The Effect: Borrow a coin and have it
marked. You say that you are always losing money through a hole in your pocket
and then you drop the marked coin into your pocket. "What's weird", you say,
"is that the hole isn't in this pocket (the one in which you dropped the coin),
but in this one!" You lift up your other foot and the borrowed marked coin is
there!
The Method: You need an extra coin. (Well,
how did you think it was done?) Most people have a quarter on them, so let's
say you want to borrow a quarter. On an "off moment", secretly place the extra
quarter under your left foot. (I sometimes adjust my socks and stick it under
the shoe.) Have someone loan you a quarter and ask them to mark it in some
unusual way with a pen.
Take the quarter and just drop it into your right trouser
pocket. Shake your leg as if you are shaking the coin into the hole and down
your leg. Then say, "What's weird is that the hole isn't in this pocket (the
one in which you dropped the coin), but in this one!" You lift up your other
foot and the borrowed coin is there!
Then - and here's where you've gotta have guts - pick up the
coin with your right hand and place it (don't drop it!) into the right trouser
pocket as you pick up the other coin with the same hand. (Just switch them.)
With your hand still in the pocket, look confused and say, "I'm sorry, did you
lend me this or was it mine?" He'll tell you it was his and you'll return his
coin (the marked one). He'll of course, inspect the coin for the mark. It's
gutsy, but it works.
