Reviews of
The School for Scoundrels
Notes and Chains
for
Fast and Loose
MAGIC
"The last time the School for Scoundrels appeared here in Marketplace, it was in a review of their excellent shells for the Shell Game. This time around, the Scoundrels (who are actually Whit Haydn and Chef Anton) tackle another classic con game, Fast and Loose...
"...Notes on Fast and Loose is a post-graduate course in this fascinating little game. The Scoundrels begin with a discussion of the various types of chains that can be used. They prefer the French Rope type of chain for two reasons: the chain runs smoothly and tends not to catch or snarl; and the design of the links of a French Rope chain help obscure the details of the layout, making it difficult for a spectator to analyze how the chain is laid out.
"The next large section of the book contains methods for laying out the chain. Whit and Chef Anton prefer Half-Table layouts. This means that half the chain is held in the hand and the other half rests on the table. In addition to the standard Half-Table layout (similar to the one I learned from the aforementioned Ganson book), the Scoundrels offer some really sneaky variations, including one that produces four different results: Fast/Fast, Loose/Loose, Fast/Loose, and Loose/Fast. The layouts look almost identical, making life very difficult for the mark. There is also a thorough discussion of the various False Explanations, Come-ons, and Hooks that keep the spectators interested and involved in the game. These are ingenious methods of selling the game's Big Lie: that one side of the design always holds fast and the other side always comes loose.
"There is more than enough information in Notes on Fast and Loose for the serious student to devise his own routine. However, for learning purposes, three complete professional routines are offered, one each from Jules Lenier, Whit Haydn, and Chef Anton. The Lenier routine is lean, mean, and starts off with some good gags. The Haydn routine is a little more elaborate, and the Chef Anton routine is a major performance piece culminating with the surprise production of a bottle of aspirin. All these routines should be studied.
"In addition to the Notes on Fast and Loose, the School for Scoundrels also provides suitable chains for the routine. These are five-foot loops of French Rope chain and are either 24-caret gold-plated or nickel-plated. Whit sent me a gold-plated chain, and it looks great and works beautifully.
"I can vouch for the effectiveness of an Endless Chain routine…And with the information and equipment provided by the School for Scoundrels you can construct a routine that will defy explanation. In fact, you may even want to go out and hustle it on the street. (But do so at your own peril.) Highly recommended."
—Michael Close, Marketplace, MAGIC Magazine, August 2000
Genii
"...During the past 500 years, variations of the con game known as Fast and Loose have been played with string, belts, men's cloth garters, and beaded chains. The game has been known by various names based on the object that was manipulated, its shape, or where it was played. You may know it as Pricking the Garter, On the Barrelhead, The Figure Eight, or Endless Chain.
"Though the game has many handlings, the basic swindle involves forming the chain into a Figure Eight and showing that if a player places his finger in one loop of the arrangement, when the chain is pulled, the chain will come Loose from his finger. If he chooses the other side, the chain, when pulled, will hold Fast as it tangles around his finger.
"Assuming the odds to be 50-50, the mark places his bet and attempts to pick the correct loop. What the mark doesn't realize is that the operator is able to form a different, yet nearly identical Figure Eight arrangement in which neither loop will hold the mark's finger Fast, and so, he cannot win.
"Endless Chain was one of the first tricks I ever bought. I remember struggling with the endless instructions and poor illustrations trying to figure out how to work it. You won't have that trouble here. Messrs. Haydn and Anton's three pages of instructions that come free with the prop include 10 great photographs that make things very clear.
"But that's not why you should buy this trick. The real benefit of this version of Fast and Loose is the chain is made of steel and braided in a French Rope design. The complex design is harder for the eye to follow and it won't snarl or kink like Flat Link chains. Nor will it roll around like the Ball Link chain I owned as a child. The School for Scoundrels chain is heavily plated in nickel or gold...
"...This chain is top-notch but quite expensive and so I recommend it strictly for those of you who actually perform, or want to perform this swindle as part of your repertoire. If you like playing with props at home and want and can afford the best, this is it. But it's not as much fun to do this alone as with a mark. If you have a magic buddy with whom you like to work out new material, this Fast and Loose chain will guarantee a good session.
"The instructions give only the basic moves and no patter. The optional $30 book is very instructional and a good read. I’ve never seen so much material organized so well on the handling for this prop. The 40-plus pages contain over 40 large, clear photos for handling the chain. It explores the psychology of the scam, a few grifter-like moves I’ve never seen, and three scripted routines by Jules Lenier, Whit Haydn, and Chef Anton. The latter begins in delightful rhyme and ends magically as a wad of bills that the mark has won changes into a bottle of aspirin. I highly recommend this book for those of you interested in exploring and creating flimflam techniques with this prop."
—Danny Orleans, Genii Magazine, September 2000
"The School for Scoundrels Notes on Fast and Loose is clearly the definitive work on the subject. Several items (such as the Lee Earle bit) take the effect/game to a whole new level."
—Darwin Ortiz
"Whit Haydn and Chef Anton’s wonderful treatise on the Endless Chain contains by far the very best material on this classic swindle. To quote Charlie Miller, ‘It’s the real work!’ This book has changed my thinking on this scam completely."
—Johnny Thompson
For photos and information about our chains for Fast and Loose, click here.
For excerpts from the School for Scoundrels Notes on Fast and Loose, click here.
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