For this trick you will need a large bead and two equal lengths of ribbon approximately 30 inches long. While it appears that the ribbons pass through one side and out the other of the bead, in reality each ribbon is bent in half and only goes through half of the bead.
Ribbon Surgery
Preparation: Secretly bend over the middle of each piece of ribbon and insert the middle of each piece into the bead from opposite ends so that ends overlap. Gently pull the ends back into the bead so that it looks like the two pieces of ribbon pass directly though the bead from one side to the other.
Effect: Place the prepared bead into the subject’s upturned palm so that the ribbons hang over each side of the hand. Tell the subject to close the fingers over the bead and turn the hand over. One end of the ribbon from each side is then looped over the top of the subject’s hand so that it appears that the ribbon would have to pass through the hand when the ends are pulled from each end. The ends of the ribbons are pulled sharply. The bead is left in the hand and the ribbons are outside of the hand.
Patter: Have you heard of LASER surgery? Arthroscopic surgery? Well, I have ribbon surgery – it’s quick and totally painless! I am going to need a volunteer to do surgery on. While the surgery is quick and painless, it is important that you follow the directions that I give you or your fingers might just fall off.
Hold your hand with the palm up. Place the bead in the palm with the ribbon ends hanging down on each side. Do not hold on to the ribbons. Grip tightly and turn your hand over. Now I’ll loop one end of the ribbons from each side over your hand. I’ll hold these two ends in this hand and these two in my other hand. I’ll count to three and pull sharply – so sharply that the ribbons will cut right through your hand without you feeling it. Now here is the important part. Don’t open you hand until we count from five to zero so that everything can heal back shut. Got it?
Okay, one, two, three! Pull sharply on both ends of the ribbons and then press the ribbons over the back of the hand.
Don’t open your hand! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 !