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 week's scam is perfect in so many ways: you can do it anytime, anywhere, with borrowed items you'd find at the bar, and best of all: it's a totally rigged game that lets you decide who wins and who loses.
The props couldn't be simpler: just find an empty matchbox that has the same design on both sides. Set it on the table with the inside tray facing up (we'll call that "right side up") and start making a simple game of balancing the box with one side on the edge of the table and the other on your fingertip.
The challenge is to bring up your hand slowly enough that when the box reaches the vertical position, it stands erect without tipping over. It's okay if you flub the first couple of tries (it genuinely is a minor challenge), but eventually get it right and declare yourself "Awesome."
Once you've done it a few times, your mark should be interested in giving it a go himself. Explain the rules, and set it up the same way for him. First try, he'll probably get it (and not see what's so hard about it). Perfect. Once he has won a few times in a row, tell him he's only got beginners luck, and bet him a beer that he can't do it three times in a row.
Once he agrees, set up the box "right side up" for the first two tries, but for the third one, flip it with the internal tray upside-down. The box won't look any different, but this time, when he raises his fingers up, the distribution of weight inside the matchbox will make it impossible for him to win. Every time, the box will overcompensate and fall forward, guaranteeing you a free tasty beverage.
2 days ago
Today @DiscoveryComm & @Revision3 introduce the @TestTube Network! Watch 25 awesome, new shows http://t.co/G4hUbm1rBn http://t.co/cRPyeVhvB4
2 days ago
Fresh off the presses, the latest Scam School is now up, and it's the HARDEST puzzle to date! http://t.co/NMyxfyGva5
16 days ago
Try to fool your friends with these SWEET dice tricks: http://t.co/zOM5K5Ahua
30 days ago
3 simple scams to score free drinks using forks & spoons! @shwood shows you how it's done: http://t.co/BCkRS7WDOc
about a month ago
New episode of Scam School out! This time we give you real-life skills to become a memory GENIUS: http://t.co/Bbcn514V7Y
about a month ago
Whoa: today is the 5-year anniversary of the launch of @ScamSchool! It's been 265 episodes and we're still growing... Can't believe it.
