Chappy Matches

Introduction

I’ve always been a huge fan of magic tricks with matchbooks, and ever since I read “Match-ic Wand” found in Joshua Jays super smooth book “Magic The Complete Course” I’ve been pondering and experimenting with the idea of causing matches to vanish from a matchbook then reappear in magical places. This is simply a combination of Joshua’s effect (originally called “Matches All Gone” by Joel Givens) and the classic pen behind the ear ploy.

Effect

A book of matches is conveniently “found” or removed from your pocket, it is opened and shown to be of normal properties. You inform your audience that you are going to make the matchbook disappear. Upon locating a seemingly random object (a ChapStick) you proceed to use the ChapStick as a magic wand “On the count of 3 this matchbook will disappear”. “One, two, three” -on 3 the ChapStick disappears, it is then found and shown to have been placed behind your right ear. You then tap the matchbook 3 times (quickly) and still the matchbook does not vanish. You ask a participant to hold the matchbook, tapping the back of his/her hand, they open their hand to find the matchbook still remains but the matches inside have disappeared. To end, the ChapStick is opened , the matches dumped out, thus reappearing/transporting.

Prepare by removing the staple from a matchbook, and purchasing/hollowing out a ChapStick. Tear out and place all of the “single” matches from another matchbook inside the ChapStick, carry it with you in readiness to perform this amazingly quick, easy and smooth little effect.

• Hollowing out the ChapStick is fairly simple. Just twist the the bottom of the ChapStick, and push out the insides. Run the ChapStick under hot water to melt the remaining lip “stuff” and wipe it out with a paper towel.
• All of the matches from a full matchbook will actually fit inside of the hollowed out ChapStick, or some other sort of lip balm if you so prefer. Carefully place each match into the ChapStick one at a time, if you have any challenges fitting every single match, holding back one or 2 won’t really matter.

Procedures

Casually introduce the book of matches, hold it fairly tight with your thumb and index finger- open it, displaying the matches inside, then close the match book but do not lock the cover underneath the flap, just close the cover and hold it closed with your left thumb. “I am going to make this matchbook vanish right before your very eyes, but I need a magic wand.” Grab the ChapStick in your right hand “On the count of 3 this matchbook will disappear” Hold the ChapStick by one end and raise it up near your right ear then move down toward the MB counting “one” in a continuous motion move back up a little closer to your ear, then back down to the MB counting “two”. Immediately move the ChapStick back up and place it behind/on top of your right ear, leave it there and then flow with your hand (now empty) back down to the MB and then stop suddenly. The matches still remain but now magically the ChapStick has vanished. Act a little bit surprised and open your right hand displaying it palm up and down as if you are looking for the ChapStick.

Now say “Actually I placed the ChapStick behind my ear” turn your body to the left so your right side is more exposed, and point to the ChapStick behind your ear with your right finger. As your body is turned secretly and swiftly dump the matches from inside the MB into your left jacket pocket or left/back or front pants/jeans pocket. –this is why I had you hold the cover down, which thusly makes it very easy to use your left thumb as a tool to push the matches away, and then re-grasp the cover.

• More often than not, the matches will simply fall into your pocket with the force of gravity.

The ditching of the matches happens at the same time that you regrab the ChapStick and in one fluid motion you turn your body back to the right and lower the ChapStick hovering a little bit over the left hand/MB. Now quickly count 1,2,3, tapping the matchbook and of course nothing happens. Act a tad bit surprised and then ask a participant if they would hold the matchbook.

• I must state that you should be holding the MB in a casual way, yet also hiding the fact that the matches are no longer inside, do not run if not being chased however.

Set the ChapStick down on the table (preferably off to the side away from the helper). Have him/her open their hand palm up and flat (demonstrate with your right hand). They do so and you then grasp the MB with your right hand, place it on top of his/her palm, and then kindly close his/her fingers over the MB, and turn her hand palm down, so the matchbook is totally out of sight. Hopefully this procedure is smooth enough to evade suspicion.

“Please count 1,2,3, has the matchbook vanished?” of course she says “NO”. Have her open her hand and then notice that the matches inside are gone. Since the MB cover was not locked in place, when she opens her hand the cover will open up a bit making it visually clear that the matches are gone (someone else may even notice and speak before you). “Well we succeeded in making the matches disappear.” Look over at the ChapStick and say “Let’s see, we sort of used that as a make shift magic wand didn’t we? Will you pick it up for me?”. Before she picks up the ChapStick, casually take the empty matchbook from her and hold it in your open left hand. “Please remove the lid.”

• When the lid is removed the matches will be seen- preferably the match-heads as this makes for quite a visual moment.

“Please twist the bottom of the ChapStick and dump the contents into my hand”. Open your right hand to receive the matches, ending with an amazing reappearance.

• This is another great, visual moment where you are left holding the empty matchbook in your left hand and now the matches in your right hand. Take advantage of a long pause to allow what happened to really sink in.
• The reason I place the ChapStick aside is to provide time misdirection/distance between the matchbook and the ChapStick. It becomes “out of sight out of mind” for a short spell, especially if you really milk the moment when she is holding the matchbook. I have her dump the matches in my hand because for me this adds a psychological relief from the questioning mind who thinks the matches are in my pocket (or other such nonsense). Since they are now visually back in my hand, the answer to where they went is clear. This may or may not work as well as I theoretically think, but when I perform the effect, that is what I am thinking/believing therefore that is what my body language and performing confidence displays/exudes/portrays/breathes.

I hope you have fun with this one

Warmly

Brad “Scarnecky” Gordon