Jelly Bean Prediction

The Jellybean trick comes from an issue of the MUM. In the original routine, the audience is asked to select Jellybeans from a paper bag. Instead of a paper bag, I found that the use of a clear plastic (zip lock) bag makes for a stronger effect because the audience gets to see the Jellybeans being selected.

Effect – The magician gives a spectator an envelope with a prediction inside. The magician shows a clear bag containing 5 large plastic jellybeans. Four spectators are asked to reach into the bag one at a time and freely select a jellybean until just one jellybean is left for the magician. Spectators are asked to pull their jellybeans apart to reveal, inside each jellybean, a paper-clipped piece of paper. Each spectator is asked to read out loud the flavor of his or her jellybean that is written on the piece of paper. The magician takes his jellybean apart to reveal, inside, a clipped piece of paper. The magician hands the clipped piece of paper to a spectator to open and read aloud the flavor of the magician’s jellybean. The spectator with the prediction envelope is asked to remove the contents of the envelope. The prediction is a large piece of paper with the same flavor written on it as the flavor of the jellybean the magician was left with.

Preparation

1. You will need five different-colored giant plastic jellybeans, which can be purchased at a party store. Inside each jellybeans place a small strip of paper (¼ by 2 ½-inchs) with an absurd flavor on it, such as BARK, SPINACH, LIVER, ONION, SARDINE, etc. Each slip of paper is folded in thirds, sealed with a steel paper clip, and placed inside a jellybean. Place all 5 jellybeans in a large, clear plastic zip-lock bag.
2. You will need an envelope containing a sheet of paper with another absurd flavor, such as BEETLEJUICE, written in large letters.
3. You will also need a sixth strip of paper (¼ by 2 ½ inches) held together with a steel paper clip with the same prediction flavor, BEETLEJUICE, written on it. Place this paper-clipped piece of paper in your right jacket pocket.
4. Last, take a very small cylinder type magnet and cover it with a piece flesh colored band-aid tape. Place the magnet in your left jacket pocket. 

Presentation

Give a spectator the prediction envelope to hold. With the magnet concealed in your left hand, ask four spectators to reach into the plastic bag one-at-time and remove a jellybean, leaving one jellybean for the magician. Remove the last jellybean and place it in your left hand on top of the concealed magnet.

Ask each spectator if they would like to exchange their jellybean for your jellybean.  Tell the spectators to take their jellybeans part and remove the piece of paper they find inside. Asked each spectator to remove the paperclip and read out loud the jellybean flavors written on their strip of paper.

Separate the top part of the jellybean you are holding in your left hand and show the audience that it also contains a paper-clipped piece of paper. Put the top of the jellybean in your right jacket pocket and steal the duplicate paper-clipped prediction.

Pretend to dump the piece of paper from the bottom half of your jellybean onto your right hand. The paper-clipped piece of paper will be held fast by the magnet, giving the illusion of it falling from the jellybean onto your right hand. Hand the paper-clipped piece of paper in your right hand to a spectator and casually put the bottom half of your jellybean, along with the magnet and a paper-clipped piece of paper, into your left jacket pocket. 

Ask the spectator to remove the paperclip and read out loud the flavor of your jellybean. The spectator yells, “BEETLEJUICE!” Next, ask the spectator holding the prediction to open the envelope and read out loud what flavor you predicted you would be left with after all the jellybeans were chosen, except one. The spectator will yell “BEETLEJUICE”.