Blog entries tagged CloseUp

How to lift a bottle just by using a paper straw

John Franklin — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:03:46 +0100

This is not a fool-proof puzzle. You have to put your faith in an untested paper straw. I recommend that you only do this trick over a soft surface so that there is no damage if it doesn't work.

Show your friends an empty bottle and a paper straw. Stand the bottle on the table and then ask if anyone can lift the bottle from the table without touching it with anything except the straw. And it is against your rules (well, this is your puzzle!) to tie the poor defenseless straw round Read More...

How to Light a Burnt Match

ben guilfoyle — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:27:26 +0100

For this trick you need 2 matches and a ring (a ring thats slightly loose) and a black marker

Preparation:

using a black marker draw on the red part of one match.
put 1 match (the colored one) in the ring out of sight.

The Method:

with the marker color the red part of 1 match.
light the match that is NOT colored.
quickly quench it in your closed palm before it gets burnt past the red bit.
replRead More...

George Washington Prediction

Maxim888 — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:10:16 +0100

George Washington... a psychic, too?

Effect:

Show your friend a dollar bill and tell her to look at the serial number and to concentrate on just one of the numbers.

Tell her that George Washington wasn't just the first President of the United States, but he was also a psychic!

Ask her what the number was and after she tells you, you show her your prediction - one that was already written on the dollar bill before you began! CRead More...

Handkerchief Through Crystals Tutorial

Zisco — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:56:53 +0100

The Effect

You hand to audience for examination, three silk handkerchiefs; one red, one white, and one blue. Next you show the two crystal cylinders, such as is used on gas jets. Have someone in audience to tie the corners of blue and white handkerchiefs together and roll them into a ball, which you place in one of the cylinders, and give to someone to hold.

You next take the red handkerchief and place it in the other cylinder, and hold one hand over each end of cylinder, anRead More...

The Restored Calendar Tutorial

Chung San — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:59:55 +0100

NONE of the principles employed in this clever combination are new, but, as the audience only sees the surface of a trick, the effect is none the worse on that account. If this surface is properly camouflaged, the closer one sticks to the time-tried methods the better.

The Effect

The performer takes one of the leaves from an advertising calendar, tears off a corner and gives it to one of the audience to hold. Read More...

Envelope Vanish Coin Tutorial

Nic Bruce — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:26:25 +0100

The Effect:

A fairly heavy Manila paper envelope is prepared beforehand by cutting a slot at the bottom right corner. With a pair of scissors trim a small sliver of paper from the bottom of the envelope. When the envelope is prepared this way the opening will offer no resistance to the coin and it will fall freely into your hand.

The Secrets:

From a piece of paper the same color as the envelope, cut a round piece theRead More...

Ring And Program Trick

Aramaic Kasvinski — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:51:23 +0100

Introduction:

This was one of the best features of the program given by Guibal when he played at the Eden Musée many years ago. It was not new even at that time; in fact, I had made it a part of my own show in my amateur days; but it is extremely effective if properly handled, and it has always been a surprise to me that it has not come into more general use.

Guibal probably learned the trick from Verbeck, for whom he acted as interpreter during the tour of the Read More...

Vanishing a Coin with the Aid of a Handkerchief

Zisco — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:13:43 +0100

Here is an oldie, the method of which can be used to vanish not only a coin but any other small article as well.

Spread a handkerchief over the palm up left hand so one corner will lie on the forearm. Show a half dollar in the right hand, then place it between the thumb and first and second fingers of the left hand, holding it vertically through the cloth, Fig. 1.

With the right thumb and forefinger, pick up the inner corner of the handkerchief and bring it forward over Read More...

One in 52 Card Trick Tutorial

Maxim888 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:44:26 +0100

This is a simple trick too, but use a little care when you handle the cards. Spread a normal deck of cards face-up on the table. Ask someone to point to any card they want.

Pull their chosen card from the spread deck and drop it on the bottom card. Pick up the deck and give it a couple of cuts. Now spread the deck, face down, and your friends see there is just one card with a different color back. You lift that card out and turn it over - that's right, it is their chosen card!

The Hypnotized Handkerchief Tutorial

Maxim888 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:31:13 +0100

Hypnotize a handkerchief to move at your command!

REQUIREMENTS: One handkerchief with a hem, one drinking straw

In order to perform this effect you will need to take a drinking straw and flatten it out. This is easier with the old fashioned paper straws, but a plastic straw will do. Be careful not to mangle the straw as you flatten it.

Next, sew the straw into the hem of a handkerchief as shown in Figure Read More...

Houdini Rubber Band Escape Revealed

Maxim888 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:37:56 +0100

A miniature escape that demonstrates how solid can pass through solid!

REQUIREMENTS: One medium sized rubber band.

This is sometimes also called the Hopping Rubber Band. You loop a rubber band over your first two fingers, and then it inexplicably jumps to the second two fingers.

Criss Angel Teaches Magic

Presco Uzbekis — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:39:43 +0100

Enjoy a few tricks performed and revealed by Criss Angel itself. Tricks that he taught: card thought, aces anytime, lipstick, four aces, into the mind, levitating roll, double card prediction, linked, bill tear and restored, penny or dime, mugs up, houdini favorite trick, floating cup, floating coin, color blind, coin from roll, card thought, blow out.

Card Thought:

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-qMNRUbzBU]

Aces Anytime:

[videoRead More...

Hindu Gypsy Thread Revealed

Presco Uzbekis — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:25:27 +0100

Effect: Performer takes a spool of thread, unravels about a foot of it, & then breaks it off, putting the spool down. Performer proceeds to break the thread into 6 or 7 clearly broken & different pieces, then holding one piece in one hand, the other pieces are rolled up into a ball and 'squashed' onto the piece from the other hand. When this is unravelled it is seen to be completely restored to it's original length. VERY visual, & very clean, pretty easy to do as well. Here's the Read More...

The Indian Needle Trick

Presco Uzbekis — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:19:28 +0100

My own original way. The same old effect but you can defy all the physicians and surgeons in the world to find anything in your mouth before and after. No secret loading and I have worked the stunt for two months now and got some good write-ups on it.

You have a little work basket sitting on the table and inside have a paper of needles, a spool of white thread and your bundle of needles already threaded and rolled up in usual manner. This bunch is rolled, of course, so the thread iRead More...

Gone Without Trace Card Tutorial

Aramaic Kasvinski — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:46:57 +0100

This is an amazing trick that is guaranteed to get reactions like no other. This version is designed so anyone can do it. No sleight of hand at all, just simple, pure effect. You make a selected card completely vanish from the deck and appear wherever you want it to.

This trick requires you to make up a simple gimmick using two ordinary playing cards. Tape any two cards together as shown in Photo 3.1. NOTE: The front card is cut a little short. The back card (8 of spades) is the caRead More...

The Mysterious Coin Balance Revealed

James Steerforth — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:38:13 +0100

You can balance a coin at your fingertips, but no one else can!

REQUIREMENTS: One large coin, one straight pin

Here's a great trick to demonstrate your mastery of mind over matter!

The Secret:

Have a regular straight pin concealed in one hand, between the first two fingers. With the other hand, pull a coin out of yoRead More...

Cut & Restored String

Aramaic Kasvinski — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:06:12 +0100

The Effect:

A string or rope is cut into two pieces, and then magically restored into one piece!

The Requirements:

One piece of heavy string or thin rope.
A piece of writing paper.
A pair of good scissors.

The Method:

The Cut-and-Restored rope effect is a classic of magic. Prefold a piece of paper before the show so it looks like the paper in Figure 1. When it's time to present the trick, pull out the paper and lay the string inRead More...

Spookey

RHMAGIC — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Practicing your sleight of hand is important for the close up worker. There are a lot of sleights and

handlings out there and you have to pick a select few that work for you.

The best way I found to practice my sleight of hand is in front of a mirror and to practice the trick

"Spookey" by Jay Sankey.

How does a key trick help you with your sleight of hand? With "Spookey" you have to learn hoRead More...

David Blaine Thread Magic Revealed

Presco Uzbekis — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Effect:
This trick was performed very well by David Blaine . The magician is seen to roll some thread into a ball in his fingers . The thread is then placed in his mouth and he appears to swallow it. The magician appears to be in pain , when he bares his stomach and visibly pulls the thread out from it .

Items :
Thread , you will need two pieces of the same coloured thread .
"New skin" latex clear paint for covering cuts and grazes or other brand of Read More...

Onion Magic Tutorial

Albert Zinx — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Effect: The human being with supernatural abilities asks the folks, "Wanna see something strange?" They say they would like that very much. "Well, it's gonna cost ya five...no, TEN bucks. Plus tax. That would normally work out to over 11 dollars, but let's just keep it simple. To show you something you're going to remember for the rest of your lives I'm going to need 10 bucks and 10 cents. Whose got a 10 dollar bill and a dime?"

The spectators cough up the cash and -without ever toRead More...