missing checques...
the dealer is usually asked the total of the *seen*/pile when a player refuses to color-up, or just abruptly leaves, ostensibly to play at another table. since the play of the game becomes rote with beaucoup table time, it permits the player to watch the watchers. i like to innocently observe the pitstiffs' activities. that includes their staring at players' checque piles. you've all heard the 'stiff ask a dealer what some dude walked with, after a quick exit. often the amount might be incorrect as i had "cyphered" (j. bodine).
as to using one's act to do anything while on stage/in casino...that's to be learned on the job. the most serious scrutiny may be from afar, the cameras or a 'stiff across the pit. and some of us have enjoyed the fellow who sneaks up behind the player, observing from the aisle.
i recall playing at the old maxim (now, casuarina). i joined a single deck table with one other seated player. i noticed out of the corner of the eye, that a suit was standing in the aisle behind the fellow in center field. the suit was orchestrating the shuffle ups. i stuck around, flat bet playing awhile to enjoy the "floor show". this table was the only one open in the pit. after a few rounds, i carefully inquired as to what was up. the player said..."oh, they think i'm counting cards". i stifled the obvious..."what's that ?".
similarly, in the first hour of the venetian opening morning (20 minutes to 1:00am), i saw a suit hawk a game from the aisle. he stood in back of an obvious counter, who soon got the 86. i've told that story a couple of times before on these 21 sites. coolest thing was that the obvious counter possibly has the record of the first, fastest 86 from a joint's grand opening. as i recollect, he was bounced within 30 minutes of the joint opening the doors.