How to Do Water Cup Magic Tricks from TikTok, Step By Step

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Plus, pro magicians share how to put on a fun and convincing show
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Have you seen videos of people pouring water into a cup, and it magically disappears? This simple magic trick is fooling tons of viewers, but it’s actually really easy to do, and you can learn it in a few minutes! Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through the disappearing water trick you’ve seen on TikTok, plus a few other simple water cup tricks to try out. We’ve also got pro tips from professional magicians for making your magic act more exciting!

How does the water cup trick work?

The water cup trick makes it seem like water disappears when you pour it from one cup to another. The trick is lining the bottom of one cup with paper towels or another absorbent material. The paper towel soaks up the water so the cup appears empty when you try pouring it out.

Section 1 of 5:

What is the water cup trick on TikTok?

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  1. The water cup trick starts with someone showing you an empty cup or mug. Then, they take a little bit of water and pour it into the cup. After a few magical hand movements, the person turns the cup upside-down, but nothing spills out. It’s as if the water just disappeared! Can you figure out how it’s done?
    • On TikTok, many people use the song “Friends on the Other Side” from The Frog Princess in their videos demonstrating the trick.

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    David Martinez is a professional magician who has been performing magic for over 20 years.

    Barry McDonough is a professional magician who runs a magic school and workshop to teach new tricks to beginners.

    Magic Suzy is a professional magician who specializes in family-oriented magic and comedy shows.

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Section 2 of 5:

How to Do the TikTok Disappearing Water Cup Trick

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  1. 1
    Line the bottom of a cup with paper towels before performing. Use an opaque cup so no one can see what’s inside it. Before you show off the trick, fold a few squares of paper towels and press them down into the bottom of the cup. Make sure the paper towels are tight against the side of the cup so they don’t move around or fall out. [1]
    • If you can, try to find a cup that has a white bottom so the paper towels blend in and don’t look out of place.
    • You can also cut a sponge so it’s slightly larger than the bottom of the cup and push it down into the bottom. To hide the sponge even better, use a paper cup and spray paint it inside and out. The sponge will still be absorbent.
    • Some people recommend using sodium polyacrylate , a chemical that absorbs water and turns into a solid gel once it gets wet.
  2. 2
    Tilt the cup to show that it’s empty. As you’re starting the trick, show your audience the cup and explain that it magically makes water disappear. Tilt the cup their direction so they can peek inside, but don’t tilt it so far that they can see the paper towels stuffed into the bottom.
    • This part of the trick is optional, but it can help make it look more convincing.
    • Alternatively, hold the cup completely upside down as a demonstration. Just make sure your paper towels are snug in the bottom so they don’t fall out!
  3. 3
    Pour a little water into the cup. Put a small amount of water in another cup or container, and slowly pour it into the trick cup with the paper towel. The paper towel will immediately absorb the water, but your audience will think that the water is filling the bottom of the cup.
    • For a little flair, pour the water from high up so the audience can see the liquid falling into the cup.
  4. 4
    Wave your hands over the cup and tip it upside-down. Move your hands around and wiggle your fingers like you’re performing some magic ritual to make the water disappear. Wait a few seconds so the paper towel has time to soak up the liquid, then pick up the cup and tip it upside down. The paper towel will stay stuck to the bottom of the cup, so it will look like the cup is empty. Ta-da!
    • When someone asks how you did the trick, remind them that a magician never reveals their secrets!
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Section 3 of 5:

How to Magically Make Water Appear in an Empty Cup

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  1. 1
    Cut the bottom off a paper cup and fill it with water. This trick requires 3 paper cups that are all identical. To prepare for the trick, take one of the paper cups and cut off the top half with a utility knife or a pair of scissors. Add a small amount of water to the bottom of the cup that’s left over. [2]
    • This trick works best for posting as a video on TikTok and other social media because there’s a bit of prep work that makes it obvious to a live audience.
  2. 2
    Place 1 cup face-up and 1 cup upside-down so it hides the paper cup bottom. Cover the cup bottom filled with water with another upside-down cup so it’s completely hidden. Then, place another face-up cup nearby to use for your trick. You’re now ready to start filming or performing the trick.
    • If the cup bottom doesn’t fit under the other cup, cut it so it’s a little bit shorter.
  3. 3
    Pick up the upside-down cup and cup bottom at the same time. Tell your audience that you’re going to magically make water appear in one of the cups. Show them inside the empty face-up cup. Then, squeeze the sides of the upside-down cup so you get a good grip on the cup bottom inside. Carefully pick up the cup and cup bottom and hold it directly over the face-up cup. [3]
  4. 4
    Drop the cup bottom into the second cup. Move your other hand around and waggle your fingers like you’re casting a spell to create water. As you’re doing that, loosen your grip on the upside-down cup so the cup bottom and water drops into the other cup.
    • Make sure to hold the lips of the cups tightly together so no one sees the cup bottom inside.
  5. 5
    Remove the top cup and pour the water into it. Take the upside-down cup off the lower cup, and show that it’s empty to your audience. Now that the cup bottom is in the second cup, pick it up and slowly pour it into the first cup. It will look like water magically appeared out of thin air! [4]
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Section 4 of 5:

How to Do the Upside Down Water Cup Trick

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  1. 1
    Fill a glass of water all the way to the top. Use any cup of water for your trick, but it will look the most impressive with a transparent glass. Pour water into the cup all the way up to the brim so there’s no empty space left at the top. [5]
  2. 2
    Place a thick piece of paper flat on top of the cup. Use a thick piece of cardstock or a postcard for the best results. Set the paper or cardstock on top of the glass so it’s completely covered. Hold the paper down firmly against the lip of the glass. [6]
  3. 3
    Hold the paper in place and turn the glass upside-down. Keep your hand on the paper and slowly lift and flip over the glass. Once it’s upside-down, slowly move your hand away. The paper will magically stay in place, and the water will stay inside the cup without spilling! [7]
    • How does it work? The air pressure pushing up on the bottom of the paper counteracts the weight of the water and holds the paper in place so the water can’t spill out.
    • Practice this trick over a sink or another container at first, just in case the water spills out. As you get used to doing the trick, you can start performing it anywhere.
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Section 5 of 5:

Expert Advice for Performing Magic

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  1. 1
    Find a way to connect with your audience. “What you need to do as a magician is create an experience for the audience,” states Martinez. He mentions that while a magic trick is fun to watch, it’s usually not enough to keep someone engaged. He recommends “getting them involved in the trick, making it funny, making it meaningful, or maybe telling a story about yourself” to connect better with the audience. [8]
  2. 2
    Spend time practicing your tricks. Magic Suzy agrees that the most important part of performing magic is muscle memory, so it’s best to constantly practice. [9] “Dedicate a certain amount of time each day to work on one particular sleight,” suggests McDonough. He continues, “Just slow it down and take it step by step.” [10]
  3. 3
    Focus on entertaining rather than trying to fool someone. McDonough says, “It's not about trying to fool someone. You're there to entertain someone.” He mentions that it’s your goal to make sure everybody has fun and that they remember the experience, rather than making them wonder how you pulled the trick off. [11]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TyeumJzKPsQ
      2. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@darynapopach/video/7535628858234637599
      3. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@darynapopach/video/7535628858234637599
      4. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@darynapopach/video/7536347653127359774
      5. ↑ https://coolscienceexperimentshq.com/upside-down-glass-of-water-experiment/
      6. ↑ https://learning.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/resources/gravity-defying-water/
      7. ↑ https://learning.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/resources/gravity-defying-water/
      8. ↑ David Martinez. Professional Magician. Expert Interview
      9. ↑ Magic Suzy. Professional Magician. Expert Interview
      1. ↑ Barry McDonough. Professional Magician. Expert Interview
      2. ↑ Barry McDonough. Professional Magician. Expert Interview

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