Episode 81: Fine Dining scam! [Discussion]

[travislopes]

An impossible riddle with an unbeatable payoff!

Watch and download here. (http://revision3.com/scamschool/finedining)

[shwooddotcom]

Let me head this one off at the pass: What I said in the episode was "You can use whatever you want."

What I should have said was "you can use anything on the table you want..."

Yes, I am aware that somebody, somewhere, may have on their person some mechanism of sufficiently narrow girth (hehe... girth) to slide underneath the glass and push out the dime...

...but even then, I DID say "and nothing can touch the coins," which should include the dime-prize as well. :)

(I only point this out now because of the unfathomably large number of emails I still get, pointing out "alternate solutions" to 'the equation' scam. :p

[masterevilace]

Nice trick.. I really have no complaints with this one. I thought about how the table cloth might have something to do with it, but disregarded it soon after failing to come up with a solution.

I only know of one place that has a table cloth, but I'm sure I won't be going back there any time soon. Will have to keep this one in the back of my mind.

[techgadgetsteve]

i actualy already knew this one. but the first time i see it was at a party and the guy was doind it with one of those plastic pint glasses, he bet £5 that i couldnt get the coin out from under the glass, he said i could use anything that was on the table (exept there was not anything else on the table apart from the set up) plus he also said i was not allowed to touch the glass or the coins.

so all i did was blow the plastic glass off of the coins and held my hand out for the money lol
but he said that i did it wrong so we agreed that he could pay me half and show me how it should be done.

[nickklein]

LOL.
Good puzzle.

I enjoyed the ending very much.

[shwooddotcom]

i actualy already knew this one. but the first time i see it was at a party and the guy was doind it with one of those plastic pint glasses, he bet £5 that i couldnt get the coin out from under the glass, he said i could use anything that was on the table (exept there was not anything else on the table apart from the set up) plus he also said i was not allowed to touch the glass or the coins.

so all i did was blow the plastic glass off of the coins and held my hand out for the money lol
but he said that i did it wrong so we agreed that he could pay me half and show me how it should be done.

HAHAHA!!!! well done on that one.

[libraryguy]

Hi there!

I knew this one, damn it! That means you owe me a drink. (Feel free to take it out of the other 80 drinks I owe YOU for the ones I DIDN'T already know)

I can't wait to try this out on my miscreant friends! However, knowing my miscreant friends as well as I do, I just know that one of them is going to take another dime out of their pocket and try to knock the other dime out billiards-style. This will then start a complicated prison break scenario where all my friends start firing dimes at each other across the table using knives as impromptu catapults in hopes that one of them will get under the glass and knock the trapped dime out.

Is that something worth mentioning, or are my miscreant friends the exception? :D

[shwooddotcom]

Is that something worth mentioning, or are my miscreant friends the exception? :D

You already mention "and nothing can touch the coins," which you can explain includes the target dime.

[rabidbadger]

Not read the thread, and just saw the set-up. My guess, flick another dime under the "prison" and knock the existing dime out. Let's see if I'm right...

[rabidbadger]

I wasn't right, according to Brian, but it might work any way. Especially on a table without a table cloth.

[rabidbadger]

Yep, my idea worked on the first try. (caveat, was a really smooth surface, but would most probably work after a few tries on a rough surfuce, like an weathered outdoor picnic table after several tries.) No fingernails necessary.

[masherscf]

Not read the thread, and just saw the set-up. My guess, flick another dime under the "prison" and knock the existing dime out. Let's see if I'm right...

I had this same idea.

[hellhound]

Sorru Brian.. poor trick. Just tried this at home on a table w/o a cloth using plastic straws anda Guiness glass.
1. I was able to wrap the straw around the small end of the glass .. and twist it then pinch to grip and raise the glass w/o touching it.
Then I used 2 straws... flattened them out and fed them along the sides supported by the coins.. then used the 2 straws to balance/support the weight of the glass and lifted it away.
Considering UR solution... prolly shouldnt have allowed using the straws.

and I didnt even try chewing/flattening the straw to push out the coin

[rabidbadger]

I had this same idea.

Seems we weren't the only ones. Still, the setup should be more clear about that, and as someone above said, if the table is totally empty of anything else, that makes it either less "entertaining" or more "screw you, not even gonna try."

[shwooddotcom]

you... you people... I, I don't understand...

this is like the fourth time I'm reminding you--that the rules...

I mean... I said... y'know, with the... the part where I say "nothing can touch the coins..." and the other part where I say "nothing can touch the prison..."

and the posts right here in the forum where... where I pre-emptively told everyone that the *dime itself* is one of the coins that can't be touched?

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7492/6506000058.jpg

[patrickd]

I mean... I said... y'know, with the... the part where I say "nothing can touch the coins..." and the other part where I say "nothing can touch the prison..."
So I can't just pick up the glass with my hand? ;)

I was thinking of the blowing idea and had that one quickly bashed. Hadn't even considered the tablecloth...other than yanking it out from under everything and making the glass fall over on its side or break. Not the most graceful solution, for sure.

[masherscf]

I guess I have poor listening skills. I thought you could touch the suspect dime.

In any case, if you use 'Badger's coin curling solution you never actually touch the suspect dime; you touch the projectile dime moments before it touches the suspect.

[rabidbadger]

you... you people... I, I don't understand...

this is like the fourth time I'm reminding you--that the rules...

I mean... I said... y'know, with the... the part where I say "nothing can touch the coins..." and the other part where I say "nothing can touch the prison..."

and the posts right here in the forum where... where I pre-emptively told everyone that the *dime itself* is one of the coins that can't be touched?

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7492/6506000058.jpg

Fine. You are asking for mind control. No one would say yes to that. AND I think I got a better solution, kinda touched on by one of your vicitms this ep, but gotta test it out first. As long as I can use ANYTHING on that table at the time.

*watches episode again so as to make sure you quoted yourself correctly*

Well, not "better" but alternative. And DAMN you, Brian, this is the first time I ever got soooo involved with one of your tricks. I think.

[geekdw]

My idea throughout the episode was to just pinch the table cloth with your fingers and lift up to tip over the glass.

Edit: But then I guess that would mean that the table cloth is touching the glass......damn it.

[memorylag]

Really enjoyed the very clever answer. I kept thinking of ways of removing the glass instead of trying to get the coin out of there in some "impossible" way. Definitely using this one in the near future.

[rabidbadger]

Really enjoyed the very clever answer. I kept thinking of ways of removing the glass instead of trying to get the coin out of there in some "impossible" way. Definitely using this one in the near future.

I know, but the only time I go to a place that has both a tablecloth AND a glass full of plastic straws is either a French Brothel or a Cajun BBQ. Neither of which I've been to. I swear!

Well yeah, been to the Cajun BBQ, but no table cloths, just pig entrails.

[shwooddotcom]

And DAMN you, Brian, this is the first time I ever got soooo involved with one of your tricks. I think.

all the better!!! :-)

[rabidbadger]

all the better!!! :-)

Just you wait. I got a solution that will bend your brian, er, brain. I just gotta find some plastic straws to test it out first.

[dapperrogue]

My buddy just hit the edge of the table really hard with the palm of his hand, as though he was tilting a pinball machine. Pint glass fell over, dime liberated. Damn you Brian Brushwood!


To turn this into a truly unbeatable trick, get a 1943 penny. They're magnetic (nickel plated steel). Because they are silver, they'll usually pass for a dime if they are face down, you talk fast, cover it up with a blurry glass, and distract 'em with lots of hand-waving. After showing how to liberate the "dime" by scratching, lock it up with a magnet under the table.

"That wasn't really fair, because nobody really knows about scratching the table. But, I'll tell you what - I'll let you go double or nothing. Now that you know how it's done, if you can get it out in three tries..."

[ericboehs]

Just tried this one out at a bar we went to for lunch. It worked perfect. There wasn't a table cloth on any of the tables, but I made one out of the fine cloth napkin they had there. This probably won't work with a paper napkin.

Anyways, I only had quarters but it worked just the same. Everyone tried sticking a knife under and what not (forgot to mention that nothing can touch the dimes) but no one seem to get it. After a bit of trying I gave in and showed them. I would have tried to get a beer out of them, but I had to go back to work, and was afraid another beer would be too much.

It was my first attempt at a scam school trick and it was a great success. Now I just need to carry a box of matches and a deck of cards with me.

[lokified]

Hadn't even considered the tablecloth...other than yanking it out from under everything and making the glass fall over on its side or break. Not the most graceful solution, for sure.

And after you yank out the tablecloth, you then get to say "AND THE FLOWERS ARE STILL STANDING!"

[hellhound]

Sorry dude (Brian)... I remembered from the vid that the rules were: "Cant touch the glass,anything on the table is cool"... you werent clear on your rules in the vid. cant touch the coins suspending the glass? .. I found afew ways to use straws w/ those rules.

Dont hate me if I misunderstood the rules.. and my local bar doesnt have 12 inch strawa on tables, only 4 inch tirrers... so I'd be F'd....

But in UR example there were huge straws allowed..

If matches w/ the straws... perhaps melt a straw onto the glass or melt an angled "shim" (to raise the glass)

I know I seem "contrary"... but I spent 10 months in the hospital with crossword/crypto/search games... You gimme a puzzle... and I get abit obsessive/outta the box to solve it.

Just watched the TRS w/ the tour. thru the "magic club"... Way Kool...

What have you seen there that "Blew your mind"?

[metacore]

One more solution to the original slightly ambiguous rules from the video:

Assuming there are straws around, take one out of the paper wrapper and flatten the wrapper using the straw. Stick the wrapper under the glass, between a supporting "guard" dime and the "prisoner" dime till the other end sticks out as well. Grab both ends, angle the wrapper correctly, and pull towards you fast, pushing the dime out.

This solution doesn't touch the glass, or either of the supporting "guard" dimes, which as far as I can tell were the rules in the video, however with the clarification that the "prisoner" dime can't be touched either makes it invalid.

Still, maybe good for a double or nothing? "But can you do it without touching the "prisoner" dime either?" Although I doubt anyone would take that... At least it can be applied to a clothless environment. Just add "without knocking the prison over. The guards would notice that" if you think the table can be succesfully tipped.

[bigboss97]

My guess, flick another dime under the "prison" and knock the existing dime out. Let's see if I'm right...
That was also my guess.

I really love the elegant solution. I think we need to come up with a simple clear rule to exclude all other solutions. But of course we still need enough room for experiments. Otherwise they would be sitting there and staring at the glass.

I haven't tried it yet. I'm wondering how long does it take to get the coin out. I'm thinking of another "escape" effect. Ask the spectator to hold the glass and close his eyes. When he opens his eyes the coin is out of the glass.

[igotoxtremes]

Brian, are you sick? Your voice kinda sounded stuffy---and with the snot coming out of your nose comment at the end...

Stay away from that swine flu. You are too important to us to fall ill.

[shwooddotcom]

Brian, are you sick? Your voice kinda sounded stuffy---and with the snot coming out of your nose comment at the end...

Stay away from that swine flu. You are too important to us to fall ill.

That's the problem with shooting 4 episodes in a loud bar all night. my voice gets pretty ragged out by the end (which, of course, is when we record the standups :-)

[preske]

heh. If it weren't for the "no touchy the coin" part, I would have taken the coin when you lifted the glass for adjusting, after I "messed up" offcourse..
That way, I didn't touch the glass or the sidecoins.

[yogurt]

So brian... thanks to you, i owe this guy ten bucks! He turned the table over!!! That didn't break any of the rules and yet he still got the coin out of prison! stupid technicalities!

[masherscf]

So brian... thanks to you, i owe this guy ten bucks! He turned the table over!!! That didn't break any of the rules and yet he still got the coin out of prison! stupid technicalities!

That's not Brian's fault. You supposed to issue the challenge and offer the person the answer for a beer if they can't do it. You raised the stakes so the guy did something crazy.

[masterevilace]

After reading some more of these comments, I'm betting Brian will have a court case where one of his tricks gets someone stabbed at a bar.

Brian needs to do a disclaimer on the next episode. "We are not responsible for misuse of magic"

[lonelygeek]

Brian and Revision 3 are not responsible if you try this trick with little to no practice and lose money, drinks or appendages. Thank you.