Ever since Israeli illusionist Uri Geller first wowed the world with his telekinetic ability to bend a spoon in the 1970s, people have always wondered what the trick was. In fact, there are countless different ways to get people to be able to bend an object with their mind, although none of these involve the use of telekinesis. With a little practice, you too can soon surprise friends with your new skill.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use a Straight, Whole Spoon
Step 1. Hold the spoon with the concave side facing down
Take a regular metal spoon and hold it upright, grabbing it by the handle and pointing the wider end down. Grab the bottom half of the handle with your dominant hand and use the other to cover the top half by wrapping it completely. You should give the impression that you have grabbed the handle of the spoon without closing your thumb as well.
- The audience must be exactly in front of you as you perform this trick.
- If you wish, you can show that it is a common table spoon by tapping it a little on the table or letting the audience pick it up.
Step 2. Press the spoon against the table while letting it fall backwards
Place the tip of the spoon against the table and pretend to press very hard. Press it with the hand that is lower down, so that the audience can see your effort. Meanwhile, hold the other one in the same original vertical position, but make the spoon fall backwards. Let the handle rest on the ring and little fingers of the lower hand.
Step 3. Pretend to straighten the spoon
Show your friends your magical ability to "return" the spoon to its original form. You can do this easily by bringing your hands forward over the spoon and then lifting them up to show the utensil. The important thing is not to show the straight spoon to the public when it should still be bent.
Method 2 of 3: Using a Broken Spoon
Step 1. Be realistic
This technique can be effective through a film camera or in a photo, but you won't be able to fool a live audience, especially if it's close enough. Maybe you could be successful if people are some distance away, but there is no easy way to get a broken spoon back intact and the scenic effect would fail.
Step 2. Break the spoon
If you have a hacksaw you can use it to separate the concave side of the spoon from the handle. If not, you can also manually fold it several times on both sides. Sand down the sharp edges when you're done.
Step 3. Hold both parts of the spoon between your index finger and thumb
You should place your hand as if you were making the "okay" sign, but with your middle, ring and little fingers relaxed rather than stretched out. Grab the two parts of the spoon in order to deceive the audience that it is a whole piece of cutlery.
Step 4. Release your grip gradually
Both sides of the spoon will fall down, giving the impression that it is bending. But be sure not to loosen your grip too much to the point that the two pieces fall off.
Method 3 of 3: Use a Broken Spoon and a Bent Spoon
Step 1. Break the spoon
You can do this manually or by using a hacksaw. Finally, smooth the edges.
Step 2. Fold in a second spoon
Hold it with the concave side facing up and fold the handle down at a 90 ° angle. When the handle is perpendicular to the floor, the concave side of the spoon should be facing up.
Step 3. Grab the folded spoon behind the concavity using your index finger and thumb
If you are right-handed, the concave side should be facing right; otherwise it must point to the left. The handle must rest flat against the palm of the hand and be tilted so that the wrist can hide it, preventing it from protruding from under the hand. The other fingers must form a sort of barrier that prevents the audience from seeing where the handle is bent. Make sure they fit snugly together and that you don't see anything between one finger and the other.
Step 4. Hold the broken spoon handle with the same fingers
You have to create the illusion that the broken handle is attached to the concave side of the bent spoon. Try to grab it with your fingertips, so you can reduce the grip on the broken handle without losing the grip on the bent spoon.
Step 5. Gradually loosen your grip on the broken handle
It must sag downward, creating the illusion of bending over. Don't overdo it, you don't have to drop it.
Step 6. Bring the broken handle towards the palm of your hand
With a blatant gesture "fold" it completely, making sure that the two handles do not generate a metallic sound when touching each other. At this point with the other hand take away the broken handle (without anyone noticing).
Step 7. Distract the audience with the bent spoon
Hold it up for all to see, knock it against the table a couple of times, or ask someone from the audience to examine it. While their attention is on the folded spoon, slide the broken handle into your pocket.
