Hand Washing?

[JustinT]

I've been practicing quite a bit of coin magic, and I discovered a while ago a technique called "hand-washing" which didn't appeal to me then but now I would like to learn some hand-washing with coins. Does anybody know where I can properly learn hand-washing?

On a side note, does anybody know any good ways to ditch a coin in your pants pockets after doing any sort of false transfer to the other hand? What is good timing for ditching a coin in your pants pocket?

 

[hammondedward9]

Justin,
These are both great questions. "Hand washing" is a form of an acquitment. That means that while one object moves from hand to hand visibly another is moving invisibly. Acquitments are best executed with the cover of the visible object but when they aren't, its called "hand washing" In saying that you want to learn "some" hand washing, I will assume you don't have a real use for it yet. Find a situation where it would be useful to acquit then search for the sleight. Learning it without a purpose or proper understanding of its uses would be detrimental to your magic - i.e. unnecessary hand washing. It is very easy to fall into the trap of constantly "showing your hands front and back" again and again ad nauseam. The truth is to show your hands convincingly empty you would just hold them up and show them empty. Not flop them about and rub them.
There are several examples of acquitments, as well as ditches in the classic coin text, JB Bobo's Modern Coin Magic.
This book is a great starting point for anyone interested in coin magic. A few which come to mind as being well motivated, easy, and practical are the "wuffle dust" ditch, breast pocket ditch,and a personal favorite, the Malini ditch. Bobo's book also talks about sleeving, cuffing and several other interesting ways to move coins about unseen. Please feel free to PM me if you would like to discuss these things in greater depth.
Edward

 

[JustinT]

Thank you so much I'll definitely look into picking that one up.

 

[leighelkins]

Justin,
These are both great questions. "Hand washing" is a form of an acquitment. That means that while one object moves from hand to hand visibly another is moving invisibly. Acquitments are best executed with the cover of the visible object but when they aren't, its called "hand washing" In saying that you want to learn "some" hand washing, I will assume you don't have a real use for it yet. Find a situation where it would be useful to acquit then search for the sleight. Learning it without a purpose or proper understanding of its uses would be detrimental to your magic - i.e. unnecessary hand washing. It is very easy to fall into the trap of constantly "showing your hands front and back" again and again ad nauseam. The truth is to show your hands convincingly empty you would just hold them up and show them empty. Not flop them about and rub them.
There are several examples of acquitments, as well as ditches in the classic coin text, JB Bobo's Modern Coin Magic.
This book is a great starting point for anyone interested in coin magic. A few which come to mind as being well motivated, easy, and practical are the "wuffle dust" ditch, breast pocket ditch,and a personal favorite, the Malini ditch. Bobo's book also talks about sleeving, cuffing and several other interesting ways to move coins about unseen. Please feel free to PM me if you would like to discuss these things in greater depth.
Edward

Edward,
Slightly off topic, but I've never been into coin magic and I can't remember seeing much that has impressed me. However, as coins are always around in pretty much any impromptu situation I've been thinking it could be useful to know some stuff. I've even come close to buying Bobo's book a few times but for one reason or another decided against it. My biggest concern is that, and I say this as only in my experience, the majority of coin magic seems to be "the coin is here, *magical gesture*, now its there".
So, as someone who loves cards and the variety of effects that can be done with them, do you think I would be impressed with Bobo's book? Of course I'm not expecting the variety of with a deck of cards, but more than coin goes from A to B.

Cheers!

 

[hammondedward9]

To both of you,
(I believe you will both find value in what I am about to say)
The real strength of learning "coin magic" is that the sleights, concealments, plots, and structures are LIMITLESSLY applicable to other small objects. It is very true that much of coin magic can be summed up as you said, however, once you begin to experiment with other small objects the possibility for new implied meanings/effects skyrockets! The versatility of one sleight alone allows for multiple archetypal effects. For instance: with a change of presentation and the addition of another prop, you can go from "causing an object to vanish", to, "causing one object to penetrate another." Small object is magic is by far the most rewarding branch of magic because of is versatility, impromptu possibilities, and potential for original creations. So to you the question is, "how far does the rabbit hole really go?"
Edward

 

[Justin.Morris]

Well said.

As for ditching, I learned Greg Wilson's pitch and ditch earlier on, and it's my favorite method. Worth looking into for sure.

 

[leighelkins]

Edward, that was a brilliant answer. You should be receiving your commission from Bobo's book shortly.

 

[hammondedward9]

Thank you Leighelkins,
I'm definitely not saying it has everything right, but the main thing I love about the book is its focus on fundamentals. The first 30 or so pages of explanation really cover a lot of ground; concealments, false transfers, shuttle pass, and a few steals. Most of the tricks are.....better suited for experimentation. lets just leave it at that. It covers quite a bit for being published in 1952 and exposes readers to several great plots; coins across, misers dream, 2 in the hand, borrowed coin in ball of wool, etc. It also has a great list of other books to reference as well as history on the subjects of coin magic and numismatics. Having all of these things and more, I think, is what has earned it such a venerable spot on most's shelves.
Edward