Tricks - Mark Wood Fun Show

This is a real neat way to make a coin disappear.
INSTRUCTIONS: First, place a coin on the back of your left fist. Cover it with the right fingers and begin to rub it against the first. Then accidentally let it fall to the floor. As you go to get it, put your left foot beside it.
Bend down and pick up the coin with your right hand. As you straighten up, let your hand pass closed to your right ankle, and allow the coin to slide off the fingers into your cuff. Don't push it in, just drop it without pausing as your hand goes past.
Place your (empty) fingers on the back of the first again and continue rubbing.
You can say, "If I do this just right, the coin will pass through my hand."
After a moment lift the fingers slowly, showing that the coin has gone. Then turn the left hand over, open it, and say, "I must have rubbed it a little too hard. I lose a lot of money that way."
Note: If your pants don't have a cuff, just fold up the bottom edge of your pants about 1 inch before your start the trick.

Remember to practice your magic trick several times before you perform it for your friends. If you have any problems with the magic tricks, you can always ask your brother, sister, mom, dad or a friend to help you figure it out.

If you really enjoy magic, a great way to learn is from books. You can visit your local library or BUY BOOKS here.

Crayons On My Mind

INSTRUCTIONS: Show several different colors of ordinary crayons and put them on a table. Put your hands behind you and turn your back to the crayons.
Have someone pick a crayon and put it in your hands. Then tell them to hide the remaining crayons before you turn around. When you turn around, you can tell them the color they selected.
THE SECRET: As you turn around towards the audience, dig the nail of your middle finger in the end of the crayon and scrape off a small piece of the wax. Bring this hand to the front, place it against your forehead and concentrate.
If you keep your fingers curled inward as your hand moves up to your forehead, you can spot the crayon under the fingernail. Then announce the color.
A TIP: Don't name the color immediately, that makes it look too easy. Pretend you are trying to read their mind, adding some mystery.

Seeing With Your Fingers

This is a easy card trick that is sure to fool your friends.
THE TRICK: You have someone shuffle a deck of cards. After putting them behind your back, you are able to name the top 3 cards in order.
THE SECRET: Before you do the trick, take out 3 cards from the deck and remember their names and the order they are in. Hide the packet of 3 cards under your belt in back. Now you are ready to do the trick.
Have the deck shuffled. Then hold the deck behind your back. Add the packet of 3 cards on top. While doing this, tell your audience that your fingers are looking at the cards. Bring the cards out front and name the top card. Turn it over to show you are right. Repeat with the second and third cards. Now tell everyone that you can really "see with your fingers".
A TIP: Make sure the packet is placed the right way on the deck before you pull it out. Remember to practice your magic trick several times before you before it for your friends.

What a Deal

This card trick is easy to do and is a great way to fool your friends.
THE TRICK: Ask someone to name a number between 7 and 20. Take a deck of cards and deal off one card at a time onto the table until you reach their number. Then replace the cards on top of the deck. They deal the same number of cards and when they come to the last card, you can predict the name of that card.
THE SECRET: (Before you do this trick, look at the card on top of the deck, remember it's name and put it back face down.) When you are ready to perform this magic trick, just ask someone to name a number between 7 and 20. (Actually any number will work.) You count this number of cards face down onto a table. Then put these cards back on top of the deck. This puts the original top card (the one you know) into the deck the same number they called out.
TELL THEM..."Now that I have shown you what to do, you count the cards." Hand them the deck and let them to count the same number of cards you just did. And just as they get to the last card, stop them and announce what the card will be. Bravo!

The Mystic 15 Cards

This is a great card trick and easy, too!
INSTRUCTIONS: Deal out three piles of playing cards, with five cards in each pile (for a total of 15 cards). Ask someone to choose any pile, look at the cards in it, then remember one of them.
Then, carefully gather up all three piles of cards, making sure the pile their card is in gets put in between (sandwiched) the other two piles.
Holding the 15 cards face up, deal off five cards in a row. Deal another card onto each of these five cards, going from left to right, then a third card on each pile.
Ask the person who remembered the card which pile his card is in. Pick up the three cards in that pile. The card they picked is the card in the middle. Show them the card and wait for the applause.
How it works is a mystery, but it works every time.

The Jumping Rubber Band

You can make a rubber band jump from around your first two fingers (Box 1) to around your other two fingers (Box 2). Then you can do it again!
THE SECRET: Place the rubber band around your first two fingers of the right hand. Keep your hand flat, palm facing the floor. Reach under the palm with your left hand and pull the rubber band down a bit. At the same time, bend all your fingers in towards your palm making a fist, being certain that all the fingertips go inside the stretched part of the rubber band (Box 3). Release the band, then open your hand. The rubber band pops to the outer fingers. You can make the rubber band jump back again by pulling the band down as before, and inserting your fingers as you did before.

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Box 1 Box 2 Box 3

A TIP: If you have a small hand, make sure you use a small rubber band.

The Disappearing Quarter

Here's a fun magic trick that is very easy to do.
THE TRICK: You show everyone a quarter and place it on the palm of your hand. Place a handkerchief over it and have several people put their hands under the hankie to make sure the quarter is still there. When you pull the hankie off your hand, the quarter is GONE!
THE SECRET: (To do this trick, you need a secret helper.) You place the quarter on your hand then cover it over with a hankie. Have several people reach under and make sure it is still there. The last person to check is your secret helper. The secret helper takes the quarter out, hiding it in his hand. He also tells everyone it is still there. Then all you have to do is say a magic word, pull the hankie off, and smile, as the quarter has disappeared.

The Magic Ice Cube

Tell your audience that you can pick up an ice cube with a small string or thread. You can even let someone try it first.
THE TRICK: The secret is SALT. Just put some salt on the ice cube. Then lay the string across it. Wait for about 1 minute. Then pick up the string slowly. The ice cube will stick to it and come up with the thread.