Every magician has to start somewhere. While some magic tricks are complicated and require a lot of skill to perform, many are very simple and still just as impressive.
These simple tricks can be learned in a matter of minutes, require no gimmicks or preparation, and will stun spectators whether worked into a stage show or performed on the street.
The first trick can be performed almost anywhere and stuns spectators. "The Jumping Toothpick" is an incredibly simple trick that requires only two toothpicks.
In "The Jumping Toothpick" you lay one toothpick across another on the edge of a table. You can then make the toothpick move, jump, and even flip over, seemingly with telekinetic powers.
Begin by pinching the edge of one toothpick between your thumb and index fingers like you are making an "OK" sign, with the toothpick extending towards your pinky. Then place the fingernail of your middle finger against the side your thumb is touching. You should now be able to put pressure against the toothpick with the nail of your middle finger. Hold this first toothpick parallel to the edge of the table. Lay the second toothpick so that one end is resting on the table, and the other end is resting perpendicularly on the toothpick you are holding.
Now for the secret: Use your index finger to push the toothpick you are holding against the nail of your middle finger. Squeeze hard and create some tension. Now slide your middle finger towards your index. If you are creating enough tension against your nail, it will "pop" as you slide back.
This pop will cause the second toothpick to jump into the air. A really good pop will make the toothpick flip over or even send it flying. The rougher the toothpick is, the better effect you can get. The trick can be performed with wooden matches as well.
You must really apply a lot of tension to get the trick to work properly, and your hand may even shake. So when you perform the trick, talk about how you must focus your "powers". This gives you a good excuse to be tensing your hand so much.
With your free hand you can employ some misdirection by pointing your palm towards the toothpicks or making finger movements. This will take spectators' attention away from where the magic is really happening. It may even cause them to look for strings or ask you to perform the trick without your free hand floating.
What makes "The Jumping Toothpick" such a great trick is that it can be performed anywhere with a table and toothpicks or matches. Considering the amount of time people spend in eating establishments you'll have a lot of opportunity to impress your friends with this one. It also requires almost no skill.
Putting a coin through a table is another trick that requires only a table and a simple household object. In this trick you appear to slam a coin through a solid object. It requires no preparation and is simple to learn, although it will take some practice to make it look good.
The secret to this trick lies in a technique that every magician should master. "The French Drop" is a technique that has been used by magicians for hundreds of years to vanish coins.
You begin "The French Drop" by grasping a coin between your thumb and your index and middle fingers. The palm should be facing towards you with the back of the hand to the audience. You reach over with the other hand to grab the coin, but instead you drop it into the palm of the hand that was originally holding it.
It now appears that the coin has switched hands when in fact it has never left the hand it started in. You must practice to make the effect appear convincing. In the right hands this technique is flawless, and it is a basic element of many more elaborate coin tricks.
As you perform this vanish focus your gaze on the hand that is doing the grabbing. Once it has supposedly grabbed the coin, hold it high in front of your body, shake it, or yell some magic words. Now that the audience's attention is on this hand, you can inconspicuously palm the coin with your other hand as it drops to the side or points to the coin's supposed new position.
Once you have mastered "The French Drop" the rest of this trick is simple. You simply say the magic words, slam your hand on the table, and the coin has gone through the table and been caught by your other hand. The audience is unaware it never left there in the first place.These two simple tricks, when performed correctly, are sure to absolutely stun observers. The best thing about them is that they employ sleight of hand, misdirection, and patter. All of these are required skills for any magician to develop. Get practicing!
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