Simple Magic Tricks Explained – Get Ready to Amaze!
Here you will find simple magic tricks that use minimal props, are pretty easy to do, and will amaze your spectators.
I have performed all of these tricks for real audiences and always get great reactions. These magic tricks are strong, practical, and mind blowing.
Simple Magic Tricks – See Them Performed
I am right handed. If you are a lefty switch hands.
Bill Through Bill Magic Trick
A folded bill penetrates straight through another bill.
HOW TO DO IT:
- Borrow 2 bills.
- Fold them in half the long way.
- Fold them in half again.
- Place one bill in the fold of the other bill.
- Cleanly show the bills.
- Grip the bills at the very edge with your thumb, 1st, and 2nd fingers.
- Sharply pull the trapped bill straight down.
THE SECRET:
This trick is amazing! You actually do exactly what you say you do. When you pull the bill down it bends and comes out. Since you do it quickly it cannot be seen.
Pro Tips
Do it 2x and then move on to your next trick.
You could go right into the Coin Behind the Ear Trick and The Coin Balancing Trick.
Cut and Restored String Trick
Your spectator cuts a piece of string and you restore it in their hand.
PREPARATION:
You have to prepare the string. You need twine and scissors:
Cut off a piece of string (twine) the length of your fingertips to your shoulder. Fold the twine in half. Twine is actually about 10 separate strands of string twisted together.
Untwist the middle and separate into two halves. Pull them apart for about the length of your finger. Retwist the halves so the new ends look perfect.
Twist the real ends together to create a fake middle. You can use a dab of glue stick to get them to stay.
PERFORMANCE:
- Hold the string with your thumb and 1st finger at the seam and casually show it.
- Cut off the supposed middle.
- Cleanly show two strings.
- Flip the string over and have your spectator make a loose fist around it.
- Lay the fake ends over the top of their fist.
- Wave your hand over their fist.
- Pull the ends apart slowly and firmly and the string will magically restore.
Pro Tips
Don’t worry about your spectator seeing the seam. They don’t know what to look for and will not be looking that closely.
The great thing about this trick is that you end clean. Everything can be examined. Don’t worry about the piece they cut off. They won’t suspect anything.
Card to Sweet’N Low Trick
You pour Sweet’N Low on your arm and it forms into your spectator’s card.
PREPARATION:
Use either rubber cement, chapstick, or a small bar of soap. If you use soap wet it a little. Write the card on your arm and let it dry. Go over the card a few times so it is clear.
SETUP:
Bring out a sweet’n low packet and a deck of cards.
Hindu Shuffle Card Force
You will “force” your spectator to pick the prepared card. Start with your force card on the bottom of the deck. Hindu shuffle until your spectator says stop.
When they say stop tap the packet in your right hand on the back of the cards in your left hand, as if squaring up the cards.
Lift up the right packet and show the bottom card, your “force card.” Place this packet back on top.
THE REVEAL:
Wave your hand over the Sweet’n Low packet. Tell your spectator their card is inside. Have them open it. They will not find their card.
Pour the Sweet’n Low on your arm. Shake the sweet’n low off and it will leave an impression of their card.
Pen Production Trick
You produce a pen at your fingertips.
Right Hand Starting Position
Hold the pen against your right wrist with your right thumb, 1st, and 2nd fingers curled naturally. Relax your arm at your side. Turn your body slightly to the left so the back of your right hand is toward the audience and the pen is hidden.
Left Hand Starting Position
Hold your left hand palm up with your fingers curled naturally, ready to grip the pen.
PERFORMANCE:
Rub your left thumb, 1st, and 2nd fingers together drawing attention to your hand. Bring your right hand up and over your left hand in a waving motion.
Grip the pen in the middle with your left thumb, 1st, and 2nd fingers. Immediately spread your right hand wide open and continue moving upward in a waving motion.
Move your right hand out of the frame and back to your side after you wave over the pen. Wiggle and rotate the pen slightly and display it at your left fingertips.
Pro Tips
Make sure you have your spectator’s attention before you produce the pen or they will miss it.
Go slowly! Your spectators are not expecting anything, there is no heat or pressure on you.
The reason you wiggle the pen after you produce it is so your spectators see it. You don’t want the unmoving pen to blend in with the design of your shirt.
Always keep the back of your hand with the concealed pen toward your audience.
Spend some time in front of a mirror so you can understand your angles and your spectator’s perspective.
You must get used to & comfortable with “holding out.” Holding out is when you have an object concealed in your hand. This is an important part of sleight of hand magic.
To practice, conceal the pen in your hand and go about your normal daily activities. Practice until you feel comfortable. Confidence is everything, nobody knows you are holding out a pen.
Vanishing Pen Trick
You make a pen visually disappear.
HOW TO DO IT:
- Display the pen between your thumb, 1st, and 2nd fingers.
- Bend the pen forward creating tension.
- In one motion rotate your hands palm down.
- Snap the pen off your left thumb.
- Pivot the pen into starting position with your right 2nd finger.
- Let your arms fall naturally to your sides.
- Slightly turn left so the back of your hands are toward the audience.
Pro Tips
This vanish happens quickly. It is sort of like a snap, and the pen vanishes. The noise adds to the illusion.
First learn and perfect snapping the pen into your hand. You need to be able to do this instantaneously, smoothly, and reliably. Your thumb may hurt from all the practice.
Spend some time in front of the mirror.
When you drop your arms to your sides let them swing a little bit before they stop moving completely. This is what you would naturally do.
Good sleight of hand takes into account naturalness and normal movements. The details make all the difference.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Sleight of Hand Tricks With Pencils – Detailed Guide with Pictures
Pen From Elbow Trick
Produce the pen from behind your elbow.
HOW TO DO IT:
- Lift your left arm and look at your left elbow.
- Keep the back of your right hand toward the audience.
- Move your right hand under your elbow.
- With your right thumb, 1st, and 2nd finger pivot the pen out of your hand.
- Slowly bring the pen into view from behind your elbow.
Pro Tips
When you make something disappear spectators will eventually look at your other hand. You need to have a plan. The elbow production is a good one.
Let the vanish sink in before you do the elbow production. Trust in the move, don’t rush it.
Practice in the mirror to make sure it looks natural.
While each of the above tricks can be performed as a stand-alone piece, I find it best to practice and perform them as a routine. Produce the pen, vanish it, and produce it again.
Since you have the pen out, you can perform another trick with it – Telekinetic Pen, an amazing trick where you move the pen with your mind.
Rubber Band Penetration Trick
One rubber band melts right through another.
SETUP:
You will need 2 rubber bands. I recommend Alliance Pale Crepe Gold Rubber Bands Size #19. They are soft and stretchy. Buy on Amazon.
Stretch a rubber band around your left 1st finger and thumb at the base of your nails. Place the other rubber band around the tip of your right 1st finger.
Dip the hanging rubber band into the “C” shape of your left hand. Place your right thumb into the bottom of the rubber band so it is trapped.
“You can see the rubber bands are trapped together.”
You will do a secret move to unlink them as you show the situation of the bands. The choreography here is important. Follow along with rubber bands in hand.
SECRET MOVE:
“You can’t pull them apart in the middle…”
Stretch the middle of the bands against each other showing they are trapped. As you stretch them clamp the top of the right hand band against the back of your right 1st finger with the tip of your right 2nd finger.
Slip your right 1st finger out of the band and into the bottom loop of the same band.
Unstretch the bands. Let go with your right 2nd finger and open your right thumb and 1st finger into a wide “C.”
“…or the sides.”
Stretch the band against your left thumb and then against your left 1st finger.
“Yet if I rub right in the center…”
Move the band to the center. It is already unlinked yet they cannot see this. Gently rub the bands together and slowly pull them apart one strand at a time. The illusion here is perfect.
Pro Tips
When the rubber bands are already unlinked and you are showing them in the middle, do not press them together. Rest them gently on each other, there should be no tension.
Perform this trick for a few people at a time. Otherwise it is hard to see. Tilt your hands so your spectators can clearly see the rubber bands and they aren’t blocked by the back of your hand.
Do this trick two or three times, that is enough.
Carry a few extra rubber bands just in case one breaks.
You can follow this trick up with The Jumping Rubber Band Trick.
Conclusion
All of the simple magic tricks taught here are extremely strong and practical. You can perform just one of them or all of the tricks as a routine.
The props are minimal so it is easy to carry everything you need. Have fun blowing minds!
