Magic Tricks (Misc.)

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Impossible Penetration Trick

Some of the best magic tricks are the ones that cannot be duplicated by the hands of the audience. This is the case with the Impossible Penetration Trick, so read on and uncover the magic!

The Effect The magician rolls up two notes (£5 or £10 notes will do) into tight cylinders and holds them in the crook of the thumb one to each hand. Grabbing the top and bottom of each note cylinder with the thumb and fingers of the opposite hands, the magician shows how they form a trap of sorts - it is impossible to separate the notes without letting go of one of them - unless you know the secret of the Impossible Penetration. Once more the magician grabs the notes but this time they seem to melt right through one another and the magician shows them still gripped by the fingers, having held tight the whole time.

The Secret Knowing how to grip the notes in a special move allows the magician the ability to separate them - because they were never truly linked.

Materials Two notes are all the materials required - although two sheets of paper cut into roughly the size of paper money could be used just as well, or even two pencils cut to size.

Preparation No advance preparation required.

Performing the Trick

The Impossible Penetration Trick can be as simple or as dramatic as the magician wishes. At its base this trick is a very simple, quick effect that can work wonders as a wager trick - the magician bets he can do this thing and the spectator cannot, as he does not know the secret. With a bit more story and embellishing, the Impossible Penetration Trick can be expanded into a dramatic demonstration of the magician’s powers over science and nature.

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1. The magician takes a single note and rolls it into a tight cylinder. He places it in the crook of the thumb of his right hand and then rolls a second note into a tight cylinder, placing into the crook of his left hand.

2. Brining the hands together, the magician grips the ends of the right note with the second finger and thumb of the left hand and the ends of the left note with the same fingers of the right hand. He brings the two notes together to demonstrate how they bump into one another and can’t pass without falling or letting go - and the magician pulls one hand further out, causing that note to fall to the table.

3. Replacing the note, the magician once more grips the note with the fingers, but this time is able to separate the notes as they seem to melt through each other before the eyes of the audience. The secret is in the way he gripped the notes the second time:

4. On the second go the magician turns the left hand completely upside down, so that the tip of the second finger grips the bottom of the right note, instead of the top. In this manner the notes are side by side and not linked.

Magical Tip

The secret motion does not feel natural at first - you will not be able to do this trick smoothly the first time out. Practice turning the hand over and making the grip of the secret move over and over until it feels natural.

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Floating Seeds

Impromptu magic is some of the best kind of magic. Sitting there in the pub with your mates you should never be without a way to show them why they hang out with you in the first place – you are an amazing person! Now get out a glass of ginger beer and a few sunflower seeds, and show them again.

The Effect

The magician pours himself a glass of soda and then announces he is going to do a trick – later. After a few sips and getting his mates attention, the magician proceeds to pull some seeds from the bar basket and toss them in his soda, and with the command words “Rise!” and “Fall!” he controls their motion, making them float up and down in his glass.

The Secret

If you haven’t guessed it, this trick won’t work in a glass of milk or water. The key is carbonation, and the timing of how they affect a seed in the glass.

Materials

A glass of carbonated beverage, some sunflower seeds, and some friends willing to be amazed.

Preparation

This trick does require some advance practice, as you need to be able to time when those bubbly bubbles are going to form, how long they take to rise to the surface, and how quickly they pop.

Performance

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• After you have tried this often enough (and successfully enough) at home, the next time you are in a pub or at a restaurant with some friends and having a soda (or some Champaign) wait for the right moment and then grab a sunflower seed and say “Watch this.”

• The magician tosses the sunflower seed in the glass of soda, and it will promptly sink to the bottom of the glass. The hands of the magician should come out and get ready, however, because it won’t be long before those tiny bubbles form around the seed and begin to lift it towards the surface.

• As the seed slowly corks to the top, the magician is “making” it rise with his hands and concentration. When the time is right, the magician says “Fall!” and lowers his hands, a split second before the seed loses enough of the bubbles that its buoyancy is overcome as well.

• As the seed falls the magician continues the charade, making it “Rise!” and “Fall!” to his heart’s content, until he looses either his audience’s interest or the right amount of carbonation to keep up the trick.

• For extra complexity, and to really wow the audience, a magician can toss in two or more seeds and time the rise and fall of them with either hand, pointing to each seed to make it rise, and giving a little pop gun motion and pointing to each seed to make it fall.

Magical Tip

Despite the example under “Effect” above, the magician really shouldn’t pour the soda and then start tossing in seeds or it will be too obvious as to the mechanism of the trick. In practice the magician should time the effects of different amounts of carbonation, so as to be able to perform the trick even after the glass has sat for a few minutes untouched.

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Secret Sandwich

A trick does not always go the way a magician planned it. Sometimes a card is missed, or the deck is dropped, or a spectator forgets his card. When these happen the magician has to do his or her best to muddle along. But with this card trick Secret Sandwich, there are three possible results to the end, and the magician is prepared for them all.

The Effect

The magician hands out a deck of cards and asks the spectator to freely choose one of them. The card is placed on the top of the deck, which is then cut and shuffled and cut once more. When the cards are given back to the magician he fans through them, and then cuts and shuffles them himself. When the spectator names their chosen card, the magician reveals its exact whereabouts.

The Secret

When cards are shuffled, they are not randomized very well. This and a secret peek at the top and bottom cards are the magician's secret weapons in Secret Sandwich.

Materials

Only a regular deck of playing cards is required.

Preparation

No advance prep besides practice is needed, although the magician will need a peek at the top and bottom cards before handing the deck over.

Performance

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1) the magician shuffles and cuts a deck of cards, takes a peek at the top and bottom cards, and then hands it to a spectator.

2) The spectator is asked to select a card from the middle of the deck and show it around to the audience. The card is placed on the top of the deck and then the spectator is asked to cut the deck, putting the chosen card back in the middle somewhere.

3) To further challenge the magician the spectator is asked to give the cards a shuffle, and then cut them once more before handing them over to the magician.

4) The magician then fans through the deck. Here is how he finds the cards. When the spectator placed his or her chosen card on the top, it was on top of a card the magician had memorized. When the deck is cut, it is now between two cards memorized by the magician - in a secret sandwich of cards. When the magician fans through the deck he looks for these two cards and notes the card in between.

5) The magician then cuts the deck so that the chosen card is on top and asks the spectator to name their card. He turns over the card and takes a bow.

6) But what if there are two cards in the secret sandwich, thanks to the shuffle? No worries. The magician simply cuts between the cards, taking note of which ends up on top and which is on the bottom. If the named card is on top, the top card is turned over. If it is on the bottom, the deck is turned over.

Magical Tip

And what if there are THREE cards between the sandwich? This is rare, but could happen. Cut the first two to the top of the deck, and put the deck behind your back as you explain that it is sometimes easier to feel your way to the right card. Take the top card and put it reversed in the middle of the deck. If that card is named, spread the cards and show that the chosen card is reversed in the deck!

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Prime Pairs

Who would have ever thought that you would be using prime numbers to amaze an audience with a magic trick? But that is the hallmark of the true magician, the ability to use anything and everything to amaze, which you will do with this Prime Pairs card trick.

The Effect

Cutting a deck of cards in half the magician passes one packet to one spectator and the second to another. He asks them to take a random card out of the deck and look at it, and then pass it to the other person. Each person places the card on top of their packet, and then shuffles it. The two are combined, and the magician quickly scans through the deck and selects the two chosen cards.

The Secret

The deck of cards is divided into two groups - one set of prime numbers, and one set of non prime. Exchanging the cards makes them stand out if you know what to look for.

Materials

Only a regular deck of playing cards and basic grasp of prime numbers.

Preparation

This trick does take some prep, and might be a trick you want to lead with. Divide up the deck into all the prime numbers in one stack (2, 3, 5, 7, J, K,A) and the non prime in the other (4, 6, 8, 9, 10, Q). You may wish to bend a key card slightly between them so you can quickly divide the two groups in front of an audience.

Performance

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1) The magician pulls out a deck of cards and explains that, using mysterious magical secrets taught to him by his master, he will be able to divine not one spectator's freely chosen card, but two.

2) Two volunteers are brought forward, and each given one half of the deck. The magician hands the prime number set to one, and the non prime number set to the other, and invites both spectators to shuffle and cut to their heart's content.

3) After they are done, each person looks at one card, removing it from the deck, and shows it to the audience. Each then exchange their cards, placing them on the top of their respective decks.

4) They are asked to shuffle again, and then hand the two packets to the magician, who combines them together. The magician may then give the deck a few quick cuts.

5) The magician fans through the deck. The two cards should be out of place. As he fans through the 2's, 4's, 8's, etc, he will come across a group from the primes, say a 3, and do the same when he fans through the prime group. He then retrieves the cards and shows that his powers are still intact.

6) For a bit of extra flair, the magician should keep track of which person he gave the prime number deck to. This way he can say with all confidence that Person A's chosen card was X (a prime number card) and Person B's chose card was Y (the non prime number card.)

Magical Tip

When the cards are in the box it can be tough to split them evenly, so take the top card from the bottom half and bend it slightly in the middle, which should give you a quick break to divide the deck.

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New Spell Your Card

Magicians deftly handle cards and make it look easy, but there are years of practice that go behind sleight of hand. Luckily for the impatient there are plenty of tricks like this one that use simple math to help the magician amaze his audience.

The Effect

The Magician hands out a deck of cards and has them shuffled, and then takes them back. He counts off a small packet of cards and passes them out and asks the spectator to look at the third from the top and show it around. He then directs them to spell out the name of the card silently while dealing out cards, and then hand the packet back. After a moment the magician is able to name the chosen card!

The Secret

The specific number of cards and the order in which they are counted - all under the magician's control, of course - is the secret to the New Spell Your Card trick.

Materials

A simple deck of playing cards is all that is required.

Preparation

The only sleight needed is a quick peek at the bottom of the packet of cards, and the ability to count to yourself while talking - simple enough, but do practice these techniques.

Performance

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• The magician shuffles a normal deck of playing cards while talking about the nature of telepathy and psychic energy. Psychics can become tuned into an object from repeated handling, and the magician claims to have developed a connection with this deck of cards and wants to demonstrate.

• Getting a volunteer from the audience, the magician deals of nine cards - casually, not calling attention to the fact that there are nine - and then deals off a packet of less or more than nine cards for himself.

• Handing the first packet with nine cards to the spectator, the magician asks him or her to shuffle while he does the same. He then asks them to select the third card down from the top and show it to everyone but the magician.

• After putting the card back where it came from, the magician tells the spectator to spell out the name of the card do themselves. The magician demonstrates "Say it is the ten of hearts. You spell out T-E-N, dealing off one card from the top of your packet for each letter, then dropping the packet on top and starting over. O-F. Drop the cards. H-E-A-R-T-S. Drop the cards. Now you do the same."

• After the spectator is done the magician takes the packet and shuffles while talking. It appears he is thoroughly shuffling, but really he is counting off five cards from top to bottom - this places the chosen card at the bottom of the packet. When he hands the packet back with the words "now give them a good shuffling" he takes a peek at the bottom card.

• As the spectator shuffles the cards the magician is able to "read his mind" and tell him the chosen card!

Magical Tip

When demonstrating the counting technique, make sure your packet does not have nine cards, and chose a card that is not the third from the top.

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Hygiene - the Magician's Best Friend

It may seem rather silly to talk about Hygiene and Magic in the same topic, but believe it or not some of the most well meaning amateur - and even those trying to be pro - magicians can be eternally frustrated by lack of success simply because they don't keep their nails neat and clean.

The Effect

Don't let this happen to you: You have put in hours of practice and have all of your sleights down pat. You have stuffed your pockets full of props and equipment and run through all of your patter, and head downtown for what you hope to be a great day of street magic performing. Halfway through the day, however, you are frustrated as not a single spectator stuck around for a second trick. Could the fact that three of them have offered you a breath mint have anything to do with it?

The Secret

Keeping your self neat and clean keeps the audience focused on your magic and not your bad hygiene.

Materials

Breath mints, nail clippers, hair products, deodorant/ antiperspirant, comb, pocket handkerchief, tissues, pocket mirror

Preparation

We don't need to tell you how to run through your morning routine of getting clean, but we do want to talk about the importance of such. In your day to day life you may not take the time to push the cuticles back on your nails or make sure they are neatly and

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uniformly trimmed, but you will want to before you perform magic in front of an audience.

Performance

Here are a few tips to emphasize why good hygiene is important to a magician's success, no matter how "big" or "far" they hope to take their magic routine.

• The Hands: Nails should be neatly trimmed and buffed, and any out of control calluses should likewise be buffed. Any cuts on the hands should be healed before performing. Consider a "cover-up" type of make up to put the finishing touches on hiding marks on the hands that might be distracting during close up routines. Nail polish, if used, should either be very neutral or picked to specifically emphasis a themed routine.

• Breath: Bad breath is a killer to any kind of focus. If you want the audience to be able to appreciate the hard work you have put into amazing them, you want their mind to be on what you are doing, not on looking for ways to escape your bad breath. Mouth wash in the morning, and a breath mint a few minutes before show time should help.

• Hair: If you have no clue whether or not your hair is stylish enough, a visit to a pro would be worth while. At the very least hair should be clean and neatly trimmed - and this goes double for any facial hair. A barber or hair stylist will usually trim a beard or moustache for a small fee.

Magical Tip

Hopefully you have a test audience you use to debut your new tricks and routines; ask them to give you feedback on your appearance and hygiene as well.

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Showmanship

Magic can be a mechanical pursuit with the practitioner learning secrets and mechanisms to perform effects; but the heart of magic is showmanship. Without showmanship a magician is simply "doing tricks", but with showmanship a magician is performing wonders.

The Effect

Two magicians are performing down the street from each other, each with an equal number of spectators. Over time the group of spectators in front of one magician seems to dwindle while the other grows, leaving the first magician scratching his head, wondering what he did wrong. When all other things are equal (skill, hygiene, routine selection) showmanship will win over the crowds every time.

The Secret

The key to winning performances is showmanship, and the key to showmanship is practice and observation. There are many ways to build an understanding of showmanship, but the best is to observe it first hand.

Materials

In addition to whatever you need to perform your routine, a notebook and video recorder will go along way to giving you the feedback you need to build your showmanship.

Preparation

Take the time to think about the magicians you enjoy watching, and ask yourself why. Don't settle for a trite, general answer like "because they have showmanship" but try to get into the specifics; WHAT do they do that is showmanship, and WHY does it work?

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Then go and see these magicians perform with these questions and answers in mind to learn.

Performance

There are a number of steps you can do to increase both your understanding of showmanship and to elevate the showmanship you use in performing your magic.

1) Define Showmanship: Don't just use the term "showmanship" without really knowing what it means to you. Is it when David Copperfield arches an eyebrow after a slightly risque comment? How about when David Blaine stares blankly at the camera after pulling a thread he swallowed out of his skin, as if challenging you to wonder if you just saw an illusion or not. It could even be the over the top grinning and wildly swinging arms of a speedy stage magician whipping the cloth away from his vanished assistant. All of these are forms of showmanship… but what applies to you and your routine?

2) Fake it Till you Make it: This expression works in a lot of ways. Don't have the confidence to ask a girl out? Act like you do and she likely won't be able to tell the difference, and the end result is the same - you asked the girl out. The same thing applies to using showmanship. Not sure if what you are doing has the right amount of punch? Fake it. Do it anyway, odds are the audience won't be able to tell that you are faking your confidence. Go through the motions at least, and the confidence will come.

3) Don't Keep Faking It: This is the caveat to number Two above. The audience might not be able to tell AT FIRST, but if all you ever do is go through the motions of showmanship it will ring false over time. Fake it until you make it, yes, but you have to eventually make it. This means that you can not stop analyzing your routine and everything you do that is meant to be showmanship. It is an ongoing process of perfecting your overall presentation.

Magical Tip

Showmanship means you care. If you don't care how your audience sees you and your routine, if they are just meant to be a receptacle for your display of magical knowledge, then you are acting as a hobbyist and not a magician.

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Magician's Choice

A magician must always be in control while appearing to not be in control, and to make that work he or she must perfect the “Magician’s Choice.” This is not a trick so much as a tool, or even more accurately, an idea, one that will come in handy for a lifetime of magic.

The Effect

The magician lays out four cards on a table and asks the spectator to choose two of them. The spectator touches two, and the magician says “Fine, we will use these two” and discards the others. He then asks the spectator to chose one, and he does, after which the magician says “That is your choice, so we will discard this one” and does so. The remaining card, which seems to have been freely selected by the spectator, is named by the magician before it is turned over, and when it is the magician is proven correct.

The Secret

The secret to the Magician’s Choice is that it is a false choice, one which the magician only appears to be giving to the spectator. The magician is in control of the outcome of the choice from the beginning.

Materials

The Magician’s Choice can be done with any number of trick, so the materials will vary based on the trick being performed.

Preparation

A complete understanding of the Magician’s Choice concept is required, and practice in at least one trick.

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Performance

To illustrate the Magician’s Choice let us take a look at the trick performed above under “Effect.”

• The magician peels off four cards from a deck and sneaks a peak at the bottom of the packet. He then deals the cards out on a table in two rows, keeping track of the known card (say it is in the bottom right quadrant.)

• The magician then asks the spectator to choose two cards. If two cards are chosen that does NOT include the known card, the magician will get rid of them, saying something that makes it sound like that was the plan all along, such as “okay, you have chosen two cards to eliminate.” If, however, the spectator chose two cards that DOES include the known card, the magician says something again that will suggest he planned on letting the spectator keep the cards chosen, such as “We will hold on to these two cards that you have selected, and get rid of the other two.”

• The magician then asks the spectator to choose one more card, and once again uses the Magician’s Choice to control the outcome. The magician wants the spectator to wind up with the known card so that the magician can announce the card’s name and amaze the audience. To that affect if the spectator chooses the known card the magician says “This is the card you have chosen, so let’s get rid of the other one…” and if the card is not picked the magician says “Okay we will get rid of that card you touched, leaving us with this card…” Either way, the magician gets to reveal the identity of the lone remaining card.

Magical Tip

The trick is to never let on before the choice whether or not the spectator’s choice is going to mean a card is kept or a card is tossed away.

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Suit Signals

Magicians can use playing cards to perform some very interesting tricks, many of which would be easy for anyone to do…if they simply knew what to look for. With Suit Signals the magician is using the pips on the cards themselves as the trigger to amaze the audience.

The Effect

The magician shuffles the deck and then deals off a small packet of cards. He then mixes those cards up and invites a spectator to choose one and show it around. Once done the card is replaced in the packet, the packet is placed in the middle of the deck, and the deck is shuffled. With a quick motion the deck is fanned out and the magician quickly scans the cards and then picks out the very card the spectator chose.

The Secret

The small packet of cards was pre-selected and arraigned so that when one card is reversed it becomes obvious because the pips are pointing in an opposing direction to the rest of the cards.

Materials

A normal deck of playing cards is all that is needed for Suit Signals.

Preparation

Here is the secret to the trick - the magician takes the 3 of clubs, the 5 of hearts, the 7 of spades and the 9 of diamonds and puts them together in any order. Examining the cards shows that all of them except the 9 of diamonds have pips pointing in two directions, up and down, and that each card has more pips pointing in one direction than the other (they

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are not evenly divided.) The magician makes sure that all the larger groups of pips are pointing in one direction, and then places the packet of four cards on top of the deck.

Performance

1) The magician takes the deck of cards from the box and riffle shuffles them, taking care to keep the special packet of four cards on the top of the deck.

2) The top packet is dealt off on to a table and the rest of the deck is set aside. The magician mixes the other cards, taking care to keep them all in the same direction.

3) The magician spreads the four cards and requests a spectator take one and show it around. While this is being done the magician secretly reverses the order of the packet in his hands.

4) The spectator puts the card back - it should now be in opposition to the rest of the cards as to how it faces, up or down.

5) The packet is returned to the top of the deck of cards and the cards are cut. They can even be shuffled if the magician takes care to keep them together.

6) The deck is spread out and the magician goes through the cards. When he comes to the packet of 3 of clubs, the 5 of hearts, the 7 of spades and the 9 of diamonds he should notice one of the cards is reversed - if it is the 3,5, or 7. If so, that is the spectator's card. If none of the cards appear to be reversed, then the 9 of diamonds is the spectator's card.

Magical Tip

Practice cutting and keeping track of the packet of cards so that you can shuffle the deck after you cut for a more disguised effect.

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Aces over Kings

Poker is a hot game these days, and any time you can work poker into a magic trick…well then you have a hot magic trick. In this classic Aces over Kings, you have a spectator randomly deal two four card poker hands - but of course as the magician you manage to win.

The Effect

The magician hands a deck of cards to the spectator and asks him to start dealing them into two alternating stacks of cards. The spectator is allowed to stop dealing any time they wish, and the un-dealt cards are discarded. After dealing the two packets into four piles, the top cards are reveals as the spectator's hand - four kings. But the next group of top cards are the magician's hand - four aces.

The Secret

The secret here is the way the deck is stacked before the trick, and the order in which the cards are dealt.

Materials

Only a regular deck of playing cards are required for this trick.

Preparation

There is some card stacking that needs to happen for this trick to work, in addition to the normal practiced of patter and style. The four aces should be stacked on top of the deck, with the four kings on top of them. The deck is now ready to perform.

Performance

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• The magician hands the deck of cards to a spectator and lets him know that he is going to be dealing out some special cards tonight. He asks the spectator to deal the top card on to the table, and the second card next to it, starting two piles of cards.

• The spectator then continues to deal the cards out, alternating into the two piles. After the spectator has dealt out ten cards of so, inform him or her that she can stop at any point she wishes.

• The un-dealt cards are discarded. The spectator is asked to pick up the first pile and deal them out into two piles in the same fashion, alternating.

• The second, initial packet is likewise dealt out. There are now four piles of cards. • The magician turns over the top card - a king - and says "This will be your poker

hand - would you like to wager any money?" As the second card comes off, "A pair of kings! Not bad, sure you don't want a wager?" The third card makes a set, and after the fourth card the spectator now has quad Kings. "Last chance to bet!"

• After the spectator takes his poker hand, the magician says "it was smart of you not to bet against a magician" and turns over the next top card on each of the four stacks, revealing quad aces, a better hand.

Magical Tip

This card trick is a great way to lead into routine, because it requires you to set up the deck in advance. If you learn a number of card tricks that do not require advance prep, always lead with one that does. It is much harder to go the other way around, as it often involves switching decks during the show, which can look dodgy.

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Card Transposition Trick

Requiring a bit of advanced slight of hand, this trick nevertheless is a mind blower when properly done. Get ready to be accused of performing real magic with the Card Transposition!

The Effect The magician takes a regular deck of playing cards and shows the top card, which he then places in his right trouser pocket. He then shows the next card, which he places face down on a table and asks a spectator to place their hand on top of it. He reaches back into his pocket and produces the first card, and on three both cards are turned face up, to reveal that they have switched places!

The Secret There are two slight of hand moves required for this trick, the double lift and the card palm.

Materials A normal deck of playing cards and trousers with loose enough pockets or a jacket with a large enough pocket.

Preparation Lots of practice is required to get the slights down perfectly- a necessity when performing this or any other complex illusion.


The magician produces a deck of regular playing cards and proceeds to explain that they are not, after all, very normal, but rather behave in odd ways. He offers to demonstrate.

Magician performs a double lift, showing the second most card as if it were the top card, and says (for example), “here we have the two of clubs, which I will place in my pocket.”

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1. The magician places the packet of two cards back on top of the deck and then deals off the very top card (not the two of clubs) into his right hand. Keeping the face of the card away from the audience, the magician places the card in his right trouser pocket (or jacket pocket).

2. "Now let’s take a look at the next card in the deck,” the magician says, and performs another double lift. “The Jack of hearts.” The magician replaces the packet of cards on top of the deck and says, “we’ll just put the Jack here on the table” as he deals off the top card (the two of clubs) face down on to the table.

3. The magician asks for the help of a spectator to “keep Jack in line” and put their hand on top of the tabled card. While the spectator is doing so, the magician palms off the top card (the Jack of hearts) with his right hand.

4. Reaching into his pocket with his right hand, the magician says “now we will bring out the two of clubs” and pretends to grab the card he first put in his pocket, but just shifts the grip on the palmed card and pulls it out.

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5. Keeping the card in his right hand face down, the magician asks the spectator to turn over his card on the count of three to see if there has been any funny business, and on three both cards are turned over to show that they have switched places.

6.

7. The deck of cards can be now placed in the right trouser or jacket pocket to be retrieved later, along with the initial, indifferent card.

Magical Tip

The double lift and card palm are key here and must be practiced in front of a mirror to ensure that they are done correctly. The double lift involves riffling the deck of cards with the right thumb and stopping when there are two cards left. Pinching both cards on the bottom, the magician can turn over the packet as one card with practice. Likewise the card palm requires practice- holding the deck of cards in the left hand; place the right over the deck grip just one card. Bend the hand slightly and the card will stay in place. Make sure no card edges are peaking out around your fingers.

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Do as I Do Trick

A classic card trick using two decks of ordinary playing cards. The magic takes place in the spectator's hands and leaves a smile on their face.

The Effect The magician produces two decks of playing cards with different coloured backs. Telling his audience to “Do as I Do” he shuffles the cards and switches decks. Both magician and audience member pick their favourite card and then cut the deck multiple times. Once more switching the deck both find the favourite cards and in a magical moment, flip them over to show they are the exact same card.

The Secret Using a classic “peep” technique, the magician is in total control the entire time.

Materials Two decks of playing cards; preferably with different back colours or designs to keep them easy to tell apart.

Preparation Practice alone will suffice!


Place both decks of playing cards on a table between yourself and your partner. Allow them to pick which deck will be “theirs” and pick up that deck, telling them to “Do as I Do.”

1. Shuffle the cards, explaining as you do that you want to make sure the decks are nice and random.

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2. “Now I’ve shuffled your cards, and you’ve shuffled mine.” As you square up the cards, take a peek at the bottom of your deck. This will be your marker card.

3. Pass their deck across the table to them, and take yours. Have them spread the cards out facing them as you do the same. Ask them to pick their “favourite card” as you do and remove it from the deck, placing it face down on the table. Your card is indifferent- all you need to do is remember your marker card.

4. Put the cards face down on the table and square them up. Pick up your “favourite”

card and place it on top of your deck. Ask your partner how many times you should cut the deck, “twice? Three times?”

5. Make a complete cut- take off half the cards and place them down on the table, then pick up the remaining cards and put them on top. Your partner will do the same- now your marker card is on top of their favourite card. No matter how many times you now cut the deck- as long as they are complete cuts- those two cards will stay together.

6. Pass your deck back across and say, “now we switch decks.”

7. Fan your partner’s deck as before and say, “now we find our favourite cards in each other’s deck.” You will find your partner’s card directly to the right of your marker card. Remove this card and place it face down

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on the table.

8. After the spectator has done the same, place the deck down on the table and square it up.

9. Pick up the favourite card and say, “now, wouldn’t it be amazing if we both had the same favourite- lets turn it over on three…one, two, three!” Turn over the card to reveal that they are, indeed, the same!

Magical Tip

As you don’t care which card you pick as your favourite, play act a little. Wait until they have picked their card and then pull out a random card. When it comes time at the end to pull “your favourite” out of their deck, however, go right to it and pull it out- act as if you know exactly what card you are going for.

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Four Crooks Trick

A great effect to open a show, Four Crooks is a card trick that blends a bit of misdirection, a touch of sleight of hand and some storytelling to entertain your audience.

The Effect The magician, deck of cards in hand, begins to tell a story about four crooks who set out to rob a bank. The magician deals off four cards and sets the deck aside and then turns the cards over to show four jacks, which represent the four crooks. Putting the cards back on top of the deck, the magician puts them one by one into the deck at random spots and then with a magic pass, all four cards appear back at the top - where the police are waiting.

The Secret A bit of sleight of hand and advance preparation allows the magician to show eight cards as four, the key to convincingly performing the Four Crooks.

Materials A regular deck of playing cards.

Preparation

The magician should make a packet of eight cards - the four jacks and four random cards. The random cards should be on TOP of the jacks and all eight cards placed on top of the deck. The packet should be off set, so when you first pick, up the deck you can catch a break under it - in other words isolating the eight cards without appearing to do so.

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There are a number of key moments in this trick - getting the packet of eight cards off the deck, showing the four jacks while hiding the four random cards and then “scattering” the crooks.

The story should be your own and can be about anything you like - it doesn’t have to be about a bank robbery. The story gives you a nice excuse to show off four cards and have them reappear at the top of the deck.

1. Hold the deck in your left hand, with your pinkie holding the break under the packet.

2. Deal the top four cards into your right hand, saying “we have four crooks” or something similar.

3. Drop the four cards back on top of the remainder of the packet (which is the actual four jacks) and then take the entire packet in your right hand. Place the deck on a table.

4. Turn the packet over - the bottom Jack is now facing the audience. Riffle the packet with your right thumb and stop after four cards. The top half (the jacks) should be pushed down slightly lifted. You will now be holding two packets at two angles in your left hand, but the front packet will block the view of the second from your audience.

5. With your right hand, take the top jack off and name it (here we have the Jack of Diamonds) and place it behind the rest of the jacks. In this way you go through and show each of the four jacks, all the while concealing the four indifferent cards below.

6. Square up the packet and place it back on top of the deck. Remember that the top

four cards are NOT the jacks.

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7. At this point in the story the crooks are scattering from the police and you take the top card and place it near the bottom of the deck. In this manner you take each of what the audience thinks are the jacks and scatter them randomly in the deck.

8. The trick is done! Now the story offers a reason for the jacks to get back together - they got lost in the building, they make it to the roof to escape in a waiting helicopter, what have you. One, two, three, four, the magician deals off the jacks from the top of the deck, where they have miraculously assembled!

Magical Tip

This trick can be started with the eight cards in the hand, which is fine if the magician wants to forgo learning the sleight of hand required to get the packet off the deck.

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Peek a Boo Find Trick

Practically the first card trick every magician learns, the peek a boo find lets the magician find the spectator’s card every time.

The Effect After spreading the cards, the magician asks the spectator to make a choice and pull it out of the deck. Once memorized, the card is put back into the deck. With a minimum of fuss the magician thumbs through the deck and retrieves the chosen card.

The Secret The secret is the “peek a boo”, or just the peek, where the magician looks not at the chosen card but a key card he then uses to find the chosen card.

Materials Just a normal deck of playing cards.



While it can be used as a magic trick all by itself, the Peek a Boo Find typically requires some embellishment to keep the audience interested. As a tool for finding a card, the Peek a Boo Find is used in hundreds of card tricks, many of which are simple variants of this one.

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1. The magician shuffles a deck of cards and then spreads it, asking for a spectator to choose a card. After a moment to memorise the card, the magician asks the spectator to replace it.

2. The cards should be cut about halfway down, and as the magician says “place your card here” he should get a look at the bottom card of the top half of the deck. This will be the “key card” that he should remember.

3. The chosen card will be below the key card when the cards are face down. When looking at the cards, the magician will find the chosen card to the left of the key card.

4. Now the magician needs an excuse to look through the cards in order to locate the

key card. This can be done by simply stating that he will now find the chosen card. Some variants on this theme are discussed below.

5. Once the magician spots the key card a quick glance to the left will show him the chosen card. The simplest thing to do at this point is pull the card out of the deck and say “Your card is the” and name the card as you show it.

Variations

1. The magician can explain that he can pick up on the psychic fingerprint left behind by the spectator, and thus scans all the cards to find it.

2. The magician can claim an extraordinary sense of smell, smell the spectator’s fingers and then scan the cards, pausing to smell them at intervals, and then find the card by smell.

3. The magician can claim he can find the card in three guesses, and pick out three cards. Then he visibly discards the wrong two and says he found the card.

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4. The magician can take the chosen card out and put it face down and say “I know it’s NOT that one,” and then start to pull out wrong card after wrong card before revealing that he picked the right card the first time.

5. The magician can see the card and then put the cards down and start to pick up “mental images” of the card. “I know it is a…red card. A heart card…it is a number…greater than five…less than ten…for some reason I’m picking up the days of the week here…seven! The seven of hearts!”

Magical Tip

As can be seen by the variants, the possibilities are endless. The magician just needs to make sure the use of the key card is done as subtly as possible.

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Torn and Restored Card Trick

Get ready to really make your audience think, as they try to figure out how you do this classic card trick.

The Effect

A card, freely chosen by a spectator, is signed and then torn into four quarters. The torn bits of card are wrapped in a handkerchief and then secured with a rubber band. At the command of the magician, the handkerchief is opened to reveal that the card has vanished, except for one corner. The other pieces of the card are discovered back in the deck, completely restored except for the missing corner, which is shown to match the resorted card perfectly.

The Secret

The marked spectator card is only partially torn, with the remaining tears made upon a dummy card. Controlling the bits of cards-as well as the spectator's perception-is the key to making the Torn and Restored Card Trick a success.

Materials

A handkerchief, a rubber band, a marker pen and a normal deck of cards are all you will need to pull off one of the classic mind blowing card tricks.

Preparation

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The key to this trick is the dummy card, which is as easy to make as tearing a playing card. Take an indifferent card and rip one corner off, which you may discard; you now have your dummy card ready to go.

Place this card on top of the deck, face down, with the missing corner to the bottom left (for a left-handed grip.) Place an indifferent card on top of the dummy card and put the cards in their box. Have the handkerchief and pen handy, place the rubber band in your right coat or trouser pocket, and you are ready to begin.

How to Perform this Trick

1. Pull the cards from the box, making sure to keep the missing corner of the dummy card to the bottom left as you take the deck in your left hand. Riffle the front half of the deck with your right to allow the spectator to choose a card. Once the card is chosen, place the deck face up on the table, taking the bottom card (the one that covered the dummy card) off the deck.

2. The deck is now face-up on the table, with the dummy card on the bottom. Gesture with the indifferent card in your hand ("you could have chosen any card") and then place it face up on the deck.

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3. Take the chosen card from the spectator and tear off one corner (make sure it is the same size tear as from the dummy card).

4. Hand the card to the spectator (leave the torn bit on the table) and ask him to sign the card. As he signs, pick up the deck of cards and turn it over, keeping the face of the cards towards the audience, as the dummy card is now exposed on the top.

5. Take the chosen card and place it on top of the dummy card. It is important that the missing portion is opposite that of the dummy card; top right as opposed to bottom left. Don't let the audience see this.

6. Have the spectator sign the torn bit of the chosen card. While he is doing this, you will deal the dummy card (second from the top) face down on the table- this will be easy to accomplish using your right thumb on the top right corner of the deck, where the missing corner of the chosen card gives you access to the dummy card.

7. Cut the deck and place it face down on the table. Pick up the dummy card (face towards you) and rip it in three quarters. Pick up the signed corner of the chosen card from the table and place it on top of the packet. You can now show the front and back of the packet, which the audience assumes is all part of the same card.

8. Cover the packet with the handkerchief while pushing up on the face of the packet with your right thumb- this will make the signed corner stand up. Grasp the corner through the top of the handkerchief with your left hand- it will look as if you took the entire packet.

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9. Palm the torn bits of the dummy card and place them in your right pocket as you take out the rubber band. Wrap the bottom of the "packet" in the handkerchief with the rubber band and hand to the spectator.

10. Say the magic words and have the spectator unwrap the package - the card has vanished, except for the signed corner. You may now fan or spread the deck of cards to reveal a card with a missing corner - the signed chosen card, which you then show matches the torn corner perfectly.

Magical Tip

Have the spectator take and match the card for you, or even hand the deck to him to find the restored, signed card first. Putting the magic in a spectator's hands as much as possible is a great way to immerse them in the magic.

]

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The Upside Down Card Trick

Requiring two sleight of hand moves and a bit of polish, this is a very simple, very stunning card trick.

The Effect The magician fans a deck of cards and allows the spectator to choose one at random. After memorising the card, the spectator returns it to the deck and the magician shuffles the cards. Turning over the top card, the magician explains that the spectator’s card is not there, nor - as he turns over the deck - on the bottom, but lost within. Cutting the deck only once, the magician then spreads the cards to show that one card has been reversed in the deck- the spectator’s card, upside down.

The Secret Keeping track of and then manipulating the card allows the magician to reverse it right under the nose of the spectator.


Preparation No advance preparation is required.


The Upside Down Card Trick is one of the more simple effects that have the spectator’s card reversed in the deck, but because the sleights required are minor and can be done simply and quickly, the effect is much greater in the end.

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1. The magician fans or spreads the deck of cards and allows the spectator to make a free choice.

2. After the card is chosen and memorised, the magician allows it to be put back into

the deck and then brings it to the top using a preferred method; here is one way to do it:

3. Cut the deck and ask the spectator to place the chosen card on top of the bottom half of the deck. As the top of the deck is replaced, catch a break between the halves with the meat of the palm or the tip of the little finger.

4. Then cut the cards, bringing the chosen card to the top.

5. The magician then explains that the magic is going to happen very quickly, so it is important that the spectator pays close attention - while he is saying this, the magician should perform the double lift sleight, picking up the top two cards as one. Turning this packet over, the magician says “your card is not on the top of the deck…”

6. The packet is placed on top of the deck - still face up - and the deck is turned over. The magician continues, “and it is not on the bottom…” as he says this, the magician takes the card now closest to the ground - the indifferent card that was part of the packet - and pulls it out, pointing to the bottom of the deck with it. As he replaces the card from where he got it, the

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magician turns it over, so it will be face down and covering the chosen card, now the only card face up in the deck.

7. Turning the deck back right side up, the magician says, “watch now…all I need to do is cut the cards and the magic is done…” the magician cuts the cards and then spreads or fans them, showing one card face up - the chosen card.

Magical Tip

Before turning the deck right side up, the magician could fan the cards face up - meaning the chosen card is the only one face down. Then he would turn the fan over, revealing the card more dramatically.

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The Two Detectives Trick

A fantastic card trick that involves a bit of audience participation and a bit of sleight of hand for a mind blowing reveal at the end.

The Effect The magician has a spectator pick a card and then pulls out two cards himself of the same value. He explains that these two cards will do the actual magic and has the spectator put the chosen card in the deck. After cutting the two detective cards into the deck the magician fans the cards to show that the two cards have trapped the chosen card between them.

The Secret A special way of counting three cards as two sets up the reveal right under the eyes of the spectator.

Materials A normal deck of cards is all that is required.

Preparation Outside of practice there is no special preparation needed.


Any two cards of the same value can be used as the “detectives” in the story, but face cards or aces have most visual effect. Part of this trick takes place in the hands of the spectator and the magician should use this time to do the one of the sleights required.

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1. Magician shuffles cards as he talks about his special helpers, two cards in the deck that help him perform his magic tricks. They are not magicians but rather detectives, doing all the work needed to find any card chosen by the spectator.

2. After fanning the cards the magician invites a spectator to choose a card and remove it from the deck.

3. At this point the magician looks through the deck for his two helper cards, say the two red jacks.

4. Pulling the cards out, he sets them face down on a table. If doing close up and no

surface is available, he can have another spectator hold them for a moment.

5. The magician cuts the deck and has the spectator place the chosen card on top of the bottom half. Holding a break when replacing the top half, the magician can then cut the cards. This will bring the chosen card to the top of the deck.

6. The magician will then hand out the two cards for inspection. At this moment he should slide the top (chosen) card slightly forward using his thumb, just enough to get tip of the little finger under the card.

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7. When the magician takes back the two detectives he places them both face UP on top of the chosen card. He can then slightly pick up the packet of three in his right hand. The left thumb can then grip the top jack as the right hand pulls away both of the bottom cards as one. The magician names the top card, “Here we have the Jack of Hearts,” as he pulls the packet away.

8. He then places the packet on top of the first jack as he names the second card; “and the Jack of Diamonds.” The chosen card is now between the two face-up jacks. At this point the sleight of hand is done.

9. The magician then puts the packet of three cards back on top and simply cuts the deck. After an appropriate amount of story telling, he spreads the cards to show that the jacks have surrounded the chosen card.

Magical Tip

Practice the false count, when you trap the chosen card, until it is flawlessly smooth.

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The Comeback Card Trick

Using one of the most utilitarian of sleights, the Comeback Card will have the audience coming back for more.

The Effect The magician shows the top card on a normal deck of playing cards. He puts the card back and then deals it from the deck into his hand. He puts the card in the middle of the pack and slowly pushes it in. With a magical pass of the hand he then deals off the top card of the deck, showing that it is the same card - the card moved magically from the middle of the deck back to the top!

The Secret When showing the top card; the magician is actually showing the second from the top card.


Preparation No advance preparation is required for the basic Comeback Card, but there is a variant explained below that requires a bit of set up.


This really is a quick effect and often should be used as part of an overall card routine. It should not be shown repeatedly or the secret will be figured out.

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1. The magician should be familiar with the sleight of hand move called the double lift. It requires the magician to show two cards as if it were one card. Riffling through the deck with the right thumb, the magician catches a break at the second card from the top.

2. Lifting the packet of two cards as if it were one, the magician shows the face of the second card, names it and calls it the top card.

Turning the packet back over on top of the deck, the magician then deals off the top, indifferent card into his right hand, face down.

3.

Placing the indifferent card in the deck at any point, the magician is free to now say a magic word, make a magic motion, or simply riffle the deck. He then flips over the top card (which never left) to show that the displayed card has “returned to the top.”

4.

A nice variant of this trick, part of a card routine called “The Ambitious Card”, does require a bit of set up.

1. The magician pulls the nine of clubs and the eight of clubs out of the deck and puts the nine of clubs on top of the eight of clubs, then puts both cards on the top of the deck. He is now ready to perform this variant of the “Comeback Card.”

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2. The first part of the trick is performed the same - catching a break at the top two cards, they are turned over as one: “You can see the eight of clubs is the top card on the deck.”

3. This time, after dealing off the top card (the nine of clubs) and placing it in the middle of the deck, the magician should stop when the card is halfway pushed in. Holding the deck in his left hand, the magician can extend his forefinger and turn the deck face up, towards the audience. The tip of his finger covers the Nine symbol, and the audience will see an arrangement of clubs pips on the card that looks like the eight.

4. The rest of the trick is performed the same way.

Magical Tip

The double lift is a very valuable tool that must be practiced diligently. If it is done incorrectly it will ruin the trick and many others.

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Spell Your Card Trick

An easy trick to learn and perform using a classic method of finding the spectator’s card with a twist.

The Effect The magician asks the spectator to choose a card, memorise it and place it back in the deck. After thumbing through the cards to show that it is a normal deck, the magician then asks the spectator to spell their card. Removing one card for each letter, the magician revels their card as the spelling is completed.

The Secret Using a “key card” the magician spots the chosen card when thumbing through the deck.

Materials No special materials needed, just cards.

Preparation Make sure you know the proper spelling of diamond and practice, practice, practice.


This is one of those card tricks that are taught to young magicians and for a good reason. It takes one of the basic methods for locating a card and expands upon it, showing how many ways a magician can use a tool once they know it.

1. The magician shuffles a deck of cards and then spreads it, asking for a spectator to choose a card. After a moment to memorise the card,

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the magician asks the spectator to replace it.

2. The cards should be cut about halfway down and as the magician says “place your card here” he should get a look at the bottom card of the top half of the deck. This will be the “key card” that he should remember.


4. Now the magician needs an excuse to look through the cards. “Just to show you that I am, indeed, using a full deck, I’ll thumb through the cards.”

5. The cards should be held face up and even so that both spectator and magician can see them clearly. Skipping through the first bunch of cards is advisable, while slowing down near the middle. As the magician sees the key card he should quickly note the chosen card and then begin to spell it in his mind.

6. For example if the chosen card is the Ace of Clubs the magician should start counting off one card for each letter as he thumbs through the deck. “A-c-e-o-f-C-l-u-b-s.” On “s” the magician holds a break with the fingers of his right hand as he thumbs past the final counted card by a few to throw off any suspicion.

7. During the thumbing process the magician can say, “Now, you will likely see your card but I don’t know what it is, so don’t sing out or give me any hint what it is. I’m a smart guy and I might pick up on that.” Once he has counted out the cards, made the break and counted a few more, he should say something like “Okay, that should convince you this is a normal deck of cards. Now it is time for you to do a little magic.” As he says this his hands should separate, each holding a

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packet of cards. The packet in the right hand, which ends with the last counted off card (at the break) should wind up as the top packet when the cards are face up.

8. Now the magician has the spectator spell the card, dealing off one card at a time as he does so. When the spectator gets to the last letter, the magician turns over that card to show the chosen card.

Magical Tip

Practice this trick with a variety of cards to see if you are confindent spelling diamond, queen, or anything else. You can change this trick slightly by having them count out the value of the card, or spell just the suite and value and not the “of.”

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Sloppy Shuffle Trick

A visual stunner, the Sloppy Shuffle convinces the audience of one thing, while the magician is doing the opposite.

The Effect The magician announces that he is not going to do a typical card trick, but try something different. Spreading the cards he allows a spectator to choose one and then return it to the deck. He then begins to mess up the cards, turning them over and mixing them up, so that they are randomly face up and face down. With a snap of the fingers, all the cards return to face down position except for the chosen card, which is shown to be face up.

The Secret The sloppy shuffle part of the Sloppy Shuffle actually organises the cards into two neat packets, all facing the same direction.

Materials Normal playing cards.



The magician will get plenty of shocked responses to this trick, which is a visual stunner.

1. The magician produces a normal deck of cards and spreads them for the audience. Asking a spectator to choose a card, the magician cuts the deck in half and asks that the card be placed on the top of the left handed half.

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2. Before putting the right hand half on top, the magician raises the left hand and pushes the chosen card forward with the thumb, so that it peeks out and can be seen by the audience. “Did everyone get a good look at the card?” he can ask, or if it one person, “You are sure this is your card?”

3. As the left hand comes down the tip of the little finger catches a break under the chosen card, so when the top half of the deck is replaced it will now be on the bottom of the top half.

4. The magician then cuts the cards at the break. This puts the chosen card on the bottom of the deck. It is fine to say “now we cut the cards” at this point as it is a good lead in to the sloppy shuffle.

5. “Instead of doing a normal shuffle, I am now going to thoroughly mix up the cards, the magician says, and does the following: deal off a few cards into the right hand, turn the right hand over so that the small packet of cards is now face up; continue to deal off cards (face down).

6. Then turn the right hand over again; deal off a few more cards; repeat; turn over the left hand as well as the right and continue to deal off cards; repeat until one card is left - the chosen card. Make sure as you both hands are face down and you are dealing face down cards. As you get to the last card just toss it on the top of the deck.

7. While the magician is doing the sloppy shuffle, he should be saying something to the equivalent of, “as you can see I am mixing up the cards quite a bit. Faces to faces, backs to backs, thoroughly losing your card in the mix.”

8. What the magician is left with is two packets of cards: the top packet is face up, the bottom packet is face down, and the chosen card is face down on the top of the deck.

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9. “Here, let me show you how mixed up they are,” says the magician, who then cuts off a portion of the top half and says “Some cards are faces to backs.”

10. He replaces the cards and then cuts the deck in the middle of the bottom packet and says “and some are backs to faces.”

11. He replaces the packet and then cuts the deck right at the separation of the two halves, which have cards back to back; “and some are back to back.”

12. When replacing the top half on the bottom half, the magician ROTATES the top half, essentially putting all the cards back to a face down position.

13. The inverted chosen card masks this move. The trick is now done - the magician says a magic word and spreads the cards to show them

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all facing one direction, except for the inverted chosen card.

Magical Tip

Bend the deck of cards slightly before beginning and the break separating the two halves will be easier to find.

Zombie Ball Trick

One of the classic stage effects from the golden age of magic, the Zombie Ball is simple to learn and has infinite variations.

The Effect The magician walks on stage and up to a small table draped with cloth. Sitting on top of the table is a shiny metal sphere on a stand. In front of the sphere is a foulard. The magician picks up the sphere and tosses it from hand to hand, turning it to show all sides and then replaces it on the stand. Picking up either end of the foulard, the magician covers the sphere briefly and then lifts the silk to show the sphere is gone. With a word the magician commands the sphere to appear, rising up slowly from behind the foulard. From there the magician begins to interact with the sphere, making it float, dance, vanish and reappear at will.

The Secret The secret to the Zombie Ball is a hidden prop that allows the magician to “remotely” manipulate the ball.

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Materials

A miniature zombie ball could be made out of a ball of tinfoil and stiff wire, but commercial props are a better way to go. Also a large handkerchief or silk foulard is required.

Preparation Plenty of practice and rehearsal are all the advance preparation required. Pre-show set up requires the zombie ball to be place with the secret hole away from the audience and the zombie stick hidden in the foulard.


Stage magicians have been performing their own Zombie Ball routines for centuries - called the spirit ball, zombie ball, magic sphere and other names, the trick is easily recognised once begun. The secret to manipulating the Zombie Ball itself lies in a hole in one side of the sphere and the stick or wand used to manipulate it.

The stick is made from stiff wire. One end is wound round to form a sleeve for a finger and the other ends in a cork to fit into the secret hole. With the stick on the finger of one hand and the cork in the zombie ball, the magician can then make the ball raise up and down and move back and forth with small movements of the fingers, all of which are hidden by the foulard.

1. The magician picks up the ball and tosses it from side to side, all the while keeping the hole towards himself and away from the audience. He may even rotate the ball between the hands in a way that looks like he is showing all sides, but is not. [P2]

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2. When picking up the foulard the magician slips the middle finger of the right hand into the sleeve of the stick and then puts the cork into the hole in the zombie ball.

3. The foulard needs to be kept tight, with the arms as far apart as it will allow. When the foulard is lifted high and the ball hidden behind it, it will appear as if the ball had vanished.

4. The magician now slowly causes the ball to rise behind the foulard, stopping just short of revealing the cork and stick.

5. The ball can rise and fall, and be made to push against the foulard from behind.

6. With a bit of acting, the magician can make as if the ball is floating and moving on it’s own, leading the magician around the stage.

Magical Tip

The Zombie Ball requires a lot of rehearsal in front of a mirror so that the magician may pin down exactly how he may move the ball without revealing the stick.

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You'll Put your Eye out

There is a classic gag that is perfect to pull in a restaurant or at your favourite pub, one that will produce gasps of horror followed by gasps or relief, and likely the unction to pound on the magician. In this twist of that classic gag, You'll Put your Eye Out, you increase the first gasp quite a bit …and the desire to pound you afterwards.

The Effect

The magician sits across from his victim at a restaurant or pub bar and swiftly and surely appears to jab a fork into his eye, producing an appropriate amount of "blood". Even the most jaded of audiences will gasp when he pulls back an "eye" on the end of a fork.

The Secret

The secret move is combined with a ketchup packet (pre-perforated) to produce the initial shock. No harm is done to your eye.

Materials

A fork, a ketchup packet, and a fake eye; a grape, a meatball or something similar can be substituted for the fake eyeball.

Preparation

It takes some skill to puncture a ketchup packet with a fork and NOT hit your eye, so opening the packet a bit or poking a hole in it in advance is advisable. Affixing the fake eye on the fork for Part Two of the trick is also a required advance prep item.

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Performance

1) The magician takes a fork in his right hand (or left if he is left handed) and the ketchup packet in the other.

2) After saying something clever (Like "Watch this!) the magician swiftly brings both hands up towards his face. The left hand (containing the ketchup packet) will come to the face first, and the fork will go into the hand stopping well short of the eye. The left hand grabs the fork and squeezes the ketchup packet at the same time, producing the illusion.

3) This is part one, and may be a trick you have already done for your pals at the pub. Once this is done a few times you are ready (on a night long after you have done part one) for Part Two.

4) Part Two involves having a fork with the fake eye on the tines ready to go. You perform this one exactly as part One, moving swiftly enough that the fake eye will not register.

5) When your pals say "Yes, we know, ketchup packet" you reveal the fake eye instead.

6) The reason this one works so well as a shocker is that they are expecting the same old gag. Even if they have seen you do this a hundred times, the addition of the fake eye is sure to shock.

7) Saftey Tip: You do NOT need to move quickly with the fork. For part One and part Two you can even lift it to your eye with the tines already held securely in the hand. The spurting of the ketchup is enough to convince them of the damage for the split second of shock before you show them it was all in fun.

Magical Tip

No ketchup packet handy? Try a mini creamer carton, one of those single serving kinds with the liquid creamer. Held paper side out they pop nicely when the fork this, and the white liquid is just as icky under the circumstances.

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Wood Through Wood Trick

One of the attractions of the magician is his ability to pick up everyday objects and work wonders with them - this is one such trick.

The Effect The magician picks out two wooden matches from a match box and sets them aside, inviting his spectator to examine them if they wish. Once the spectator is assured that there is nothing unusual about the matches, the magician takes them and holds them with the tip of the first finger and thumb of each hand. Tapping the matches together, the magician demonstrates that they can not pass through each other - until suddenly they are through, linked it one smooth move right before the eyes of the audience.

The Secret A secret move - along with the temporary grip of the match on the skin - allows the magician to perform Wood Though Wood.

Materials Two matches or failing that, two rounded toothpicks or toothpicks with the sharp bits clipped off.



Wood Through Wood is a quick magic “bit” that is a great way to do a little magic for friends at the pub or sitting around the office. Impromptu magic is often not so impromptu, when the magician stocks his person with props and gimmicks, but it seems to be to the audience. Unfortunately the magician may be with the props and gimmicks and still be required to perform on the spot, and that is where tricks like Wood Through Wood come in. Once learned they are not easily forgotten, do not require advance preparation and can be performed at a moment’s notice in front of any audience. The small nature of the trick does favour close up audiences, however.

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1. The magician holds one match between the thumb and first finger of the right hand and a second match in the same manner in the left hand.

2. Bringing the matches together the magician taps them against one another, showing how they can not penetrate each other.

3. On a count of “One, two three!” the magician makes the same move, but more dramatically and more quickly and on “three” opens the fingers of the right hand. The match, having been pressed into the flesh of the thumb, will stay sticking out of the thumb for a brief moment. This should allow the magician just enough time to get the match passed the left hand match and into the circle formed by the left hand thumb and first finger. Then the magician resumes his grip on the match and it will look as if the match sticks had turned insubstantial just long enough to penetrate.

4. The timing of this trick is very important. Open the finger too soon and the

spectator will see the gap, ruining the trick. Open the finger too late and the match sticks will strike each other and knock one to the floor.

5. The angle of the trick is also very important. When the magician says “three” and goes to make the secret move, he must make the pass with the right stick crossing the left stick at the tip, near the first finger.

Magical Tip

As simple as this trick is and as quick and easy as it is to perform on the spot, it requires perfect timing, which will only come with tons of practice. Do not attempt to perform this trick unless you have the timing down, including re-gripping the match stick after the secret move.

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What to do if You Mess Up a Trick

It is going to happen and likely happen more than once; you will be performing a trick and mess up, either getting it wrong or accidentally exposing the secret. What do you do?

Don’t Panic

The first rule of any bad situation is to not panic - if you panic you make it harder to think and more likely to further botch the situation. In some cases the audience may not know you messed up on the trick. Say you are doing a card trick and planned on finding the spectator card using a key card, and forgot the key card - at this point you know you blew it, but the audience is still waiting for you to find their card. Being able to turn the trick around at this point means it is as if you never messed up at all.

If you mess up, relax - the audience is not out to get you and every one of them has messed up on something before. They are human and so are you, so don’t panic, just work it through.

Appeal to the Audience

The magician appeals to the audience firstly by not panicking (it is that important that it had to be repeated) - a twitchy, scared magician isn’t much fun. A magician that can turn a mishap into a comedic moment is sometimes more fun than a magician that performs flawlessly. As anyone who has tried comedy can tell you, being funny requires a great deal of self confidence and you can’t be self confident if you are chastising yourself and imaging the audience is about to boo you off the stage.

A ready smile, a “Wow, did I mess that up! Let’s try it again” and quickly moving past the mess up is the best way to go - your audience WANTS you to succeed and is happy to forgive you your mishaps.

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Have Another Trick Ready to go

In the case of the card trick above, being able to transition right into another trick is a life saver. Even if you can’t pull it off without letting the audience in on the fact that you messed up, move right into another trick. It is perfectly acceptable to restart the same trick, as long as you have “appealed to the audience”, or even toss that trick and go on to another one. Keep things moving and your audience will be happy.

Some entire routines are actually based on the concept of a bungling magician that can’t make a trick work to save his life. In reality that magician is appearing to mess up, but it is all misdirection as he performs some other bit of unsuspecting, but amazing, magic. Even if you don’t have a routine built around this idea you can borrow from it off the cuff when required.

You have messed up - Don’t Panic! Appeal to the audience and have another trick ready to go and you will do fine. One last thought - this show you are doing now, when you mess up, is not the only show you will ever do. Take your mix up as a learning experience, go back to training and figure out how you can avoid making the same mistake a second time.

Vanishing Salt Shaker Trick

One of the absolute classics of after-dinner magic, this trick requires good posture and a strong presence…and a salt shaker.

The Effect The magician, perhaps at the end of a meal, announces that he is going to make a coin disappear. Taking a small coin out of his pocket, he places it on the table in front of him and then asks to be passed the salt shaker. He places the salt shaker over the coin and then wraps the shaker with a paper napkin. “One, two, three!” The shaker is lifted, but the coin is still there. Puzzled, the magician replaces the shaker and tries again, “One,

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two…wait, it wasn’t the coin I was supposed to vanish!” The magician slaps the napkin, which goes flat, and the salt shaker has vanished.

The Secret The focus of the audience on the coin is perfect misdirection, allowing the magician to vanish the shaker completely undetected.

Materials

A small coin, a salt shaker, a paper napkin and preferably a cloth napkin, although the trick can be done without the latter.

Preparation Laying the cloth napkin in the lap is all the advance preparation needed, as long as the rest of the materials are to hand.


The Vanishing Salt Shaker trick is truly a classic and one that is fairly easy to perform. For both reasons this trick should be practiced a good deal before performing in front of a real audience to ensure that it will go off without a hitch.

1. The magician announces that he is ready to make a coin disappear. If a coin is unavailable anything of roughly the same size and relative flatness may be substituted; a packet of sugar, a torn pit of paper napkin with a spectator’s initials, etc.

2. Placing the coin on the table in front of him, the magician requests the salt shaker, perhaps talking about the mystic properties of salt. Placing the shaker over the coin, the magician then unfolds a paper napkin.

3. The napkin should be thick enough to be opaque - a thread bare napkin might

allow too much light through at an important stage of the trick and reveal the surprise ending too soon.

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4. The napkin is placed over the shaker. The magician needs to squeeze the napkin around the shaker enough so that it takes on the shape of the shaker, but this move must not be obvious.

5. Now the magician is ready to perform, waving a “wand” and saying magic words, he pulls up the shaker to show that the coin…is still there. When the shaker is lifted it is not pulled straight up into the air, but pulled in to the body. The magician leans over his arm to look at the coin and the shaker is pulled over the table. At this point the magician’s grip on the shaker is loosened enough to allow it to slip free of the napkin and fall quietly into the magician’s lap, on to the cloth napkin, while the paper napkin is retained in the hand.

6. The empty napkin - still being held as if it contained the salt shaker - is placed over the coin and the magician endeavours to try again.

7. After the magic words are said, rather than lift away the napkin to show the shaker is gone, the magician slaps the top of it, flattening it on the table for a surprise vanish.

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Magical Tip

The cloth napkin in the magician’s lap can be used to conceal the salt shaker at the end of the meal, keeping the secret of this trick safe.

Vanishing Brand Trick

Utilising a classic sleight called the paddle move, this trick can be as simple or complex as the magician requires.

The Effect The magician holds up a common pencil, the kind with the name of the pencil on one end, near the eraser. Holding it up for the audience to see, the magician turns it this way and that, showing all sides of the pencil and then allows it to be inspected. Upon retrieving the pencil he announces that he is going to remove the brand on it and lays the pencil in his hand. After closing and opening his hand, the brand is gone. Once more the hand is closed and opened and the brand has returned.

The Secret The paddle move allows the magician to hide the brand in a close up setting with little chance of detection.

Materials A pencil with a brand or image only on one side near the eraser.

Preparation No advance preparation is needed.

Performance

Any magician familiar with the street performing trick called the Hot Rod will know what the paddle move is and enjoy this chance to use it with a common object. For those

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that don’t know, this trick will introduce them to a useful magician’s tool for manipulating small, long, relatively flat objects right in front of a spectator’s eyes. The application here with the Vanishing Brand Trick can be used with any similar object and is really only limited by the magician’s imagination.

The Paddle Move

1. The magician should hold the pencil near the point end between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, with the thumb on top and the brand of the pencil visible. The hand should be held out slightly with the eraser end pointing to the right. Simply by turning the hand over, the pencil is turned over, waving from right to left. Now the audience is seeing the back of the pencil, where there is no brand. Turning the hand back over shows the front of the pencil and the brand, once more.

2. This time when the magician turns the hand over, when the pencil is under the magician’s chin, he should slightly roll the thumb back, causing the pencil to roll between thumb and finger. This time when the hand settles on the left side, the top is still showing, but to the audience it will look like there is a brand on both sides of the pencil.


1. The magician holds up the pencil and announces he will make the brand disappear. He does step one of the paddle move (without rolling the pencil) to show that the brand is on one side and not the other (without actually saying this).

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2. Holding out the left hand, the magician rests the end of the pencil within and closes his fist over it. The bottom of the pencil is still held in the right hand, and the magician rolls it when the fist closes. When the fist opens, the bottom of the pencil is showing, with no brand.

3. This alone will not convince the audience that the magician has removed the

brand, but doing step two of the paddle move- showing no brand on “both sides”, will.

4. To make the brand reappear the magician repeats step one above and then hands the pencil out for inspection.

Magical Tip

The magician needs to practice the paddle move over and over with the pencil to make sure he knows how much to roll it.

Upside Down Pound Note Trick

Another trick that is simple to do, the Upside Down £5 Note Trick reminds the audience once more that the magician is the keeper of secret and special knowledge.

The Effect Perhaps in reference to a wager or just for fun, the magician borrows a note from a mate and announces that he is going to demonstrate his mastery over illusion with it. Holding the note out for inspection, the audience confirms it is a normal note and then the magician folds it in half. Again and again the magician folds the note until it is a neat

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little package. As he begins to unfold the note the magician explains that the magic was done already, when they first inspected the note they thought it was right side up, but - as the last fold is undone - the note is clearly upside down.

The Secret Knowing the right folds and how to hold the note allow the magician to perform the Upside Down £5 Note Trick.

Materials Any normal folding money will work.


Performance

The Upside Down £5 Note Trick is a perfect trick to perform at a moment’s notice and can be done anywhere and in front of any audience. It is a “light” trick, more fun than mysterious.

1. Holding the note out with both hands, the magician allows it to be inspected and proven to be a normal note. Folding the note in half lengthways, the magician makes the first fold towards himself.

2. The magician can make this as simple or dramatic as he wishes, but should use

some patter; “Top over bottom” he could say.

3. The second fold bisects the note as the right edge is folded over - again towards the magician - to cover the left. “Right over left.”

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4. The third fold is a repeat of the second, taking the right edge and folding it over the left. “And right over left again.”

5. The first “unfold” is a reverse of the third fold - the magician takes the top fold

and opens it from left to right - again towards his own body. “We unfold it as we folded it - left to right”

6. The second unfold is the key to turning the note upside down. Like the first, the motion is from left to right, but the bottom fold is opened, away from the body. “Left to right”

7. The final motion is to unfold the note from bottom to top and it will be upside down. “And bottom to top - and as you can see, the note was upside down the entire time - you only thought it was right side up.”

Magical Tip

If the magician wishes to perform this trick with the face of the note towards the audience, he would perform the moves in reverse. The first move would have the top of the note folded down away from the body, etc. The magician should perform this version of the trick in front of a mirror to make sure of what the audience will see. This trick is a great way to offer a light hearted, even silly introduction into an entire money magic routine.

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The Upside Down Card Trick

Requiring two sleight of hand moves and a bit of polish, this is a very simple, very stunning card trick.

The Effect The magician fans a deck of cards and allows the spectator to choose one at random. After memorising the card, the spectator returns it to the deck and the magician shuffles the cards. Turning over the top card, the magician explains that the spectator’s card is not there, nor - as he turns over the deck - on the bottom, but lost within. Cutting the deck only once, the magician then spreads the cards to show that one card has been reversed in the deck- the spectator’s card, upside down.

The Secret Keeping track of and then manipulating the card allows the magician to reverse it right under the nose of the spectator.




The Upside Down Card Trick is one of the more simple effects that have the spectator’s card reversed in the deck, but because the sleights required are minor and can be done simply and quickly, the effect is much greater in the end.

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1. The magician fans or spreads the deck of cards and allows the spectator to make a free choice.

2. After the card is chosen and memorised, the magician allows it to be put back into

the deck and then brings it to the top using a preferred method; here is one way to do it:

3. Cut the deck and ask the spectator to place the chosen card on top of the bottom half of the deck. As the top of the deck is replaced, catch a break between the halves with the meat of the palm or the tip of the little finger.

4. Then cut the cards, bringing the chosen card to the top.

5. The magician then explains that the magic is going to happen very quickly, so it is important that the spectator pays close attention - while he is saying this, the magician should perform the double lift sleight, picking up the top two cards as one. Turning this packet over, the magician says “your card is not on the top of the deck…”

6. The packet is placed on top of the deck - still face up - and the deck is turned over. The magician continues, “and it is not on the bottom…” as he says this, the magician takes the card now closest to the ground - the indifferent card that was part of the packet - and pulls it out, pointing to the bottom of the deck with it. As he replaces the card from where he got it, the

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magician turns it over, so it will be face down and covering the chosen card, now the only card face up in the deck.

7. Turning the deck back right side up, the magician says, “watch now…all I need to do is cut the cards and the magic is done…” the magician cuts the cards and then spreads or fans them, showing one card face up - the chosen card.

Magical Tip

Before turning the deck right side up, the magician could fan the cards face up - meaning the chosen card is the only one face down. Then he would turn the fan over, revealing the card more dramatically.

Torn and Restored Card Trick

Get ready to really make your audience think, as they try to figure out how you do this classic card trick.

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The Effect

A card, freely chosen by a spectator, is signed and then torn into four quarters. The torn bits of card are wrapped in a handkerchief and then secured with a rubber band. At the command of the magician, the handkerchief is opened to reveal that the card has vanished, except for one corner. The other pieces of the card are discovered back in the deck, completely restored except for the missing corner, which is shown to match the resorted card perfectly.

The Secret

The marked spectator card is only partially torn, with the remaining tears made upon a dummy card. Controlling the bits of cards-as well as the spectator's perception-is the key to making the Torn and Restored Card Trick a success.

Materials

A handkerchief, a rubber band, a marker pen and a normal deck of cards are all you will need to pull off one of the classic mind blowing card tricks.

Preparation

The key to this trick is the dummy card, which is as easy to make as tearing a playing card. Take an indifferent card and rip one corner off, which you may discard; you now have your dummy card ready to go.

Place this card on top of the deck, face down, with the missing corner to the bottom left (for a left-handed grip.) Place an indifferent card on top of the dummy card and put the cards in their box. Have the handkerchief and pen handy, place the rubber band in your right coat or trouser pocket, and you are ready to begin.

How to Perform this Trick

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1. Pull the cards from the box, making sure to keep the missing corner of the dummy card to the bottom left as you take the deck in your left hand. Riffle the front half of the deck with your right to allow the spectator to choose a card. Once the card is chosen, place the deck face up on the table, taking the bottom card (the one that covered the dummy card) off the deck.

2. The deck is now face-up on the table, with the dummy card on the bottom. Gesture with the indifferent card in your hand ("you could have chosen any card") and then place it face up on the deck.

3. Take the chosen card from the spectator and tear off one corner (make sure it is the same size tear as from the dummy card).

4. Hand the card to the spectator (leave the torn bit on the table) and ask him to sign the card. As he signs, pick up the deck of cards and turn it over, keeping the face of the cards towards the audience, as the dummy card is now exposed on the top.

5. Take the chosen card and place it on top of the dummy card. It is important that the missing portion is opposite that of the dummy card; top right as opposed to bottom left. Don't let the audience see this.

6. Have the spectator sign the torn bit of the chosen card. While he is doing this, you will deal the dummy card (second from the top) face down on the table- this will

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be easy to accomplish using your right thumb on the top right corner of the deck, where the missing corner of the chosen card gives you access to the dummy card.

7. Cut the deck and place it face down on the table. Pick up the dummy card (face towards you) and rip it in three quarters. Pick up the signed corner of the chosen card from the table and place it on top of the packet. You can now show the front and back of the packet, which the audience assumes is all part of the same card.

8. Cover the packet with the handkerchief while pushing up on the face of the packet with your right thumb- this will make the signed corner stand up. Grasp the corner through the top of the handkerchief with your left hand- it will look as if you took the entire packet.

9. Palm the torn bits of the dummy card and place them in your right pocket as you take out the rubber band. Wrap the bottom of the "packet" in the handkerchief with the rubber band and hand to the spectator.

10. Say the magic words and have the spectator unwrap the package - the card has vanished, except for the signed corner. You may now fan or spread the deck of cards to reveal a card with a missing corner - the signed chosen card, which you then show matches the torn corner perfectly.

Magical Tip

Have the spectator take and match the card for you, or even hand the deck to him to find the restored, signed card first. Putting the magic in a spectator's hands as much as possible is a great way to immerse them in the magic.

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The Two Detectives Trick

A fantastic card trick that involves a bit of audience participation and a bit of sleight of hand for a mind blowing reveal at the end.

The Effect The magician has a spectator pick a card and then pulls out two cards himself of the same value. He explains that these two cards will do the actual magic and has the spectator put the chosen card in the deck. After cutting the two detective cards into the deck the magician fans the cards to show that the two cards have trapped the chosen card between them.

The Secret A special way of counting three cards as two sets up the reveal right under the eyes of the spectator.


Preparation Outside of practice there is no special preparation needed.


Any two cards of the same value can be used as the “detectives” in the story, but face cards or aces have most visual effect. Part of this trick takes place in the hands of the spectator and the magician should use this time to do the one of the sleights required.

1. Magician shuffles cards as he talks about his special helpers, two cards in the deck that help him perform his magic tricks. They are not magicians but rather detectives, doing all the work needed to find any card chosen by the spectator.

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2. After fanning the cards the magician invites a spectator to choose a card and remove it from the deck.

3. At this point the magician looks through the deck for his two helper cards, say the two red jacks.

4. Pulling the cards out, he sets them face down on a table. If doing close up and no

surface is available, he can have another spectator hold them for a moment.

5. The magician cuts the deck and has the spectator place the chosen card on top of the bottom half. Holding a break when replacing the top half, the magician can then cut the cards. This will bring the chosen card to the top of the deck.

6. The magician will then hand out the two cards for inspection. At this moment he should slide the top (chosen) card slightly forward using his thumb, just enough to get tip of the little finger under the card.

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7. When the magician takes back the two detectives he places them both face UP on top of the chosen card. He can then slightly pick up the packet of three in his right hand. The left thumb can then grip the top jack as the right hand pulls away both of the bottom cards as one. The magician names the top card, “Here we have the Jack of Hearts,” as he pulls the packet away.

8. He then places the packet on top of the first jack as he names the second card; “and the Jack of Diamonds.” The chosen card is now between the two face-up jacks. At this point the sleight of hand is done.

9. The magician then puts the packet of three cards back on top and simply cuts the deck. After an appropriate amount of story telling, he spreads the cards to show that the jacks have surrounded the chosen card.

Magical Tip

Practice the false count, when you trap the chosen card, until it is flawlessly smooth.

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Coin Through a Leg Trick

A great coin trick that can be done anywhere at anytime - as long as the magician is wearing trousers.

The Effect The magician borrows a coin from a spectator and examines it, declaring it counterfeit. At the protest of the spectator, the magician endeavours to prove that it can’t be a normal coin by laying it against his leg and covering it with a fold of his trousers. Almost immediately the magician reaches behind his leg and lets go of the trousers, showing that the coin has vanished and appears to have passed through his leg!

The Secret The trousers provide the distraction and a finger palm provides the method for the vanish.

Materials A pair of trousers made of material loose enough to make a fold of cloth is required.

Preparation No advance preparation is needed to make a Coin travel Through a Leg.


This effect is great when performed in conjunction with a number of other coin tricks, perhaps as the lead into a whole series of “funny behaviour” with the coin. A borrowed coin works wonders, but if none are readily available the magician can provide his own coin. A new, shiny coin works best, especially if the trousers worn by the magician are dark.

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1. The magician produces the coin and begins his patter about the oddness of this particular coin.

Holding the coin in the right hand, the magician lowers it to his side, next to his leg. Moving the coin to his thigh, the magician presses it against the material of his trousers with his right thumb.

2.

3. Moving his left hand over to join the right, the magician should now press both thumbs against the coin. With the fingers of both hand, the magician pulls at the material of his trousers, gathering up enough cloth to fold over the coin.

4. The magician now folds the material of the trousers over the coin, pinching it between his thumbs and fingers, with the material in between his fingers and the coin.

5. At this point there should be enough cover for the magician to use his right thumb

to slide the coin into his right hand, right into a finger palm.

6. Slowly and deliberately, the magician now pulls his right hand away, with the coin cleverly concealed in the finger palm, and reaches behind his leg.

7. The magician can simply let go of the cloth of his trousers, which will fall back

into line smoothly and reveal that the coin has vanished. 8. At this point the magician pulls the coin from behind his leg, making appear as if

it has magically moved through the leg itself.

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Magical Tip

A pair of dress trousers of the “no press” variety work well, as the material will fall smoothly back in line without a crease. A waiter doing pub magic and wearing an apron can use the apron for this trick just as well. This Coin Through a Leg can be used to make any small object vanish, but coins work the best, as the key move of sliding the object into the finger palm can be problematic with a rough or oddly shaped object.

Elastic Band Release Trick

The elastic band release is a quick trick that requires some deft moves and clear thinking, but once mastered is easily done. Only the magician can cause an elastic band to fall from between linked fingers, and while it can be figured out, it is worth a few laughs while it is being puzzled.

The Effect The magician takes out an elastic band and shows the spectators. He runs his two index fingers round and round inside the band, then touches his thumbs to his fingers, claiming he can cause the elastic band to fall from within without unlinking the fingers. With a deft motion, the band indeed falls to the floor, while the fingers remain touching.

The Secret A slight turn of the hands and a “trading off” of linked fingers causes the elastic band to fall free.

Materials One elastic band of normal size and a bit of practice and you will be ready to go with this trick anytime, anywhere.

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Preparation Nothing beyond practice of the “secret move.”


The whole of this trick relies on a “secret move” and bit of implied fibbing. The trick is one you will only be able to do for the same crowd in one session, as they will likely figure it out after a few attempts, but not before you have established yourself as the holder of secret mysteries and strange abilities.

1. Place both index fingers inside the elastic band. Both hands should be positioned with the thumbs facing your body, and the rest of your fingers held loosely closed.

2. Rotate your fingers around each other inside the band to show that it is a normal elastic band.

Touch your thumbs to your index fingers. The band is now effectively trapped as long as index fingers and thumbs are touching.

3.

Here is the secret move - as you bring your fingers of both hands together to touch, rotate them slightly in opposite directions. You should end up with the left index finger touching the tip of the right thumb, and the right index finger touching the tip of the left thumb.

4.

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5. Keeping your fingers in contact with those of the opposite hand, open the fingers of the same hand. In other words, your right thumb and index finger separate, as do your left, but your left index finger is still in contact with your right thumb, and your right index finger is still in contact with your left thumb.

6. The band will fall free to the floor.

It is essential that you practice the secret move over and over, as it is a little unnatural at first. Once you have it down, however, it will come quickly and naturally. It helps to think of making a “quarter turn” with your hands, again moving in opposite directions, when you make your secret move.

Magical Tip

The key is how smoothly you do the secret move, but also how smoothly and quickly you separate your “same hand” fingers, allowing the band to fall. The entire motion - secret move and opening of the fingers - needs to be one continuous flow to hide what actually happened. Your mates will eventually figure it out, but not before you’ve had a little fun.

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Jumping Elastic Band Trick

This extremely quick and visual effect happens right in front of the spectator’s eyes and requires only the most simple of sleights to perform.

The Effect The magician runs an elastic band around his fingers and starts a story about how easy it is to fool the eyes. Placing the elastic band around the first two fingers of his right hand he makes a fist and shows the band to his audience. On the count of three the magician opens his hand, the band jumps magically from surrounding the first two fingers to the last two.

The Secret The secret to the Jumping Elastic Band is when the magician makes a fist; he wraps the band around all four of his fingers.

Materials A normal elastic band, preferably borrowed from a spectator, is all that is required.

Preparation A little practice is all that is needed and the awareness that someone standing behind the magician can see the secret.


The Jumping Elastic Band is as visually stunning as it is simple. This is one of those pub tricks that anyone can learn, which also means that if anyone sees what the magician does as he closes his fist, the game is up.

How it Works

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1. The elastic band jumps because it is wrapped around all four fingers, but the audience cannot see this. The band is wrapped around the lower part of the first two fingers, closest to the knuckles of the hand. As the fingers are closed the elastic band is stretched to accommodate the upper part of all four fingers, closest to the nails.

2. When the fingers are straightened, the band automatically flips over and rings around the second group of fingers. If the magician had only put the band around both sides of the first group then when the fingers straightened the band would have popped right off. It tries to pop off, but because the second two fingers are in it as well it instead settles around them.


1. Explain to your audience that you have a way to demonstrate how easily the eyes are fooled. This trick works best with an audience of one or two, making it a great quickie done in an office setting or a pub.

2. Borrow an elastic band if you can, or produce one of your own. Make sure the spectator gets a chance to try it out, to make sure it is nothing more than what it seems.

3. Hold up your right hand and take the elastic band with the left. Place the band over your first two fingers, all the way down to the knuckles. Pull on the band once or twice and say something witty. “Stretchy, isn’t it?”

4. After a last pull, as the band is out, make a fist.

Allow the band to close on all four fingers.

5.

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6. Explain that while it appears that you have ringed your first two fingers with the band, this is not actually the case…

7. Open your hand, and the band will jump magically from the first two fingers to the last two. It happens so fast there is no way the spectator will catch how the trick is done.

Magical Tip

Have another elastic band trick ready to go back to back with this one, and the Jumping Elastic Band will be more effective, establishing that something magical is going on.

Levitation

Once a heavily guarded trade secret, the Balducci Levitation has become a classic weapon in every street magician’s arsenal.

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The Effect The magician gathers his audience closely around him, the better to see this miracle occur. “Watch closely now” he says and looks down at his own feet. After a moment of anticipation, the audience gasps as the magician’s feet float off the ground a few inches, hover in defiance of nature’s laws and then quickly drop to earth.

The Secret Good balance and the right angles hide the secret of the Balducci Levitation, which is simply that the magician pushes off the ground with the toes of one foot, cleverly hidden from view.

Materials An anytime, anywhere illusion, the Levitation only requires practice and the proper awareness of angles.

Preparation No advance preparation is needed beyond a great deal of practice.


It is key here to have the right angles. If you have too many people surrounding you, if you have an audience that does not follow where you lead, or if you fear you may be spotted from afar then do NOT perform this trick, or you will ruin it for yourself and other magicians.

The How

1. By angling the body in such a way to hide the toes of the right foot, the appearance of levitation is achieved by pushing off the ground with the hidden toes while keeping the left foot perpendicular to the ground.

2. When practicing the magician should work on his balance. Falling over suddenly

in the middle of the levitation would ruin the effect, as would having to take a step to catch your balance. Wobbly feet or feet that drag or hang, likewise will ruin the effect.

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Performing the Levitation

1. A masterful presence is required for the levitation. The magician will need the audience to look exactly where he wants them to look. After having a few people gather closely, the magician turns his body at an angle, so that his left foot is about 45 degrees turned away from the group’s point of view.

2. The right foot should be slightly back from the left, so that the right heel is visible next to the left. After a moment’s hesitation, the magician pushes up with the toes of the right foot, raising the right heel in tandem with the left foot.

3. It will appear as if the magician’s body just lifted about four inches off the ground by itself. The angle will hide the fact that the toes of the right foot are still in contact with the ground.

4. After only a few seconds, the magician should quickly lower his feet to the

ground. It should be a controlled fall, as if the force of gravity suddenly became too much to fight off, but the magician is still fighting it all the way.

5. The effect is powerful, if brief and should never be done for the same audience, as there is too much of a chance one or more will not be watching the feet but looking for how the trick is done.

Magical Tip

The best way to fool the audience is to catch them unawares. Do not tell them you are going to float or levitate; just tell them they are about to witness something very magical.

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Negative Gravity Trick

A truly stunning effect, Negative Gravity may have your spectators believing you truly have control over the laws of gravity.

The Effect The magician borrows a ring from the audience and then produces an elastic band. After snapping the elastic band to create one long “string”, the magician threads the ring on to the band. Holding first one hand higher and then the other, the magician shows how the ring falls from side to side, obeying the laws of gravity. After one such demonstration the magician pauses, and then concentrates as the ring begins to fall UP the elastic band.

The Secret Using an elastic band makes this trick work as it provides the needed friction and movement.

Materials An elastic band and a ring of some sort are all that is needed.

Preparation No advance preparation is needed if you can count on borrowing both a ring and an elastic band - otherwise provide your own and allow them to be examined before and after the trick.


A fantastic impromptu trick, Negative Gravity can be done on the fly or as part of an established routine. If the magician borrows both the elastic band and the ring, the audience will have to accept his magical powers.

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1. The magician shows a normal elastic band, perhaps pulling one out of a cup or bag of dozens and allows it to be examined. With scissors or just his fingers and teeth, the magician cuts one part of the band to form a “string.”

2. After borrowing a ring from the audience, the magician threads the ring on to the band. This is the crucial part of the trick - the magician can grasp the end of the band in the right hand, but with the left hand he must grab it close to the middle, with the extra band hidden in his hand. A quick tug and pull and the band is stretched out, but not in an obvious way.

3. The magician raises his left hand and lets the ring fall down, stopping when it hits the right hand. He then explains the powers of the law of gravity, something that is a natural force that can’t be messed around with - except, of course, by a magician.

4. The magician then raises his right hand and lowers his left, again allowing the

ring to fall. If he wishes he can repeat this to the right and then back to the left, but the trick can only happen when the left hand is down and the right hand is up.

5. When ready to perform the trick, the right is down on the left hand. Now the magician concentrates, and slowly, imperceptibly, releases just a bit of his grip with the left hand. The natural properties of the elastic band will cause it to contract towards the right hand - the

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upper hand. The friction of the elastic will stick to the ring, cause it to travel upwards with the elastic. The motion of the band will be invisible from a very short distance away, but the sight of the ring moving upwards against gravity - apparently at the power of the magician’s mind - is very notable.

Magical Tip

Ham it up and make sure to practice how to grip the band properly and release it with the right speed.

The Mug Puzzle Trick

A classic pub challenge, the Mug Puzzle Trick will certainly leave the audience puzzled.

The Effect The magician sets out three mugs on a bar top, some face up and some face down and claims that he can have all three face up in three moves. Quickly he reaches out with both hands and flips over two mugs and then again and again and all three are face up. Resetting the mugs the magician invites a spectator to try to duplicate the feat, but it cannot be done.

The Secret Once the mugs are reset, in a different starting pattern, getting all mugs face up is impossible in three moves.

Materials Three mugs, three glasses or three paper cups, the Mug Puzzle Trick will work the same with any similar props.


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This is one of those pub tricks that helps to establish a magician’s air of mystery. While anyone paying close enough attention will be able to figure out the puzzle, it will serve its purpose the first time the magician shows it off. Another advantage of The Mug Puzzle Trick is that it requires only a table and three mugs or glasses and can be done anywhere, with no worries about angles or point of view. As long as the audience can see the mugs, the magician is set to go.

1. The magician sets out three empty mugs on a table or bar top before him and declares that he can turn them all face up in three moves, but there are special rules to how the moves can be made.

2. The left most mug (A) will be bottom up, the middle mug (B) will be top up and the right most mug (C) will be bottom up. The magician says he can make three moves with both hands and each move requires that two mugs are rotated. When he is done all mugs will be face up, “And I am the only one who can do it.”

3. Reaching out, the magician turns his hands inward, thumb side down and grasps mug B and mug C and then flips them over. This is Move Number One.

4. The magician reaches out again and grasps mug A and mug C in the same manner, flipping them over. This is Move Number Two.

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5. Finally, the magician reaches out and grasps mug B and mug C once more, flipping them over to complete Move Number Three. Now all mugs are face up.

6. “Let me rest this” the magician says, and flips mug B bottom up - this is not the same starting position he used, but the audience will not realise this. Now the magician invites a spectator to give it a try. No matter how they try - even repeating exactly the same moves the magician used - they will not be able to get all three mugs top up.

Magical Tip

This trick works great as a wager among pals, but it works even better in a routine specially designed for it. Take tricks from here and elsewhere that all have the theme of the magician being able to “beat” his audience in various feats and combine them together for a fun, interactive magic routine.

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Torn and Restored Cigarette Paper Trick

A bit of paper and a few magic words and the magician will amaze his close up audience once more.

The Effect The magician pulls out a sheet of cigarette paper and holds it up for inspection. Tearing the paper in half, the magician places one half on top of the other and then tears that packet in half. Once more the pieces are torn in half and then rolled into a ball. The magician concentrates, utters the magic words and then unrolls the ball to show that it has been restored completely.

The Secret The key to the Torn and Restored Cigarette Paper is the fact that there are two sheets of paper where the audience thinks there is only one.

Materials While cigarette paper works very well for this trick, especially in a pub setting, any small bit of paper will do fine. Two sheets are required.

Preparation

The magician should roll up one sheet of paper into a ball and place it in his pocket with the unprepared sheet.


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This is a great trick to do at a pub, where the magician can just reach into his pocket, pull out the paper and perform the trick inches away from his audience. The principles of this trick are the same for any torn and restored paper trick, so by enlarging the sheet of paper, the magician can enlarge the audience as well.

1. The magician reaches into his pocket and grabs the balled up paper between thumb and finger, pinching the open sheet of paper this way as well. When he brings the paper out it is important to keep the ball of paper hidden behind the sheet of paper at all times.

2. The magician shows the paper and then holds it between his hands, all the while

keeping the ball hidden. One tear in the middle will separate the paper into two pieces. The magician should place one piece over the other, forming a packet.

3. Another tear rips the paper into quarters. Once more the paper is put into a packet, and a third and final tear is done.

4. Rolling the torn paper into a ball, the magician switches the first ball for the

second, holding the ball of torn pieces below the other.

5. Blowing on the ball (or performing some other magical move) the magician then begins to unravel the whole ball. When the sheet is completely unravelled, the ball of torn pieces will be pinched and hidden behind the open sheet.

6. To end the trick the magician can ball up the paper around the torn pieces,

keeping the secret of the trick safe and toss it in a basket or back into his pocket.

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Magical Tip

To add some mystery, add a few more steps. Instead of throwing the paper away roll it back into a ball and switch it once more for the torn ball. Toss the torn ball into an ash tray and set it on fire with a match or lighter. Once it is done burning, rub your fingers in the ashes and produce the ball and unroll it to show it restored once more.

Changing Card Trick

This is a fun card trick that gives the magician the chance to tease his audience while he amazes them.

The Effect The magician spreads a deck of cards and allows a spectator to pull a free choice. After memorising the card and replacing it in the deck, the spectator watches as the magician finds their card and reveals it - but it turns out to be incorrect. The magician holds out the chosen card, face down and insists that he got it right. When the spectator names the real chosen card, the magician turns the card over to show that it has changed to the correct card.

The Secret Utilising the double lift allows the magician to get it wrong on purpose, setting up the amazing and comedic finish to the Changing Card.

Materials Only a normal deck of playing cards is required.


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The Changing Card is one of hundreds of card effects that fall along the same lines - the magician, full of confidence, performs a trick and expects applause and admiration, but he gets it wrong. Then, just when the audience is about to have fun at his expense, he shows who is the master with a surprise ending that shows he knew what he was doing all along.

1. The magician spreads the deck of cards and gives the spectator a free choice.

2. After the card is memorised, it is returned to the deck and brought to the top by

any method the magician likes to use. Here is one example:

3. The magician cuts the deck randomly and asks the spectator to replace the card on the top of the left half.

As the magician puts the top half back, he catches a break with the “meat” of his left hand, or with the tip of the left little finger.

4.

5. From here the magician can cut the deck, bringing the bottom half to the top, and the chosen card is now the top most card.

6. Once the card is on the top, the magician performs a double lift; riffling though the cards, he catches a break under the top two cards

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with the tip of the little finger. Now both cards can be picked up as one.

7. As the correct chosen card, say the Ace of Hearts, is on top, when the double lift is performed an indifferent card, say the Three of Clubs, will be shown. Whatever the indifferent card is, the magician says, “I have found your card, the Three of Clubs!”

8. The spectator will deny this is his card. The magician turns over the packet of two cards and puts it back on the deck. As the spectator continues to deny that his card was the Three of Clubs, the magician deals the TOP card (the Ace of Hearts) into his right hand, face down.

9. He then asks the spectator what his card was and then turns over the card while saying, “As I said, your card, the Ace of Hearts!”

Magical Tip

For the biggest comedic effect, the magician should be absolutely sure he got the right card on the first try - in fact, even at the final reveal his confidence should not waver, as if the spectator just imagined a different card at first.

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Changing Spots Trick

Changing Spots is one of the do-anywhere quick trick magical effects that leave your audience puzzled and entertained.

The Effect The magician picks up a six sided dice, the kind used in board games and in casinos and holds it aloft between finger and thumb. Rotating the hand back and forth the magician shows the one dot on the front and the five dots on the back, until with a magical wave he turns the dice to show that the back dots have changed to six.

The Secret An extra twist with the fingers causes the dice to rotate as well as the hand, creating an imperceptible secret move that allows the magician to deceive his audience.

Materials A normal six sided dice, preferably the kind with dots instead of numbers.

Preparation No advance preparation is needed, just an understanding of how to pick up, hold and turn the dice.


The motion used in turning the dice under cover of the hand movement is the same concept as something called the “paddle move.” The idea of turning an object under cover - yet right under the watchful eye of the spectator - allows the creation of a whole host of tricks, most of which can be done impromptu with no special props and under complete examination.

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1. The magician picks up a normal dice and displays it to the audience, perhaps reminding them how the dice is used as a determiner of chance, that luck and not skill comes into play when rolling the dice.

2. The dice is handed out for examination, and a few rolls can be made if a surface is available. Once the audience is satisfied that the dice is, indeed, genuine and un-gimmicked, the magician is ready to proceed with the trick.

3. The move can be done with any side of the dice, but for the purposes of this instruction let it be assumed the 1 dot, 5 dot and 6 dot are the sides used. The magician holds the dice as if he is making the “okay” sign with his right hand, and the dice is in between the thumb and forefinger; the forefinger is touching the 5 dot side, which is on top. The remaining fingers are flared out, which helps misdirect the eye. The 1 dot is showing towards the audience.

4. Turning the hand over, so that the thumb is now on top, would show the back of the dice, which is the 6 dot - however, the secret move causes the dice to rotate an extra turn, revealing the 5 dot instead.

5. As the hand turns over, the magician pushes slightly forward with the forefinger

and pulls slightly with the thumb. This secret move causes the extra turn and is completely hidden in the course of rotating the hand.

6. When the hand is turned back over, so that the thumb is on the bottom, the secret move is reversed, so that the 1 dot is once more showing. It will appear that the 1 dot and the 5 dot are opposite each other, on the “front and back” of the dice.

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7. When the magician is ready to perform the magic, he only has to turn the dice over without the secret move and it looks as if the 6 dot replaced the 5 dot. Now the dice can be tossed out once more for examination.

Magical Tip

The bigger the dice, the more of a push and pull is required to complete the secret move. Practice, practice, practice!

Escaping Breath Mints Trick

A small packet of polos and a shoe lace combined with a handkerchief and the willing help of a spectator lead to a trick that will take your breath away.

The Effect The magician produces a roll of polos and asks a spectator to open them and pour them into his hand. Taking one mint, the magician threads it on to a shoe lace and then threads the rest over the lace, forming a sort of minty necklace. Asking the spectator to hold both ends of the shoelace, the magician covers the necklace with a handkerchief, reaches underneath and then reaches up with one hand and pulls away the handkerchief, showing that all the mints have come off the shoelace and lay in the magician’s other hand.

The Secret The secret to the Escaping Breath Mints is this: breath mints are easy to break.

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Materials A small packet of polos and a shoe lace, as well as a large handkerchief.

Preparation No advance preparation is needed, just plenty of practice.


This trick is a fantastic impromptu illusion, if you happen upon someone with the right kind of mints in his pocket. If not, setting out to perform the Escaping Breath Mints is perfectly acceptable and a great introduction into any other illusions that use mints or sweets. A single roll of unopened polos will provide a great prop and just the right amount of mints for the trick. If you don’t have a single role, plan on using around seven to ten mints.

1. The magician holds up a roll of polos and makes the appropriate jokes and then hands it to a spectator to open. “Now I’ll take one and you take one. You eat yours - thank you! - and I’ll do this with mine.” The magician now threads the mint onto a shoelace, letting it settle to the middle.

2. Taking both ends of the lace in one hand, the magician takes the mints one at a time and slides them over both ends of the laces, allowing them to fall towards the bottom, where the first mint serves as a stopper.

3. In the end the magician is holding a stack of mints with one mint at the bottom; a

sweet necklace. Asking the spectator to hold the ends of the shoelaces with both hands as far apart as the shoelace will let him, the magician announces that these were a similar brand of mints used by the famous escape artist, Houdini (or something similar) and they will all escape from the lace.

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4. The magician produces a handkerchief and drapes it over the mints.

5. He then reaches underneath with both hands and grips the bottom mint serving as a stopper, and snaps it in half, taking the broken pieces in his right hand. The magician should take care to make as clean a break as possible so no flecks remain to tell the tale.

6. Quickly, the magician lets the other mints fall into the left hand, reaches up with the right (holding the broken mint) and takes the handkerchief away with a flourish, stuffing it and the broken mint into a pocket as he displays the freed mints with the left hand.

Magical Tip

Use solid one colour sweets or mints - those with a variety of colours might register in the spectator’s mind. He might notice there were two reds, for example, but only one red is in your hand at the end.

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Instant Knot Trick

With one hand and a quick deft motion, a magician ties a knot in a rope. Rope magic is a standby for many magic acts and the Instant Knot is a great way to spice up any rope act. As a bonus, the effect can be performed with a necktie for a great "pub bet"

The Effect The magician proposes a bet - that with one hand and in less than three seconds, he can tie a knot in a tie. After the cheers and jeers die down and the bet is accepted, the magician removes his tie and runs it along his right hand. At the word "go!" he whips his hand back and forth and dangling from his fingers is a tied tie, complete with loop!

The Secret When performing the tie version of the Instant Knot it is important to give the right hand a little "help" but slightly tossing one end of the tie with the left hand at the word "go." With both versions the secret lies in knowing how to grab the rope or tie.

Materials Magician's rope for the classic version and any tie for the tie version.

Preparation Plenty of practice as with any trick, but other wise this is ready to go at a moment's notice once you know how it is done. A borrowed tie works great, too!


First, the classic Instant Knot:

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1. Lay a length of rope (no more than a couple of feet and no shorter) across your right hand. Your hand should be thumb side up, palm naturally facing inwards. The rope should lie across the top of your thumb where it joins your hand. The trailing end of the rope (the side across the back of your hand) should be about four inches or so longer than the side closest to you.

2. Turn your hand inward, fingers towards your torso, and reach down. You may need to raise your elbow a bit to get the right angle. Your right index and middle fingers should grab the longer end of the rope about a third of the way down from your hand.

3. Push your hand forward a bit and let the rope that lays across the back of your

hand fall down. Turn your hand back to its starting position. You may need to flick your fingers up a bit to pull the rope held with your fingers up enough to clear the closing loop.

4. Snap your hand down like you are cracking a whip - that will tighten the knot. Bingo - Instant Knot.

Now the tie version:

1. Holding the fat end of the tie with your left hand, run it across the back of your right hand, which should be in the starting position for the Classic version.

2. Stop when the fat end starts to narrow - as above you want the trailing end longer.

You are going to perform a similar motion to the Classic version, except the tie is not going to fall over your hand without some help, and you want to create a loop.

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3. At the word "go" (remember you are still holding the fat end with your left hand - almost like you are a tie salesman showing off the quality of your tie) start your motion with the right hand (fingers in and down, grabbing the trailing end with first two fingers) but first flick the fat end away from you - this helps you clear that part of the tie and get to the trailing bit.

4. Don’t wait for the tie to fall off your hand, just quickly whip the tie as above. Because of the material of the tie and your speed, you wont pull the trailing end completely through, but rather a knot will form in the middle, leaving you holding the loop. The tie should look like you were wearing it, loosened the knot, and slipped it off your neck.

Magical Tip

In the classic version if you don't move quick enough, or smoothly enough, you will end up with a loop, so be careful. Sometimes it helps when you start the move to grab the shorter end near your hand with your little finger just before you reach for the trailing end with your first two fingers.

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Knife Through Leg Trick

A very deceptive visual move that can be performed anywhere and in any outfit - and it is not limited to a knife.

The Effect The magician displays a butter knife and declares that he will pass it through his leg without requiring a trip to the hospital afterwards. Taking a seat, the magician leans forward over his right leg and reaches out with both hands over his thigh. Holding the knife in both hands horizontally over his leg, he counts “one, two, three” and on three quickly moves both hands down, on either side of the leg, until they are underneath the thigh - still holding the knife with both hands.

The Secret The key in the Knife through Leg deception is a quick bit of sleight of hand just as the hands approach the leg, moving the knife around the leg instead of through it.

Materials A butter knife, marker, stick or any object roughly five to six inches in length and easily held and manipulated with the finger tips.

Preparation The only advance preparation needed is to make sure the object to be passed through the leg is long enough and that the right angles are maintained while performing.


This is one of those quick, visual effects that work really well as a stand alone, “check this out” with a bunch of mates or as part of a longer routine.

If a knife sharper than a butter knife is used, then extra care should be taken by the magician not to cut himself, especially if the tip is very sharp, as it will tuck into the forearm slightly during the “Secret Move.”

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Once again, any similarly sized object can be used in place of the knife - especially good if performing for children or at a location where possession of a knife would be frowned upon.

1. The magician holds up a knife and declares he will make it pass through his leg without cutting himself.

2. The magician can pass the knife out for inspection if he likes, or even use it to cut paper, rope, or anything else handy if using something like a steak knife.

3. Taking a seat, the magician should lean slightly over his leg, holding both hands out over the thigh with the knife in the right hand, held at the butt with the thumb and finger tips of the first two fingers.

4. Grasping the point of the knife loosely in the same manner with the left hand, the

magician lowers the length of the knife down to touch the top of the leg. Raising it up and then back down quickly, the magician counts “one.”

5. Repeating the up and down motion, the magician counts “two,” and then even more quickly says “three” and rushes the hands downward. At this point the knife would bounce out of the fingers if held tightly, but a secret move will make the trick take place.

6. With the fingertips of the left hand, the magician points towards his forearm, causing the knife to turn inward and lay flat against the arm. This motion is done a split second before the knife makes contact with the leg.

7. The moment the hands clear the leg the magician reverses the move, once again grasping the point of the knife with the tips of the left hand fingers.

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8. At this point the magician can lift the leg to show the knife in position below, still held by both hands, or he can slowly draw the knife out from underneath, showing that it had passed through the leg.

Magical Tip

For a comical and startling move, try the trick with the edge of the knife down towards the thigh when starting out and then cry out as the hands pass around the leg.

Knot in Handkerchief Trick

More of a challenge than a magic trick, the Knot in the Handkerchief trick will still establish the magician as a man of rare talent.

The Effect Perhaps after dinner the magician makes a wager that he can take a handkerchief or dinner napkin and tie it in a knot without letting go of either end in the process. Once a doubter has taken him up on the wager, he offers them first go. Around the table the napkin passes, each person trying to tie a knot in it with out letting go of either end and failing. Finally the napkin is passed back to the magician, who lays it out on the table and rolls it up in a rope-like fashion. Crossing his arms, the magician picks up the ends and with a flash reveals that he has tied it in knot!

The Secret The key is the starting position of the arms in this trick.

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Materials

A napkin or handkerchief long enough to perform the trick - perhaps two to three feet long when rolled up in rope-like fashion.

Preparation No advance preparation is required, making this a perfect pub or after dinner trick.


This is one of the class of “magic tricks” that are a bit more like puzzles than illusions, but from the very beginnings of magic, magicians have challenged “normal men” to contests they can’t possibly win, but at which the magician seems to breeze through without any trouble at all. This Knot in Handkerchief has a secret that will be revealed as soon as the trick is done, but should still reinforce to the audience that the magician is a person of special knowledge.

1. The magician twirls up a napkin or handkerchief as he announces a wager - that he can tie this napkin into a knot without letting go of either end in the process. The magician holds up the napkin in a normal fashion, each hand grasping an end and the napkin stretched out in front of him as he asks if there are any takers.

2. Once the doubters come out, the magician passes the napkin around and allows them each to try. When all have failed and the napkin is passed back to him, the magician makes sure the roll is nice and tight and lays it out on the table in front of him.

3. Then the magician crosses his arms, reaches down and picks up one end of the napkin in each hand, holding it by the finger tips.

4. At this point the magician only has to uncross his arms. The ends of the napkin will draw through themselves in a natural fashion to create

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a knot once the arms are uncrossed.

5. The magician should immediately toss out the knotted cloth to the doubter for a laugh. While this trick is “ruined” the first time it is shown, it is still great for a laugh and will win a wager at the same time.

Magical Tip

Easy to learn, this trick still requires enough practice to do properly before showing it - from there, the rest is acting and having fun!

Linking Paper Clips Trick

Performed with common objects found in a pocket or at a desk, this trick is a quick, neat effect that can be done anywhere.

The Effect The magician picks up two paper clips and some paper money. Holding the note up he begins to talk about a famous stage trick called the Linking Rings and says he has a smaller version of the same trick.

Folding the note he then clips the folds with one paper clip and then folds it again. Clipping it with a second paper clip, the magician explains he is going to link the two clips before the eyes of the audience without touching them at all. Grabbing both ends of the note the magician snaps it open and the clips fly off, linked together.

The Secret The secret to the Linking Paper Clips is knowing how to fold the note and where to put the clips.

Materials Two paper clips and a £5 or £10 note.

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The Linking Paper Clips is a great impromptu trick - any time the magician spots paperclips and can be assured of getting his hands on some folding money, he can perform this trick. It is fast and simple, but has an air of mystery about it all the same. This trick can be performed as a stand alone, as part of a larger routine, or even as a wager; “I bet I can link these two paper clips together without touching them…”

1. The magician produces a note, or even better, borrows one from the audience. Producing two paper clips, he allows all three items to be inspected by any interested parties and then announces he is going to link the clips together without actually linking them together.

2. Holding the note lengthways, the magician folds a third over to the right, towards his body. He then places a paper clip over the fold, pushing it down so that it snug up against the top edge of the note and over near the edge of the folded portion.

The note is then turned around so that the fold is facing the audience. The magician should be careful not to turn the note over upside down - just turned around, so the clip is still at the top.

3.

4. The left end of the note is now folded over to the right, again towards the magician. The second clip is placed over the fold, towards the right edge. The key here is not to clip all three folds, just the two closest to you.

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5. Gripping both edges of the note firmly in the fingers and thumbs of both hands, the magician begins to pull and the clips begin to slide towards each other. As the clips begin to overlap, he snaps the note open and they link and pop off, sailing through the air.

Magical Tip

Try to be aware of where the clips will fly off once you snap the note open. Having them disappear into the audience will ruin the effect, naturally. Also, the timing of when to snap the note should be practiced.

Rubber Pencil Trick

A very classic gag, this trick is actually an optical illusion that is easy to learn.

The Effect The magician produces a pencil from a shirt pocket, or perhaps plucks it from the desk of a co-worker. Claiming he has the powers to alter things at an elemental level, the magician begins to rub the pencil in his fingers, staring at the ends and generally making magical motions over it. When he is fully satisfied, he says he will be able to exert his will power on the forces of wood to change it to rubber - but only for a moment. He then holds the pencil loosely in one hand and bounces it up and down - and indeed, the pencil seems to flop and bend as if made of rubber.

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The Secret The optical illusion formed by the bouncing of the pencil is the only real magic here.

Materials A pencil, pen, knife or similar object may be used for this illusion.



The Rubber Pencil Trick is often found performed by a favourite uncle or a classmate, who usually says something like “watch this” and then bounces the pencil in loosely held fingers. The reaction of most people when seeing this is usually along the lines of, “Oh…neat!” In other words, not satisfying enough for a magician. In order to make this worthy of performance the magician needs to weave a tale around the illusion.

1. The magician explains that he has powers over the forces of nature itself, but only in a limited fashion. To illustrate, he asks for a pencil or produces one from a pocket and passes it out to be examined.

2. Once the audience is satisfied it is indeed a normal pencil, the magician then begins to work his craft, inspecting the pencil and making mystic passes over it and then announces he is ready to begin.

3. The magician holds the pencil loosely in between the thumb and forefinger, with the other fingers up and out of the way. The pencil should be gripped roughly in the middle.

4. Holding up the pencil to eye height for the spectators, the magician announces he

is going to change the consistency of the wood in the pencil to rubber, but it will only last a moment.

5. The magician then begins to wave his hand up and down in sharp, short motions, loosening his grip on the pencil. The pencil will waggle back and forth, creating an optical illusion that it is bending in the middle. To the spectator it will appear as if the pencil has become limp rubber.

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The magician’s up front explanation that the transformation only lasts a short time allows him to hand the pencil out immediately after stopping, pointing out that it has reverted to wood.

Magical Tip

Once again, this is a simple optical illusion that is worth little without the story beyond a weak appreciation of the audience. Practice the story as much as the motion to make the pencil appear rubber and practice the motion at the right speed - too fast or too slow and it won’t work.

Suit Signals

Magicians can use playing cards to perform some very interesting tricks, many of which would be easy for anyone to do…if they simply knew what to look for. With Suit Signals the magician is using the pips on the cards themselves as the trigger to amaze the audience.

The Effect

The magician shuffles the deck and then deals off a small packet of cards. He then mixes those cards up and invites a spectator to choose one and show it around. Once done the card is replaced in the packet, the packet is placed in the middle of the deck, and the deck is shuffled. With a quick motion the deck is fanned out and the magician quickly scans the cards and then picks out the very card the spectator chose.

The Secret

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The small packet of cards was preselected and arraigned so that when one card is reversed it becomes obvious because the pips are pointing in an opposing direction to the rest of the cards.

Materials

A normal deck of playing cards is all that is needed for Suit Signals.

Preparation

Here is the secret to the trick - the magician takes the 3 of clubs, the 5 of hearts, the 7 of spades and the 9 of diamonds and puts them together in any order. Examining the cards shows that all of them except the 9 of diamonds have pips pointing in two directions, up and down, and that each card has more pips pointing in one direction than the other (they are not evenly divided.) The magician makes sure that all the larger groups of pips are pointing in one direction, and then places the packet of four cards on top of the deck.

Performance

1) The magician takes the deck of cards from the box and riffle shuffles them, taking care to keep the special packet of four cards on the top of the deck.

2) The top packet is dealt off on to a table and the rest of the deck is set aside. The magician mixes the other cards, taking care to keep them all in the same direction.

3) The magician spreads the four cards and requests a spectator take one and show it around. While this is being done the magician secretly reverses the order of the packet in his hands.

4) The spectator puts the card back - it should now be in opposition to the rest of the cards as to how it faces, up or down.

5) The packet is returned to the top of the deck of cards and the cards are cut. They can even be shuffled if the magician takes care to keep them together.

6) The deck is spread out and the magician goes through the cards. When he comes to the packet of 3 of clubs, the 5 of hearts, the 7 of spades and the 9 of diamonds he should notice one of the cards is reversed - if it is the 3,5, or 7. If so, that is the spectator's card. If none of the cards appear to be reversed, then the 9 of diamonds is the spectator's card.

Magical Tip

Practice cutting and keeping track of the packet of cards so that you can shuffle the deck after you cut for a more disguised effect.

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The George Bush Watch Snatch

This trick is an imitation of the stunt reportedly performed on President George Bush while on a recent trip to Albania. The president was visiting a small farming village, around 30 km from the country's capital Tirana on 10th June 2007, when it is claimed that his watch was stolen whilst shaking hands with enthusiastic locals.

In what is now being called the "George Bush Watch Snatch", we recreate the trick performed on the President.

A move that borders on the mystical, the magician removes the target's watch completely unawares and undetected.

The Effect

One of the hardest kinds of slight of hand moves, the Watch Snatch is considered a pinnacle of the craft. The magician approaches the target and engages them in conversation, typically something that requires a bit of thought on the part of the volunteer. The magician's hands are here, there and everywhere, moving the target around the stage as he talks, keeping both the volunteer and the audience engaged in the proceedings. Suddenly the magician holds up a shiny strip of metal that looks familiar and says, "Is this yours?" The target suddenly checks his wrist and then looks back up, stunned and admits that, yes, that is his watch.

The Secret

The secret to the Watch Snatch is a combination of direct manipulation of the target's arm and watch and the ability to misdirect like a pro.

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Materials

No special materials are needed; however this trick won't work with a watch that has a slip on band. Only watches that are placed over the wrist and then fastened can be stolen with a good chance of success.

Preparation

If you thought you needed a lot of practice for other moves, be prepared to work much harder and much longer on the Watch Snatch. A delicate touch isn't required, but a deft one is and it is the combination of being obvious and making the audience oblivious that makes this work.

Performance

Should you master the Watch Snatch you will rocket up the scale of perceived skill in the eyes of your audience. Stories are told of men and women who can pull this move off successfully. There are two elements to performing the Watch Snatch; the Move and the Misdirection.

The Move

• With the right hand the magician covers the watch on the left wrist of the target. The watch face is covered by the palm of the magician. The magician's hand must be able to circle the wrist of the target or at least far enough for the fingers and thumb to reach the buckle of the watch. The magician will hold the wrist twice at two different times and two different angles.

• The magician's hand holds the target's wrist firmly but without pressing hard. The first grip has the first finger and thumb meeting at the side of the target's wrist, so that the first finger lays along the end of the watch strap. The finger presses and pulls back, pulling the strap through the restraining loop.

• Once free of the loop the strap needs to be pulled back to be freed from the pin. The strap needs to fold over itself to accomplish this (a little experimentation will make this clear) and here is where the second grip comes in. In order to pull the strap back on itself to clear the pin the magician's hand moves, rotating a bit around the wrist. This positions the hand for the second grip.

• The second grip comes once the strap is freed from the pin. The magician then pushes down on the wrist a bit, with the fingers and thumb directly below the wrist. The fingers pinch together to push the pin forward, completely clearing it from the strap holes.

• Now the magician does press down, hard, squeezing the wrist. This leaves a lingering impression of the watch that will convince the target it remains even after it has vanished.

• Now that the strap is free from the pin and buckle, the magician palms the watch, which will stick a bit to the hand because of the previous squeeze. When the

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magician opens his grip to remove his hand, the watch will open and come off with the hand.

The Misdirection

• Misdirecting the target is just as important as mastering the Move. One will not work without the other.

• Develop a routine that gets the target's wrist in your hands. Play act that the target is a marionette, for example, or tell a story that happened to you with multiple steps that require you to place the target in various poses.

• The key is to require the target's acceptance that you are going to be manhandling them a bit, all the while keeping their mind engaged on what you are saying and doing.

• Do not, by any means, tell the audience that you are going to steal the watch ahead of time. Perhaps you can be so bold after ten or twenty years of mastering the Watch Snatch.

Magical Tip

Practice with a partner to get the moves down and do not perform this trick until you have mastered it!

Cups and Balls Trick

Arguably the oldest magic trick in existence, the Cups and Balls trick has lost none of its magic with age.

The Effect The magician, standing behind a table, displays three identical cups and three small balls. Setting one cup down, the magician puts one of the balls on top of it and then covers it with the other two cups. A tap of the top cup and the magician removes the stack of cups to show that the ball has penetrated the cup and is now lying on the table. Covering that

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ball with a cup the magician repeats the process, showing after the tap there are two balls on the table. A third time and the last ball is penetrated, showing all three balls on the table.

The Secret A fourth ball, cleverly kept hidden, allows this mystery to take place.

Materials

Stiff paper cups and balls of paper can start the magician practicing, but a wide variety of professional level cups and balls are easy to obtain and elevate the trick quite a bit.

Preparation

Stack two cups, put the fourth ball inside the second, and put the third cup on top. You are now set to perform the basic routine of Cups and Balls.


This trick can be done close up or on stage and while the basic trick explained here will certainly amaze the audience, the magician can add infinite variations to the routine to continue to amaze.

1. The magician should place three balls in the top cup and the stack on the table and he is now ready to begin. Picking up the cup stack, the magician spills the balls into his hand and then places them in a row on the table, roughly six inches apart.

2. Holding the stack of cups in his left hand, the magician should keep it tilted slightly towards his body, so the audience can not get a clear view of the bottom of the cup on top. Removing this cup with the right hand, the

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magician places it on the table behind the right-most ball. The motion should be smooth and fluid. The stack of two cups left in the left hand has the hidden ball in the top most cup. In the same motion as above, the magician takes that cup and places it on the table behind the middle ball. The smooth motion will keep the fourth ball hidden.

3. The third cup is placed behind the left most ball. The middle ball is picked up and placed on top of the middle cup. The end cups are picked up and stacked on the middle cup. A tap and a magic word, and the magician explains he will cause the ball to penetrate the bottom of the cup. Lifting the stack the hidden ball is revealed, apparently having passed through the cup.

4. The stack is already set to perform again. This time the middle cup is placed over

the ball already on the table and the right most ball is put on top of it. The process is repeated, and when the stack is lifted there are two balls on the table. The magician repeats this process with the last ball and shows his mastery over nature for a third time.

Magical Tip

This is the most basic form of Cups and Balls- the magician should master this first and then begin to add to the routine, such as vanishing a ball with a finger palm and then “tossing it” invisibly through the air to appear under a cup.

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Cut and Restored Rope Trick

One of the classic effects, the Cut and Restored Rope trick never fails to please and can be done close up or on stage.

The Effect The magician displays a length of rope and runs it through his hands. Stopping in the middle, he brings his hands together to form a loop and then produces a pair of scissors and cuts the rope in two. Declaring he will now make two ropes into one, he ties the two pieces into a knot and takes a bow. When the audience demands more, he wraps the rope around one hand and then unwraps it to show it is restored into one length.

The Secret A special move allows the magician to cut the end and not the middle of the rope.

Materials Soft rope is best - magician’s rope if possible and about three feet long. A pair of scissors.

Preparation No advance preparation is required. Starting the trick with the scissors in the right pocket makes sense for when they are discarded at the end.


The Cut and Restored Rope is a staple in a magician’s arsenal of tricks and can be a great lead in to many other rope tricks. This trick appeals to young and old alike and can be done on stage or right before the eyes of an amazed audience.

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1. Magician holds the length of rope in his left hand, dangling it down to show its full length. Placing right hand near left, the magician runs the right hand along the length of the rope until he reaches the middle.

2. The magician pinches the spot of the rope where he stopped with right thumb and forefinger. Reaching towards the left hand, the magician grabs the rope three or four inches below the end with the right forefinger and middle finger. He passes off the pinched end to the left hand and draws a loop of rope forward holding it with the right forefinger and middle finger.

3. The magician cuts the loop with a pair of scissors and then lets the long end of the rope dangle. The magician ties a knot with the two upper ends and shows how the rope has been reattached thanks to the knot.

4. With the scissors the magician trims off excess rope from the knot. Still holding the scissors in the right hand, the magician begins to wind the rope around the left hand. When he comes to the knot it will slide off, where he can conceal it in his right hand.

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5. The magician puts the scissors - and the knot - in his pocket and then unwinds the rope to show that it has been magically restored.

Magical Tip

Magician’s rope - soft rope with the “inner core” removed - is the best for this trick, but it can be done with a cotton clothes line or even thread, but rope is best. Practice the move where the false loop is formed over and over until it can be done without hesitation or hitches, as this is required to make the illusion believable.

Double Walled Bag Vanish Trick

The Double Walled Bag Vanish makes use of a magic prop that can be easily created out of common household items.

The Effect The magician produces a paper bag and reaches in to retrieve a banana skin. Stating that this was his lunch bag he has a bit of a problem. The banana had gone bad in the paper bag - apparently they make bananas ripen very fast and now the skin is starting to smell. Tossing the banana skin back in the bag, he produces his magic wand, waves it over the bag and declares the skin has vanished. To prove his power, he then rips open the bag to show that it has, indeed, disappeared.

The Secret The bag provides the means for making the banana skin disappear.

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Materials A banana skin and a specially prepared double walled bag are required.

Preparation The double walled bag must be created in advance (instructions below) and the banana skin placed in the open, “normal” part of the bag. At this point the trick is ready to perform.


The Double Walled Bag Vanish can be done any time the magician needs to make an object disappear, as long as it can fit in the secret compartment of the bag. The effect above is just one example of the many different tricks that can be done with the Double Walled Bag.

Constructing the Bag

Any size paper bag can be used for this effect. The size mainly depends on what the magician is planning to make disappear. For the purpose of this article a lunch bag is used. Two bags, scissors and glue are required.

1. One bag should be opened and cut roughly in half vertically. Near the bottom the cut should be made at an angle as shown in the photograph.

2. Then second bag should be opened. Glue is then applied to the edges of the sides and bottom of the cut out from the first bag. The cut out is slid into the second bag and glued in place. This forms a secret pocket that is imperceptible from a short distance away.

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The Vanish

1. The vanish is performed by putting the object in question into the secret pocket of the bag, while making it look like it is going into the main part of the bag.

2. To show that the item has vanished, the magician grips the bag with the secret compartment closest to him. His hand should come over the top of the bag and grip the top of the secret compartment. At this point his other hand should rip the front of the bag open, showing that it is “empty.”

3. The bag may now be crumpled up and tossed away, along with the object in the

secret pocket.

Magical Tip

When making the insert to create the secret pocket, it is advisable to trim the top slightly as well. This way if the bag is tipped slightly towards the audience they will not notice a tell tale shadow or space to give away the fact that the bag is gimmicked or different from a normal paper bag.

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Five Cards: Are You Sure?

A classically handled card trick, one of the few that are appropriate for the stage, which will baffle any audience.

The Effect The magician takes a pack of cards from a table and announces that he only needs a few cards for this trick and deliberately counts the cards in the pack, showing that there are five. Declaring he only needs two, he counts off and discards three cards, one at a time. Then he recounts but discovers he still has five cards in his hand.

The Secret The key to this trick is a particular false count that allows the magician to show eight cards as if they are five.

Materials A regular deck of playing cards are all that is required, plus a lot of practice.

Preparation Setting aside a pack of eight cards (or more if doing the advanced version) prior to the show is all the advance preparation required.


Regular sized playing cards are fine for this stage trick, as it is important for the audience to see the amount of cards in the magician’s hand, not their value. Smooth and natural motions, combined with a touch of acting, will make this trick a success.

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1. The magician picks up a pack of eight cards and squares it up in the left hand, announcing that he only needs a few cards for his next trick.

2. Holding the cards face forward in the left hand, the magician should be able to “deal” them off from the back with the left thumb by pushing forward slightly, causing the card on the top of the packet (closest to the magician) to come off the pack by an inch or two.

3. The magician approaches the pack with the right hand and grips the card dealt at

the upper right corner with the thumb and tips of the first two fingers of the right hand, counting “one.”

4. When approaching the pack for another card, the first card held in the right hand comes in front of the cards in the left hand. The left thumb deals off the top card and the right thumb grips it and pulls it away as the magician counts “two.”

5. A third card is counted off in the same manner and now comes the secret move. As the cards in the right hand briefly obscure those in the left, the left fingers curl the bottom card (the one furthest away from the magician) and expose all of the remaining cards. The magician takes the entire packet, leaving only the one curled in the left hand, counting “four.”

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6. As the right hand retreats the left fingers extend, showing one card left. The magician takes it in the same manner and counts “five.” At this point the magician has shown eight cards as five. He says “Well, I only need two” and returns the cards to his right hand. He counts off one card at a time and tosses them aside, “One, two, three. There, now I only have…”

7. The magician counts the cards and shows surprise that he has five cards remaining.

Magical Tip

Practicing these moves until they are as smooth and natural as if the magician is actually only counting five cards is a requirement for this stage card trick to go well.

Half and Half Trick

Like most mentalist tricks, the Half and Half trick gives the audience a false choice before revealing that the magician is a master of mind reading.

The Effect The magician holds aloft a large sheet of cardboard. Along either side five cards are held in place with an elastic band, backs to the audience. At the top is a clip. The magician declares he will read the mind of a spectator and asks that one step forward. The magician takes a marker and writes on the side of the card board closest to him - “My prediction” he says. At this point he asks the spectator to point to one of the ten cards. The magician takes the card and places it under the clip on his side of the board and then

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turns it to show that the card chosen matches his prediction written large and bold before hand.

The Secret The false choice created by making ten special cards in advance is the secret here.

Materials Ten special cards are made (instructions below) and either a large clipboard with a notepad or a sheet of cardboard and a clip. Elastic bands and a marker round out the materials.

Preparation The magician creates the special Half and Half cards and then places them in the bands. The notepad should be attached to the clip and the marker placed nearby.

This trick is more effective with a sheet of cardboard and a clip, but using a large clipboard with paper allows for reusing it for the next show. There are two parts to this trick - creating the cards and then performing Half and Half.

Creating the Cards

This trick requires ten identical cards and ten indifferent cards – the magician should make sure that one of the indifferent cards is not the same as the ten identical cards. Each of the indifferent cards should be cut across the width; about a third of the card is required.

Each indifferent third is then glued atop one of the ten “force cards”, so called because the magician is forcing the spectator to chose this card unbeknownst to him.

When done the card should be two thirds force card and one third indifferent card.


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1. The ten cards are placed under the elastic on the back of the cardboard sheet. From the magician’s point of view only the indifferent end should be visible.

2. The magician chooses a spectator and then declares he will look into the future

and make a predication about which of the ten cards the spectator will chose. The magician then writes the force card on the cardboard sheet, out of view of the spectator.

3. The magician allows the spectator a free choice, but not to touch the cards. After the choice is made, the magician allows the spectator one chance to change his mind and make a new choice.

4. Once the choice is made, the magician takes the card (back facing the spectator)

and clips it under the clip at the top of the cardboard. The indifferent end is hidden under the clip, and only the force end is visible.

5. The magician then turns the board around to show that his prediction did, indeed, come true.

Magical Tip

Do not make the clipping of the chosen card into a performance - the more natural and quickly you can do it, the more believable this trick is.

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Miser's Dream Trick

A classic coin trick that is some two hundred years old, yet it still delights audiences of all ages. The Miser’s Dream can be performed on stage or for small groups equally.

The Effect The magician picks up a wine bucket from a table and begins to tell a story about a stingy man who found a magic lamp and made a wish. From that point forward whenever he wished the man could produce money from thin air - and the magician “catches” a coin and tosses it loudly into the bucket. The magician proceeds to produce dozens of coins from all over the stage, a seemingly endless supply.

The Secret One coin is repeatedly vanished and made to reappear, while a hidden stack of coins in the bucket provides an audible distraction.

Materials

A stack of a dozen coins and a metal bucket are required for the basic effect. Additional effects can be produced with coin droppers and other props.

Preparation The stack of coins is hidden behind the metal bucket before the performance.

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The Miser’s Dream works wonderfully on stage thanks to flash coins, the metal bucket and the sound of coins dropping into it. It can be done just as effectively in a crowd if the magician can control the angles of the bucket well enough.

1. The magician picks up the bucket and the stack of coins at the same time, hiding the coins in his left hand. He grips the bucket with the left hand, trapping the coins against the side of the bucket in an angled stack.

2. From here he can release the coins one at a time, where they will make a

satisfying clink as they hit the bottom of the bucket.

3. The magician starts off by appearing to catch a coin in mid air and tossing it into the bucket - at which point he releases the first coin.

4. Reaching into the bucket with the right hand the magician produces the coin and

shows the audience. He makes to toss it back into the bucket but instead finger palms it, releasing a second coin.

5. From here the show is on, with the magician re-producing the same coin over and over again. Each time he produces the coin from a new place - the nose, behind an elbow, the hair, the shoe, the floor, the air and each time palms the coin as he pretends to toss it into the bucket.

6. When the coins are all gone from the left hand, the magician can shake the bucket

up and down, catching more coins in the left hand to reset. He can also stir the coins in the right hand; showering streams back into the bucket and palm a

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handful. He can then produce that handful and toss them back into the bucket visibly.

7. This act is all about showmanship. Once the basic sleights are mastered, there is a lot of fun that can be had in telling the story. Tossing an invisible coin and hearing it clink is one gag, as is doing the same but delaying the clink for a surprise.

8. Coin droppers - devices that hide and then release a stack of coins into the magician’s hand - can be used to produce streams of coins from an assistant’s nose or the magician’s elbow.

Magical Tip

As the trick will suggest the magician is producing at least twice as many coins as there will be in the bucket, care should be taken to hide the contents from the point of view of the audience if playing to an intimate crowd.

Stretching Rope Trick

Performed at the end or the beginning of a rope routine, this crowd pleaser is a great stage effect for audiences great or small.

The Effect The magician declares he needs a length of rope for his next trick and searches for one under a table or inside his jacket. He comes up with a three foot length, which he holds in his left hand. Deciding it is not long enough to suit his needs; he reaches up with his left hand and pulls the rope, which begins to lengthen in full view of the audience. Twice more the magician stretches the rope, ending up with a length triple the size he began with.

The Secret The rope was always nine feet long; it just appeared to be shorter in the beginning.

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Materials A nine foot length of rope and a dinner jacket.

Preparation Coil the rope from the middle of its length and then put it in a dinner jacket pocket. Feed the two ends of the rope up the jacket sleeve of the left hand where they can be quickly grabbed by the right fingers.


The Stretching Rope trick is a fantastic way to start a rope routine - while the magician may not need nine feet of rope for any single rope trick beyond this one, he can cut the appropriate lengths from this starter rope as he goes.

1. When the magician announces he needs rope to perform his next illusion, he should then duck under a table to search, or perhaps turn slightly to the side as he looks inside his jacket. Gripping the ends of the rope up his sleeve, the magician pulls the lower end out about eight inches and the other end about two feet. Held properly, these two lengths should look like one rope when held in the left fist.

2. The magician takes the longer end in the right hand and holds it out to its “full

length” and examines the size. “This won’t do” he says, announcing he needs a longer rope.

3. Reaching up with the left hand, the magician grabs the rope by the base of the right hand and then pulls downward. The body should be turned just enough so that the back of the left hand and arm are toward the audience. As he pulls down and slightly away from the body, the rope will feed itself out of the left sleeve, up through the left hand. It will seem as if the magician is stretching the rope itself.

4. Again he examines the rope and says it is not quite long enough. Reaching up

with the left hand, the magician releases the right hand grip and takes another grip near the left hand. Again the magician pulls down and out, and the rope stretches.

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5. Once more should pull the rest of the rope out from the jacket and sleeve and now the magician is satisfied with the length of rope.

Magical Tip

Not only should the actual trick be practiced to make the stretching of the rope believable, but the start of the trick should be rehearsed as well. How will the magician get to the rope? How will he produce the first length?

The Long Card Trick

A commercial card trick inspired this home-made prop, which delivers laughs as big as the card is long.

The Effect The magician, smartly dressed in shirt and jacket, spreads cards and lets the spectator take one of them. After the card is returned to the deck, the magician puts the deck in his jacket pocket and announces he will now do the rest of the trick without using his hands, only magic. He declares he will make the card travel from the deck to his shirt pocket and makes the appropriate gestures.

When he says it is done, he pulls aside his jacket lapel and shows a two of diamonds poking out of his pocket. The chosen card, however, was the ten of diamonds. Smiling, the magician pulls the card from his pocket and it keeps on coming. The card, nearly a foot long ends as the ten of diamonds and ten diamonds are displayed on the card.

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The Secret Knowing how to force the ten of diamonds on the spectator is the key to making this trick work. The rest is showmanship.

Materials A home-made long card is required and a shirt with a pocket and a jacket to hide the long card.

Preparation Creating the long card is described below.


The long card is simply the punch line to this trick, but the real sleight of hand comes in forcing the ten of diamonds. The magician can use any method, one of which is described below:

The Force

1. The magician fans through the deck and cuts it right to the left of the ten of diamonds, which brings the card to the top.

2. Cutting the cards once more the magician puts the ten about in the middle of the pack, but catches a break above it with the tip of the little finger.

3. The magician riffles the top left corner with the left thumb while holding the deck in both hands. He asks the spectator to say “stop” and when he does, he cuts the deck at the break. The next card is the ten of diamonds, which the spectator takes as his card.

Making a Long Card

1. Three cards are required - a ten of diamonds (from an unused deck of cards), a three of diamonds and a two of diamonds.

2. Glue is applied to half of the ten of diamonds and the three of diamonds is glued in place. Under the bottom edge of the three of

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diamonds should show five diamonds and the “10”.

3. Glue is placed on the two of diamonds, just above the “2” and to the top of the card. This glued portion is pressed underneath the top of the three of diamonds, leaving the two showing.

4. When dried the magician is left with one long card showing ten diamonds.

Once the card is in the pocket and the ten is forced, the magician allows it to be placed anywhere in the deck and the rest is showmanship. He puts the deck in his pocket, in a drawer - anywhere he wishes, and mimes willing an invisible card from the deck to his shirt pocket.

Magical Tip

The magician may be tempted to move through this trick quickly, but should enjoy the opportunity to ham it up, showing indignation when the spectator dares to suggest he messed up when he shows the two.

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The Spongeball Pinch

Sponge balls are fun, easy to transport, and very entertaining in the hands of a magician. They are also easy to learn to manipulate at a very basic level.

The Effect The magician holds up a red ball made of foam-sponge, about an inch in diameter. The ball is held between the thumb and forefinger for all to see, and then is placed in the magician’s other hand. With a small wave of a magic wand the hand is opened to show that the sponge ball has vanished.

The Secret The very nature of the sponge ball allows it to be compacted into a very small space and makes it very easy to manipulate.

Materials Sponge balls are all that are required. A basic set can be bought for a couple of pounds and will provide all a magician needs for an entire routine of magic tricks.

Preparation Practice is key here, not just of the individual slight of hand moves but especially for routines both small and large.

Performance The sponge ball pinch follows the same basic concept of most vanishes- the magician only appears to place the sponge ball in the opposite hand, or in a pocket, or under a cup, or anywhere, while actually retaining the sponge ball in the hand where it started. Before performing a trick with a sponge ball, first the magician needs to know how to pull off the sponge ball pinch.

The Sponge Ball Pinch Natural motions are key to pulling off any vanish, and this is no exception.

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• The sponge ball should be held between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand. Your hand should be out a little over waist high, palm up. Flaring the fingers of the right hand not holding the sponge ball is purely for effect, but does help to highlight the ball held.

• The magician holds out his left hand, palm open and up, and moves the right hand towards the left. Still pinching the sponge ball, the magician places it in the left palm and then begins to close the left hand, hiding the ball from view.

• As the fingers of the left hand provide cover, the magician rolls the forefinger of the right hand down towards the crook of the thumb, pushing the piece of sponge held before it. This puts a piece of the sponge ball in the crook of the thumb. From here the magician needs only keep the thumb along side the hand to hold the sponge ball in place.

• The magician withdraws the right hand as the left hand completes the closing motion. The right hand drops to the side as the left hand comes up, the magician’s attention fully on the left hand.

The Vanish The magician may now use any theatrics he pleases to make the sponge ball “vanish” from the left hand. The right hand may then reach into a pocket to “retrieve” the ball that supposedly transported there, or perhaps behind the ear of a spectator for a classic retrieval.

Magical Tip This is the basic sponge ball move and will open the door to many, many more. Buy at least four sponge balls and you will be able to perform a wide variety of tricks, and even build entire routines around them. From there you can acquire many novelty sponge props, such as rabbits, hotdogs and hammers for a lot of magical sponge fun.

The Untying Knot Trick

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Rope magic is a staple for most stage magicians and the ability to tie a knot that is not a knot is a must have.

The Effect The magician displays a large silk and twirls it into a rope. Holding the silk by the ends in each hand, he then moves one end over so he is holding both ends in one hand. Reaching through the loop with his right hand he grabs one end and pulls it through, forming a knot roughly in the middle of the silk. Running his hand down the length of the silk the knot seems to slip off and into the magician’s hand, but when he opens the hand the knot has vanished.

The Secret When the magician makes the move to tie the knot he instead creates a slip knot.

Materials A large silk or a three foot length of rope can be used for this trick.



Performed with a rope or a silk, the Untying Knot Trick is a real crowd pleaser:

1. The magician takes an end of a large silk in each hand, gripping each end between the first and second fingers of the hand. Whipping the silk around and around, he creates a rope of sorts and then announces he is going to tie the silk in a knot.

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2. The right end of the silk (End B) is passed off to the left hand thumb and first finger, but passes first through the second and third finger of the left hand.

3. Reaching through the loop that has been created, the magician takes the left end of the silk (End A) in his right hand. The third and fourth fingers of the left hand hold back End A where it passes through the left hand. The second finger of the left hand hooks part of End B as the right hand pulls End A through the loop.

4. As the loop closes and begins to form a knot, the magician pulls the part of End B hooked by the left second finger through the loop - as the loop closes it will close on a doubled-back portion of the silk, creating a slip knot.

5. The silk is left to dangle from the right hand, showing the knot for all to see. The magician then runs the left hand down the silk, cupped, which seems to carry the knot right off the silk. The hand can then be displayed to show it is empty.

These moves must be performed effortlessly. Any hesitation will ruin the suggestion that the magician is simply taking the most expedient route to creating a knot. If the magician

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hesitates the audience will assume he is up to some trickery and the end result will be spoiled.

Magical Tip

If performed with a rope it is important to cover the forming slip knot with the left hand to hide the small loop created. The magician can then pull on both ends of the rope, one at a time, to tighten it just enough to give the appearance of a true knot.

Zombie Ball Trick

One of the classic stage effects from the golden age of magic, the Zombie Ball is simple to learn and has infinite variations.

The Effect The magician walks on stage and up to a small table draped with cloth. Sitting on top of the table is a shiny metal sphere on a stand. In front of the sphere is a foulard. The magician picks up the sphere and tosses it from hand to hand, turning it to show all sides and then replaces it on the stand. Picking up either end of the foulard, the magician covers the sphere briefly and then lifts the silk to show the sphere is gone. With a word the magician commands the sphere to appear, rising up slowly from behind the foulard. From there the magician begins to interact with the sphere, making it float, dance, vanish and reappear at will.

The Secret The secret to the Zombie Ball is a hidden prop that allows the magician to “remotely” manipulate the ball.

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Materials

A miniature zombie ball could be made out of a ball of tinfoil and stiff wire, but commercial props are a better way to go. Also a large handkerchief or silk foulard is required.

Preparation Plenty of practice and rehearsal are all the advance preparation required. Pre-show set up requires the zombie ball to be place with the secret hole away from the audience and the zombie stick hidden in the foulard.


Stage magicians have been performing their own Zombie Ball routines for centuries - called the spirit ball, zombie ball, magic sphere and other names, the trick is easily recognised once begun. The secret to manipulating the Zombie Ball itself lies in a hole in one side of the sphere and the stick or wand used to manipulate it.

The stick is made from stiff wire. One end is wound round to form a sleeve for a finger and the other ends in a cork to fit into the secret hole. With the stick on the finger of one hand and the cork in the zombie ball, the magician can then make the ball raise up and down and move back and forth with small movements of the fingers, all of which are hidden by the foulard.

1. The magician picks up the ball and tosses it from side to side, all the while keeping the hole towards himself and away from the audience. He may even rotate the ball between the hands in a way that looks like he is showing all sides, but is not. [P2]

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2. When picking up the foulard the magician slips the middle finger of the right hand into the sleeve of the stick and then puts the cork into the hole in the zombie ball.

3. The foulard needs to be kept tight, with the arms as far apart as it will allow. When the foulard is lifted high and the ball hidden behind it, it will appear as if the ball had vanished.

4. The magician now slowly causes the ball to rise behind the foulard, stopping just short of revealing the cork and stick.

5. The ball can rise and fall, and be made to push against the foulard from behind.

6. With a bit of acting, the magician can make as if the ball is floating and moving on it’s own, leading the magician around the stage.

Magical Tip

The Zombie Ball requires a lot of rehearsal in front of a mirror so that the magician may pin down exactly how he may move the ball without revealing the stick.

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Peek a Boo Find Trick

Practically the first card trick every magician learns, the peek a boo find lets the magician find the spectator’s card every time.

The Effect After spreading the cards, the magician asks the spectator to make a choice and pull it out of the deck. Once memorised, the card is put back into the deck. With a minimum of fuss the magician thumbs through the deck and retrieves the chosen card.

The Secret The secret is the “peek a boo”, or just the peek, where the magician looks not at the chosen card but a key card he then uses to find the chosen card.

Materials Just a normal deck of playing cards.



While it can be used as a magic trick all by itself, the Peek a Boo Find typically requires some embellishment to keep the audience interested. As a tool for finding a card, the Peek a Boo Find is used in hundreds of card tricks, many of which are simple variants of this one.

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1. The magician shuffles a deck of cards and then spreads it, asking for a spectator to choose a card. After a moment to memorise the card, the magician asks the spectator to replace it.

2. The cards should be cut about halfway down, and as the magician says “place your card here” he should get a look at the bottom card of the top half of the deck. This will be the “key card” that he should remember.


4. Now the magician needs an excuse to look through the cards in order to locate the

key card. This can be done by simply stating that he will now find the chosen card. Some variants on this theme are discussed below.

5. Once the magician spots the key card a quick glance to the left will show him the chosen card. The simplest thing to do at this point is pull the card out of the deck and say “Your card is the” and name the card as you show it.

Variations

1. The magician can explain that he can pick up on the psychic fingerprint left behind by the spectator, and thus scans all the cards to find it.

2. The magician can claim an extraordinary sense of smell, smell the spectator’s fingers and then scan the cards, pausing to smell them at intervals, and then find the card by smell.

3. The magician can claim he can find the card in three guesses, and pick out three cards. Then he visibly discards the wrong two and says he found the card.

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4. The magician can take the chosen card out and put it face down and say “I know it’s NOT that one,” and then start to pull out wrong card after wrong card before revealing that he picked the right card the first time.

5. The magician can see the card and then put the cards down and start to pick up “mental images” of the card. “I know it is a…red card. A heart card…it is a number…greater than five…less than ten…for some reason I’m picking up the days of the week here…seven! The seven of hearts!”

Magical Tip

As can be seen by the variants, the possibilities are endless. The magician just needs to make sure the use of the key card is done as subtly as possible. CARD THOUGHT By Doug Edwards

Volumes can be written about tricks and routines based on a red/black separation of the cards. They'd range from the banal to the sophisticated. Obviously, you are past the stage of the banal, and sometimes the too sophisticated can be an audience bore. Well, this one is certainly not banal; I don't know how sophisticated you'd judge it, but it sure is a fooler. I mean you'll fool knowledgeable card workers with it.

Set the deck into reds and blacks; it doesn't matter which color is where. In the photos the red cards are above the black cards.

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Performer

Cut a packet of about 10 or 12 cards from top to bottom. When you go into the performance of the effect, shuffle the deck keeping the colors separated. Then, cut a packet of about 10 or 12 cards from top to bottom. Make sure your spectator sees you do this, since it is a legitimate cut.

Spectator

The spectator thinks of a number between one and 10, then deals that number of cards from top of the deck onto the table. He tables the deck, then picks up the packet and mixes the cards. Table the face down deck in front of your spectator and ask him to think of a number between one and 10. Then instruct him to count that number of cards from the top of the deck into a face down tabled packet. Of course, you must turn away as he does this; tell him to count/deal silently, and so on. When he's done this, he's to table the deck proper.

The spectator looks at the bottom card of the mixed packet. He tables the packet and at the performer's request cuts the deck and completes the cut. Now instruct him to pick up the small packet he's just dealt and to mix those cards. When he's satisfied, ask him to look at and remember the bottom card of the packet. Start to tell him to drop the packet onto the tabled deck but interrupt your self: "Wait. You may think that I know the top or bottom card of the deck. I do not, but you can make sure, cut the deck at about center and complete the cut." He

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does.

The spectator picks up the packet and drops it on top of the deck.

Then at the performer's request the spectator cuts the deck and completes the cut. Performer

Then continue: "Now, drop your packet onto the deck. Done? Good. Really lose your card now, give the deck another complete cut. That really buries your card." Let him follow your instructions, then turn to face him. Pick up the deck as you talk about the free and fair selection and so forth.

The performer picks up the deck and fans it towards himself. The bottom card of the deck identifies the color of the thought of card. At the center of the fan are a group of cards of the opposite color from the cards to either side of them. Count the centered group of cards, this is the number. The right most card of the group is the thought of card. Do a pressure (or thumb) fan, faces of cards toward you. As soon as you see the deck's bottom card, you'll know the color of the thought of card. If you see a red

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card there, he's thinking of a red card. And, at center of the fan you'll see a small batch of red cards surrounded by black cards.

Count those centered red cards. The number of centered red cards is his thought of number since they are the cards he dealt to make the tabled packet. The right most red card of that small batch is the thought of card. Lovely situation. So, let's assume you see seven red cards there, and the right most card is the Queen of Hearts. End like this:

Pull out a card that matches the number thought of. Pull out the thought of card and turn it over to reveal it. Pull out any seven spot, table it face up, and say, "This tells me that the number you're thinking of is ... seven." Then, pull out the actual selection and as you toss it face up onto the table, exclaim, "And this tells me that the card you are thinking of is the ... Queen of Hearts!"

Close the fan, shuffle the deck, and you have fooled all. TRANSPORTATION By Richard Robinson

The magician takes three small coins out of his pocket and drops them on the table. He puts two of the coins in his left hand, which close around them. He puts the third coin back in his pocket.

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He opens his left hand to show the third coin has magically traveled from his pocket to join the other two.

Again putting the three coins on the table, he again places two in his left hand and the third in his pocket. Giving the left hand a slight shake, he opens the hand to show that it now holds three coins.

Suggesting that perhaps those watching aren't quite following what's going on, he again places two coins in his left hand and one back in his pocket. Once the spectators confirm that seems to be the case, he opens his left hand to reveal one large coin, the three smaller coins having vanished completely.

Transportation is a variation of the Two In The Hand, One In The Pocket routine. It is entirely impromptu, requiring only four small coins such as U.S. pennies or dimes and one larger coin for the finish. The four small coins should be in the same condition so one cannot be told from another.

Setup

The five coins are together in a pocket. It is best to keep them in a side coat or jacket pocket so the hand can move in and out of the pocket easily and quickly.

Handling

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Exposed view of the four coins taken out of the pocket by the right hand.

Unseen by the spectators, the thumb holds back one of the coins.

The right hand tilts over the left hand to release the three coins.

The fourth coin is held back in the right hand as the spectators see the three coins for the first time.

The three coins are displayed on the hand.

Then the three coins are apparently placed in the right hand. In fact one of the three is held back in the left hand.

The three coins are show in the right hand.

The first of the three coins is put into the left hand, the fingers curled up to hide the coin already there.

The second of the three goes into the left hand, which closes around it. The third visible coin goes into the pocket.

The left hand is opened to show that it contains three coins. This

The third time around, the right hand leaves the small coin in the

The right hand picks up the first of the three coins from the table

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two into the left hand, one into the pocket sequence is repeated.

pocket and brings out the large coin finger palmed.

and displays it at the thumb and first finger tip.

The right hand moves over the cupped left hand.

The large coin is released from the finger palm and drops unseen into the left palm.

The right hand apparently puts the first small coin into the left hand. The thumb slides the coin down off the first finger ...

... and onto the tip of the second finger. The thumb presses the coin against the ball of the second finger tip.

The spectators' view (with the first finger raised slightly) shows the coin is hidden behind the thumb pressing against the second finger.

The second coin is picked up from the table.

The right hand again turns so the fingers are pointing up and goes to the left hand to deposit the coin.

The coin held by the second finger and thumb is released to fall into a finger palm.

The visible coin is brought down by the thumb behind the fingers until it clicks against the first coin.

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As the right hand comes out of the left hand the two coins are held by the curled in fingers.

The third coin is picked up and the hand raised palm toward the spectators. The third coin is seen at the thumb and finger tip, the other two coins are hidden by the curled fingers.

After the visible third coin and two palmed coins are put in the pocket, the left hand opens to reveal the large coin.

Routine

The routine consists of three phases with the handling details varying slightly in eachphase. In learning the routine it is a good idea to practice each phase independently and then run them together when rehearsing the presentation.

1.

The right hand goes into the pocket and gathers up the four small coins, holding them in a loose finger palm with the hand partially open. Give the coins a shake as the hand comes out of the pocket so the coins spread slightly across the fingers. Theback of the hand is towards the floor, the curled fingers hiding the coins from view.

The palm up left hand is raised, the head turning to look at the hand. As this shift of focus takes place, the right thumb tip moves down on one of the coins to press it against the right fingers, then the right hand turns over so the three remaining coins fall into the open left hand.

The left hand makes an up and down shaking motion, so the coins bounce on the hand. Once the coins are separated, the left thumb tip moves down onto one of the coins, pressing it against the fingers. At the same time the left hand turns over to the right, letting the coins fall into the right hand which turns up to receive them. Since there is already one coin in the right hand, to the spectators it appears that you've taken three coins from your pocket and tossed them from one hand to the other and back.

The left hand drops away, the fingers curled in a bit to conceal the coin it holds. The right hand places the three coins on the table. The right hand picks up one coin and places it into the left hand which has come up to receive it. The right hand takes the second coin and places it in the left hand. The left fingers close around the coins.

The right hand picks up the third coin from the table, closes loosely around it and goes into the pocket. Shift your focus to the closed left hand. Make a shaking motion

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with the left hand. As the right hand is coming out of the pocket with the finger palmed coin, open the left hand to show three coins in the hand.

2.

Bounce the coins on the left palm until the coins are separated. The left hand now turns over to the right, the left thumb tip coming down on one of the coins to hold it against the fingers. The right hand moves up with its finger palmed coin to receive the coins from the left hand. The right hand opens out as the transfer is made so thespectators see three coins resting on the open right palm.

Place the three coins on the table.

The first phase handing is now repeated. The right hand picks up the first coin and drops it into the left hand. The right hand picks up the second coin and drops it into the left hand. The left hand closes around the two coins. The right hand picks up the third coin and goes to the pocket.

When the right hand is in the pocket, it drops the coin and picks up the large coin in a loose finger palm. Again the loosely closed left hand shakes the coins and opens to reveal three coins. At the same time the right hand comes out of the pocket with thefinger palmed coin.

3.

The right hand goes over to the left hand and the right fingers collect up the three coins on the left palm, holding them by the finger tips and places them on the table. The right hand is kept palm down as it does this, hiding the finger palmed large coin.

The right first finger and thumb pick up the first coin on the table. The coin is held atits edge by the tips of the first finger and thumb. The right hand moves over to the palm up left hand. As the right hand moves, the right fingers are brought together. Once the right fingers are behind the slightly curled up left fingers, the large coin is released to drop into the left palm.

At the same time the right thumb slides the small coin over so it is held between the thumb and second finger tip. This leaves the first finger free and the small coin hidden completely by the pressed together tips of the thumb and second finger.

Swing the right hand to the right to pick up the second coin from the table. As the right hand moves, the left fingers curl over the large coin to hide it.

The right first finger tip and thumb now pick up the second coin from the table. This requires some practice since the thumb tip is pressed against the second finger tip holding a coin. Once the second coin is held at the thumb and first finger tip, revolve the right hand so the finger tips are up.

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The finger / coins position is the second coin is visible, held by the tips of the thumb and first finger. The first coin is held directly below it by the ball of the thumb and the tip of the second finger. The third and fourth finger are slightly open. From the front it appears that there is only one coin held by the thumb and first finger tips, the second finger curled in under it.

The right hand moves to the left hand. The left fingers uncurl as the right hand turnsfingers down. The right fingers are brought together and the hidden coin is released by the right second finger to fall into a finger palm. Then the visible coin is released to also fall into the finger palm. This will cause an audible click as if the two coins have been dropped into the left hand.

The right hand moves away and the left hand closes, apparently around two small coins. The two coins should now be resting one on top of the other and held in fingerpalm at the bottom of the right third finger.

The right hand picks up the last coin on the table between the thumb and first finger tips, then swings up so the palm of the hand is open and facing the spectators. Look directly at the coin at the finger tips. The right thumb and first finger extend up holding the coin. The other three right fingers are curled down, hiding the two finger palmed coins from view. This s quite deceptive.

The right hand now goes to the pocket to gently deposit all the coins. The closed left hand is extended forward. The empty right hand comes out of the pocket. The left hand is opened slowly and then stops moving. The large coin is revealed resting on the left palm.

Performance Notes

To ensure a successful performance, the handling should be practiced for quite sometime before doing the effect live. The sequence of events is convincing and at first the routine may seem easier than it actually is. Keep working on it until complete control is acquired for every move. SPONGED OUT

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By Richard Robinson

The magician holds a large red sponge ball between his right first and second fingers. He places the ball on the palm of his open left hand which closes around it. On opening the hand, the sponge ball has vanished.

Sponged Out is a convincing vanish which creates a rather unique persistence of vision effect since it is the fingers holding the ball that are persistent rather than the ball itself. It can be worked with any sponge ball, even a larger 2 inch / 50 mm ball.

Handling

The right hand, palm forward, displays the ball between the first and second fingers.

The ball is placed on the open left palm.

The left fingers curl up to close around the ball.

The right first finger raised and the left fingers opened out to show the position of the right thumb between the right first and second fingers.

The right thumb presses down on the ball and drags it back to the left wrist.

The hands' position to the left of the body as the right thumb drags the ball back. Note position of the third and fourth right fingers.

The tips of the third and fourth Front view with the right first The left hand remains stationary

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right fingers grip the ball and swing into the right palm as the right thumb moves away.

and second fingers still trapped under the left fingers.

as the right fingers are pulled out from under the left fingers.

The right hand moves back, the left hand moves up. The right second finger curls

The left hand is opened to show the ball has vanished.

The position of the ball concealed in the right hand.

in so only the right first finger points towards the left hand.

Presentation

Facing the spectators, display the ball by holding it between the first and second fingers of the right hand. The hand is held up at shoulder height and turned back and front to display the ball.

The left hand opens and turns palm up at just above waist height. The right hand is palm towards the spectators. The right hand moves down towards the left palm, the right third and fourth fingers curl up slightly towards the right palm as the ball is placed on the left palm just at the base of the left fingers.

The left fingers curl up to close over the ball, pausing as they come into contact with the right first and second fingers. As soon as the ball is masked by the left fingers, the right thumb moves down between the right first and second fingers until the right thumb tip touches the left palm. This causes the top side of the right thumb to press down on the ball.

The left and right hands swing to the left, the body turning to follow the hands. The left arm is raised and the left hand revolves to the left until the partially closed left hand is positioned with the thumb up with the left fingers towards the spectators.

The arms are now extended out to the left. As this shift in position is carried out, the right thumb presses on the ball and slides it back across the left palm to the left wrist. The right third and fourth fingers swing up and the ball is pinched between the third and fourth finger tips which swing back into the right hand.

The back of the right hand is towards the spectators by this time, the right first and second fingers trapped by the closing left fingers. The movement of the arms stops. The right hand pulls back to the right, pulling the spread apart first and second fingers out of the left hand. The left fingers finish closing over the left palm and

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apparently over the ball.

Continuing to look at the closed left hand, shift the body to the right so it is closer to facing the spectators. Move the right arm at the elbow to the right. As the right hand travels right the right second finger curls into the hand, leaving only the right first finger pointing at the left hand.

The right hand gestures at the left hand which opens slowly to show the ball has vanished.

Performance Notes

Sponged Out works equally well as a close up or platform manipulation. The timing of the coordinated movements has to be practiced until it appears that the ball is placed by the two fingers into the other hand which closed around it as the fingers are extracted.

With a good deal of practice and a fairly stiff coat sleeve it is possible to use the thumb sliding action to slide the ball across the left hand and into the coat sleeve for a both hands empty vanish.

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RECYCLING ALCHEMY By Ray Diaz

The magician transmutes a bottle cap into a silver half dollar.

After handing a bottle cap to a spectator to inspect, the magician places it in his left hand, and has a spectator blow on his clenched fist. When he opens his fist, the bottle cap has turned into a coin which can also be handed out for inspection if desired.

Props & Setup

A bottle cap, a silver half dollar or other coin, a magnet that is strong enough to attract the bottle cap through pocket and padding and padding material such as a handkerchief or other piece of cloth.

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Wrap the magnet in the handkerchief which will dampen any sound as it attracts the bottle cap, but not so thick that it will make it difficult to catch the bottle cap or prevent it from holding the weight of the cap.

The magnet should be exactly at the height of your right hand when hanging down at your side. Depending on the type of pants, the magnet can either be in the right back pocket or taped to the inside of the pants behind your right thigh under the back pocket at arm's length.

The magnet must be positioned so that your does not stick out and call attention to what you're doing as you ditch the bottle cap. The left photograph above shows the proper position, the right photograph shows the position to be avoided.

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Handling & Presentation

Start with the bottle cap and coin in your front right pocket. Reach into the pocket, classic palm the coin and bring out the bottle cap between thumb and index finger.

The photographs above show the hand position that makes the coin invisible from most angles. It is important to have your index finger inside of the cap as it makes it easier to do the switch.

Drop the bottle cap on your left palm, then hand it over for inspection. Extend your left hand, palm up, to receive the coin after inspection. I feel

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this is important since people will think it's a trick bottle cap if you don't let them examine it.

Pick it up between your right thumb and index finger. Rotate your left hand palm down, then palm up again to show it completely empty. Without saying anything like "Look, my hand is empty!" Keep your mouth shut and look at your left hand.

Here's the move: As you rotate the left hand you drop the coin from classic palm to finger palm then, using your index finger, push the cap into thumb palm position. This is a two step move.

You must keep looking at your left hand while you do the dirty work.

Notice the sequence: The coin goes from classic palm to finger palm. The bottle cap is thumb palmed as the coin is rests on the fingers.

Apparently drop the bottle cap (really the coin) in your left hand and turn your fist palm down.

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The photograph above shows an exposed view of the fist palm down as the switch is made and the coin is placed in the left hand which closes around it.

The next step is to ditch the bottle cap. This is easily done with a little misdirection.

You haven't kept your eyes off your left hand so everyone's attention is still glued to it wondering how you're going to pull it off, when in fact you already have!

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While you ask the some to gently blow on your clenched left fist, you take a step forward with your left foot while and you slowly drop your right hand to ditch the bottle cap by pressing it silently against the magnet. This move actually takes a bit of practice.

It's important that you step sideways so the motion of ditching the coin is hidden behind your body. Stage magicians are used to this type of motion.

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Now for the revelation ... You slowly open you left hand to show the coin, then drop it on your right hand and hand it over for inspection. This shows both hands empty (aside from the coin) without saying a word about it. Take a bow.

If you wish, you may want to pick the bottle cap from the magnet and palm it (in your right hand), then extend your left hand to receive your coin. You then pick up the coin with between thumb index finger as you did at the beginning of the trick with the cap and drop it in your right-front pocket.

You are now set up to do it again, but not to the same group of people, of course.

Presentation

Patter is very important here. It will make the difference between doing a quickie opener or milking the trick into an unforgettable performance. I use something like this:

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"I studied under the great alchemist Nicholas Flamel who discovered the secret of transmuting base metals into gold."

"Although I have never matched his skills, after many years of practice, I finally succeeded in turning base metals to silver. Let me show you."

If I'm in a situation where people are drinking, like a bar or restaurant, I pick up a bottle cap from the table and proceed with my demonstration. Otherwise, I pull out my bottle cap from my pocket and say with a wink:"I carry these around for quick cash when needed." And you hand it to a spectator to inspect.

She drops the cap on my open left palm.

I pick up the cap between right thumb and index finger while I slowly turn my left hand palm down and up again to show it completely empty. I would never say "Look, my hand is empty!" I simply do the action, and then put the "bottle cap" in my left hand and close it.

I say, "The secret ingredient is the breath, as it carries such enormous spiritual power within it."

I ask the spectator, "Can you please blow on my hand gently?"

As she does, my undivided attention is on my left hand. Everyone follows my lead and they stare at it too. (This creates plenty of misdirection to ditch the coin as described above).

I then say, "I can feel it. It's done."

I slowly open my hand to reveal the silver half where the bottle cap had been.

Slowly, I drop the coin from my left hand to my right and hand it to someone for inspection. This shows both hands empty aside from the coin, without having to tell them so.

No bottle cap in sight. I stand back and bask in my new alchemist reputation. :)

The Switch

If you're familiar with coin moves, you've noticed I use a simplified version of the Bobo Switch. The Bobo Switch is meant to be done under fire. You do the switch while everyone is looking right at your hands and your arm's motion hides the switch.

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With a little misdirection, you can do this at a much slower and easier pace, as explained above. Slowly showing your left hand on both sides gives you all the time in the world to do the switch easily and at a much slower pace. Why do it the hard way if you can take your time and take it easy?

Performance Notes

This should not be performed as a quickie. Take your time and use good patter to build up tension before the revelation of the transmutation.

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The Coin Fold Trick

A brilliant trick, the coin fold will have the audience scratching their heads as they try and figure out "how he did it."

The Effect The magician borrows a coin from a member of the audience and then has that member mark it with a pen to identify it later. Taking a small sheet of paper, the magician then folds the paper over the coin four times, creating a tight packet through which the outlines of the coin can be seen. To the astonishment of the audience, the magician then proceeds to tear the packet into fourths and apparently the coin with it. A moment later the coin, with the same identifying marks, is retrieved from a pocket and given to the spectator.

The Secret The method of the fold is deceptive and leaves an escape route for the coin in question.

Materials A sheet of paper around four by six inches and a large coin. A magic marker for marking the coin is also required.



Once the fold is understood the magician can do many different effects by slightly changing the trick, but this classic is fantastic as it is.

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1. The magician borrows a coin from the audience or, failing that, produces one of his own. He allows a spectator to make an identifying mark on the coin, such as initials, and then takes the coin from the spectator.

2. Holding the paper in the left hand, the magician places the coin on top, under the right thumb. The coin should be roughly in the centre of the paper.

3. With the fingers of both hands the magician then folds the top half of the paper over the coin. When folded over, the bottom portion of the paper (unfolded) should still stick out below the coin.

With the fingers of the left hand the magician folds the left side of the paper away from him and over the coin. There should be a little room between the coin and the left edge of the paper, just a bit of space.

4.

5. The same move is done with the right fingers, folding the right side of the paper away from the magician. At this point the coin is sealed on three sides, leaving the bottom unsealed.

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6. The magician then folds the bottom of the paper, again away from his body, over the coin.

7. The coin now appears to be completely wrapped, but in truth there is an escape at the bottom, as the coin is not sealed in. If done properly, the packet of paper should have a bit of play to either side of the coin, allowing the magician to drop the coin out of the packet and in to the palm of his right hand, finger palming the coin in complete secrecy.

8. Taking the packet in the left hand, with the coin finger palmed in the right, the magician can now rip up the packet.

Producing the coin from a pocket, the spectator’s ear, or what have you, the magician shows that it is the same coin by the identifying mark.

9.

Magical Tip

Once the coin is wrapped, push on it in the packet to create an impression of the coin. Try using flash paper instead of regular paper and then light the packet instead of tearing it for a different kind of effect.

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Coin Roll Trick

Flashing a sliver coin and rolling it across the backs of your knuckles sends a message to your audience - you are about to be very entertaining.

The Effect A coin roll is a fairly straight forward flourish that can be used as a transition lead in or finish for many coin tricks. The magician places a coin on the top of his fist, laying it on the finger bones below the first joints, closest to the knuckles and proceeds to move the fingers up and down. The coin flips end over end along the hand, then travels under the hand via the thumb to start all over again.

The Secret Practice and the proper use of the thumb allows for continuous coin roll flourishing.

Materials The larger coins work best, but magicians with smaller hands or exceptionally dexterous fingers may find they prefer smaller coins. Shiny coins pick up the light when working on stage or when you need a larger audience to see what you are doing, while older, weathered coins fit routines that need an air of mystery.

Preparation Just plenty of practice and limber fingers!


You can eventually train yourself to do coin rolls with both hands, but for now pick the hand that feels the most natural to work with. We will assume that is your right hand for the purpose of this article.

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1. Your hand will likely feel the most comfortable held around chest high when standing. Just bend your elbow and raise your hand up without lifting your upper arm. It is important to be relaxed and there is no point in needlessly wasting energy for this flourish.

2. With your left hand place the coin where you can pinch the bottom of it with your right thumb tip against the first joint of your right index finger.

3. Push the coin slightly up and it will fall across the back of your index finger. At the same time, slightly raise the first joint of your middle finger, creating a break that will keep the coin from sliding down across your fingers.

Continue to raise the middle finger, then bring it down. It should grip the edge of the coin and pull it down between it and the right side of your index finger. The coin will then rise in the air and turn over, now resting on the back of your middle finger.

4.

5. Repeat the process of raising the next finger up to both catch the coin, and then down to pull it into a flip, this time falling across the back of your ring finger.

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6. With your little finger you again raise to stop the coin, but this time when you lower the finger you open it slightly away from the ring finger. This causes the coin to drop between the fingers instead of flipping over the ring finger and falling to the floor.

7. While you are doing move Six above, move your thumb under your fingers and into place below your little finger. It will be ready to provide a break to catch the coin as it falls between the ring and little fingers.

8. Push up on the coin, trapping it between your thumb and the underside of your fingers. Pull the thumb back into its natural position, exerting enough pressure to keep the coin pressed against the fingers, but allowing it to travel on the thumb.

9. As you reach passed your index finger, push up with your thumb to cause the coin to slide up and back into position next to your index finger. You can simply keep pushing it and repeat the process, going into a second coin roll.

Magical Tip

In the beginning the thumb motion may be too much to coordinate with the rolling action of the fingers- this is fine. Just let the coin drop into your left hand and place it back at the starting position for another roll. Once you are comfortable with the roll, you can add in the thumb move

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Coin Snort Trick

A quick fun bit with a coin, the coin snort provides a laugh while demonstrating the magician’s skills.

The Effect The magician produces a coin and explains that it is not as solid as it may appear. In fact, the magician claims, the metal of the coin is faulty and he can prove it. Taking the coin in his left hand, the magician raises the hand to his nose and noisily snorts it right out of his hand, which is shown to be empty. After a rub with his right hand on the nose, the magician again lifts the left hand to his nose to politely block a sneeze - and the coin flies out of his nose and into his right hand!

The Secret Using a finger palm the magician first retains the coin in the right hand and then secretly transfers it to the left for reappearance.

Materials A coin and a bit of acting.

Preparation This is one of those wonderful bits that can be done anywhere with no advance preparation.


The magician should be 100% comfortable with the finger palm, French drop, or some other method of making a coin vanish while retaining it in the starting hand. This, plus a secret transfer of the coin, is all that is required to get a laugh, along with a bit of acting.

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1. The magician produces a coin and begins to spin his tale of faulty metals, pixie dust, alien rays, or whatever he likes to set the scene. This trick can be done with any relatively small object that the magician can palm well, but a coin works great and can be borrowed from a spectator. The coin is passed out for inspection, and then the magician holds out his right hand for it to be returned. The coin will be placed likely close to the fingers for a finger palm set up - if not, a few bounces as the magician says “it even feels like the normal weight - but don’t be deceived!” can position it just right.

2. The magician should casually “take” the coin in his left hand, performing the finger palm sleight and then raise his left hand to his face, covering his nose.

3. A big snorting sound should take place, perhaps rubbing the palm of the left hand

against the nose as if the coin is really being forced in. As the coin was never in the left hand, this action can be performed with all confidence. It will appear as if the magician just inhaled the coin.

4. The left hand should drop to in front of the waist as the right hand comes up to rub the nose - the magician should be making faces as if he had a foreign object just jammed into his nasal passage. Here is the key to making this trick work - as the hands pass each other, a quick toss will transfer the coin from the right to the left hand. The right hand is now shown empty as it rubs the nose.

5. The left hand comes back up to cover the nose as the magician makes a pre-

sneeze face. A big sneeze should accompany dropping the coin from the left hand and the right hand is there to catch it after a short fall.

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6. A bit of over acting helps hide the transfer of the coin - the magician can turn his body a bit as he uncomfortably writhes about with a coin in his nose, helping to mask the transfer of the coin.

Magical Tip

Especially good if using a borrowed coin, the magician can apologise as he hands the coin back, gingerly handling it as if it had just been ejected from his nose and is in need of a cleaning.

Coins Through a Table Trick

A classic trick that is perfect for performing after dinner using a number of coin sleights to fool the magician’s dinning companions.

The Effect The magician either borrows four coins or uses four of his own. He places four coins in one hand and then slaps them down on the table - one of them has vanished and he retrieves it from under the table. He then takes three coins and repeats the move, showing that, again, one of the coins has magically passed through the table. Again and again the magician repeats the move until all four coins are shown to have passed through the solid table.

The Secret A napkin in the lap and a number of sleight of hand moves are the key to performing the Coins Through a Table trick.

Materials Any four coins will do, as long as they are the same denomination and can be easily handled and vanished by the magician. A cloth napkin in the lap is helpful, which is why this trick is great for after dinner.

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Preparation The magician should spread the napkin on his lap in such a way as to catch falling coins silently without allowing them to roll out of his lap.


If four identical coins can be borrowed the magician is granted a little extra amazement, but this trick works fine with coins the magician produces. The magician, through the course of the dinner leading up to performing, should make sure he is seated close to the edge of the table with the napkin spread in his lap.

1. After producing or borrowing four coins, the magician is ready to begin. The coins are placed one at a time on the left palm, with the last coin near the edge of the hand (opposite the thumb.) The coins should be counted off, “one, two, three, four.”

2. The left hand is closed to a fist and held near the edge of the table as the right

hand points to the left. “Four coins are here…” the magician says, and then raises the right hand up and open, “… and no coins here.” At that moment the bottom most coin should be dropped from the left hand to land quietly on the napkin in the magician’s lap.

3. The right hand is placed in the magician’s lap (and picks up the coin) as the left hand is brought forward. “Pay attention” says the magician, and then slams the hand down, palm down, on the table. The coin in the right hand should be rapped against the underside of the table a moment after.

4. The left hand is removed, showing three coins. “Three coins on top of the table.” The right hand is pulled out from under the table and the fourth coin shown. “One coin under the table, having passed through solid wood.”

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5. The fourth coin is tossed on the table and the other three are picked up with the left hand. “One, two, three” says the magician, tossing the coins into the right hand, making sure than one falls into position for a finger palm.

6. The coin should be palmed as the hand is turned over and the other coins are

tossed into the left hand, which quickly makes a fist.

7. The right hand (hiding a coin) picks up the fourth coin from the table and moves under the table. The magician again slams his left hand on the table, then removes to show only two coins and two coins are produced from under the table.

8. All four coins are placed near the edge of the table, two in front of the left hand

and two in front of the right. With right hand pick up one coin, counting and place it on top of the second and then pick up both coins.

9. With left hand magician picks up a coin, “one” and places it on top of the second, “two”, but as he pulls them up into his hand the second coin falls into the lap.

10. The right hand goes under the table again and retrieves this third coin. Again the

left hand slams onto the table and only one coin is revealed, the other three coming out from underneath in the right hand. Toss all coins on the table.

11. Magician picks up one coin and does finger palm vanish into left hand, “one”, and then picks up the other three coins, “one, two, three.” A final slam shows that the fourth and final coin has travelled through the table and all four coins are produced from under the table.

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Magical Tip

Because of the multiple sleights required, this trick should be given a lot of practice before performing.

Finger Palm Vanish Trick

One of the easiest - and oldest - ways to make a small object disappear; the finger palm is a classic bit of sleight of hand.

The Effect The magician displays a coin in his right hand and then holds out his left. With a casual motion, he dumps the coin from right to left hand, making a fist of his left as he does so. With a wave of the hand and a magic word, the left hand opens to show that the coin has vanished.

The Secret The key here is the natural “pocket” formed by the fingers when the hand is held open, but relaxed. A decent sized coin will snugly fit between the inside of the fingers and the “meat” at the top of the palm.

Materials Nothing is required beyond the object to be "vanished".

Preparation Plenty of practice and you are ready to go at a moment’s notice with no set up.


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The finger palm vanish is actually two moves - the actual finger palm and the vanish. The first is mostly sleight of hand (and thus requires loads of practice) and the latter is mostly showmanship.

The Finger Palm

Any palm is, as the name suggests, the securing of an object in the palm of the hand without its presence being detectable. This means that natural motions and misdirection are as key as the manual dexterity required to pull it off.

1. Place the object to be vanished (we’ll assume it is a coin, but it could be any object small enough) in your right hand, on the fingers, not the palm. Your hand should be out, a little over waist height, palm up.

2. Hold out your left hand in the same manner. Pass your right hand over your left, turning your right hand over and letting the coin drop into the left. Immediately close your left hand over the object into a fist and raise it to about eye level. Your right hand can drop casually to the side.

3. Now repeat the same move, only this time as your right hand turns over, curve your fingers slightly. This should trap the coin between your fingers and palm.

4. Complete the motion as before, with all of your attention on the left hand, as if

you actually placed the object there.

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The Vanish

Making any object disappear is, as stated above, equal parts mechanism and acting. Your mannerisms, where you look, what you say, your body language all play a role in convincing your audience that the object is right where they think it should be.

In the above instructions, you can simply ask a spectator to blow on your closed fist, say a magic word, or pretend to squeeze the coin out of existence, then dramatically turn over and open your left hand. Viola! The coin has vanished.

Magical Tip

As is important with any magic trick requiring sleight of hand, practice the moves over and over again until you can do them in a completely natural manner. Once you have the Finger Palm Vanish down you will find yourself using it in dozens of other tricks, vastly increasing your range.

Magic Comeback Coins

A great coin trick that can be performed sitting or standing and anywhere close up magic would be appreciated.

The Effect The magician reaches into a jacket pocket and pulls out three coins then tosses them on the table in front of him. He picks up two of them and puts them in his left hand and puts the third coin back in his pocket. With a magic word, the third coin is shown to have joined the other two in the magician’s closed fist. Over and over the coin refuses to stay put, until all three coins mysteriously vanish!

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The Secret The finger palm and multiple coin vanish are used, along with a secret, fourth coin.

Materials Four coins of the same denomination are needed, all roughly of the same appearance. No one coin should be obviously marked or stand out in any way. A dinner jacket works well with this trick.

Preparation Place four coins in the right pocket of a dinner jacket or a pair of trousers.


This trick is best performed wearing a jacket and seated, as it makes the final vanish less obvious, but it can be done with trousers and standing with a bit of extra practice.

1. The magician reaches into his right jacket pocket and finger palms one of the four coins. He then pulls all the coins out, with only three visible, held in his finger tips.

2. The three coins are tossed on the table in front of the magician. He then picks up

one coin with the right hand and tosses it openly into the left palm.

3. A second coin is picked up with right hand and tossed into left, but this time the secret finger palmed coin is tossed with it. A quick close of the left fist will hide the fact that it holds three coins instead of two.

4. The third coin from the table is picked up and apparently placed back in the jacket pocket, but secretly finger palmed. The right hand

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should then rest easily on the table.

5. The left hand is opened to show three coins, as if the coin in the pocket could not be separated from the other two. All three coins are tossed on the table.

6. The magician picks up two coins, one with left hand and one with right. The right hand coin is tossed into the left hand on the fingers, where it can be finger palmed.

7. The left hand dumps the coins to the right, but secretly finger palms one. Only one coin transfers, but as the right hand already held a coin it is opened to show two coins. Both coins are placed on top of the left fist and shown to sink into the fist.

8. The remaining coin on the table is placed in the right pocket, and the right hand, now empty, rests on the table. The left hand is opened to show three coins again.

9. The coins are tossed on the table. The right hand picks up two coins and then does

the Multiple Coin Vanish (appearing to put them in the left hand but retaining them).

10. The last coin is picked up with the right hand and put in the pocket. The magician should take pains to quietly put all the coins in the pocket and pull out his empty right hand. The left hand is opened to show all the coins have vanished.

Magical Tip

When opening the left hand to show that all three coins are there, a quick, jerky motion should allow all the coins to pop slightly, making it appear as if the third coin has just arrived as you opened your hand.

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Multi Coin Vanish Trick

There comes a time in every magician’s act when he needs to make a handful of coins vanish. The Multi Coin Vanish is the key skill to making this happen.

The Effect The magician takes four or five coins and streams them from one hand to another as he goes about his act. He passes the handful of metal from one hand to the next and all the while the faint clinking of coins provides a backdrop to his story. After one pass of the coins from hand to hand he pauses, holds up the receiving hand, and opens it to show that all the coins have vanished!

The Secret The key move is similar to a finger palm vanish, and what is normally the enemy of the magician- coins clinking together- actually provides the key misdirection.

Materials While this trick could be done with buttons or other small, noisy objects, it works very well with coins.

Preparation No advance prep needed beyond practice, and a plan on how to make the coins reappear.

Performing The Trick

The Multiple Coin Vanish is not a trick in and of itself, but rather a sleight of hand move that often provides the key to performing some other illusion. This move should be practiced until it can be performed flawlessly, and it will take practice to determine how many coins the magician can manage when performing this sleight.

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1. Taking a handful of coins in his right hand, the magician holds them in a fist and then lets them dribble out into his waiting left hand. This move is then repeated from left to right hand.

2. The magician then holds the coins in his right hand, palm up and open, with the hand slightly cupped and the coins on the palm. He then tilts the right hand over his open and waiting left, allowing the coins to pour from one hand to the other. Again, this move is repeated from left to right.

3. This time the magician repeats the pouring move, but faster, quickly dumping the coins from right to left, and this time making a fist of the left hand.

The right hand drops to the side as the left fist is raised (actually holding the coins), then the right hand comes up as the coins are dribbled from the bottom of the left fist. Now the audience is set up for the magician to perform the vanish.

4.

5. The same pattern is repeated as before- the coins are dribbled from right to left, and then left to right. The coins are poured from right to left, then from left to right. Now comes the vanish.

6. This time as the magician goes to perform the quick dump, he allows the coins to fall not from his right palm to his left, but from his right palm to the natural bowl of his right fingers. The magician should close the left fist as if it just received the hand full of coins and raise it up as before, casually lowering his right hand.

7. The left hand is squeezed and the fingers work together, as if rubbing the contents of the hand out of existence. The hand is opened slowly to reveal that all of the coins have vanished.

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Magical Tip

When the actual move is made, when the coins go from right palm to right fingers, it needs to be done quickly. The clinking of the coins as they slam into each other will sound exactly as if they fell from right hand to left. This is the key that, along with the fact you are repeating a move already seen, will convince the audience that the coins are indeed in the left hand.

Multiply Your Money Trick

Everyone would love to be able to multiply their money with nothing more than a few quick gestures but only a magician can make it happen.

The Effect The magician holds up a small denomination coin and explains that, as much as he likes to have money in his pocket, there are times he would like to have a bit more. Right in front of the spectator’s eyes the magician takes hold of the coin with both hands and almost immediately spreads them open, to show that the one small coin has multiplied into two more valuable coins.

The Secret

Three coins - two large and one small - are held in such a way as to fool the spectator.

Materials One small denomination coin and two larger is all that is needed.

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Preparation Only a moment’s preparation is needed, long enough to place the three coins in the starting position, although it is important to note angles and point of view.


This trick can be done quickly as a one off bit, or as part of a larger routine. The essence of the trick is doing it right in front of the spectator’s eyes.

1. The starting position is assumed by holding two large coins by their edges, horizontally between inside of the right hand thumb and forefinger, and the smaller coin in front, held vertically and face forward, between the tips of the thumb and forefinger. When held at eye level it is impossible to see the two larger coins held behind the smaller, hidden as it is by the curve of the fingers themselves and the face of the smaller coin.

2. The magician then explains how he will multiply his money with a word. Holding

the right hand up at eye level, the fingers are open and hiding nothing - at least as far as the spectator can tell.

3. Turning his right hand so that the smaller coin is facing the left, the magician brings both hands together, with the thumb and forefinger of each hand meeting in the middle.

4. The thumb of the left hand pushes on the bottom of the small coin, causing it to rotate to the bottom of the two coin stack. Now all three coins are horizontal and hidden from view.

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5. The right thumb grabs the smaller coin as the left hand pinches off the top larger coin. Both coins are displayed for a visual reveal that shows the small coin transform into two larger.

6. It is important not to flash the hidden small coin when pulling the two larger coins

apart. This flash could be visual or, more likely, audible. The small coin may “clink” as the two larger coins are pulled apart, so care must be taken to pull them apart gently.

7. At this point the trick could be over or, for more impact, the smaller coin could be gotten rid of and the larger coins handed out for inspection. This could be accomplished with a bit of misdirection and simple sleight of hand.

8. Hold out the left coin as you say “As you can see these are normal coins.” While a spectator is taking the left coin, allow the smaller coin to drop into the right palm for finger palming. The right hand can then pass out the right coin or, if the magician is not comfortable that it can be hidden, the left hand can take the larger coin from the right and pass it out.

9. The magician can reach into the right pocket to deposit the smaller coin and pull out a handkerchief, which he can use to polish the coins as he takes them back from the spectators with an appropriately witty comment.

Magical Tip

Practice in front of a mirror to ensure that you get the right angles down pat.

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Pinch Vanish Trick

Yet another classic manoeuvre the pinch vanish can be done as a trick itself, but more commonly it is used as a sleight of hand move in a larger trick.

The Effect The magician holds up a coin for display with one hand in full view of the audience. With his other hand the magician takes the coin and then rubs his fingers together. When the fingers open, the coin is gone!

The Secret The sleight of hand move called the pinch vanish retains the coin in the starting hand.

Materials No extra materials are needed beyond a coin.



The Pinch Vanish, also called the Drop Vanish, is used to fool the audience into thinking that the magician has taken the coin - or similar small object - away in his right hand while actually retaining it in his left.

1. The magician holds a coin in the left hand, pinched on its edge between the thumb and fingers (this is where the vanish gets its name). The fingers of the hand are together, allowing no spaces between them and the backs

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of the fingers are towards the spectators (so the thumb is facing the magician).

2. The right hand approaches the coin from the side.

The right hand is held in a similar manner, with the fingers together and their backs facing the audience. In one smooth move the magician covers the coin with his fingers as if to take it. Once the coin is gone from view, the left thumb loosens its grip on the coin, which is allowed to drop into the left hand. It should land nicely in a finger palm position.

3.

4. The right hand completes the move as if it held the coin. The magician drops his left hand to his side, forgotten, with the coin held in the finger palm position. The magician follows the right hand with his head and eyes, as if it actually held the coin. The audience will look where the magician looks, accepting his misdirection.

5. At this point the magician can pretend to make the coin dissapear as he wishes - rubbing the fingers together as if rubbing the coin out of existence, tossing the hand up as if the coin will fly out, etc. When the hand is opened, one way or another, the coin has vanished.

6. Making the coin re-appear is the next logical step, but may not be required

depending on what you plan on doing with the pinch vanish. If it is part of a larger

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coin routine then you may have plans for that coin still in the left hand, in finger palm position. Reaching into a pocket to retrieve an item for the next trick is a way to get rid of the coin without making it re-appear, which is perfectly acceptable. One way to make the coin vanish and re-appear would be to make the vanish occur as the magician “tosses” it into the air and then clap the hands together to “catch” it on it’s way down. Thus it will appear to have been invisible for a moment.

Magical Tip

Practice actually taking the coin to observe how your arms and eyes behave, so that you may imitate that behaviour when actually performing the vanish.

Tie Vanish Trick

A great coin vanish when dressed to the nines; the Tie Vanish is sure to stun your spectator.

The Effect The magician requests assistance and has as spectator come to him. Displaying a coin, he then pulls out a handkerchief and covers the coin with it. He requests that the spectator holds onto the coin through the handkerchief to make sure that it stays put. Pulling a magic wand out of his pocket, the magician makes a pass and then returns the wand, saying the coin is gone. When the spectator protests the magician takes the handkerchief in both hands and on the count of three, has the spectator let go. The handkerchief is whipped aside to show that the coin, indeed, is gone.

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The Secret

A second coin secreted in the lining of the magician’s necktie is the key.

Materials A necktie and two coins, a handkerchief and a “magic wand.”

Preparation A coin of the same denomination that will be shown to the audience is placed inside the lining of the necktie so that it rests at the tip of the necktie when worn normally. A handkerchief is placed in one pocket and a “wand”- which could be a pencil or anything similar- in the other.


This is a great bit of close up and tactile magic and it will really impress the volunteer holding the coin.

1. The magician produces a coin and announces that he will be making it disappear, but to make things more difficult, he will do so while a spectator is holding it. He then asks for a volunteer.

2. After the volunteer approaches, the magician hands the coin to him or her and asks for an examination of the coin. After taking the coin back in his left hand, the magician reaches into his right pocket to retrieve the handkerchief. “Now we cover the coin with this handkerchief,” he says, as he lifts his left hand with the coin pinched and on display between thumb and fingertips.

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3. The handkerchief will be draped over the coin, but as it is covering it the magician quickly grabs the tip of the necktie with the second coin.

4. This second coin is the one covered by the handkerchief, with the first coin

dropping quietly into a finger palm.

5. The magician asks the spectator to hold the coin through the handkerchief while the magician gets his wand.

6. Reaching into the left pocket with the left hand, the magician then deposits the

first coin in the pocket. Now all that is left is show.

7. A few passes of the wand later the magician declares the coin is gone. The spectator will protest, saying he can feel it. The magician replaces the wand and grabs the ends of the handkerchief. “We shall see,” he says, and instruct the spectator to drop the coin on three. On three the handkerchief is whipped away to show the coin has vanished, as the necktie falls back into place under cover of pulling away the handkerchief.

Magical Tip

Keep the spectator close to you, as the trick will be ruined if he backs up and pulls your necktie with him.

Documents

Magic Tricks (Misc.)