One of my favorite "Novice" tricks

[DeathToSophists]

(No spoilers or secrets)

Explain to your audience that you're not about to perform "magic" at all. You are simply going to demonstrate a little known "fact" about science.

You will need: A table, two chairs at opposite ends of the table, a small audience, a penny, a sheet of newspaper, some salt and a tapered glass.

Take a penny and place it in the center of the table. Make a speech about static electricity being capable of driving the penny through the table. As indifferently as possible, wrap the newspaper around the glass. Place the glass over the penny and state that you are going to drive the penny through the table. Scratch your chin thoughtfully and remove the glass. Pull the glass towards you casually and emphasize the penny by placing a dash of salt on it. ("this aids the static...etc."). Replace the glass and (Don't actually do the next step if you haven't figured out the gaff) and slam your hand down HARD over the glass. The paper scrunches flat, and the glass has disappeared.
;) Remove the paper and say "oops! Coin is still there...umm...guess it didn't work right". At this point, casually recover the glass from under the table and say "guess the static built up around the glass too much" and WALK AWAY. You will be asked to do it again; don't ;)

[bignickel]

I've always been a magic fan, but I've never really been dedicated enough in the practice of it. Too lazy in practice; an 'amatuer amatuer'?

But this one I got off a website, no matter how clumsily I do any other trick, leaves people shaking their heads:

Have someone shuffle a deck of cards, put the deck on a table, and then you put a nearby book, newspaper, or magazine on top of the deck.

After a few minutes of casual conversation, suddenly get a piece of paper, write something on it, and give it to a spectator.

Uncover the deck, and what do you know: you've just written down the top three cards.

Great effect, but the secret, as Jonathan Creek would put it, is horribly banal.

[RSLancastr]

One of mine would be when you see that a group of nuns are attending the show, and you ask the youngest one to come up on stage to help you with a trick, and you make her disappear.

[Halbert]

Curiously, in that first trick, would you say the effect is strengthened or weakened by having an audience member crush the glass?

[RSLancastr]

Originally posted by Halbert
Curiously, in that first trick, would you say the effect is strengthened or weakened by having an audience member crush the glass? If you mean having them be the one to slam their hand down onto the "paper-covered glass", offhand, I would say that it would weaken the trick considerably.

Two reasons:

1. The mark would possibly be too hesitant to SLAM their hand down.

2. You would have to tell the mark to slam their hand down, which would telegraph to the audience the fact that the glass is no longer there.

[Halbert]

That was what I meant, yes.

1. The mark would possibly be too hesitant to SLAM their hand down.Yeah, you would have to pick a younger (ie child) person, or someone who was aggressive enough to really 'give it a good whack'.

2. You would have to tell the mark to slam their hand down, which would telegraph to the audience the fact that the glass is no longer there.Is the slamming essential? Is slow revelation of the penetrating glass that terrible? Or would the added surprise of the spectator doing it cover that?

Considering it though, I think I agree with you. Ah well, just having fun thinking about it.

[DeathToSophists]

RSL is right, IMO~ I NEVER have an audience member assist me on this one; hesitancy is definitely a factor.

PM me if you've figured out the gaff ;)

[Brown]

A few comments about the glass trick.

First, it can be performed impromptu in restaurants, if (1) you have the right kind of glass and (2) you have the right kind of napkins.

It is usually the napkins that provide the bigger obstacle. You cannot use a cloth napkin. Not all paper napkins work, either, because they are too translucent or too flimsy (not "crinkly" enough). Also, you probably will need at least three napkins, and some restaurants only give one per person.

If you can overcome those obstacles, however, the impromptu nature of the trick and the surprising finish will make an impression on the spectators.

[homunculus]

A good trick. It's actually described roughly in Expert Card Technique, in the section about misdirection near the end.

Paul.

[homunculus]

Isn't there a rule about not exposing secrets...?

Paul.

[Voob]

Have someone shuffle a deck of cards, put the deck on a table, and then you put a nearby book, newspaper, or magazine on top of the deck.

After a few minutes of casual conversation, suddenly get a piece of paper, write something on it, and give it to a spectator.

Uncover the deck, and what do you know: you've just written down the top three cards.

This has the same principle as another effect I saw somewhere--I believe it's called "Deck Mate".

The Spectator shuffles the deck and cuts it anywhere he likes. You place your wallet on top of the packet. After explaining what a "deck mate" is ("twin" card--4 of spades, 4 of clubs, for example), the spectator removes a card from your wallet--he then looks at the card he cut to, and sure enough, it's the deck mate.

[Jeff Corey]

Originally posted by RSLancastr
One of mine would be when you see that a group of nuns are attending the show, and you ask the youngest one to come up on stage to help you with a trick, and you make her disappear.
Wow - I saw that at the Magic Castle, but the guy turned her into a hooker.
Or was that at Hef's place.

[baggie]

Originally posted by RSLancastr


2. You would have to tell the mark to slam their hand down, which would telegraph to the audience the fact that the glass is no longer there.

you mean it isn't ? Where did the glass go?