Sleightful logoSleightful

The Take by Jay Sankey

Created by: Jay Sankey

The Take is a magic trick that focuses on the art of vanishing a coin, offering three distinct methods: the put, the take, and the drop. This close-up magic trick emphasizes the psychological framing behind each vanish, making it not just about the technique but how the audience perceives the deception. The trick is suitable for magicians looking to refine their performance with deep psychological insights and practical tips for different settings, from stage to close-up.

Key features

  • Teaches three distinct methods of vanishing a coin: the put, the take, and the drop.

  • Emphasizes the importance of psychological framing for the effectiveness of a vanish.

  • Includes performance tips on context, misdirection beats, and authenticity.

  • Promotes the use of the Clearly Impossible gimmick for additional magic effects.

Pros

  • Offers deep psychological insights into why certain methods feel deceptive.

  • Provides practical tips for different performance settings.

  • Includes a versatile utility device (Clearly Impossible) for magicians.

Cons

  • The take method, including the French Drop, is critiqued for its artificiality.

  • May require practice to master the psychological aspects beyond the technique.

Effect

The Take is a classic coin vanish where the magician appears to transfer a coin from one hand to the other, but the coin secretly stays in the original hand. The audience sees the magician take the coin, only to realize it has disappeared. The effect is simple, direct, and highly deceptive when performed well.

Full details

The Take, also known as the French Drop, is one of the foundational vanishes in coin magic. It involves pretending to take the coin while secretly retaining it in the original hand. The method relies on timing, misdirection, and natural hand motions to sell the illusion.

Jay Sankey discusses the technique in depth, noting that while the classic French Drop can sometimes feel artificial, modern refinements—such as letting the coin fall slightly behind the fingers—improve its deceptive quality. He emphasizes that the vanish works best when framed psychologically, making the audience believe the coin has truly been taken.

Who should consider the trick

The Take is ideal for:

  • Beginners learning foundational coin magic.
  • Intermediate magicians refining their vanishes.
  • Performers who want a quick, visual coin disappearance.

It works well in close-up settings where spectators can appreciate the subtlety of the move.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The Take is not mechanically difficult, but it requires practice to make it look natural. Jay Sankey points out that the vanish can feel artificial if performed without proper framing. The key challenge is making the motion look like a real transfer rather than a trick. With rehearsal, it becomes a strong, deceptive vanish.

What magicians say

Jay Sankey critiques the classic French Drop, saying, "Who holds a coin like that?"—highlighting that the method can sometimes look unnatural. However, he acknowledges its deceptive power when refined, especially with adjustments like letting the coin fall behind the fingers for better visual contrast.

He also stresses that psychological framing is crucial for the vanish to work effectively. The way a magician presents the move—through timing, body language, and misdirection—can make the difference between a convincing illusion and an obvious trick.

For magicians looking to improve their vanishes, The Take remains a valuable technique, especially when combined with thoughtful performance choices.

What people are saying about The Take

SankeyMagic says...

Jay emphasizes that while technique is important, the psychological framing of a vanish can drastically alter its effectiveness. [...] He breaks down how each method communicates subtly different messages to the audience, influencing their perception of deception.

Tutorial videos