ALL MAGIC / WAP

Ask Mr. Magic
Bill Switched
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Dear Mr. Magic,
What's the best way to visibly change a one dollar bill into a ten dollar bill?

Dear Magician,
There are quite a few approaches to this effect. Gaffed bills, sleight of hand, and various gimmicks have been employed in an effort to make the bill seem to change value without giving the spectators the impression that one bill has simply been switched for a second bill.

The issues involved are not so much the switch of one bill for another which is fairly easy to accomplish, but to convince those watching that the performer is holding only one bill in his hands at the start and finish of the change. In other words the art is more important than the mechanics.

That said it must be remembered that magicians are very fond of gimmicks, as are the magic dealers who sell the gimmicks. So more often than not the magician wanting to magically change one bill into another will immediately start searching for a gimmick that will do the trick for him.

This gimmicked approach may ultimately be the most effective but it does require that the magician considers the visual issues involved. The hands must appear convincingly empty to start and just as convincingly empty at the finish. In addition it is desirable that the spectators be able to handle the bill before and after it changes value.

The most important part of the effect, as a magical event, is that the bill actually appears to increase in value. The spectators should momentarily believe that they see the bill change value. This means they have to be close enough to see what is going on which increases the difficulty of the magician's manipulations.

The best way to determine how the trick is best performed is to investigate a variety of methods with and without gimmicks until you find a handling that you're comfortable with and which accomplishes the effect as you imagine the spectators should see it.

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