Al Koran, in his book Professional Presentations,

described a trick called

"Torn & Restored Cigarette Paper."

He praised it to the heavens.



I tried it and it fell flat.

I went back and realized it was his presentation.

He spoke of being a boy of seven and presented the effect through the eyes of the child he was.



Henning Nelms referred to casting the role of the audience.

I think Koran lets the audience become a child who is not ashamed to see the magic and the wonder.



I have used this presentation as the first trick I saw.

It is a three coins across routine.



My last line is "I was only seven years old, but I knew if he opened that hand and the coin was gone, I had seen magic. Then he opened the hand, and it was empty."



There are sometimes gasps from the audience. I think this is a very powerful idea.



Are there other ways to cast the audience into a role?

I think your assumed personality is what first casts the audience. If you present yourself as a little shy, a bit clumsy, it makes the things you do, well seem imposible. Everyone expects the sharp, self assured card mechanic to be flawless. If that's you, then I admire you. If not, there are plenty of personality traits that will help draw your audience into your web of deceit........... good luck