69. The Indestructible Dollar
class: tweener | impressiveness: 4/5 | factors: pre-set required, need special props | requires: dollar bill, pen, playing or business card | watch full episode
Some of my favorite episodes of Scam School were those featuring Rich “The Ice Breaker” Ferguson. I particularly loved this trick—it felt like nothing less than real magic to me, and I couldn’t believe that a trick this good could be so easy to perform.
How it Looks: Grab a business card, playing card, or coaster and fold it in half. Inside, place a folded bill from your wallet, pulling the outer flap down to provide a more exposed view. Finally, place a pen, knife, or any other stabby implement in the center of the bill. Have your friend stab the pen down, all the way through the bill and card. He’ll actually feel the penetration as the card and bill are torn. When the pen is removed, you can actually see through the hole left behind. There’s absolutely no question that the bill has been punctured… which is what makes it so amazing when the bill is removed from the card and shown to be completely whole.
How it’s Done: This one requires a small amount of preparation beforehand. Before the trick, cut or tear a small “half-moon” flap along the bill’s seal. The seal will provide excellent camouflage to cover the flap, and if you pinch the bill over the seal, there’s no chance anyone will notice anything odd. When placing the bill in the card, make sure the seal and trap door is just below the edge of the card, and pull the other flap down just before the seal.
When you place the pen in the bill, simply run it through the trap door and slide it down along the outside of the bill to the bottom of the card. For emphasis, you can pinch the card on all sides to clearly show the shape of the pen running down the center of the bill. When your friend pushes the pen through, he’ll definitely feel the penetration of the card, and assume it’s penetrating the bill as well.
When you remove the bill, reach in and pinch right on the seal as you pull it out. This will cover the trap-door, but more importantly reset the position of it so the bill can be loosely handled. As soon as the bill comes out, all the focus will be on the center of the bill. As long as you cover your secret trap-door, everyone can look as closely as they want: there’s nothing to find.
Watch Demonstration (External link)
Two thoughts on this trick: First, don’t let the fact that this trick requires preparation keep you from trying it. It’s going to get a big response, and in a busy, talkative group you can probably tear out the trap door right under the table without anyone noticing.
Second, remember that once the bill is removed, you’re going to have to perform a delicate dance: you’ve gotta keep them from seeing that trap-door, but at all times handle the bill as if you’re not the least bit concerned about it. The more you perform this trick, the easier this will become. Pay attention to your body language: your posture, your eyes, the looseness of your grip on the bill. All of these combine to nonverbally tell your mark whether there’s anything fishy going on.
Major thanks to Rich Ferguson for coming on the show and teaching this one to us… in real life performance, it feels like nothing less than magic!