imagine I'd ever want to do more than that in a completely impromptu setting; if I did, I'd borrow a deck of cards.

If I know I might be doing magic I'll also have a deck of cards.

I used to carry around a half, English penny, and C/S gaff, and my thumb tip. But fortunately now I know tricks using only the items I've mentioned above which are just as good as the tricks I used to do using the C/S and TT. I find it makes leaving the house a little less stressful if I'm not always thinking about whether I'm ready to do a trick or not.

[Richard Kaufman]

A deck of ordinary playing cards has resided in my front trousers pocket since the age of 14: that would be 30 years. It is all I have ever carried. :)
It has never let me down.

[Guest]

Originally posted by Richard Kaufman:
[QB]A deck of ordinary playing cards has resided in my front trousers pocket since the age of 14: that would be 30 years. It is all I have ever carried.QB]

Ordinary? No stranger cards? No special packets? Do you always like to do your magic with the genuine article, an ordinary deck?

[Guest]

For the moment mine are in the left cargo pants pocket, and I dont balance well without them.Except for two occasions I have always had a deck with me for 5 years running. Magicians always say "What kind of magic do you do when there is no deck of cards around" Well if I am going to waste hours upon hours of my life practice with A deck of cards I think I may as well bring it when I go some where. Just thoughts.

Noah LEvine

[John Pezzullo]

I don't have any pockets available as I live in a nudist colony. What should I do?

:confused:

[Lance Pierce]

Originally posted by John Pezzullo:
I don't have any pockets available as I live in a nudist colony. What should I do?

:confused:

Well, now, step into my orifice, and we'll talk about it.

L-

[Larry Horayne]

<<Originally posted by John Pezzullo:
I don't have any pockets available as I live in a nudist colony. What should I do?>>

INVISIBLE DECK

www.SandySinger.com

[Larry Horayne]

Lance Pierce--please contact me
SinatraDJ@juno.com

Sandy Singer

[Pete McCabe]

John Pezzullo:

I was once in a hot tub naked with a few friends when I was asked if I could do some magic. I did a trick called "Full Circle" from my one-man parade in the May Linking Ring. All it requires is that you be wearing a wedding ring.

If you don't have access to that issue of the LR email me and I'll send you the write up.

Pete

[Brian Morton]

Pete McCabe writes:

I was once in a hot tub naked with a few friends when I was asked if I could do some magic. I did a trick called "Full Circle" from my one-man parade in the May Linking Ring. All it requires is that you be wearing a wedding ring.

All that does is bring up a whole bunch of visuals I wish I really didn't have to think about. :eek:

I carry one half dollar in my right pants pocket, and a deck of regular Bikes in my left rear pocket. The deck has one contrasting card on the bottom set up for Whit Haydn's Chicago Surprise. That's all.

I'm with Richard: I've spent most of my recent professional magic career trying to get it stripped down so all I need is a deck, both for stage and close-up.

brian :cool:

[EdAndres]

Richard said:

A deck of ordinary playing cards has resided in my front trousers pocket since the age of 14

Is that the same deck after all those years? It must look like one of Jerry Andrus' decks!

I always have a deck and a dollar size batman coin! cuz I ain't buyin' the drinks :p .

Ed

[Alpen]

NoahLevine said :

Well if I am going to waste hours upon hours of my life practice with A deck of cards

Noah, Noah, Noah... You shouldn't say you're wasting hours... ;)

[Guest]

Thank you Alpen. I guess I didn't waste my time. I shouldn't have said that. Hey ALpen What's in Your Pockets?

Noah Levine

[Alpen]

Well, I always have a deck in my bag for those off times such as in between classes, while studying, when I'm just bored etc... but I rarely take it out to randomly do tricks for people.
I'm actually a big fan of grabbing something from the spectator, or the table to do a trick with. If they wear a ring, you could do some cool stuff with that, there are usually cigarettes lying around... ashtray (ash trick.) I think its so much better for a spectator... from they're point of view, they're saying "show me something" and you look around and say "well, let me see your ring for a sec" or "do u have any coins" or "do u smoke... can I borrow a cigarette" etc...
The only thing I occaisionally will wear (if I'm going out, or I know I might be asked to do something) is a Loop around my wrist. :)

[Guest]

If you are performing au naturale, do Don Alan's Nudist Deck..

[Frank Starsinic]

Originally posted by Richard Kaufman:
A deck of ordinary playing cards has resided in my front trousers pocket since the age of 14: that would be 30 years. It is all I have ever carried. :)
It has never let me down.

After 30 years I think its time for a new deck.

[Guest]

I don't have any pockets available as I live in a nudist colony. What should I do?

Well at least you have a place to hang your linking rings...sorry, I couldn't resist the obvious!

Mike

[Lance Pierce]

Well...except for the key.

L-

[Tom Stone]

Originally posted by Lance Pierce:
[QBIn my left front pocket, I keep three D'Lites, four Morgan shells, a sponge dong, two purse frames, and a Jardine-Ellis ring.[/QB]

Interesting! Are those items used in one single effect? If not, then it would be even more interesting to see you attempting to invent one. :)

I myself have:
A pen and a small pad, for writing down ideas.
One coin.
A pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
My shoes.
A good memory.

Those things will keep me running for 20-30 minutes.

[Dave Shepherd]

A deck of Bikes.

I also have a couple Kennedy halfs (just normal copper-sandwich coins) in my everyday coin purse, but I don't use them much to perform.

Like Brian and Richard, I am trying to keep from carrying a lot of junk around. As someone said one another forum a couple years ago, cards are about the most versatile prop you can have.

Just a deck of ungaffed Bikes. Mine are even usually short a card or two from a show.

I used to carry a thumbtip, sometimes loaded with a mismade bill, until I lost a few TT's. Now it's just cards.

[Guest]

FWIW...

In my pockets: two rubber bands and a Wonder Pen

In my shoulder bag: rope and scissors, TT (set up for Ralph the Unfathomable's "Toilet Paper to String" trick), regular deck, Invisible deck, Okito box with four halves and an English, close-up pad.

In desk at work: my own custom redesigned flint flasher that enables me to shoot a streak of fire six feet long; for symbolic use when bitching with colleagues about clients.

[Jim Maloney_dup1]

Ok, here's my current list:

In my bag:
A deck of red-backed Bikes, set up for Peter Samelson's NY Transpo
A Sharpie
A pen or pencil to do a ring on stick (just added this -- I'll either borrow a ring or use my own. I'll probably throw it in my pocket if I'm not gonna have my bag with me)

In my wallet (which just happens to be a Real Man's Wallet):
Gimmick for Burger/Parr bill transposition

-Jim