Rubber Band Switch

Get ready to stretch the limits of possibility with the amazing Rubber Band Switch! All you need are some ordinary school supplies and a little magic to liven up even the most boring class!

Two rubber bands, one whole and one broken

SOMETIMES WE USE MATERIALS THAT REQUIRE ADULT SUPERVISION…LIKE SCISSORS SO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY AROUND WHENEVER YOU DO MAGIC TRICKS!

1. To prepare, hold the ends of the broken rubber band between your left thumb and index finger. When you show it to your friend, it will look like the rubber band is whole.
2. Hold the whole rubber band in your right hand just as you held the broken one. Now both rubber bands will look the same to your friend.
3. To perform the trick, show the rubber bands to your friend and ask him or her to 'point to one of the rubber bands.' This is where you perform what’s called a 'magician’s choice.' If he or she picks the broken rubber band, you can place it their hand. If he or she picks the whole one, simply say that will be the one you’re using for the trick and give the broken one to them.
4. Place the broken rubber band in your friend’s hand. Place it down firmly in his or her palm and close up their hand, turning it upside down. Make sure you don’t reveal that the rubber band is broken.
5. Take the whole rubber band and pinch it between your thumb and index finger in both hands, holding it from end to end.
6. Quickly wrap the rubber band around the front of your left fingers and pinch it in your left pinky.
7. With your right hand, grab the piece of rubber band stretched over your left knuckles and stretch it out, making it look like you’re a full rubber band ring in your hands. It might help to twist the band a bit to make harder to tell that there are two pieces of it over your fingers instead of one.
8. Pretend to break your rubber band in half. With your right thumb and index finger, pinch the band right by where you're holding it with your left thumb and index finger. Use some acting to make it look like you’re pulling, then breaking the rubber band when you’re actually just letting go of that end in your left hand.
9. At this point, you’re now holding one end of your rubber band between your right thumb and index finger and the other under your left pinky. Open your right hand, hold your left hand over it and release your left pinky, snapping the rubber band into your right hand. Close it up.
10. Time for the switch! Tell your friend that the two rubber bands will now switch places, and then snap your fingers.
11. Open your hand to reveal your whole rubber band.
12. Have your friend open his or her hand to reveal their broken rubber band. They'll believe that you magically swapped your 'broken' one with their 'whole' one!