The Salt Shaker Surprise!

Greetings!
Being a magician has lots of rewards but there is the special joy of seeing a child’s face full of awe when something magical happens that every parent should experience. That’s why I plan on teaching you a few classic magic tricks. Just wait till you see your child’s face when you perform ...

The Salt Shaker Surprise!
Next time you’re at a restaurant with your kids or grand kids try this:
Announce you are going to try a mysterious experiment with salt crystals. Tell them you can make the salt crystals float inside the shaker with your “attractive” powers. Rub your hand briskly on your sleeve and place it above the shaker. (nothing happens)
Puzzled, you try again, this time touching the metal top lightly. (nothing happens) Finally you press your forefinger hard against the metal top. As you slowly move your hand up the entire salt shaker floats up with your hand! You say “I didn’t know I was so powerful!” then you gently return the shaker back to the table to thunderous applause!

How? The final time you push a concealed toothpick into one of the holes in the cap. Grab the toothpick between your thumb and finger and raise the shaker making sure the toothpick is still concealed. See the pictures at www.hallsofmagic.com for more help.

Remember, we’ll be at Benchwarmer Bobs in Burnsville on New Years Eve. What a magical way to start the year!
Weekly Contest: Harry Houdini’s real name was Erich Weiss. Houdini took his name from the father of modern magic, Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin. He added an “i” at the end of the name, which started a trend with names like Cardini, Slydini and perhaps someday Kevin-dini!
First 3 people who can tell me how Houdini really died gets our video CD free! Send to info@hallsofmagic.com

What is the most dangerous magic trick?

Greetings!
My name is Kevin Hall and I am one of those unusual men that make people disappear, escape from handcuffs and saw people in half. Yes, you guessed it ... a mobster! Seriously, I am a professional magician who (with my wife Janet) performs across the country for all types of audiences.

In the upcoming weeks, this column will fill you in on the world of magic including odd magic facts and famous magicians You will even learn a few magic tricks! Let me start by answering a question sent to my web site by Jim V of White Bear.

What is the most dangerous magic trick?
Ben Robinson’s book, "Twelve Have Died" gives us the disturbing answer, The Bullet Catch. This is the effect where a volunteer fires a loaded weapon at the magician who stands on the other side of a plate of glass. The glass shatters, theoretically slowing the bullet down enough so that the magician can catch the bullet with his teeth!
At this point in time, there have been 15 deaths associated with this trick. Here are a few highlights:
Arnold Buck (1841) - died when a volunteer secretly added nails to the gun barrel before firing at him
Raoul Curran (1880) - Killed when an audience member, without warning, leapt up and shot him to see if he could “really” catch it
Adam Epstein (1869) - Killed by pieces of his wand that broke off in the barrel ... and my favorite
“The Black Wizard of the West” (1922) - His wife purposely fired
more than one bullet at him. (Don’t get any ideas Janet!)

No, Janet and I don’t perform the bullet catch. We do however, have some truly mind boggling illusions. Check out our videos at http://www.hallsofmagic.com or at http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=kevinjanet