Curtis Kam: Coin Box Part 1

< Previous Post.

curtis kam blog

The man with "Palms of Steel," Hawaii's legendary coin magician, Curtis Kam, joins us today talking about coin boxes! Enjoy: 

 

Let Me Explain...

"For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is sufficient."

While Joseph Dunninger is reputed to have said this about mentalism, it is true of many things, including our friend the Okito Box. Let’s chat a bit about the compulsion to explain what the box is.

I am ever baffled by magicians who take great pains to find an “explanation” for the coin box, even going so far as to craft entire presentations around claims like,  “It’s my grandfather’s pill box” or, “It’s a snuff container”.  These presentations seldom succeed, because they’re framed around a question that the audience just isn’t asking. Worse, as Mr. Dunninger said, those who believe would have believed without the explanation, and those who don’t aren’t going to change their minds, either. It’s just a waste of everyone’s valuable time. Even worse, I have heard some talented magicians say that they would never use a coin box, “because it looks like nothing on earth other than a magic prop.”

None of these concerns are warranted, and the easiest way to prove it is to imagine what would happen if we just told the truth. Or better yet, as I have, actually try it. Drop all the pretense, simply show people the box, and tell them, “A friend of mine carved this box out of solid metal just to make this trick more impossible.” Would that be so bad? What would be lost? Frankly, I think it makes the trick sound more impressive, and your efforts more noble. Rather than hide the special nature of the box, why not own it? David Regal tells us that having an “oddity” can make a routine more interesting. David Roth used to introduce his box as a “magic box”. I’m happy to tell people that it’s a prop that you can find in the back corner of most magic shops, but very few even know what it does.

I know there are those who will still resist, because they have sworn a solemn blood oath that nothing that could be seen as a “magic prop” shall ever cross their close up pads. This has something to do with the idea that if the audience sees a magic prop, they will stop believing that what they’re seeing is real magic. With regard to that, I refer you to something Paul Harris once wrote about open displays of skill in a performance, but applies equally well here:

“You should never perform flourishes. If you display any skill at all, people might suspect that you’re not doing real magic.” —from a conversation between Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny

In summary, if something you say makes people suspect the box, then let them examine it.  After that, if they still think it’s the box that’s doing the magic, then no story you tell them about the box is going to change that. If, however, telling a story about the box makes the whole experience more magical, then have at it. The story won’t make your magic more convincing, but it might make it more entertaining.

- Curtis Kam

 

Grab a Coin Box today and put this advice into effect. As always, leave your comments below!

 

Next Post >


144 comments


  • Amber R. Morris

    referral to a rehabilitation specialist. I misplaced my bitcoin after falling for a phony blockchain imposter on Facebook. They gained access to my blockchain wallet account and took seven bitcoins out of it after pretending to be blockchain officials. I had saved all I have for this particular moment, so I was both in shock and agony. The Recoveryhacker101 email address (recoveryhacker101 @ Gmail com) was then given to me by my niece. After researching him online, I found that he wasn’t very experienced in assisting people in getting their lost bitcoins back, so I went straight to the group and told them what was going on. As a result, they helped me get my bitcoin back just two days of notifying me. We are very appreciative of recoveryhacker101’s help.


  • Milano Bjorn

    The specialize in cases as regards ETHICAL HACKING, CRYPTOCURRENCY, FAKE INVESTMENT SCHEMES and Funds RECOVERY . We are also experts in CREDIT REPAIR, we analyze what’s impacting your score.

    I just have to testify about this here and let everyone know how much better I feel right now. I had over $790k in bitcoin Lost to a fake investor online that I came across last three months through a colleague of mine at work which also lost her investment along the line though she has been investing with the company for months too and been paid out severally before this happened tried reaching the team but did not get any feedback for several weeks, at some point I thought about getting a hacker to see if that will help and then I read about a team called Schwartz Software Hackers Services. They helped people retrieve their lost funds in investment or even stolen from their bank accounts. I reached out to him without hesitating and the outcome was wonderful. After retrieving the whole money he also worked for my colleague and is in the final stage of retrieving the last investment she made. Thank you for the heroic work you do for the helpless and hopeless. If you find it hard to reach him through email then contact him through telegram: https://t.me/schwartzsoftwarehackers

    Email: schwartzsoftwarehackingprogram@gmail.com
    Website; https://schwartzsoftwareha.wixsite.com/website


  • Elizabeth moore

    REACH OUT TO BLOCKCHAIN CYBER RETRIEVE FOR LOST OR STOLEN CRYPT0CURRECY.

    Have you ever felt a gut feeling that something just wasn’t right? My name is Elizabeth, and that’s exactly how I felt one evening while I was scrolling through my emails. I’m a recent graduate from Howard University, where I had discovered my passion for cryptocurrency trading. It started with a modest investment that grew significantly, and I was excited to watch my assets balloon to over $700,000. I had been doing everything right—researching trends, following the market, and sharing tips with my friends. But that evening, my instincts kicked in when I received an email that seemed suspicious, claiming it was from my cryptocurrency wallet provider. Despite my initial hesitation, curiosity got the better of me, and I clicked the link. Before I knew it, I had unwittingly entered my login details on a phishing site. Panic set in as I quickly realized I had fallen into a trap. My account was drained within minutes, and I felt a mix of fear and disbelief wash over me. I had worked so hard to build my investment, and now it was all slipping away. In my desperation, I reached out to my roommate, who had faced similar issues in the past. He recommended Blockchain cyber retrieve, a service I had never heard of before but was willing to try in hopes of salvaging my situation. From the moment I contacted them, I felt reassured. Their team was not only professional but genuinely empathetic, understanding the emotional turmoil I was experiencing. Blockchain cyber retrieve quickly got to work, securing my remaining accounts and meticulously tracing the fraudulent transactions. They collaborated with cybersecurity experts to track down the hackers and prevent further loss. Throughout the process, they kept me informed and educated me on how to recognize potential scams, emphasizing the importance of using strong, unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication. The recovery took time and patience, but thanks to Blockchain cyber retrieve, I managed to recover a significant portion of my assets. More importantly, I learned invaluable lessons about online security and the necessity of staying vigilant in the digital world. If you ever find yourself in a similar predicament, I can’t recommend Blockchain cyber retrieve. Their dedication, expertise, and compassionate approach turned what felt like a hopeless situation into a manageable recovery. I am forever grateful for their help and can now move forward with renewed confidence, knowing how to better protect my investments. Trust your gut instincts; they can save you from. potential disaster.

    WhatsApp:+1 520 564 8300
    Website:https://blockchaincyberretrieve.com
    Email:info@blockchaincyberretrieve.com


  • Pamela Daisy

    Legitimate Bitcoin Recovery Services / Captain WebGenesis.

    If you lost Bitcoin as a result of fraud or an online scam; Captain WebGenesis can assist in tracking down and getting back your misplaced Bitcoin. To recover your lost money, submit your case to the Captain WebGenesis recovery team.

    Website; https://captainwebgenesis.com
    SMS/Call; +1(501)436-9362


  • Pamela Daisy

    Legitimate Bitcoin Recovery Services / Captain WebGenesis.

    If you lost Bitcoin as a result of fraud or an online scam; Captain WebGenesis can assist in tracking down and getting back your misplaced Bitcoin. To recover your lost money, submit your case to the Captain WebGenesis recovery team.

    Website; https://captainwebgenesis.com
    SMS/Call; +1(501)436-9362


Leave a comment

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.