Simple magic! Magic tricks recommended for entertainment and performances.
Of course, simple magic tricks are perfect not only as entertainment at company or school events, but also for grabbing attention during breaks or even on a date.
For anyone who wants to get a good reaction without using elaborate setups, simple tricks are highly recommended.
There are plenty of easy tricks that beginners can perform using everyday items—or even just your own hands and fingers!
This article introduces many simple magic tricks, so be sure to use it as a reference.
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Simple Magic! Recommended Tricks for Entertainments and Performances (11–20)
Spill-proof water
This is a magic trick that makes it look like you’re controlling gravity: even when you turn a plastic bottle upside down, the water doesn’t spill.
The secret is simple—just place a sheet with a small hole that matches the bottle’s mouth.
Focus on presenting it so the audience doesn’t notice the gimmick.
Even though there’s a tiny hole big enough for a toothpick to pass through, the water still doesn’t leak, which makes it feel mysterious even after people understand the method.
After the reveal, explain that it’s a phenomenon using surface tension and atmospheric pressure to spark interest.
Handkerchief magic: a knot that comes undone in an instant
It’s handy to have a magic trick you can perform on the spur of the moment during small bits of free time.
So here’s one to introduce: a handkerchief trick where a knot instantly comes undone.
You take an ordinary scarf and tie its ends tightly together, but with a slight tug it mysteriously unravels.
There’s no special gimmick—through the knotting method and your presentation, it looks like it’s tied very tightly.
That means you can even borrow a spectator’s handkerchief or use any other cloth to perform it.
It’s also a perfect lead-in to other handkerchief magic.
A plastic bottle that doesn’t spill water even when you stick a pen into it
It’s a magic trick where a pen is stuck through a plastic bottle without any water leaking, and even after the pen is removed, the water won’t flow until you give a signal.
The bottle not only has a hole for the pen to pass through, but the cap also has a hole.
These two holes are used to control air pressure and thereby control the flow of water.
If you cover the hole in the cap, air can’t enter, and in that state the water won’t flow out.
If you mess up the gap around the pen hole or how you insert the pen, the pressure balance will break and the water will start to flow, so make sure to make the holes with precise sizing.
Floating ball magic
This is a magic trick where a crystal ball appears to float between your palms.
You support the sphere with your ring finger and thumb while spreading both hands wide to make it look like the ball is levitating.
The key is to position and angle your hands so they come behind the ball, and to train yourself so your fingers don’t tremble.
You can try it with a large object like a crystal ball, or practice with a lightweight color ball.
Once you understand the trick it may seem simple, but when you actually try it, it requires finger strength and smooth movement—making it a deceptively deep magic routine.
Water comes out of an empty bucket.
Some of you may be looking for a magic trick you can learn quickly.
One I recommend is a trick where water comes out of an empty bucket.
For this trick, you’ll use a small bucket, a water balloon, and a pair of chopsticks with a needle attached to the tip.
First, inflate the water balloon and set it inside the bucket.
Then, while making sure the balloon doesn’t fall out, turn the bucket upside down to show it.
Next, say you’re casting a spell with the chopsticks and pop the balloon with the needle on the tip.
Finally, pour the water out of the bucket to reveal the effect, and you’re done.
The magical straw that makes water rise
Wouldn’t it be strange if a straw stuck in a cup started drawing up water all by itself? With that, let me introduce a magic trick: the magic straw that makes water rise.
All you need for this trick is an ordinary cup filled with water and a slightly shortened straw.
When you insert the straw, squeeze the tip firmly and then release it.
The water will start rising on its own.
It works on the same principle as a pump.
You can also add a motion as if you’re sucking it up in midair to make it even more entertaining.
Simple magic! Recommended magic tricks for entertainment and performances (21–30)
You can’t guess a matchbox that has something inside it.
Three identical matchboxes are lined up.
Only one contains matches; the other two are empty.
The box with matches makes a rattle when shaken, while the two empty boxes, of course, make no sound.
The rightmost matchbox is slyly switched around, and then comes the familiar trick: “Which one has the matches?” But it isn’t what you expect—no one can guess it, and you’re left wondering, why? That’s because all the matchboxes are empty! The magician has a match-filled box hidden up the right sleeve and simply holds and shakes with the right hand only when they want a box to rattle.
It’s an easy trick.
