On page 13 of desTROYers, Joshua Jay wrote something that completely changed how I perform (I know, I think it’s strange that he’d say something insightful too!). In a section within the chapter “Commentary” labeled “…Troy Touch” he describes Troy Hooser’s technique this way:
“The first noticeable difference in Troy’s work is his unique touch. He grips objects with an effortless, light grip that actually produces the illusion of weightlessness within the handled objects. It is often surprising to examine heavy silver dollars after Troy has performed because they appear like feathers in his hands, jumping about in an animated fashion, as if carried by the wind.”
This description struck me because of how well it portrayed a kind of beauty that I was seeking in my work. And while I’ve never gotten to see Hooser perform live, nor have I conferred with him about how he achieved this quality (or even if he thinks it’s accurate), it made me think about how I could find it in my own manipulations, particularly in my sleight specialty, coins (sorry card-cunts, you’ll have to sit this one out). And, of course, it took a while to show, but given the ways in which my manipulation has been complimented since this work started, I’d like to think I have some semblance of it. So here’s how I did it:
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