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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A roundup of magic tricks perfect for one-shot gags. Become the hero of the party! (51–60)
The water poured into the cup disappears.
This magic trick makes the water you supposedly poured into a cup disappear in an instant.
It looks mysterious, but the secret is actually very simple and anyone can do it without practice! All you need is a paper cup, water, and a gelling agent.
In other words, the water is solidified by the gelling agent, so it doesn’t spill and appears to vanish! Put the gelling agent into the paper cup beforehand, then pour in the water.
It solidifies fairly quickly, but if you add some patter to buy a bit of time, you can be sure the water will set.
Then, when you tilt the cup, it looks like the water has disappeared.
Make sure to clean up quickly afterward so the solidified water inside doesn’t give away the secret.
The bottle cap pierces through the plastic bottle.
A magic trick where a bottle cap that shouldn’t be able to go inside suddenly ends up inside a plastic bottle.
This trick requires some preparation.
There are two methods: one is to make a hole under the bottle’s label, insert the cap beforehand, and fix it in place with double-sided tape.
The other is to soften the cap by placing it in hot water and then push it through the bottle’s mouth in advance.
For both methods, until the moment you make it look like the cap has penetrated the bottle, you need to keep the cap hidden inside using double-sided tape or a magnet.
Choose the method that seems easier for you and give it a try!
Disappearance of the pen
A super easy magic trick where the pen you’re holding seems to vanish in an instant.
By skillfully using your hands to hide the pen in one hand, you make it look as if it has disappeared.
The method itself is simple, but if you don’t do it well, the secret will be obvious right away or the hidden pen might be visible from the side, so practice is essential! Practice in front of a mirror several times to check whether it really looks like it’s gone and whether your movements look natural.
Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to hide the pen with various moves and amaze your audience!
Teleportation of a crumpled tissue
A mysterious tissue magic trick where a tissue that should have been moved from your right hand to your left disappears, or the tissue you’re holding multiplies.
Prepare three tissues; pre-roll one and secretly hide it on your lap.
Have the spectators roll the remaining two.
Then, pretend to transfer a tissue from your right hand to your left so it looks as if the tissue vanished or teleported.
To make the tissue seem to multiply, take advantage of a moment when the spectators are distracted to retrieve the tissue from your lap, and when you have the spectator hold a tissue, actually have them hold two.
With just a few hand movements, you can perform a baffling trick—give it a try!
A roundup of magic tricks perfect for a one-shot gag. Become the hero of the party! (61–70)
Floating Chopsticks Magic
A simple magic trick you can do at any meal: making a pair of disposable chopsticks float.
Cross the chopsticks and hold them; when you let go of the thumb that was supporting them, they somehow appear to float.
All you need is a single pair of chopsticks.
After splitting them normally, create a small splinter on the handle end.
The secret is to pinch and support that splinter with your finger where it can’t be seen, making the chopsticks look like they’re floating! It’s simple, but be careful—if you don’t stay focused, the chopsticks will lose their balance.
After the trick, you can tear off the splinter to destroy the evidence!
A pen that moves on its own
This is an easy and fun magic trick using everyday items: a rubber band and a pen.
The pen you hold in one hand smoothly rises upward, and the unnatural motion makes it feel truly mysterious.
But in fact, it’s very simple: you place a rubber band around the pen cap and also hook that band onto your middle finger.
Because the setup is so simple, the quality of the performance varies a lot depending on how you move your hands, so make sure to practice thoroughly.
It might be better to end without revealing the secret, leaving a lingering sense of wonder!
The torn paper is restored.
A magic trick where torn paper is restored that you can easily try anytime, anywhere, as long as you have paper—flyers or newspapers will do.
Use two pieces of paper of the same size with similar designs.
Glue one sheet—rolled up so it will open easily at the end—onto the center of the other, cleaner sheet, and crumple it as small and compact as possible.
Show the clean side to the audience while hiding the rolled-up paper on the inside, and tear the clean paper.
Roll the torn paper so the audience can see the outside, and at the end, open the crumpled paper hidden inside: it creates the illusion that the torn paper has been restored! You can turn everyday items into a dazzling magic trick—give it a try.
