How to Perform the Invisible Touch Trick

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Last Updated: October 8, 2024 References

The invisible touch trick makes it seem like when you touch one volunteer on the nose, the other volunteer who has their eyes closed can feel it in the same place. While the trick makes it look like you only touched one of the participants, in reality, you actually touch both of them. Use an invisible elastic band to touch the person who has their eyes closed so it will look like you have not actually laid a finger on them. Once you’re finished with the trick, your audience will be wowed!

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preparing for the Trick

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1
Put an invisible elastic band around one of your hands before the trick. Invisible elastic bands are thin and clear so they’re very hard to see up close or at a distance. Put your hand through the elastic band so it’s wrapped around your palm. Position the band so it’s in the crook of your hand between your thumb and index finger.^{[1]
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- You can buy invisible elastic bands online or from magic stores.
2
Instruct 2 people to face each other standing 4 ft (1.2 m) apart. Look for 2 volunteers in the audience or on the street to help you perform your magic trick. See if there are any people who are in a relationship or are related in some way so you can use their “bond” as an explanation for the trick. Ask the participants to stand on opposite sides of you so they’re about 4–5 feet (1.2–1.5 m) apart from one another.^{[2]
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- You can also choose 2 strangers if people watching you don’t know one another.
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3
Ask 1 participant to close their eyes. Choose 1 volunteer to close their eyes and ask them to confirm that they can’t see anything. Have the other participant keep their eyes open. Ask the person with their eyes closed if they can see anything at all to confirm that their eyes are closed.^{[3]
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- Another option is to use a blindfold on the person who has their eyes closed if you want to be absolutely certain they cannot see.
Slide the index finger on your opposite hand under the elastic band to stretch it between your hands. Once you have the elastic band on your finger, pull your hands 4–5 inches (10–13 cm) apart to stretch it out.^{[4]
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Warning: Be careful not to stretch the elastic too far or else it may snap and ruin the rest of your trick.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Performing the Trick

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1
Wave your hands around the person who has their eyes closed. Keep your hands about 3 in (7.6 cm) over the person who has their eyes closed. Wiggle your fingers so it looks like you’re “sensing their energy” so you can perform the trick. In reality, wiggling your fingers helps divert everyone’s attention away from your actual movements.^{[5]
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- Don’t touch the person who has their eyes closed by accident or else you may spoil the rest of your trick.
With the elastic pulled tight, hold your hands on either side of the first person’s face. Lightly move your hands downwards in front of the person’s face and wiggle your fingers so the edge of the elastic band grazes the tip of their nose. Be sure to stay fluid and deliberate with your motion so it looks natural. At the end of your movement, make fists with your hands, but leave the elastic around your palm.^{[6]
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Warning: Don’t go too fast or else the elastic could snap and possibly hurt your volunteer.
3
Touch the other participant’s nose with a playing card. Take a playing card out of your pocket and show it to your audience and the volunteers. Hold the edge of the playing card and slowly run it down the tip of the second person’s nose. When you’re finished, put the playing card back in your pocket.^{[7]
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- Lightly touch the end of the playing card against their nose so you don’t accidentally give them a papercut.
4
Ask the person who had their eyes closed if they felt anything. When you’re finished, tell the person with their eyes closed to open them. Then, ask if the person felt anything while they had their eyes closed. When they say they felt someone touch them, ask them where they felt it. The person who had their eyes closed will say their nose because they felt the elastic. The audience can’t see the elastic, so they’ll think the person with their eyes closed felt something when you touched the second person’s nose with the card. ^{[8]
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- Make sure that you thank your volunteers for helping you before they sit back down.

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Is it possible to perform this at any time?

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Yes, if you have at least two people and are in an appropriate setting/environment.

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What do I do if people don't believe I did the invisible touch trick?

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People will know you can't make actual magic happen, so they will know it's a trick. But, even if they do, try to make the trick as tricky as possible and they may wonder, or at least be impressed at your abilities.

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Is there a mentalist training guide for tricks?

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Yes. Check out the book "13 Steps to Mentalism" by Corinda. It was written almost a century ago, but it is still the best. It covers all the basics and most of the tricks you might have seen, at least in rudimentary form.

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Tips

Practice this trick until the movements become fluid and easy. Otherwise, you may end up drawing attention to the rubber band around your hand.^{[9]
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Warnings

Be careful that you don’t stretch the elastic band too far or else it may snap.

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Don’t tell other people how you do your magic trick or else you’ll ruin the secret!

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