How to Make a Salt Shaker Vanish

Step 1: Take a large coin Place a large coin on the table in front of you and talk about this amazing trick you know — making a coin disappear from a table.
Step 2: Cover the shaker Take a napkin and cover the salt or pepper shaker so that the napkin is standing in an inverted “V.”
Step 3: Lift the shaker Lift the napkin-covered shaker and smack it onto the coin once or twice, as if this will make it vanish.
TIP: Keep up a steady stream of chatter about the coin. It’s vital that your audience is expecting a coin trick and not paying attention to the shaker.
Step 4: Move shaker As you pull the shaker off the coin, move it to the edge of the table nearest you.
Step 5: Let shaker slip While you’re still babbling about making the coin go through the table, loosen your grip on the napkin, allowing the shaker to fall into your lap. Keep holding the napkin as if it is still there.
TIP: The napkin must be thick enough to retain the form of the shaker after you let it fall into your lap.
Step 6: Slam it Quickly slam the supposed “shaker” down hard on the coin with both hands. The napkin will collapse.
Step 7: Feign irritation Pull the napkin off the table and feign amazed irritation that you didn’t make the coin disappear — you mistakenly made the shaker vanish instead!
FACT: In 1983, David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear on live TV.

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