Abiator's MAGIC LESSONS

CENTRE RIP


Effect:
The magician has a spectator write/draw something on a circle in the centre of a piece of paper.
The magician then puts the piece of paper in an ashtray.
Then, the magician asks the audience to burn it. They do.
The magician then reveals what had been written in the circle.

Setup:
This is an impromptu trick. All you need is a square piece of paper, and a cirlce drawn in the exact center of it.

Performance:

  1. Begin by having somebody write or draw something inside the circle on your paper.
    ( Make sure there is no way you can be accused of looking)
  2. Have them fold the paper in half, and then have them turn the paper 90 degrees and fold it again.
  3. Now have them hand it to you. Here is the trickiest part.
  4. You're going to make it appear as though you're ripping up the paper and then putting it into an ashtray.
  5. What you really do is rip off the center part.
    In the diagram, that is marked with the X.
    Notice how you can easily just tear that corner off and you'll have the spectator's message.
  6. Tear that corner of the paper with the X on it off while you tear up the rest of the paper.
  7. Place everything but the special corner into the ashtray, being sure to keep that piece of paper hidden.
  8. Tell somebody to light it. While everyone watches the fire, read what is in the circle.
  9. Reveal what you just saw/read.

Tips:
Make sure you know what's going on here. The concept isn't that difficult, but if you don't get it, the trick won't work.