Episode 42 - How to Rip a Phonebook in Half! [Discussion]

[travislopes]

The tables are turned on Brian, as he is the student learning from the ultimate master of strength!

Watch and get scammed here. (http://revision3.com/scamschool/strenghtschoolep1/)

[shwooddotcom]

I loved doing this episode. But since it's a bit of a departure from our previous episodes, I'm excited to hear what you guys think of it.

[murphy1d]

I think the idea of taking the scams out of the bar has a lot of potential. There are soo many scams out there that I'd love to hear more about (have the ability to spot).

The one thing that stuck out in my mind is that the "Strength School" overlap and title change seemed unnecessary. This is just the follow up to our normal Scam 101 classes.

Its like Scam School 110/ Applied Sciences.:)

[boldfire]

The one thing that stuck out in my mind is that the "Strength School" overlap and title change seemed unnecessary.

Really? I liked that they did that, I thought it was a nice touch. The episode was great and seemed slightly longer as well, something that's been asked for a while.

I prefer the usual bar tricks than this episode, but I love the idea and want to continue. Perhaps 2 weeks for bar scams, 1 week street, 2 weeks bar scams, 1 week street etc.

Good work as usual!

[misterparry]

To be honest, I don't think strength school is all that great. I don't see these as scams but more or less lame magic trick reveals. The social engineering of scam school is what made it awesome. I think the concept is good but for me I like things just the way they were.

[therage800]

I think the idea of taking the scams out of the bar has a lot of potential. There are soo many scams out there that I'd love to hear more about (have the ability to spot).

The one thing that stuck out in my mind is that the "Strength School" overlap and title change seemed unnecessary. This is just the follow up to our normal Scam 101 classes.

Its like Scam School 110/ Applied Sciences.:)

I agree. I feel that it's still Scam School, so leave it at that.

I wouldn't mind seeing more street scams! Although, I still think Bryan needs a second show...

[happyhippyharry]

Perhaps 2 weeks for bar scams, 1 week street, 2 weeks bar scams, 1 week street etc.

Good work as usual!

I think because there are so many scam schools, they should have it the other way round, 2 weeks street, 1 week bar, until they've caught up with the amount of scam schools, then they should swap it to 2:1 with more scam schools. Am I making snese?

[xfuuey]

Cool episode.

I've done the phone book rip before by using that V shape trick, but it was badass seeing someone do it the real way.

Brian: Even though you used the baked phone book, didn't that shit just kill your hands afterwards? (it always did for me anyway) :cool:

[minton]

an interesting change of pace, I am much more for the bar tricks as they can be used a lot more in my everyday life, but I think this was a pretty BA epsiode

[therage800]

an interesting change of pace, I am much more for the bar tricks as they can be used a lot more in my everyday life

Just bring a baked phone book to the bar!


I just realized, I am probably the first person to ever use that phrase :D

[mrtankard]

I think the deviation fits perfectly with scam school. And even though the card & book were "prepared" it still looked awesome. I can't wait for the next scam school.

[rabidbadger]

Bar tricks are fun, and the staple, but I like the different ideas once in a while, but not regular.

[plosfas]

I really liked that you did something different. As long as you don't stop doing bar scams entirely I'm all for it.

[misterparry]

enough said!

[hogiewan]

I really enjoyed this episode. You've been saying that the show is "social engineering in the bar and on the street" and I've actually been wondering when we'd see something on the street.

misterparry - I would define trickery like shown in this episode as "social engineering"

Also, I would have liked to see the v tear trick. That one seems easier to get away with because you could use any phone book (including the one that's at the bar).

[dezrah]

Well, it lacks subtlety, but it's pretty easy to pull off a scam.

Step 1: "Betcha I can tear that phone book in half"

Step 2: "Betcha you can't"

Step 3: Profit

[diggy-j]

Brian, what is the name of the card fanning technique that you do in this episode and how do you do it? How about an episode on a variety of techniques to fan cards?

[rabidbadger]

that's a great idea, not a scam so much, but a way to get the attention of the marks.

[deanlol]

One of the things about Scam School I really like is not only does Brian teach you how to scam free drinks and dates, he teaches you to recognize scams. To me this episode was very appropriate because it shows how to recognize a fake Strongman. To me Scam school is not just about social engineering in the bar and on the street, its about the art of the con game.
Otherwise it would be called Bar Scam School or Street Scam School. Scam school is a very generalized statement.

Now on to card fanning. The fan Brian did was called the pressure fan. Flourishes like this are impressive, but are far less simple than the scams Brian teaches. I suggest to learn more about flourishes, like fans, getting The Royal Road to Card Magic By Jean Hugard and Fredrick Braue, Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic, the dvds Xtreme Beginnerz by De'vo , the Crash Course in Card Magic Series at Ellusionist or Daryl's Encyclopedia of Card Magic Series. The books you can get on Half.com for a song. The dvd's cost more but I like dvd's so I can see how pros do it step by step.

Deanlol

[shwooddotcom]

Now on to card fanning. The fan Brian did was called the pressure fan. Flourishes like this are impressive, but are far less simple than the scams Brian teaches. I suggest to learn more about flourishes, like fans, getting The Royal Road to Card Magic By Jean Hugard and Fredrick Braue, Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic, the dvds Xtreme Beginnerz by De'vo , the Crash Course in Card Magic Series at Ellusionist or Daryl's Encyclopedia of Card Magic Series. The books you can get on Half.com for a song. The dvd's cost more but I like dvd's so I can see how pros do it step by step.

Deanlol

Yup! Deanlol beat me to the punch. I'd love to cover more fancy flourishes, but they take longer than the 5-10 minute format scam school allows. I will be covering some of that stuff in the occaisonal live streaming sessions at bbliveshow.com (Follow me at twitter.com/shwood (http://www.twitter.com/shwood) to find out when the next session will be).

The list of books Deanlol offered are very good, too. I'm talking about covering "The Royal Road to Card Magic" in a series of online live sessions, as well... (follow me on twitter if you're interested!)

[rabidbadger]

a good way to get the chicks is to make her a healthy snack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMoc7tHMQOg&eurl=http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/&feature=player_embedded

[adam-t-glass]

Brian

This was the first time i have seen your show, i think it is very entertaining.

I have been a student of Dennis for nearly a year and a half. I would like to share with the people who watched this-with some work and some time you can easily tear cards and phone books by building real strength, and that will blow your friends away when you do it the legit way.

By doing the exercises Dennis has taught me and investing the effort to learn, i now can tear through any deck of cards, in front, behind my back, in half, in to quarters, wrapped in tape, does not matter. I would like to share with everyone--Aim High, over reach and do some big things.

my web page is www.adamtglass.blogspot.com and my youtube page is www.youtube.com/adamtglass2007 in which i have many videos of my training and legitimate feats of strength.

Brian once again awesome show!

[shwooddotcom]

Thanks Adam! I'm a tremendous fan of Dennis's, and happy to hear one of his students digs Scam School.

I'll personally vouch for Dennis's teachings. I met several students at one of his workshops. Super nice (and STRONG!)

[adam-t-glass]

a good way to get the chicks is to make her a healthy snack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMoc7tHMQOg&eurl=http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/&feature=player_embedded



This Guy is awesome, he could be a Bond Villian.

Can anyone here do this? Throw cards and cut stuff up?