A roundup of magic tricks perfect for one-shot gags. Become the hero of the party!
When you’re asked to do a party trick at a gathering, what kind of act do you perform?
There are lots of possibilities—from comedy bits like gags or impressions to more physical, street-performance-style acts like handstands.
In this article, we’ll introduce magic tricks that are perfect as quick party pieces.
Since these are one-off tricks, we’ve selected ones that are short and can be done using items you have around you.
Be sure to learn a few of these tricks and show them off at your next party!
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- Magic tricks perfect for year-end parties! Tricks that will liven up any banquet
- Super easy magic tricks kids can do! Fun tricks you can play right away
- [Surprising] A collection of body-based magic tricks [for parties and performances]
- With Explanations: Easy Magic Tricks for Lower-Grade Elementary School Children — How to Do Simple Tricks
- Easy! Magic tricks that liven up a Christmas party. Simple tricks and their secrets revealed.
- Magic tricks with hats: recommended illusions for parties and performances
- Magic tricks using cups. Tricks you might want to try for entertainment or performances.
- Simple! Easy one-shot gags. Surefire bits that liven up parties and performances [2026]
A roundup of recommended magic tricks for one-shot gags. Become the hero of the party! (31–40)
Smartphone magic that no one has ever seen
This is a magic trick that makes it look like you’re controlling numbers: the digits on a smartphone calculator gradually disappear, and when you wave your hand over it, they come back.
It uses the calculator’s functions—numbers are erased with swipes, and then a prearranged calculation is displayed to make it seem like the digits have been restored.
If you only show swiping and the calculation result, it ends up just looking like a feature demo.
The key is to make it feel mysterious by staging it so the vanished numbers seem to be in your hand, and by lightly touching the screen as you wave your hand to bring them back.
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 magic trick where the cards penetrate each other
Here’s an introduction to a magic trick where two cards seem to pass through each other.
It’s puzzling to see one card penetrate another when the card doesn’t look cut, right? Since it’s magic, of course the card is actually cut.
Take one card and cut it across at about one-third of its length.
Attach the cut pieces to a clear plastic sheet the same size as a card.
For the wider piece, stick it down leaving the center section unglued.
Then, when you slide another card through, it looks like it’s penetrating.
Making it appear as though the card isn’t cut is an important magician’s tip.
Rope escape magic
If you want to amaze your friends with a simple trick, the Rope Escape Magic is perfect.
You only need two items: a string and a handkerchief.
Interlace your fingers tightly, tie both thumbs firmly with the string, and cover your hands with the handkerchief to hide them.
The key is to pull on the string with your thumbs while tying, leaving just a bit of slack.
It looks securely tied, but you can actually slip your hands out.
Fan your hands a little and say, “Whew, it’s a bit hot,” and you’ll start hearing, “Wait, did you get out?” along with murmurs and laughter.
It’s a trick anyone can master quickly—ideal for beginners.
A pen comes out of a handkerchief.
When it comes to magic, scarves and handkerchiefs are essential! How about a classic trick where a pen appears from a handkerchief that’s easy to try? To put it simply, it’s a trick anyone can do: you make a pen hidden up your sleeve appear from inside the handkerchief.
It doesn’t have to be a pen—flowers work too, as long as they can be concealed in your sleeve.
The key points are: don’t look at the hand that’s hiding the pen, and hold the corner of the handkerchief with the index and middle fingers of your other hand.
Practice the sequence—using the handkerchief to cleverly conceal the hand with the pen and then making the pen appear—by watching a video and following along!
A roundup of magic tricks perfect for a quick gag. Become the hero of the party! (41–50)
a broken index finger
This is a magic trick where an index finger appears to bend in an impossible direction and then “recovers” as if nothing happened.
What seems to be the tip of the index finger is actually the thumb of the other hand, and by using the index finger to create a seam, it’s made to look like a single finger.
From there, you simply move the thumb (disguised as the fingertip) freely, then cover everything with your hand and finally reveal the full index finger.
Because the fingers differ in thickness, it’s important to be mindful of how you bend and move them overall, and to guide the audience’s gaze away at the right moments.
A magic trick where the necktie that should be tied around the neck becomes untied
A necktie wrapped all the way around the neck—if you yank both ends, normally your neck would get squeezed, right? But in this magic trick, when you pull, it slips right off.
Even though you’re watching closely and it’s just an ordinary tie, it’s baffling.
The secret is in the wrapping: it only looks like it’s wound around; in reality, it’s just hooked in place.
Practice making it look naturally wrapped, and also rehearse the bit where you pretend your throat feels a little…
off!
