The Vanishing Pencil

The Vanishing Pencil magic trick tutorial — performance preview

Category: Kids Magic · Difficulty: 1/5

A solid pencil disappears in the wave of a handkerchief — a perfect first trick to perform for kids.

You'll Need This to Perform the Trick

Magic Vanishing Pencil Gimmick — A specially weighted pencil and matching handkerchief gimmick — the prop does the work, you just deliver the patter.

Step-by-Step Performance Guide

  1. 1. Borrow a Pencil — Borrow an ordinary pencil from a spectator and hold it up. Cover it with a small handkerchief and ask the spectator to grip the pencil through the fabric.
  2. 2. The Magic Word — Have the spectator say a magic word together with you. Build it up — the louder, the better.
  3. 3. The Vanish — Whip the handkerchief away. The pencil is gone. The spectator's fingers close on empty air.
  4. 4. Find It Behind Their Ear — Reach behind the spectator's ear and produce the borrowed pencil — completely solid, fully restored.

The Secret Behind the Trick

  1. 1. The Switch — When you place the handkerchief over the pencil, you secretly swap the real pencil for a hollow rubber pencil sewn into the corner of the handkerchief.
  2. 2. Hide the Real One — The real pencil drops into your sleeve or topit (a hidden pocket inside the jacket). It can later be produced from anywhere.
  3. 3. Make the Reveal — Use a finger-palm to load the pencil into your hand, then 'find it' behind the spectator's ear. The audience never sees you reach into your sleeve.

Tags: kids magic, vanishing pencil, easy magic for kids