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.
Performing the Trick
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
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.
Performing the Trick
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.
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.
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.
Performing the Trick
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.
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.