Do you collect magic? Many magicians are hoarders and have boxes of stuff that they buy and almost immediately gets put away. Personally I actively try to not have too much magic kicking around. This is partially because of space, and partially because when I die, it simply becomes garbage.
I do collect things, however it’s a little different than “hoarding” as it’s fairly specific. I collect three shell game sets. Here’s the current collection:
![](https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/49938467_2048824031877752_6521634318278721536_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_eui2=AeGsLpPnJuKHVuuwHHOgVRwnhreP552VA7r9PMbVPl_uYZds9xFCuzIbBstbVRxjpQU4qOmQRSuKvgaZ3Mf4gExpQBiOBaZf6In3-vZ8fG3K6A&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=ba51bcf456dc31dfade9ba9842244a11&oe=5CD12365)
You’ll notice in the bottom center there is a space with no shells. That’s the shell game set that use when I’m out performing. I use Leo Smester’s shell game, and I highly recommend it. The only thing I changed was I don’t use his peas, I use the Perfect Pea made by School For Scoundrels.
![](https://www.murphysmagicsupplies.com/images/threeshellgame-full.png)
Personally I prefer the “bowl” type sets. I had been doing the shells for a little while and found some little bowls in Chinatown when I was a teenager and started doing the shell game with them. Those bowls broke a long time ago, however ever since then I’ve preferred the bowl style.