Effect: You ask if anyone sitting at the table has a quarter you can borrow. You tell them you will try to make the coin penetrate through the tabletop – solid through solid. You then grab a salt shaker (or a smaller glass) telling them that you may need a little force to help push the quarter through. Finally, you take a paper napkin or two and wrap it around the shaker, telling them that you have to keep the “magic” a secret. A couple tries and nothing happens. On the third try, the shaker – not the coin – penetrates through the tabletop.
Secret: This is one of the classics of magic and one of my favorite tricks partly because there is literally no preparation necessary to perform it. However, you must be seated at table in order to perform it. This trick is great entertainment at the dinner table or in a restaurant.
You will need a coin – preferably a quarter – borrowed is better, a salt or pepper shaker or a small empty glass and paper napkin, stiff cloth napkin or a piece of newspaper. Tell the spectators that you will attempt to cause a solid object to penetrate through the tabletop.
1. Take the coin (a quarter is best) and place it directly in front of you, about 6 to 8 inches from the edge of the table. Cover the coin completely with the saltshaker or glass, so that it is impossible for you to touch it.
2. Completely cover the shaker with the napkin very tightly; making sure the form of the shaker is clearly outlined through the napkin. Tell the audience that it is necessary to cover the shaker in order not to expose how the magic happens.
3. For your first attempt, bring the shaker and napkin directly down over the coin and say, “Go!”
4. Lift up the shaker and napkin with your right hand (left hand if you’re a leftie) and bring it toward the edge of the table focusing the audiences’ attention on the coin. They see it is still there. Remark that something seems to be wrong.
5. Try again, this time saying, “One, two, three, Go!” while bringing the shaker down on the coin with more force.
6. With your right hand, again bring the shaker just past the edge of the table, this time dropping it into your lap but bringing the napkin back to the table. Because the napkin retains the shape of the shaker, it will look to the audience like you still have both the shaker and the napkin in your right hand.
7. While this is happening, it is a good idea, for additional misdirection, to pick up the coin with your left hand, look at it and turn it over before putting it back down again.
8. Bring the napkin over the coin again, explaining that the trick failed because you forgot to strike the top of the shaker. As you say this, raise your left hand and SMASH THE NAPKIN FLAT ON THE TABLE TOP. The reaction of the audience will be one of complete astonishment.
9. Act puzzled, then “reach” under the table as if you are searching for something, recover the shaker from your lap and bring it into view as you say; “Now I remember how the trick works. It’s the shaker that’s supposed to penetrate the table not the coin.”
