Episode 17 - Code Drink [Discussion]

[travislopes]

Effect: Surprise your friends by telling them you have X-ray vision

Watch and download this episode of Scam School here.

[samureye]

Brian, I am afraid of my ass being anywhere near you seeing as you just might kick it. Great episode!

[certainphate]

great episode Brian. i did notice what your accomplice was doing during the episode. am i the only one that picked up on the trick before it was revealed? and yes after having this forum account for almost a year and a half this is my first post

[patrickd]

Originally Posted by certainphate

great episode Brian. i did notice what your accomplice was doing during the episode. am i the only one that picked up on the trick before it was revealed? and yes after having this forum account for almost a year and a half this is my first post

I noticed it too, but that was probably only because I have read Brian's book.

I showed the episode to a friend (who I plan to have assist me with this trick in an hour or so at a co-worker's goodbye party) and he thought the cameraman was signaling. After I told him that he wasn't, he asked if it was "the PBR guy" since he seemed to be nursing that can a while.

I think it stands out a bit more given the wide angle on the camera. If you're there in person, I don't think PBR guy stands out so much...except maybe for the fact he's drinking a PBR. Ugh.

[spider]

thats just down right "dirty" and yes i saw ur "plant" (ie the guy with the beer can)

[murphy1d]

Since I have Brian's book I knew the trick, but what I noticed was the cameraman was being "overly efficient" at framing the PBR guy.

I think most people who spotted the scam were reacting to the subliminal idea the camera was telling you, "Watch this guy here."

[shwooddotcom]

Originally Posted by Murphy1d

Since I have Brian's book I knew the trick, but what I noticed was the cameraman was being "overly efficient" at framing the PBR guy.

I think most people who spotted the scam were reacting to the subliminal idea the camera was telling you, "Watch this guy here."

Right on target. Stuff was framed so you could watch the accomplice during the performance, which likely clues the viewer in. Plus, the fact that the episode was titled "code drink" might have been just a *teensy* *tiny* tipoff.

In all seriousness, this one totally fooled all three of these guys. When you're actually there, there's just no reason to suspect the random other folks at the bar.

[guytheninja]

Originally Posted by shwooddotcom

Right on target. Stuff was framed so you could watch the accomplice during the performance, which likely clues the viewer in. Plus, the fact that the episode was titled "code drink" might have been just a *teensy* *tiny* tipoff.

In all seriousness, this one totally fooled all three of these guys. When you're actually there, there's just no reason to suspect the random other folks at the bar.

It seems like a lot of things could have gone wrong.

1. For instance, I never saw you look at that PBR can. I'm sure if I had tried this, someone would have noticed me looking at the can.

2. Also, for the third act in this scam, what if they had arranged the bottle caps in a way where the accomplice could not have given you the answer?

Like:

x x x x x versus

x x
_x
x x

[nextgenxbox]

Originally Posted by Guytheninja

Like:

x x x x x versus

x x
_x
x x

That's why you tell them. "If you want, you can switch the locations of the caps.... the middle one switched with this corner one, etc."

[shwooddotcom]

Originally Posted by Guytheninja

It seems like a lot of things could have gone wrong.

1. For instance, I never saw you look at that PBR can. I'm sure if I had tried this, someone would have noticed me looking at the can.

2. Also, for the third act in this scam, what if they had arranged the bottle caps in a way where the accomplice could not have given you the answer?

Like:

x x x x x versus

x x
_x
x x

1. I never did (not directly, anyway). I stood where his drink would be plainly visible right behind the bottlecaps.

2. Remember: this is your game. You run the show, and you dictate the rules.

If you get someone wanting to screw things up at every turn, it just means that you haven't groomed them properly. In the case of mixing the bottlecaps, just make sure you say "rearrange them in this formation in any order you like." If you turn around and they've put them in a line, then repeat the instructions... slower this time (like maybe Mr. Jerk is just a little soft in the head). The other marks will often turn on him, encouraging him to just shut up and follow directions (after all, they want a show, too).