How to Perform the Magic Water Colors Trick

The Magic Water Colors Trick is a fascinating trick which will keep party guests guessing all evening. What makes the trick especially appealing is that it requires no special “magic” equipment and can be performed virtually anywhere. It is vital, however, that the magician and his assistant practice the trick a couple of times before performing it in front of an audience. Once they have a few practice sessions under their belts, delivering a professional performance is as simple as Hocus Pocus.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 4 colored pencils: red, white, blue, and green
• Large, shallow bowl with a lip (like a soup bowl or pasta plate)
• Water
• Silly Putty
• Assistant

Before the Trick

1. Divide a marble-sized ball of Silly Putty (or similar product) into four small blobs. Stick the four blobs onto the bottom of the bowl.
2. Prepare your assistant. Explain that the number of blobs make up a a code as follows: 1 blob = red, 2 blobs = white, 3 blobs = blue, and 4 blobs = green. Just have the assistant remember the colors of the American flag and imagine it on a green stick.
3. Explain to the assistant that he will be feeling under the bowl in order to know what color will be the correct response when he is asked.

Perform the Trick

4. Ask your assistant to go to another room. Announce to the guests that you will be able to get your assistant, who is currently in the other room, to name the color of pencil which has been dipped into a bowl full of water.
5. Holding the soup plate or pasta bowl filled nearly to the top with water, ask the guests to choose one of the colored pencils and ask one of the guests to quickly dip it into the water and to take it right out. Tell everyone to remain silent; no one should say the name of the color. Make sure the guests look in to verify that the water has not been colored in any way.
6. Hold the soup plate close to you and whisper some magic words such as “Hocus Pocus Magic Rainbow Water” over and over, while you remove the appropriate number of blobs. For example, if the chosen pencil is green you wouldn’t remove any blobs as 4 = green. For the red, you would remove three blobs (1 = red), for the blue you would remove two blobs (2 = blue) and for the white you would remove one blob (3 = white).
7. Ask one of the guests to hold the bowl carefully with both hands so she won’t spill any of the water. The guest should carry the bowl to your assistant and hand it to him. The assistant, of course, will feel for the number of blobs and shout out the correct answer.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not attempt to try the trick a second time immediately after the first. Allow some time for one of you to once again prepare the bottom of the bowl.