Magic tricks to liven up a birthday party: Recommended illusions for entertainment and performances
Scenes celebrating the birthdays of family, friends, or a significant other are packed with activities like enjoying a meal and giving gifts.
Some of you may be looking for ideas for entertainment or performances to delight your loved ones.
In this article, we’ve put together a collection of magic tricks that will liven up a birthday party.
Some of them allow for romantic staging, such as ending the magic with a surprise gift.
Use these magic ideas to help make that once-a-year special day feel even more festive.
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Magic tricks that will liven up a birthday party: Recommended acts for entertainment and performances (31–40)
A smartphone fits in the balloon.
It’s a magic trick where you press a smartphone against an inflated balloon and let the air out, making it look like the phone ends up inside the deflated balloon.
Then, by reinflating the balloon while pulling the phone out, you can show that the phone comes out and the balloon has no holes, adding to the mystery.
The secret is that the phone isn’t actually inside the balloon; the deflated balloon is simply clinging tightly to it.
If the back of the phone is visible, the gap will be seen and it’ll become obvious that it’s just stuck on, so be mindful of the angles you show as you perform.
A card trick where four pairs are formed in an instant
This is a magic trick where a card that was supposedly returned randomly to the deck appears paired with the same-value card of the opposite color.
Rather than relying on sleight of hand, this trick succeeds if you remember the setup and the procedure.
The magic works by placing the paired cards in predetermined positions from the start and maintaining the correct order when stacking the cards.
However, you will need to master a false cut to make it look like the cards are being mixed, so be sure to practice.
A banknote that should have been cut but isn’t
You thrust a knife into a banknote sandwiched in paper, yet when you pull it out, the bill is pristine with no hole! It’s an astonishing magic trick, but the method is simple.
First, prepare a sheet of paper folded in half.
Fold the banknote in half the same way, align the creases, and place the bill between the paper.
Holding it with the crease on top, insert the knife from below, but shift the bill to one side so that you only pierce the paper.
Be mindful of your finger movements while performing so it doesn’t give away that you moved the bill to one side.
Communication Magic Through Business Card Exchange
When you receive a business card, say, “Looks like we have a connection!” and perform a trick where you produce a five-yen coin from the card.
Hold the prepared five-yen coin concealed behind the card, and as you give the card a light shake, make the coin appear.
Move the card naturally and show both sides to emphasize that there’s no trick involved.
Since you’ll be holding the coin along the back side, cover it with your fingers and shift it toward the edge when showing the back to keep it hidden.
It’s a magic trick you can use in many situations as long as you have a card and a coin.
A message card appears from inside the envelope.
Inside the envelope is a blank card…
But when you cast a little spell, a message appears! Why not show off this mysterious magic trick at a birthday party? It’s also perfect for surprising someone special with a hidden message.
The secret to this trick is to prepare two kinds of cards—one with a message and one blank—plus two envelopes.
You’ll cut one of the envelopes.
The key is to place the cut envelope inside the other to create a hidden pocket.
It’s also important to devise a performance that convincingly makes the audience believe there’s nothing inside the envelope.
Magic tricks that liven up birthday parties: Recommended acts and performances (41–50)
Magic that changes color in an instant
It’s a magic trick that looks mysterious precisely because the change happens in an instant: the paper clipped in place changes color the moment you take it away.
In fact, while the paper of the initial color is clipped, the paper with the changed color is stacked behind it, and the original paper is retracted to the base of the clip by a concealed rubber band at the same moment the clip is released.
It’s important to be mindful of how you apply pressure to the clip, to achieve a speed that doesn’t reveal the rubber-assisted movement.
Because the color changes distinctly within a small area, it helps the audience focus on the phenomenon right in front of them, which enhances the effect’s appeal.
Cola will make a comeback.
This is a magic trick that’s sure to be a hit at young people’s birthday parties.
The idea is that you take an opened Coca-Cola and restore it to brand new.
In reality, it uses a simple illusion with red and black tape, but people seeing it for the first time will surely be amazed.