Meir’s Muses
MyMagic eNewsletter #1,018
June 8, 2022
Time for a trick. Max Londono and I hung out a lot in the 70s and 80s (I guess I am old). One of the quick tricks he did all the time was a fake torn and restored bill routine. Every time someone handed him money, or he paid for anything (which was rare) he would pretend to tear a bill in half and then restore it. I got into the same habit and did a version of it for years. I am not sure if he invented it, but in 1985 it was published by Fulves under the name After Max.
Here is how it works. Hold the bill in your left hand as seen in photo one. As the right hand pretends to tear the bill in half the left index finger folds the bill as seen in photo two. That’s the move but there are some acting and sound effects that make it look, sound, and feel real.
The right hand must mime that it is ripping the bill in a sharp downward movement. After the tear it must pretend to put the torn bill in the right hand with the other half as the left hand makes a fist around the bill.
Perhaps the most important convincers are the sound effects. There are two methods used simultaneously. As the right hand pretends to tear the bill it runs its fingernails against the money creating a scratching/tearing sound. But the best sound is created using your mouth. By holding the bill near your face during the tear you blow air out while letting your lips and teeth touch. I can’t really explain the details so just make a tearing sound using your mouth.
All that is left to do is pretend to restore the bill in your fist and hand it out for examination. I often did a second tear pretending to rip it into quarters. It is just a quickie which gets surprised looks and laughs because only silly people would destroy money.
So why am I teaching you this? Am I just a nice guy? No, not really. I have an ulterior motive.
James Anthony showed me his non-tear twenty-dollar bills, that he sold at Live. This is a new type of non-tear paper. Hundreds of magicians tried to tear them throughout the convention and at the end of the four days the bills were in almost perfect shape.
I thought it would be funny to use this bill for the above routine and then hand the restored bill to a spectator and ask them to tear it in half so you can restore it again. Of course, they can’t!
The non-tear bills come in two variants. A standard $20 bill replica and a faded $20 bill. The faded bills outsold the standard ones even though I can’t think of anything to do with them other than bill switches. Although I did comment when I saw them that that’s what everything looks like to me without my contact lenses. Look at the large photos found with the ad copy. Oh, and you get four bills in each package.
â–ºImpossible Tear Bills:
Over the years there have been many different formulations of paper that cannot be torn. This is perhaps the best.
You can use them as a gag or for magic tricks using money where you don’t want the paper bills to wear out. The designs of the bills were changed enough to keep you from getting arrested for counterfeiting, but still look like the real thing at a glance.
Get some: HERE
James also had some of his Misindexed Gaff Sets, and his new Mixed Gaff Sets, so I picked up everything that was left at the end of the magic convention. Take a look below. These always sell-out very fast.
â–ºMixed Gaff Set:
You get thirteen different gaffed cards on Bicycle stock. These are custom printed cards with various, reveals, gags, and unique looking cards. Take a look at the photos to see the different cards you get in this set.
Cards include: KC with 7H reveal, faded KH, 3 1/2of clubs, Joker with 3H reveal, Swirly 9C, QS with 5H reveal, 3C with 7H smudge, 52 on 1, 11D, Blank QH, shaken 6S, AH with 9S reveal, and Your Card gag.
Get some: HERE
â–ºMisindexed Gaff Set:
You get fourteen gaffed cards on Bicycle stock. Twelve custom mis-indexed cards and two double-backers.
Cards include: A red back and a blue back set of KC/KS, QC/QS, JC/JS, KH/KD, QH/QD, JC/JD, and two Red/Blue double backers. I am told that these cards can be used for many of the brain wave type routines.
Get some: HERE
Back in stock: If you were trying to get a copy of Sol Stone’s Essential Sol Stone book you may have noticed that they were sold-out. I did receive another case this week so you can get one now. I still have a bunch of original photographs that I am including with every purchase. Get one: HERE
Stay happy, Meir
PS: Had to cancel my appearance at the Mohegan Sun next week due to a ton of work and stuff. If you were planning to come and see me… sorry about that. I will be back on July 24 where we might have a surprise guest joining us.
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