KNOCK OFF
By Richard Robinson

The magician rolls a dollar bill into a cylinder, ties a string around the bill, then slides the tied section of the string off the outside of the cylinder and pushes it into the cylinder.

Taking hold of the ends of the string, he gives them a tug. The dollar bill unrolls to hang over the string. Removing the dollar bill, the knot on the string is seen to have vanished.

Props

A length of cord, string, ribbon or a shoe lace. A dollar bill or other paper currency.

Presentation & Handling

The knot on the string automatically unties itself if the moves are done correctly.

Display the dollar bill and the string. Roll the bill around your index finger.

With the bill cylinder held on the finger with the thumb, the free hand ties the string around the bill and pulls the knot snugly against the cylinder.

This is done by draping the center of the string over the cylinder so the string ends hang down. The free hand takes hold of one hanging end, brings it up threading the end around the opposite hanging end to make a simple, overhand knot, then pulls the end upwards until the knot closes around the bill cylinder.

You must keep track of the end you brought up and used to tie the knot.

Take hold of the ends of the string and display the bill tied to the center of the string.

Holding of the cylinder near one end, let the string ends hang down. With the free hand grasp the string end which you originally used to tie the knot. Bring that end up and thread it through the cylinder so that it hangs out of the opposite cylinder end.

Gently grasp the knot with the fingers and thumb.

Slide the knot along the cylinder to the end where the string was threaded through the cylinder. As the knot comes off the cylinder, squeeze it so that it continues to appear to be a knot. Slide the knot into the cylinder. The cylinder can be turned downstage so those watching can see the knot inside the cylinder.

Take hold of the cylinder at the center with the first finger and thumb and pause for a moment displaying the string running through the cylinder, a string end hanging out of each end.

The opposite hand moves up to also grasp the cylinder. The hands move apart to the ends of the cylinder and then along the string so that the cylinder is away from the hands, hanging on the string.

Give the string ends a sharp tug. Pause for a beat, then pull the bill cylinder from the string, showing the knot has vanished.

Performance Notes

In tying the string into a knot around the cylinder it is best to have the cylinder in front of and parallel to the body. Drape the string over the cylinder. Take hold of the string end that is upstage of the cylinder, thread it around the downstage side of the string, the bring the hand up so that the knot is tied and tightened around the downstage side of the cylinder.

If this tying orientation is followed, the end of the string that will be threaded through the cylinder will be hanging stage right. This is the end that is then inserted into the stage right end of the cylinder and threaded through it.

There are a number of ring and string moves that could be used as a follow up to this effect. The ring apparently threaded on the string, then bundled up and pushed into the cylinder, only to be seen to have penetrated off the string.

A Post-It® Note can be used, taking advantage of its temporary adhesive feature to make a cylinder that remains closed and can be torn up to finish.