"ANTI-GRAVITY BOTTLE" (#49)

"Anti-Gravity Bottle" (#49)

This trick is the basis of many "store-bought" tricks and special gimmicks.

The magician asks for a volunteer from the audience who looks inside a bottle to make sure it's a normal, empty container.
The volunteer returns the bottle and then examines a magic wand to ensure it is normal.
The magician drops the wand into the bottle (noting how easily it falls in).
He/she turns bottle over and lets go of the wand.
The wand magically remains suspended in the bottle.

Supplies:
~a magic wand (could use a pencil instead) that is taller than the bottle (when you drop the wand into the bottle, part of it should still be sticking up through the opening.~a bottle that has an opening large enough to fit the wand in (but not too big). The bottle cannot be see-through ~an eraser

If you don't have a bottle that is dark, you can put some dark paint inside the bottle and shake it around so the inside is painted.
Cut a piece off the eraser, just large enough to wedge the wand into the opening of the bottle. The eraser is what makes the trick work!

Secret:
Pass the bottle to the volunteer and ask them to make sure its empty.
Take back the bottle and give your friend the wand. Meanwhile, slip the piece of eraser into the bottle without anyone seeing (you can have it in your pocket until this point). You'll need to practice this a few times.
Take the wand back and drop it into the bottle.
Pick up the wand and bottle and turn them VERY SLOWLY upside down (mumble all sorts of enchantments while you're doing this). Pull on the wand slightly when the bottle is turning over so the piece of eraser gets wedged into the opening (you'll need to practice this a few times too).
Let go of the wand...... It doesn't fall out !
Slowly turn upright again. Let go of everything and the wand remains suspended in the bottle (it doesn't fall back down).
To remove the wand, push it slightly to release the rubber and then take it out

Chicken Bone Knot (#48)

"ABRACA-CHICKEN !!" (#48)

The magician apologizes to the audience -- he forgot the magic rope for his rope trick. BUT, luckily he had chicken for lunch, so he'll use a chicken bone, say a magic word and turn it into a rope with a knot in it.
The magician shows the audience the magic box inside and out ( a Kentucky Fried Chicken box would work well). He can also let them examine the chicken bone (if he's comfortable that no one will break it).
The magician places a chicken bone into a magic box. He says abracadabra but nothing happens. He considers for a moment (consults his magic puppet or assistant if he has one) and realizes he should have said Abraka-chicken.
He places the bone into the box again. He reminds the audience to help him remember the correct magic word. He waves his magic wand over the box and says Abraca-chicken!
Oh no! (either the assistant or the magic puppet or the audience can point out that he's used the wrong magic word again).
What can it mean? What happened? The magician looks nervous and tells the audience that Abraca-chicken is a very advanced magic word... he wasn't ready for magic that advanced.
The magician reaches into the magic box and pulls out a chicken bone with a knot into it. (remember, it was supposed to turn into a rope with a knot in it).

Supplies:
two magic boxes that are identical
main work table covered in a table cloth
OPTIONAL: handkerchief and magic wand
lower table in front of the work table that only the magician can see
two identical thin chicken bones
vinegar

Secret:

BEFORE THE TRICK:
This trick is half science.
Drop one of the chicken bones into the vinegar. Make sure it's totally immersed. Leave it there for a day. (you will notice it bubbling). The bone will now be like a piece of string. Tie it in a knot. Leave it sit on the table for another day. Carbon dioxide from the air will re-enter the bone making it hard again.
Put the knotted bone inside one of the magic boxes. Leave the other one empty, set them both on the low table that no one but the magician can see.
DURING THE TRICK:
Note: If using a handkerchief, fiddle around with it a lot to make the audience think it has something to do with the magic.
Take the empty magic box and put it on the table. Let everyone see that it's empty. Place the chicken bone in the box. Cover with a handkerchief (optional). Wave your magic wand over it and say Abracadabra. Remove the handkerchief, pull out the bone and look very disappointed.
When you're revealing that nothing happened, look embarrassed and quickly put everything back on the table. Make sure you put the box as close as possible to the other box.
Make it look like you're getting ready for / starting to explain the next trick. Then have your assistant or magic puppet remind you that you used the wrong magic word. (or remember yourself).
Look very excited and start repeating the correct magic word ALAKA-CHICKEN to yourself. Moving quickly like you're excited to get going again, put the bone back in the empty box WHILE IT'S STILL ON THE LOW TABLE.
Now turn to the audience and ask them to help you remember the new magic word.
Pick up the box with the knotted bone inside. Cover with a handkerchief. Wave the wand and say ABRACA-CHICKEN.
In all the excitement and confusion the audience should miss the fact that you switched boxes.
Realize that you've said the wrong word again (with the audience's/magic puppet/assistant's help). Look nervous -- it's an advanced magic word *gulp*. Remove the handkerchief. Reach in and pull out the chicken bone with a knot in it.
(you can say something like: The bad news is that it didn't turn into a rope. The good news is that it does have a knot in it).
You can give it to the audience to look at.

ROPE KNOT !!(#45)

Rope Trick (#45)

Holding a piece of rope, the magician places the ends of the rope into his hands and closes his fingers around the ends. The magician shakes the rope slightly, says a magic word, blows on his hands and drops one end of the rope. Magic! The end has a knot in it!

Secret:
The rope already has a knot in one end... Tie a knot in one end of the rope. Hide this end with the knot in your hand and bring the other end of the rope up next to it. Shake your hand as if you're trying to knot it. Drop the end with the knot and it looks like you have tied a knot in the rope using one hand. Great fo the little neices & nephews!

#44-- TOOTHPICK Scatter

TOOTHPICK SCATTER(#44)

The magician shows a pan full of water with five toothpicks in the shape of a pentagon.
The magician takes his magic toothpick and dips it in the center of the pentagon. The five toothpicks fly apart, breaking the pentagon!
Someone from the audience says... oh, that's just what happens when you do that, it's not magic. The magician arranges the five toothpicks back into a pentagon and hands the person in the audience the magic toothpick. The person dips it in the center. Nothing happens. It really was magic!

Supplies:
a tinfoil pan (a pie plate or leftover Chinese food plate work well)
water
6 flat wooden toothpicks
the magic ingredient: liquid dishwashing soap

SECRET:

Dip one of your toothpicks in liquid dishwashing soap. Set it aside for now.
Make sure your pan is clean. Rinse it well with water. Fill it quite full of water (but not so full that you're going to spill it).

Arrange the five SOAPLESS toothpicks in the shape of a pentagon. Make sure the tips of the toothpicks overlap so your pentagon stays together. This can be a bit of a challenge the first time you do it, so practice arranging the toothpicks at home a few times first.....
Now, when the audience is settled, let them look at the pentagon. They may have to stand to do this or you may want to do the trick on the floor with the audience around you in a U-shape.
Tell the audience that you've arranged the toothpicks into a special five sided shape called a pentagon and that you're going to cast a spell on the sixth toothpick to imbue it with some of your magical force so it will be able to break apart the pentagon....or make something else up....
Take out the sixth toothpick (the one that was dipped in dish soap) and wave your hand over it while chanting some magical words.

Now, dip the magical toothpick into the center of the pentagon (Make sure you dip the soapy end in the water and try to get it as close to the center of the shape as possible -- the soap shouldn't be visible anymore). The five toothpicks will fly apart.
If you have a non-believer in the audience, offer to let them try the trick. Arrange the pentagon in the water again and hand them the magic toothpick. Let them dip it in the center. It won't work!
If the audience asks you to do the trick a second time, just tell them that it takes awhile to recharge your magical force, or something like that..!! This works because of "science."---don't ask me for details !