User Manual
VANISHING QUARTER
EFFECT: A quarter is picked up in your single, bare
hand and then it mysteriously vanishes.
SUPPLIES: A quarter* and a table that you can be
seated at.
SECRET: The secret is that the quarter is never actu-
ally in your hand; it’s just good acting! To perform
the trick, point to the quarter on the table and then
use your four ngers to slide the quarter towards
you (and the edge of the table.) It should appear as
though you are moving it to the edge to pick it up.
Instead, once the quarter gets to the edge, let it drop
into your lap (it may help to have a napkin in your
lap.) Continue moving your hand in one motion and
pretend to grab the quarter with your thumb as it
falls down. Now, turn your hand so that your ngers
are facing the audience in front of you. Blow on your
ngers and then magically open them to show that
the quarter is gone!
ADDITIONAL TRICKS
NEEDLE THRU BALLOON
EFFECT: A sewing needle is placed into a fully
blown-up balloon but it doesn’t pop!
SUPPLIES: A balloon*, a small sewing needle or
pin*, and some cellophane tape.
SECRET: To prepare this trick before you show your
audience, you’ll need to blow the balloon up so that
it’s almost completely full (but not too big!) You’ll
then place a strip of cellophane tape somewhere on
the balloon. Now you’re ready to perform! Show
the balloon and then carefully put the pin into the
balloon right where the tape is. The balloon won’t
break. Tell your audience that it only pops when you
want it to. With that, remove the pin and then push
the pin into an area without the tape… now the
balloon will pop!
GHOSTLY PENCIL
EFFECT: A pencil mysteriously moves across a
table…but no one’s touching it!
SUPPLIES: A pencil* and a at surface.
SECRET: The secret is that you’re actually blowing on
the pencil to make it move. However, your audience
will never know this because you’ll use what magi-
cian’s call misdirection. To perform, make sure you
have a at surface and a pencil that easily rolls. Place
the pencil on the table (so its side is facing you) and
place your nger in front of the side furthest from
you. Move your nger away from you, as if you hope
the pencil will follow. This will train your audience
to follow the motion of your nger. Lean your head
down close to the table “so you can see closely,” but
really it’s so that you can more easily blow on the
pencil later. Move your nger a couple more times
and tell them it’s not working. Then on the third or
fourth “attempt,” blow on the pencil as you move
your nger away. It’ll look like the pencil is magically
following your nger! One suggestion: make sure
no one is sitting in front of you or else they’ll feel you
blowing!
CARD PREDICTION
EFFECT: A spectator is handed a prediction in an
envelope and told to hold onto it for later. A deck of
cards is cut by the spectator and then cut again. A
card is selected. The spectator then opens the predic-
tion and it correctly names which card the spectator
would select!
NEEDED: A piece of paper*, a pen/pencil*, an
envelope*, and a deck of cards.
SECRET: To set this trick up, take a look at the top
of the deck and write its name on the piece of paper.
Fold the paper and place it into the envelope; now
you’re ready to perform. Show the faces of the cards
to be mixed up, then place the deck face down on the
table. Have your spectator cut the deck by lifting 1/3
to ½ of the deck and ipping the cards face up onto
the rest of the deck. Now, pick up the deck and tell
the spectator you will nd what card they cut to by
26