There's a cool matchbook effect in one of the Penumbra magazines. I think it is the 2nd one. The item is called Mismatched and it's by Ray Kosby.

EFFECT: A matchbook is shown on both sides. Suddenly it visibly turns inside out. Now it can be given as a souvenir.

Nice item from a GREAT magazine.

Mike

Linking matches are pretty cool!

"Decapitation" by Francis Carlyle. Stars of Magic pg. 57

"The performer borrows a package of paper matches and removes one match. He scrapes off the head on both sides and shows clearly that the match head is missing. Suddenly the head mysteriously reappears. The performer lights the match.

The strong feature of this effect is in the repetition. The performer tears out a second match. He again scrapes off the head on both sides. Once again the head mysteriously appears, and the performer lights the match."

Paul

A fun, impromptu trick- Psychic matchbook. A matchbook resting on your fingers twists and turns, etc.

There was another one I read recently (can't remember where) in which a paper matchbook was taken in empty hands and the cover ripped off and torn in two. Each piece was cleanly shown on all sides several times. The pieces were sandwiched together and coin (could be from a previous routine) slides out. If I remember where I read it, I'll post again. Likewise, if this sounds familiar, please post.

As Wassabi says, the "linking matches" is wonderful. Doing a "paddle" routine with a match is great fun and NEVER fails to get a wow or two from the spectators.
Just my two cents worth.
-Iven

Check out "Matches All Gone" by Joel Givens. It's a very magical matches-to-straw routine, especially if you take the time to make it look impromptu.

It was in the December 2003 MAGIC Magazine in Josh Jay's Talk About Tricks column.

Steve H

John Macmillan:

I mis-read your post (vanish a lit match with TT), and thought it said "Vanish a lit match with TNT."

Hans Klok, eat your pyro-addicted heart out!

Nathan

While on the semi-topic on matches, Does anyone know of a commercially availible "Card to BOX of matches"?

Where a card folds into a match box? like the bill to matchbook....

I have made my own but they aren't very good, I'm looking for a commercial version that might be pastic or otherwise handle and look better.

Michael close has a version of bus. card to matchbox called El Cheapo Magic Club or something.

You can purchase Bill to Matches for around $15. Not a real good trick in my opinion. Angles are real bad.

How do you guys perform Firetrap? Any tips on setup? I did it a couple of times, but had the coin appear within the fibers of a business card instead of matchbook. I didn't like the setup, and haven't used it since.

Fedko's matchbook to 1000 bill is easy to do and not bad on the angles. Also with a match book with just a few left inside-have them counted, tear one out and burn it,vanish it, when cover opened the burnt match is inside.
Don

On my Ultimate Impromptu Volume 1 (L&L) are:

Traveling Match -- full routining of Milbourne Christopher's Flying Match, including a repeat phase. Shows how to cleanly vanish a match at your fingertips.

Then There Were Nine -- quick mental effect with any borrowed matchbook.

Make Ten -- a few short puzzles end with the performer visibly changing a paper match into a ten dollar bill.

Mark Sicher's A Perfect Match -- a beautiful torn and restored match (a la Slydini)

Penetrating Matches -- a classic, finally properly explained.

Magnetic Match -- causing one match to jump strangely when touched by another.

Invisible Hangman -- magically popping the head off of a match.

Al Koran's The Same Only Different -- can be done with any small, countable items, but works great with matches.

Also, I have a couple of gimmicked effects from the Premium Blend series:

Under Covers (vol 1) -- the name of a card appears painted inside a matchbook that was shown empty. No switch.

Spread 'Em (vol 4) -- the five remaining matches in a marked book spread out in a line yet remain attached.

There are also a few puzzles on my Mindbogglers series (vol 4 for matches) which has just been re-released on DVD.

You can also apply some relatively standard concepts to matches. Matrix, chink-a-chink, two in the hand - one in the pocket, coins across, spellbound, etc.
--Dan Harlan

Look in a recent issue of Magic magazine. There is a good match-dating trick. Sorry I can't be of much more help.

I like the Michael Weber Matchbook effect

Color changing matches, pull one out you will find that there is a light and dark side. In 30 years I have only found one book of matches that were the same on both sides.

Tear out all the matches and place the closed empty book in their hand, then on the count of three throw a match back into the book.

Hope this helps..

London,

I would be curious if the unlit match is held back the same way the burned match is in the beginning of the routine?

Dane



A version of what you described is in Tarbell, (Version 8 I believe). I've used it several times with good results.

Dane

I love it to let a match vanish by sticking it into my hair... that's so simple and fools everyone!!!

Just finally saw Cyril do (his version?) of Firetrap on YouTube and wanted to revisit this topic. Its been dormant since 2004. Any new ideas, routines, or great patter using matchbooks now that we are in 2008. By the way, I had to get Firetrap as it was truly an astonishment moment for me when the coin appeared IN the matchbook!

Looking forward to ANY comments/gripes/ideas.

Regards,

Barrett James

Eric Leclerc does a cool Razor to Matchbook transformation called Razor Burn on Sankey's Underground Jam DVD.

Andre

That effect on the "Underground Jam" DVD fooled me..
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Scar

Brian tudor has a very convincing card to matchbook on Heckeler