3 Lessons from a Master

I was browsing the internets today and found this video of the 3-time FISM winner Fred Kaps.

Kaps, a Dutch magician, is best known for his FISM-winning stage routines. On stage he was in complete control, a master of his art. You could tell by his facial expressions that he truly loved to perform. Here we are treated to his take on the classic Coins Through the Table. (BTW this was recorded with no sound)


There are so many great lessons to be learned here.

First, there is the clean, uncomplicated way he handles the coins. There is no excessive counting the coins over and over, which we see in many of coin routines today.

Second is the natural feel to the moves. No odd hand positions or jerky, suspicious movements,

Third, there is a wonderful continuity to each phase of the routine. Each coin that passes through the table looks the same.

The feint with the 4th coin helps to break things up a bit and adds some humor to the routine. It’s just enough to put the audience off-guard as he manipulates the final coin. Although this video has no sound, I imagine Kaps had a funny line to add to this phase to add to the set up for the final coin. If your audience is laughing, they’re not paying attention and you can get away with some serious sinning.

You can boost the power of your coin magic (and the reactions you get) through the roof if you apply these three simple ideas to your current coin magic.

Until next time!

Coins of the Apocalypse

It’s often hard to find inspiration for new coin effects. Most ‘new’ routines are just a variation of a standard plot, but done with exotic new sleights. And the presentations are often little more than a narration of what’s happening.

“And now the 3rd coin will travel to my right hand” (stab your hand with your salad fork just to stay awake). And it’s even less often that a prop inspires a coin routine.

Enter The Zombuck, the Currency of the Apocalypse!

These dollar-sized coins from Provident Metals feature a design very similar to the Walking Liberty coins. But here the Lady Liberty has been transformed into a Zombie carrying an axe (probably to fend off other zombies). In the distance the shining Sun has been replaced with nuclear mushroom cloud. The reverse side features a large biohazard symbol and the words ‘Currency of the Apocalypse’.

As soon as I saw these coins the creative juices starting flowing. David Roth’s Wild Coin from the Expert Coin Magic is now about the rampant spread of the zombie infection.

Your favorite Spellbound routine can be presented as not knowing who is a zombie and who’s not as the coin changes quickly from normal to infected and back again.

Performing Jay Sankey’s Mass Consumption from his 1990 opus 100% Sankey with the Zombucks becomes the perfect cannibal coins routine.

Let’s dig back even farther to Michael Ammar’s Coins Through Silk from his out-of-print Magic of Michael Ammar. Add the Zombucks and it’s a story of infected coins escaping from the lab.

Coin Matrix becomes a scene from World War Z. Coins Across becomes a lesson in how zombies move under the cover of darkness. And T. Nelson Down’s Free and Unlimited Coinage of Silver become a veritable Zombie Apocalypse at the dinner table!

Track down some Zombucks and see how they can make your coin magic fresh and exciting!

Easy Coin Magic gets a glowing review from the WPR!

My Easy Coin Magic DVD got a great review from the guys at Wizard Product Review. Here's the trailer. You can check out the review and pick your copy at my STORE!

I'm back!

Wow, it's been a while since I was here. I'm glad you're all still checking this page out. I'll be posting some new items pretty soon and those much-promised contests will be coming this summer. It's a great chance to win some very cool magic. Until then, sit tight and check back often for the newest coin magic post! HyperSmash.com

The Come Back Coin

Bill Tarr's "Now You See It, Now You Don't" was my first book on real sleight of hand. This books runs the gamut from coins, to cards, to billiard balls, to cigarette and silk manipulation. But the one effect that has always stuck with me was The Come Back Coin. I still perform this effect today...20+ years later! Enjoy!

Citation Silver

Inspired by Marion Boykin's release of the fantastic Jump-Mandu, I present Bob Elliott's wonderful Citation Silver. This routine is a tribute to Bob's ability to get lots of magic from a simple method.

Bob taught me the routine using Harvey Rosenthal's Backclip. I prefer to use Tenkai Pinch, as it has more favorable angles.

Citation Silver appeared in the final issue of Pallbearers Review Magazine , page 1064. Wesley James says the effect is credited to Presto Johnson.

Slow Motion Coin Vanish

From his opus The Complete Works of Derek Dingle, the Slow Motion Coin Vanish is a welcome departure from the usual, close-it-in-my-hand-and-poof-it's-gone type of vanishes. The presentation gives motivation to the movements and keeps them from looking like a lot of hand washing and clever manipulation.

My signed copy of his book is one of my prized possessions. I am constantly mining it for new ideas.

From the Elfin Hoard

Geoff Latta published From The Elfin Hoard in Stephen Minch's Spectacle (pp 77-83). It is an unpretentious vanish and reproduction of three coins, done efficiently and without all the over-proving usually associated with coin magic. Geoff's story was about Elves and their gold, but I thought the Chinese coins and Vangelis' music gave it a different texture.

There are several great coin effects in Spectacle. I'll be posting another one in the near future.

3, 2, One

From Chris Kenner's "Out Of Control". 3,2,One is an easy and very clean 3-coin production and vanish. I like that the effect is uncluttered and direct. No over-proving or hand-washing to muddy it up. 3 coins appear and vanish one-by-one.

If you can find it, 'Out of Control' is definitely worth whatever you have to pay for it. It's filled with excellent coin magic.

Monedas Brisas

Gaston Quieto's Monedas Brisas is a quick and pretty on-the-table routine. It's a refreshing break from the usual Matrix/Shadow Coins/Assembly effects. As the name says, the coins are handled in a light and breezy way. I think this is a fantastic addition to any Matrix style routine.

Gaston's effect can be found in the "Talk About Tricks" section of the August 2002 issue of Magic Magazine.

One Coin Flurry

We'll start with a One Coin Flurry. My version was directly inspired by David Roth's Flurry Routine from his Expert Coin Magic, pp 23-25.

This effect can be performed impromptu, with a borrowed coin, making it ideal for casual performers. The modular nature of the routine makes it great for 'breaking in' new vanishes and productions. Roth says the coin should almost take on a life of it's own as it jumps around the body, almost out of the performers' control.

This video is from my Easy To Learn Coin Tricks DVD.