The Professor’s Nightmare Rope Trick Tutorial
The first time I saw the Professor’s Nightmare performed I was floored…it completely fooled me. That was over 25 years ago. I have been practicing and performing this incredible rope trick since.
The simplicity of an effect makes it stronger.
I’ve played with many different handlings and performed this trick thousands of times in front of real audiences. In my opinion the simplest, most basic version is the best. It is the one I personally use, and what you will learn below, in step by step details.
Where to Get the Rope
I order rope from a site called Baronian Trading Company. The owner, Dany Baronian, is a pleasure to deal with. Get the BTC3 – 10mm with no core. This rope is perfect. The minimum order is 25 feet, which will be plenty.
How to Construct the 3 Rope Trick Set
You will cut 3 ropes and then tuck the ends inside. The ropes should end up being about 45″, 26″, and 9″. You will lose some length when you tuck the ends so make sure to account for that when cutting.
Line up the ropes as seen in the above picture to determine the size of the medium rope.
Tuck in the ends with a mechanical pencil with no lead. Or you can dip the ends in Elmer’s glue and let them dry overnight.
I am right handed. If you are a lefty switch hands.
Professor’s Nightmare Rope Trick
Showing the 3 Ropes
“A long piece, a short piece, and a medium piece of rope.”
Start with the ropes in your left hand. Take the long rope by the end with your right thumb and 1st finger. Hold it up and display it, and then relax your right hand slightly. Display the short piece with your left thumb and 1st finger.
Transfer the short piece to your right hand so your left hand is free to display the medium size piece.
Casually place the short piece on the long piece in an X formation with the end of the short piece running between your right 1st and 2nd fingers (see image above). Clamp the short piece in place with your right thumb.
Relax your right hand slightly and display the medium rope in your left hand. This is the moment you will switch the ends.
Professor’s Nightmare Ends Switch
With your right thumb, 1st, and 2nd finger flip the end of the long piece toward you around the end of the short piece so they switch places. Clamp the end of the long piece against the rope with your right 3rd and 4th finger.
Remove your right 1st finger from between the top ends and clamp them together with your right thumb and 1st finger. Conceal the loops with your right thumb, 1st, and 2nd finger
Place the medium rope into your right hand, to the left of the other ropes. Conceal the loops with your right thumb, and cleanly display the ropes, front and back.
Stretching the Ropes
“Just a stretch, and they are all equal.”
Clamp the 3 ropes above the loop between your right thumb and 1st finger. Keep your right 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers loosely curled around the ropes.
With your left palm toward you, grasp the ropes below your right hand. Clip the end in your left thumb crotch and hold the other 2 ropes loosely in your left fist. Slide your left hand down the ropes, moving the clipped end, until the bottoms are even. Snap the ropes. Let go of the ends with your left hand.
Professor’s Nightmare Rope Count
“This rope is the same size as this rope, which is the same size as this rope.”
Your left hand does all the movement here. Don’t move your right hand.
Lift the rope on the left, the medium rope, with your left thumb and 1st finger. Slide it all the way up through your right hand and let the end come out. While showing this rope place your right 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers between the hanging ropes.
Bring your left hand back to count the next rope.
- Clip the ends between your left 1st and 2nd fingers.
- Let go of the medium rope with your left hand and press it against the side of your right 1st finger with your right thumb, in your right thumb crotch.
Move your left hand up the same way you did when counting the 1st rope. Close your left 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers to conceal the loops and let the rope run up through your right lightly closed fist for the count of 2.
Bring your left hand back to count the last rope. Move the ends out from between your left 1st and 2nd fingers into your hand.
Place the last rope into your left hand to the right of the ropes and slide this rope through your right hand, like you did with the others, moving your left hand only.
Switch Hands
To cleanly transfer the ropes to your right hand, grip the ropes with your right hand in front of your left hand and slide your left hand down and off. I like to snap the ropes at the bottom and drop them one at a time.
Bring the ends up from the bottom, cross them over the ends on top, and hold them in place with your right thumb.
“Just a wave, and that’s the small, the medium, and the long piece of rope.”
Lift up the leftmost end, the short rope, with your left thumb and 1st finger. Move it into the crotch of your left thumb.
Lift the next end, the medium rope, between your left 1st and 2nd. Hold onto one end of the long piece with your right thumb and 1st finger and let the other end fall. Display the ropes. Take your applause.
Pro Tip
Spend time learning the moves so you can perform the trick smoothly. You need to know the handling inside and out.
There is no heat when you switch the ends so don’t make a big deal about it.
I don’t think this routine needs much patter, it speaks for itself. I don’t believe spectators like long stories.
You can make your set of ropes whatever size you want. The medium piece has to be half the size of the long piece + half the size of the short piece. Make sure the ropes aren’t too small so everyone can see the difference in sizes.
If you like rope magic check out Rope Magic Tricks – Learn My Professional Routine. There are some amazing rope tricks in there and you will learn how I get into the Professor’s Nightmare from one piece of rope during my routine.
Conclusion
The Professor’s Nightmare is the absolute best rope trick out there. It can be done close up or on stage, for up to 200 people, and can be performed surrounded.
This routine is perfect anytime, even when it is loud or people don’t speak the same language. Visual rope magic is fun to watch and gets great reactions.
All the moves here have been well thought out. They are clean, deceptive, and flow together nicely. Perform this rope magic slowly, smoothly, and confidently. You will get gasps.
