Impromptu
Koran
By
Mike Rogers
I
expect this column will cause me extended grief,
so Iíll get right to it. Iíve never been a big
fan of the late Al Koran. I met him once, saw
him lecture once, and saw him perform once.
I was most impressed by how much he was impressed
with himself. OK, I said it. Sorry to attack
one of the icons of magic in such a negative
way, but to be honest, our relationship, what
little of it there was, might best be described
as "instant hate" starting in the first thirty
seconds. Personally I donít even consider him
as an icon in magic, but I do believe he left
a lasting mark.
Now
that thatís out of the way I am not saying his
magic wasnít quite good. Itís difficult to have
any discussion of Koran without the Gold Medallion
entering into the conversation. It is printed
in both Koran books and has been marketed in
various forms. Over the years several mentalists
have made the effect a regular part of their
program. Sorry folks, in my opinion it doesnít
live up to the billing, not even when Koran
did it. Itís one of those things magicians love
to discuss because it "talks" better than it
"plays." When you think about it itís just another
prediction. Three digits are noted on a business
card. A medallion is then shown to be inscribed
with the same three digits. Yes, yes, I know,
itís flaked with lots of meat, plenty of potatoes,
and an abundance of gravy. (All fireguards are
in place for the flames I know Iíll receive,
so let ëem fly.) I fully expect to be blackballed
by the mentalists of the world for expressing
these views, so before being exiled to the Thumb
Tip Trash Dump let me proceed with some positive
thoughts.
This
is an impromptu handling of the Gold Medallion
for close up venues. Though impromptu, it does
require a Sharpie Permanent Felt marker, a business
card, and two Kennedy half dollars.
At
some point in your program perform any coin
trick where a coin is marked using the Sharpie.
This could be something like a marked coin appearing
in an impossible location. An effect such as
Lippincott Coin Box, Coin in Ball of Wool, or
Coin in Sealed Envelope. It doesnít matter.
You just need to establish the point that having
a coin marked is not uncommon. This can be at
any point in your program just as long as it
occurs before the Impromptu Medallion effect.
Itís best if it is done a few tricks before
the Medallion routine. The point is to make
the viewers comfortable seeing a marked coin.
This marked coin is not involved in the effect
to be explained. Itís just a conditioning thing
so when they next see a marked coin it will
not appear to be odd.
Now
let's move on to the effect. Toss one of the
Kennedy half dollars on the table asking a spectator
to place his hand over the coin and guard it
well. Remove the business card from you jacket
pocket along with the other Kennedy half hidden
in any non-palm you know. In other words, donít
palm it; just donít let it be seen. You are
now going to have three letters (not digits)
named which you write on the back of the business
card using the Sharpie pen. Using the Koran
technique also write these three letters on
the hidden Kennedy half dollar. Contrive to
have the face side of the half dollar as your
writing surface. Thereís lots of smooth flat
area there right across JFKís face. Letís assume
the three letters named are FER. Using the Koran
technique you now have FER written on both the
business card and the hidden coin. Because of
the permanent nature of the Sharpie pen the
ink dries immediately on the hidden coin.
Hand
the card to any spectator asking him to read
aloud the three letters. When he does, say,
"This seems impossible. Last week during a show
I had a spectator write his initials on one
of my coins." Turn to the spectator guarding
the tabled half dollar asking that he lift his
hand. When he does pick up the tabled half dollar
and execute any coin switch or shuttle pass
you know ringing in the marked half. (If using
a the Bobo Coin Switch please donít palm the
coin in the thumb palm position.) Toss it to
the table asking any spectator to read the initials.
Go
South at your leisure as thereís lots of time
and little heat.
This
is not a major miracle, but it is an impressive
coincidence effect. Also, there is an advantage
of not having to use any play on words as to
how the letters are imprinted on the coin, something
not possible in the Koran routine. Anyone wanting
to do so can look at the marked coin.
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