Everyday Object Becomes Magical: Mini-Sharpie

The Mini Sharpie has a great future ahead of it in magic. Times have changed in the culture of magic; while the cliche still lives, of the magician wearing a top hat, I’ve never seen a post 1970’s magician wearing one (ok, David and Dania use one, but that’s just one!) Many of the classics of magic are going through the process of evolution, either dieing out or are adapting to the times.


Today I’d like to discuss a modern marvel that can keep up with the times: The Mini Sharpie.

1. Overcoming a Social Taboo.
To make a long story short, as a youngin, I saw a magician performing some sweet cigarette manipulations. 8 or 9 year old Derek sees a magician using fire, me like! Unfortunately, the media told me smoking was bad and I never even considered asking my parents for cigarettes to ‘practice’ with.

Years later, my dreams were realized in the invention of the Mini Sharpie^tm. You can perform a lot of the classic cigarette moves and sequences with a mini sharpie. Most recently, I realized (duh!) that I could have also practiced with rolled up dollar bills, Q-tips, chap stick, etc… I just prefer the mini sharpie because it’s the most ‘modern’ and I usually have one on me anyway.

2. “And uh, I’d have you sign it, but I didn’t bring a pen…”
Folks my age are getting into a trend of keeping their car/house/etc. keys on a lanyard. Baby boomers and up probably just use key rings - and that’s great as well. Seriously, put one of these on your keychain or lanyard, you’d be amazed how often you will use this. The Mini Sharpies come with a removable keychain compatible clip that lets you do this with ease. It may not be appropriate for restaurant performers, but if you find yourself performing when you’re not hired to perform… (you can performed ’signed’ cards without carrying around one of those bulky, classic sharpies).

3. Coin-n-Pen
Yes, you can do it! This is an awesome ‘carry with you all the time’ bit of magic. For the price of admission, clipping a mini sharpie onto your keyring/lanyard for added magic utility, you can also use it for a Coin-n-Pen routine. This is another good place to use your Mini Sharpie in one of those SHOW ME A TRICK (NOW!) moments. Just borrow the coin, and because you have a sharpie, they can sign the coin. I’ve got a Coin-n-Pen routine that’ll be published here on Magiczine shortly that works great with any kind of sharpie and in real world performing conditions.

4. Pen Pull
It’s a simple idea, I’m sure just about every magician that’s played with a Mini Sharpie has thought of this, but for the sake of completion: tie a piece of elastic through the hook on the Mini Sharpie clip - use it as a pull to vanish the pen.

5. The Most Important Use for the Mini Sharpie
Writing down phone numbers of girls that dig your magic. Or clients, it’s good to be able to take down their numbers as well. Why not just carry a ball point pen? Well if you’ve already got the pen on your keychain…