How to Make a Toothpick Disappear

Magicians have the ability to make the impossible possible through illusions. These tricks vary in difficulty from picking the right card to making large objects vanish into thin air. Making a toothpick disappear requires the magician to possess quick reflexes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Toothpick
• Clear tape

1. Prepare the trick before you face the audience. Place a piece of clear tape the size of your thumbnail on the end of the toothpick.
2. Place the toothpick on your thumbnail with the length of the toothpick running down your thumb. Press the sides of the tape against your thumbnail.
3. Remove the toothpick. You now have a small tunnel in the tape on your thumb. When you take stage, position your hand so that no one can see the back of your thumb. Put the toothpick in your pocket or walk on with it dangling from your lips.
4. Hold the toothpick in the hand without the taped thumb. Raise your other hand in front of your chest in a loose fist, making sure that your index finger remains in front of the tape on your thumbnail. Place the toothpick between your thumb and index finger as if you're going to grip it. As you do this, slide the toothpick into the tunnel of the tape. Hold the toothpick out towards the audience so everyone can see it. Press gently with your index finger to secure the toothpick within the tape.
5. Snap both fingers simultaneously and open your palm out towards your audience with the thumb pointing up. Your thumbnail should lift the toothpick and "hide" it behind the length of the thumb. Flip your thumb over again and return to the original position with your thumb behind your index finger to make the toothpick "reappear."
6. Practice this trick in front of the mirror until you can do it without showing the tape and without showing how you place the toothpick in the tape. Gradually gather speed to increase the illusion.