In the April 2026 issue of Genii, Danny Orleans detailed his thoughtful handling of the classic Paper Balls Over the Head plot. Since Tony Slydini’s original routine appeared in Stars of Magic in 1952, it has become a staple for countless professionals. In recent years, several notable variations and refinements have appeared, including Billy McComb’s Paper Balls Over the Head (1995), Steve Spill’s Rice Paper (Magic Is My Weed, 2019), Lionel Gallardo’s Las bolas por encima de la cabeza (Mi(s)directa Magia Vol. 1, 2021), and Jean Merlin’s handling on the Slydini by Slydini Video Masterclass (2024), produced by Georges Proust.
For years, German magician Markus has explored this plot and developed several clever variations. One of my favorite ideas first appeared in the German magazine Magische Welt No.1, 2007, and Markus has now allowed me to share it with the English-speaking community for the first time.