The Guide's Ether Glass

A vessel through which matter seems to slip beyond ordinary sight.

A half dollar is signed and placed under a napkin that is held in the hand of a new friend. They hold the napkin over a wine (or other glass not provided) glass positioning the coin just above the opening, waiting to drop the coin to the bottom of the glass.

Another glass, this one small and empty, is shown to everyone by clearly looking inside and around its sides. The magician is holding the glass with one little finger on the bottom and the thumb on one side while the first finger holds the other side. The magicians can show the glass upright as well as on its side so people from a distance can see it empty and your hand is also empty. Don’t spend too much time showing the glass as this will hint at what’s to come.

Take another new friend’s wrist, hold their palm up and place the glass in it. You drop the coin, centered under the glass, in their palm. Please note that when you touch another person, that is taking their wrist, will through off their senses a little to allow you to drop the coin and center the glass over it. The actions will take seconds with practice. Allow them to take a last look before placing their other palm over the top of the glass.

Return to friend one and do a magical incantation of your choosing (please do something here as the magic needs to be summoned). Then tell them to drop the coin into the glass. “CLANG.”

Take a moment here if you like to ask friend 2 if he felt the glass move. He may also quickly look inside again before placing his palm over the mouth of the glass.

The napkin it taken away by the magician. The glass is empty! The 50-cent piece has not traveled across the table. It has not been secretly removed. To every eye present, the coin is simply gone.

Take this wine glass, place it on the table in full view.

Take the napkin, show it free of lingering coins, and place it over the small glass and the hands of friend 2.

You say, "Some objects do not disappear. They simply move through the ether."

Take the napkin up and tell him the coin has traveled but traveled not into the glass but under it on top of his palm! Lift the glass (not letting anyone look inside as it still looks empty), place the small glass on the table with the wine glass.