I researched and found all the best rope magic tricks and assembled them into one routine. I have been performing this routine for the past 20 years and it flows nicely together. You will learn these rope magic tricks-

• CUT AND INSTANT RESTORE
• ENDS ACROSS ONE AT A TIME
• ENDS OFF AND ON
• ENDS ACROSS SAME TIME
• CLEAN CUT AND RESTORE
• SPECTATOR CUT AND RESTORE
• 3 ROPE MAGIC TRICK

I am right handed. If you are left handed switch the hands.

THE ROPE & SCISSORS

I order rope online from a site called Baronian Trading Company. You can check it out here. The scissors I get are called Fiskars Gardening Shears, the ones that do not come apart. I get them from Home Depot. Cut the rope 8′ long. After you remove the core the rope will stretch a little from use. When I am about to perform I cut the ends so they are crisp and not frayed.

Cut and Instant Restore

SCISSORS SWITCH

“The ropes have to be the same size.”

Hold the rope with your left thumb and 1st finger, scissors open in your palm up right hand. Run the scissors along the rope less than an arm length. Turn your right hand palm down and move to your left hand. Grasp the rope hanging between the blades with your left 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers and close it into your hand. Pivot the blade down off the rope it is on and onto the middle hanging rope below your left thumb and 1st finger.

Move the scissors and the rope up and cut the rope so the extra piece is about 8″, 4″ on each side. Let the ends fall. Adjust your left hand grip so the loops are hidden inside your left hand with your left thumb behind, 1st and 2nd in front. Put the scissors in your right front pocket. Realizing the ropes clearly aren’t the same size, look up at the audience.

INSTANT RESTORE

“Let me start from the beginning, with one piece of rope.”

Pick up the shorter end on your palm up right hand with the end inside your hand. Hold the rope in place with your right pinky. Grip the nearer end of the extra piece between your right thumb and 1st finger. Like a snake bite toss the ropes downward. Let go with your left hand, hold the ropes with your right hand. Pick up the rope with your palm up left hand and run it to the end of the rope. Hold the rope in display position.

Ends Across One at a Time

ENDS SWITCH

“A trick with the ends.”

Readjust your left hand grip. Clip the left end of the rope between your left 1st and 2nd fingers, a few inches from the end. Place the middle of the extra piece on the side of your left 1st finger and clamp it in place with your left thumb. Move your right hand forward folding the extra piece in half. Hold the extra piece at the fold with your curled left 1st finger and thumb.

Move your right hand down and press the left end of the rope (the one hanging) against your right palm with your right 2nd finger. Let go of the extra piece with your right hand and run the rope through your left 1st and 2nd fingers to the other side. Move the loop into your left hand and adjust everything so it looks clean. Make a loop with your right thumb and bring the rope into your right hand. Display.

ENDS ACROSS

“From here to here.”

Gesture with each side. Focus your attention on the ends. Massage one of the ends slowly into your fist. Move your eyes down the rope to the other side. Push up with your right thumb releasing the first end. Bring your attention back to the other side. Massage the 2nd end into your left fist (leave the tip right at the opening so you can easily access it in a second). Make a tossing motion with your left fist toward your right hand.

Move your right hand up. Hold the rope with your right thumb and 1st, open your right hand, and let the other end fall. Let go of the rope with your left hand and casually drop your left hand to your side (don’t worry, nobody knows you have a piece of rope in your left hand). With your right thumb slide the end of the rope down into your right hand and hold the rope in place with your right pinky.

CLEANUP

Keep the back of your hands toward your audience and bring your hands together so they kiss for a split second. With your right thumb and 1st finger grasp the end of the extra piece at the opening of your left hand. Rotate your right hand palm up bringing out the end. In a continuing motion pick up the rope with your palm up left hand and run it to the end of the rope. Hold the rope in display position.

Ends Off And On

TYING ENDS SWITCH

“The ends around the ends.”

This should look like you are tying a simple knot. Hold the rope in your hands in display position, ends hanging between your thumbs and 1st fingers. Place the middle of the right end (extra piece) onto the left end a few inches from the end. Clamp the ropes together between your left thumb and 1st finger. With your left 1st finger flip the left end, which is on the right, toward you and around the other rope.

Press this end against your right palm with your right 2nd finger. Let go of the end of the extra piece with your right hand. Keep the extra piece in place with your left thumb, 1st, and 2nd, and move your left hand to the left sliding the extra piece along the rope. Wrap the rope in your right hand forward around the back end of the extra piece.

With your left thumb kick this same end of the extra piece up behind the rope and forward around it. Let go of the main rope with your left hand and grip it in your right hand. Stretch the ends of the extra piece forward between your left thumb, 1st, and 2nd. Let go with your left hand, and hold the rope in a display position.

ENDS OFF

“Please hold on to the ends.”

With your left thumb and 1st finger grip the knot at the fold and slowly remove it. Keep the extra piece folded in half. Hand it to your spectator or place it under your right armpit. Hold the ends together in your right hand. Drop the loop. Show the rope to be continuous by running it through your hands a few times, the whole time keeping the ends together and hidden in your right hand. Let go of the rope with your left hand.  

ENDS ON

“To put the ends back on, just a touch.”

Grip the extra piece from below at the fold with your left thumb and 1st finger, ends pointing up and hanging left and right. Hold this piece in front of the left side of the rope slightly below your right hand. Close your left 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers around the rope. Move your right hand down and press the end of the right side of the extra piece against your right palm with your right 2nd finger.

Let go of the rope with your thumb and 1st fingers of both hands and separate your hands in display position.

Ends Across Same Time

ENDS SWITCH

“If I don’t like the ends down here…”

Readjust your left hand grip. Clip the left end of the rope between your left 1st and 2nd fingers, a few inches from the end. Place the middle of the extra piece on the side of your left 1st finger and clamp it in place with your left thumb. Move your right hand forward folding the extra piece in half. Hold the extra piece at the fold with your curled left 1st finger and thumb.

Move your right hand down and press the left end of the rope (the one hanging) against your right palm with your right 2nd finger. Let go of the extra piece with your right thumb and 1st finger and run the rope through your left 1st and 2nd fingers to the other side. Move the loop into your left hand and adjust everything so it looks clean. Don’t make a loop with your right hand.

ENDS OFF

“I take them from this side…“

Gesture with the ends. Drop the rope out of your left hand so you are only holding the ends. Hold your right fist palm down.

ENDS ON

…and toss them to this side.”

Bring the right end of the extra piece below your right hand. Toss the ends up into your right hand. Grip the right end against your right palm with your right 1st and 2nd fingers. Let go of the end you are holding between your right thumb and 1st finger and catch it with your palm up left hand. Separate your hands and display.

Clean Cut and Restore

ENDS SWITCH

“And the big finish for this part.”

Let go of the rope with your left hand. Regrip the rope near the top with your left hand, palm toward you. Run the rope on your left hand, over your left fingers, and down. Estimate about the center and fold the rope at that spot in your left hand. With your right hand lay the right end on the left of the fold in your left hand. Make a loop and lay the other end on the right of the fold. Close your left hand so the seams are covered.

In a continuing motion curl your right thumb, 1st, and 2nd fingers around the ropes beneath your left hand and run your right hand down as if you are adjusting them. Let the end fall out of your right hand.

CLEAN CUT

“Just a quick cut…”

Grab your scissors. Cut the middle, cut off half of the ends, and then do a fake cut and release the remaining pieces. Place the scissors in your pocket. 

RESTORE

“…and I am right back where I started.”

Fold one of the ropes up near the loop and hold the fold hidden in your left hand. Move your left hand up. Grip the rope between your left thumb and 1st finger. Open your hand palm down and let the fold fall, it looks like the rope has visually restored.

Spectator Cut and Restore

“Can I please get a volunteer, someone who is comfortable cutting the rope?”

Spectator stands on your right side. Have them check out the rope. Take back the rope and hand them the scissors.

MIDDLE SWITCH

“This is approximately the middle.”

Even up the ends and hold them in your left thumb crotch. Place your left 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers between the ropes and run the right side between your left 1st and 2nd fingers. With your right fingers toward you, from the front, place your right hand through the rope. Run your right hand to the middle so the rope is around the side of your right 1st finger. Clamp the rope against your right 1st finger with your right thumb.

Move your hands toward each other. Turn your right hand palm down and let the rope fall off your right fingers. Hold the loop with your right thumb and 1st finger. Place the loop around your left 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers. Rotate the loop slightly so the spot your holding goes on top of your left 4th finger. Close your left 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers against your palm locking in the ropes.

Reach through the loop you just made. Pull the hanging front right rope back through and up into a loop. Rest the loop on your left 1st finger and cover the top with your left thumb. Adjust the ends to the left and the loop to the right. Place your right 1st and 2nd fingers in between the ropes and stretch the middles for a clean display.

MIDDLE CUT

“Please cut the rope right here.”

Open the loop with your right hand and have your spectator cut the rope. Guide them to the right spot so the piece they cut will be about 8.” Drop the right end. With your right thumb and 1st finger pull the left end of the rope out of your left hand and let it fall. Adjust the ropes in your hand and hold them with your left thumb, 1st, and 2nd.

“The ropes have to be equal in size, please trim the ends.”

Notice that the ends aren’t even. Have your spectator trim the bottom ends so the ropes are the same length. As they are doing this casually stroke down the rope as if you are making sure it is even and slide one rope down a little bit.

“They’re just a tiny bit off, one more quick trim please.”

Again notice the ends aren’t even, this will get a laugh. Have your spectator trim the ends. Again as they do this casually stroke down the rope as if you are making sure it is even and slide one rope down a little bit.

INSTANT RESTORE

 “Kelly is a terrific sport, for you I’ll put the ends back together.”

Again notice the ends aren’t even. Grab the shorter end with your palm up right hand. Hold the end halfway in your hand with your pinky. Grip the nearer end of the extra piece with your right thumb and 1st finger. Like a snake bite toss the ropes downward. Let go with your left hand, hold the ropes with your right hand. Pick up the rope with your palm up left hand and run it to the end. Display. Tell your spectator not to go anywhere.

3 Rope Magic Trick

THE PIECES

“Please give a cut right here.”

Here you will measure the correct spot for your spectator to cut. Slide the left end of the rope down in your left hand so the end is at the top edge of your 1st finger. Hold it there with your left thumb. Lay the right side of the rope next to it on your left fingers and run the rope up and over your left 1st finger. Slide the rope down with your right hand until your right pinky is about 4” below the bottom of the loop.  

Close your left 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers locking the ropes together, this marks the spot to cut. Bring your left hand down and stretch the single rope to the right with your right thumb and 1st finger. Have your spectator cut the rope at the marked spot. Drop the end between your right thumb and 1st finger. Hold one of the left ends with your left thumb and 1st finger and drop the other end. Display.

3 ROPES

“Perfect, watch the 2 ropes…become 3.”

Flip the ends forward and display the ropes. Slide the rope in your left hand over into your left thumb crotch. Bring your hands together for a brief second. With your left 1st and 2nd fingers clip the right rope a few inches below the your right hand pinky. In one fast motion turn your left hand palm up. Let go of the medium rope in your right hand and hold the small piece next to the other ropes in your left hand. Display the ropes.

ENDS SWITCH

“A long piece, a short piece, and a medium piece of rope.”

Place the short piece of rope between your left 1st and 2nd finger, next to the medium piece.

Pick up the long rope with your right thumb and 1st finger. Hold it up and display it. Kick the back end of the short piece up with your left thumb. Grip it with your left thumb and 1st finger. Show the short piece and place it on the long piece, the middle going on top of your right 1st finger in an X formation. Hold it in place with your right thumb. Grip the bottom end of the short rope between your right 1st and 2nd fingers.

Show the medium rope with your left thumb and 1st finger. Relax your right hand down slightly, this is when you switch the ends.

With your right thumb, 1st, and 2nd finger flip the end of the long piece toward you around the bottom of the short piece so they switch places. Fold the end down against the rope and fold the short piece up in half. Place the medium rope to the left of the other ropes. Hold the ropes with your right thumb, 1st, and 2nd finger, your thumb conceals the loops. Straighten the ends and display the ropes, front and back.

STRETCH

“Just a stretch, and they are all equal.”

Clamp the rope above the loops with your right thumb and 1st finger. Keep your right 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers loosely curled around the ropes. With your left palm toward you, below your right hand, clip the end hanging down in your left thumb crotch and hold the ropes loosely in your left fist. Slide your left hand down the ropes, moving the clipped end, until the bottoms are even. Snap the ropes. Let go with your left hand. 

EQUAL ROPES

“All the same length.”

YOUR LEFT HAND DOES ALL THE MOVING HERE!

Lift the rope on the left, the medium rope, with your left thumb and 1st finger. Slide it all the way up through your right hand and let the end come out. While showing this rope place your right 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers between the hanging ropes. Bring your left hand back down to the ropes.

• Clip the ends, near the loops, between your left 1st and 2nd fingers.
• Clamp the medium rope against your hand with your right thumb.

Close your left 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers hiding the loops and move your left hand up the same way you did with the 1st rope. Let the medium rope in your right hand slide along. Bring the rope all the way up through your right hand and let the end come out.

Move your left 1st finger under the ends. Place the last rope into your left hand to the right of the ropes and slide this rope through your right hand, like you did with the others, moving your left hand only.  

THREE LENGTHS

“Just a wave, remember the small rope, the medium, and the long.”

Transfer the ropes to your right hand. Place your right hand onto your left hand with your right thumb and 1st finger slightly above. Make sure your right fingers are closed. Slide your left hand down and take over with your right hand. Slide your left hand all the way to the bottom of the ropes and stretch them.

Bring up the bottom ends and lay them on the loops of the top ends pointing diagonally up and to the right. Lift up the little piece of rope with your left thumb and 1st finger. Move it into the crotch of your left thumb. Lift the medium rope between your left 1st and 2nd. Hold onto one end of the long piece with your right thumb and 1st finger and let the other end fall. Display the ropes. Take your applause. 

“Thank you very much for helping, please give Kelly a round of applause.”

Give your assistant the ropes and send them back to their seat.  

It is always good to mix up your magic. Check out this Free Video and learn my favorite 4 Ace Trick. It is easy to do and guaranteed to amaze. I perform it all the time at my paid events.

Important Points

This rope routine can be done close up or on stage, for up to 200 people. This is a complete routine with many incredible phases. You can do one part of the routine or you can do all parts of the routine. Visual rope magic is fun to watch and gets great reactions. There is so much amazing magic here. This routine is perfect for anytime, even when it is loud or people don’t speak the language.

All the moves have been well thought out and are clean and deceptive. I perform this routine surrounded. Perform this rope magic slowly, smoothly, and confidently.

There are some cleanups and switches that are done on the offbeat, usually when your spectators are reacting to another part of the trick. Be casual and smooth, the moves will fly.

YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE! Spend time learning each part, and slowly put the routine together. There is no time for fumbling. You need to know the moves and routine inside and out.

Always treat your volunteers with respect. Be very gentle at the point where they cut the rope and it isn’t even. Have them trim the rope two times, that is enough. I make sure to thank them and have the audience give them a round of applause.

I have bolded the “patter” I use in this routine. As you can see it is minimal. I’m pretty much just saying what I do. I like my magic to speak for itself. I don’t like long stories or speeches during a trick. Neither do your spectators.

If the rope gets tangled while practicing run your hand down it a few times to straighten it out.