this is my story..

[ccardona]

Recently, I got stationed in Korea and hated life because there was a 30 day "lockdown" period when you could not go off post. I used that time and watched most of the SS episodes, messed around with card tricks and what not and finally got a chance to go out. Now, I had no idea what the feel of bars in Korea were gonna be but I found a pleasant surprise when one of the soldiers from my platoon was at the bar performing match puzzles! Naturally I wanted to solve it and grab a free drink but decided to hang back and watch. I noticed everyone was hanging to his every word even if he didn't seem to be able to sound articulate. After a little while I did the regular nim and that moment when you realize you just ran into another SS alumni is not only epic but the alliance creates an unstoppable force of free booze and amusement!

Now we have about a squad size element that heads out together or rotates depending on work schedules but not only do we have a great time, its usually a cheap night with none of us spending over $10

so my success story is not about a particular scam but the fact that the show not only gives me hours of entertainment but also gave us the tools to be known through all the bars in our area and guaranteeing us not only a great time but free drinks!

[hellhound]

A team of SS heads would be cool...
I bet you'd get away w/ the "burning the bill in the napkin" scam (forget if Brian did this one).
Chat up the bartender (maybe after he's seen you do some tricks).. Tell them you can burn up a $ bill in front of them and make it reappear. Ask them to go into the cash register.. grab a (commonly used large-ish) $ bill and have them sign it. Here is where the scam, partner and need to talk shit come in... BS that the $ is difficult to set fire to etc and get a napkin... maybe chant some stupid words as you fold the bill up into a small square (it helps the magic ya know). put the bill in the middle of the napkin and pinch it from the other side so you can hold it upside down... kinda like the napkin is a teepee and the folded bill is underneath (inside)... have your buddy next to you... 1st ask the bartender to reach under the napkin to feel that the folded bill is still there... that you didnt do any sleight of hand... then ask your neighbor (your buddy) to do the same.. He acknowledges that the bill is actually there.. He actually palms the bill removing it from under the napkin... You kill some time and he goes to another bartender/barmaid who isnt watching the trick and orders a round of drinks (or even 1 drink and pockets the change returned from the bill).. You set the napkin on fire in an ashtray making sure it totally burns... and then say some mumbo jumbo.. and that the bill has magically reappeared... back in the cash register.. your mark checks and yes the bill w/ his name on it is there... its magic..

Just dont do this trick (or any other) in Africa or Haiti or other primative areas where they might set you on fire or machete you for being a witch/sorcerer.

[ccardona]

You know, the way people react to tricks out here, I think this will get me smacked! But I will have to try this... I really do enjoy trying to pull off bigger scale things

[avarant]

Right. The problem with that scam though, is you are ACTUALLY STEALING MONEY FROM THE BAR. I would not advise doing that in a country where you'll then look like the American who was trying to steal from the good local business.

[ccardona]

well it worked great! it really helps when you build a good rapport with the people of the bar so they trust you aren't gonna steal their money. The way I did it though:

I asked for a dollar bill and used Daniel Garcia's Greed effect to change it to a 5, 10 then a 20. By this point everyone was looking at me so I knew I had to keep going so I told her to sign the 20 and date it. Afterwards, I finished the Greed routine by turning the signed 20 into the 50 cent piece and giving it to the bartender (by then everyone was looking at the 50 cent piece and I passed the signed 20 to my friend to get him a drink). So after the couple of oohs and aahs they asked what really happened to the bill. I told them it was still in the register and when she checked she almost died! I wanted to end right there but she asked about the original single ( I've been there a bunch of times so they always try to find out how I do tricks) so I pulled it out and ended everything with Daniel Garcia's Fraud effect, signed the bill and posted it on the wall for everyone to see!

that was actually the first time I have ever felt like anything close to a magician being able to manipulate a whole bar for what felt like an eternity but was probably 10 minutes at most.

BIG thanks to Brian and Scam School for introducing me to Daniel Garcia's stuff and giving me the courage to actually try this in public!