Magic Lessons #61 – Jumping Bean Trick

If you didn’t know, Mexican jumping beans are real. They are scientifically known as Frijoles Saltarines and if you lay them on the palm of your hand, they do in fact jump. A very small grub that grew from moth eggs lives inside the beans. The heat that your palm generates causes the grubs to become very active and the beans will begin to move around in your palm. Sometimes if the grubs have enough energy, they will jump, hence the name ‘Mexican Jumping Beans’ and that is the inspiration for this Jumping Bean Trick.

A Fun Premise:

I have decided to add a little extra life to the original trick that simply used matches. I didn’t see why a box of matchboxes would ever move in someone’s hand and it made more sense for me to use jumping Mexican beans instead. It’s important to put some thought into HOW a trick will work but it’s also very important to think about WHY a trick should work. Most of my magic tricks are centered around a premise that is at least half-feasible to the audience. The idea behind the jumping bean trick is that the beans are restless and that is what is causing all the moving of the box.

My aim is not to convince the audience that this true, I am just putting this premise forward to the audience. By listening to the tone of my voice as I present the jumping bean trick and the cartoon style visuals on the box, the audience can see that I’m just having a bit of fun with the trick. Using these techniques I am drawing the audiences focus towards the beans as the main method to the trick. If I had simply done this with a match box and told the audience to look at the matchbox do it’s tricks, all the focus would be placed on the match box and that’s the one place I do not want the audience’s attention.

At the end of the jumping bean trick, I need a way to misdirect the audience’s attention to put the matchbox away so they don’t see the secret stuff going on with the box. I do this by giving one of the beans to the audience and asking them to shake bean to see if they can hear the grub inside. This gives me enough time comfortably put the box back in my pocket without people asking too many questions.

Get Your Free Download:

I have provided some free downloads you can use to decorate your plain matchbox with. The black and white striped edge can also help you hide the gimmick. If you are wondering how, I explain it in the video.

There are a total of three different sizes available on the download. If none of these sizes fit your matchbox, you might need to play around with the sizing options on your computer/printer and you may find an answer to the problem. If this doesn’t work, you can always just cut and paste the images onto your own matchbox.

Matchbox Cover Download