The Art of the Con by R. Paul Wilson

Author:R. Paul Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781493016112
Publisher: Lyons Press

There is no such thing as an actual street game. That fact should be enough to keep people away from Three-Card Monte, the Shell and Pea, the Razzle, and the Endless Chain, but experience tells me otherwise. A hustler once told me that “you don’t need to be a dummy to play but it sure does help!” I’d argue that, no matter how intelligent you might be, walking up to a game on the street is nothing but a dumb move with expensive consequences.

Magicians are fascinated by street games. There are many books, pamphlets, and instructional videos dedicated to the genre. A few companies sell the required props, which are often much better than those used by professional hustlers. The shell and pea has become a very popular performance piece with artists like Bob Sheets creating entertaining, funny, and magical presentations. Some performers use injection-molded shells, balanced perfectly to avoid accidentally flipping over; others use beautifully painted shells in the shape of scarab beetles. On the street, a few bottle caps and a rolled up piece of tape are enough to get the money.

When I speak to conjurors about these scams, they reveal a wealth of ideas and techniques designed to steal the pea, move a card, or manipulate an outcome, but they rarely consider the psychological trickery that manipulates a mark; after all, it is of little use when there’s no money on the table. Without any skin in the game, the audience is passive and interested only in the movement of objects, so the magician’s job is to make this as entertaining as possible.

Watching Bob Sheets perform his signature routine is a lesson in legerdemain. Bob’s repertoire of sleights and subtleties is far greater than your average hustler because, on the street, one simple move can steal thousands of dollars. Conversations with Bob, Whit Haydn, and other experts have always been revealing, but as they will tell you, the simplicity of the street game is one of its greatest strengths, and most hustlers have a limited but effective repertoire.

First, let’s establish that it’s not a “game.” The objective of the hustler is not to offer odds or to pay winners under any circumstances. There are only two possible outcomes, depending on your ability to resist peer pressure and temptation: Either you’ll lose money or you won’t. Street games are theatrical muggings designed to fool people into thinking they have the upper hand, using techniques that have been successfully ripping off suckers for centuries. Many victims are well aware that these games are crooked, but, armed with a little information, they walk up to a game thinking they might be able to “spot the move.” A few minutes later they’re broke and wondering what the hell just happened.

There’s a lot we can learn from street games like three-card monte or the shell and pea. Many writers point to sleight of hand and clever gotchas as the secret to these scams. These are important elements and fascinating to be sure, but swapping out a bent card only works if the mark makes a bet in the first place.

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