Trace Elements – Ben Harris Magic

This is a strong one from Australia’s Ben Harris (inventor of the floating match)….

To a humorous dialogue regarding particle physics and degrees of ‘strangeness’ a card is selected. Its properties are noted by the audience and then it is returned face up to the face-down deck. The deck is spread clearly showing the selected cards reversal. The spectator closes the deck. A business card is now borrowed and cut into the deck. This way, the deck cannot be switched for another; “controlled conditions” the performer calls it. The deck is now returned to its case and held by the spectator. After several gags about “mass, the speed of light”, etc, the deck is removed from its case. It is the same deck, the business card proves it. yet, the spectator counts through the deck and has only 51 cards- his selection has vanished! More funny dialogue follows as the performer prattles on about particle accelerators and “trace elements”. “the only way to ascertain if the vanish was real or merely imaginary is to locate any stray trace elements…” saying such, the performer removes a Trace Element Carbon Illumination Rod from its box and smears the back of the business card with its “radioactive” dust. He hands the borrowed business card to the spectator…“a short sharp shock is all that’s required to illuminate any remaining trace elements.” With that statement the spectator is required to flick his business card. He does so… The signature of the chosen card visibly appears on the business card!

This is a strong effect that will stick in the spectator’s mind especially since his own business card is part of the magic!