I'm looking for suggestions for magic tricks that a child could learn and perform (11 years old). Anything that is easy enough to do with minimal practice, but still compelling enough to be enjoyed by an adult audience.
Thanks!

Ball Vase

Magic Coloring Book

Tenyo's Crazy Spots

Chinese Sticks (most difficult so far, but great trick, very doable by most 11 yr old)

Penetration Frame (Royal version generally nice)

First three above are about as easy as it gets. For children I call them 'indicator tricks'. If there's a problem with these...magic OR the age may not be appropriate at this time. There is a kind of myth of the 'self working trick'. Even tricks as easy as the above need some work to have them look even minimally good.

I wish I could give you a specific recommendation here, but I don't carry 'sets' any more. IF...you end up getting a magic set make SURE you get one with DVD instruction. There used to be and I assume there still are some really good sets with DVD's included. The advantage for a child is that they get to SEE the magic performed and explained by a real person.

Many times, at least in the past, I have seen some decent appearing sets with dvd in toy stores, etc. If you have a local magic shop they may be able to help, etc.

Good luck,

If you want a very impressive one and very easy try "Out of this world" by Paul Cury. It's the trick that fooled Churchill (I have no proof of that because I wasn't there, I'm too young ). Very easy to do, always has an impressive effect on anybody.

Also You can buy an excellent book for a beginner; Complete Magic Course by Joshua Jay, I very good young magician. The book includes easy versions of 10 classic card tricks. A must for starting easy card tricks based on excellent classic card tricks.

Mike

Most libraries have magic books in the children's section with some amazing effects that children can learn to do.

I got a Giberts magic set when I was a kid (1947). There are magic sets available at Amazon. I would start that and see if the interest continues.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1......gic+sets

Lots of rope tricks work at that age. By 11, my son was doing a very presentable Professor's Nightmare/My Favorite Rope Trick. Rope through Neck, G. W. Hunter's Puzzle Knot, The Flip Knot and the Magic Shoe Laces are also great for a young Magician. These can all be found in "Abbott's Encyclopedia of Rope Tricks for Magicians".

Thanks to everyone for your helpful suggestions! Any small levitation stuff that might be appropriate? Vanishes?

Silk vanish with a tt

If you are willing to tutor them, I'd recommend Harry Lorayne's 'The Magic Book'.

Granted that 11 may be a bit young but, having said that, I was cutting my teeth on it's contents by 13. The Tenyo style tricks just didn't 'do it' for me.

Even to this day, I value this book as the greatest introduction to pure magic (and sleight of hand) anyone could wish for.

Unreservedly recommended.

I think that something like the 'universal pull from vernet' would be nice. When I was a child I've had a lot of fun with it. Friends of my father couldn't figure it out and so I was doing this effect a lot of times and every time they gave me 1000 lire (old italian value, circa 50 cent in banknote) to let them wanish!
Also a 'stripped deck' could be fine, you can do with it a lot of cards tricks, that are easy and almost self working. And with that deck he will see if he likes card magic and, if this is the case, something like card college is a great book, but only if really interested.
An other good and totally self working deck is the Svengali deck, but some non magicians know the secret of this deck.

Bill08

Scotch & Soda would be a good coin effect that you can perform.

This will go over well with adults. Here's a link to Murphys and the video of the effect http://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=37929. I would suggest the magnetic version as you can accomplish more effects with this rather than the traditional Scotch & Soda.

Have fun, enjoy the journey.

Mark

With regards to "out of this world" I recommend Derren Brown's version on "the Devil's Picture Book", it avoids he problem of having to switch colours halfway through.

Things that my kids (7,6,4) like and can perform:
Nickels to Dimes (also, my grandma's favorite trick)
Magic Coloring Book (performed like Bill Malone's Direct from the Factory trick)
Ball in Clear Box (disintegration box)

The man at Hollywood Toys & Costumes gave me good advice when selecting magic for my kids, try to find effects that they can show their friends and then allow to be examined (so not many gimmicks). Also, teach them a trick that requires a few steps. So far it has been very fun teaching them.

Also, they like to make cards float.

David