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.
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.
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.
• 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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
• 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.
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
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
• 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.
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.
Performing the Trick
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.”
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.
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.
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! Performing the Trick
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.
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
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.
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.
Performing the Trick
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.
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.
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. Preparation
No advance preparation required. Performing the Trick
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Materials
A regular deck of playing cards. Preparation
No advance preparation is required. Performing the Trick
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.
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
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.
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. Performing the Trick
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.
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.
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
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.
Materials
A normal deck of cards is all that is required. 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.
Performing the Trick
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.
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.”
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.
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. Performing the Trick
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,
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. “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
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.”
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. Preparation
No advance preparation required. Performing the Trick
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Performing the Trick
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]
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.
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.
