Hosted by Brian Brushwood. New episodes Wednesdays.
If Harvard offered a PhD in deceit, this would be it. Award-winning magician Brian Brushwood takes viewers on an inside tour of bar tricks, street cons and scams. If you watch carefully, you'll never have to pay for a drink again! Read More
This episode tests your visual perception. Which is more? The circumference of the rim of a pint glass, or the height of the pint glass from the bottom to the top?
Effect: Grab a glass, any glass... a pint glass, a cocktail glass... even a shot glass. Ask everyone at the table to take out a dollar, and then ask them which is longer: the circumference around the rim of the glass, or the height of the glass, from the table all the way up to the rim. Make 2 piles with their dollars: one for people who say the circumference is longer, and one for people who say height. You'll find the majority of people will say "circumference" at first (make sure to withhold your bet until the end).
Next, place a pack of cigarettes (or a deck of cards) under the glass, and repeat the question. Now that it's obviously taller, a few of the players will now defect to the "height" side. Move their dollars over to the height pile. Then add another pack of cigarettes under the glass, and repeat. Keep going round by round until you're the only person left who will bet on circumference. Place your lone circumference bet, and then measure: unfold a paper napkin, wrap it around the rim of the glass, and unwrap it to show that even with the extra added height, the circumference is still greater!Secret: People are just really, really bad at estimating circumferences. A pint glass is almost a foot around, but you'd never think it by looking at one. Before the trick, get an estimate of the circumference by wrapping your fingers around the rim of the glass and unwrapping them next to it. Just make sure when you're adding supports underneath the glass, you stop just before the height matches the circumference.
Tip: It's important to get everyone's money on the table for this one. If they have a buck riding on it, they'll go with their true (wrong) estimates. If there's nothing at stake, I find that many people will keep saying "circumference" just to be contrary.
yesterday
RT @BeSocialMusic: Tricks are a great social ice breaker - heres 2 fast & EASY matchbox #puzzles - big up @ScamSchool @shwood - http://t.co…
6 days ago
This week, @shwood shows you a puzzle that will either make you look really smart or.... http://t.co/9AxhPQ0Hv8
8 days ago
@Shwood shows off the Rogue Ring in the latest episode of Behind the Scam: http://t.co/3npbKfXEDP
12 days ago
Scam School is five years old! Watch as @shwood shows the six greatest scams of all-time: http://t.co/7zlqw32rHQ
14 days ago
RT @grey_matter: 273rd @ScamSchool feature the 6 best tricks from the past! Site: http://t.co/6RRUCAUWJP YouTube: http://t.co/gSEXsUUVks
14 days ago
That's awesome! Thanks for watching!! RT @kirstenisonmars: Spent the entire day watching @ScamSchool @shwood in a badass!
