The jumping elastic band effect is a wonderful effect for presenting in a close-up or walkabout situation.  It can be seen in many books on magic for beginners.  Because of this it is often passed over by magicians as being too simple.  This though is one of the effects greatest strengths.

As it is so simple to perform, more time and effort can be given to the presentation of the effect.

Effect
An ordinary elastic band placed round the first two fingers of one hand magically jumps across so that it is around the third and fourth finger.  

You will require
A small elastic band which will fit loosely around the first two fingers of one hand.  If only the first stage of the effect is to be performed then only one band is required.  If the second part is to be performed as well then a second elastic band will be required of a different colour to the first elastic band.
  

To perform part one of the effect
Have an elastic band examined, we shall imagine that it is a red band and place it around the base of the first two fingers as in Figure 1.

With the other hand pull out the band into a long loop as in Figure 2.  Turn the hand face down and do the same again from the back of the hand.  Repeat this action several times.  This is to get the audience accustomed to seeing this pulling action and to stress that the band cannot pass through the fingers.

When ready to perform the secret move, pull out the loop when the palm is facing you as in Figure 2 and then curl all four finger tips inside the loop as shown in Figure 3.  This is the magicians view.  The audience never see this view.

Display the back of your hand to the audience as shown in Figure 4.  This will show the band around the first two fingers.  By simply keeping the fingers together and opening the hand the elastic band will jump across to the third and fourth fingers as in Figure 5.

To make the elastic band jump back again to the first two fingers, use the thumb to draw out the elastic band into a long loop and curl all the finger tips into the loop as in Figure 3,  By opening the hand again the band will jump back to the first two fingers.

To perform part two of the effect
After placing the red elastic band around the first two fingers, the effect can be made to look even more impossible by tying all the finger tips together using a different coloured elastic band.  In the picture below Figure 7 a green elastic band has been used.

It looks impossible but by repeating the actions for part one of the effect, the red elastic band still jumps across to the third and fourth finger.  The green elastic band does not prevent this and merely acts as a red herring or misdirection for the audience.

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