The Traveling Ash Trick

Ash from a cigarette rubbed into YOUR palm mysteriously travels to the spectator's. This trick is an excellent quickie in a bar or restaurant where people are smoking.

Secret Preparation :

Before you begin, get a little ash on your right middle finger. This is easily done during the act of picking up an ash tray and moving it to your table or through some other ploy.

Step 1 :

Ask someone to hold out their hand, palm down, demonstrate what you mean. When the person does this, grasp their hands and pull them slightly towards you (your thumbs on top and fingers below) momentarily while you say, "no just a little farther out, please." In the process of doing this, your right middle finger places the ash mark on the spectator's left palm. They can't see you do this because their hand is palm down.

Be sure to release their hands quickly and without giving them much attention. If this is done in a casual, off hand manner - the spectator will never remember you touched their hand.

Step 2:

What comes next is the most important part of the trick. It's where you build this simple little stunt into a miracle class. Tell the person to close their left fist and keep it closed tight, yes good, even tighter. Then take a cigarette and tap a little ash onto your own left palm.

Say "watch." As you slowly, rub the ash into your own palm. Ask them if they can see it. Keep rubbing until it's gone. "The ash is no longer here, but it's not gone. Would you open your hand please?" The person their hand and there on the center of their palm is the ash mark.