If you\’d like to learn a great up close and impromptu magic trick, than look no further. This time bending illusion will catch them completely by surprise, and you can easily perform this in any bar, party or even on the street with complete strangers.
This is how it looks to your audience. You walk up to them on the street, or to your friend, and say that something is wrong with your watch. Lately you\’ve noticed that timepieces that you touch immediately go crazy, and lose their ability to keep proper time. You ask to borrow their watch, so you can set yours. They\’ll think you\’re joking, and won\’t think too much of it.
At the same time you set your watch, get them to double check the correct time. They will, usually by looking at a clock on the wall or by checking with somebody else. You make sure they watch you set your watch, to ensure you\’ve got the right time. You thank them, and hand them their watch back, but explain to them that you\’ve somehow messed it up. You tell them to sandwich it between their hands, without looking at the face, and tell them to guess how far off their watch is from the correct time. Most people will guess five minutes or so, which means they\’ll be shocked to see their watch is off by around thirty minutes.
Here\’s the trick. First you need to choose somebody who\’s watch has a large stem that is easy to turn. You hold their watch in your left hand, and you\’re watch in your right. While you are focusing on setting your own watch, while they are concentrating on your watch, you quickly move their watch out of view and re-set the time. You can quickly do this when they look away to verify the correct time.
This illusion is heavily based on misdirection, and the skill of quickly changing the time on their watch with only your left hand. Obviously, you\’ll need to practice. You can easily practice on your own watch, if it has a big stem, while you are sitting around watching TV.
The best way to apply the misdirection is just to play dumb, as if you really have no idea what is going on. Begin the illusion as if you are genuinely asking them for the time, but concerned that you have a strange effect on time pieces. Obviously, if you say up front your going to do a magic trick involving their watch, they\’ll watch you more closely. This works great as a conversation starter at bars, parties or anybody you want to make a lasting impression on. Have fun.
