
Dear Nat.
Why not scrap the bill and have a playing card vanish and appear in the lemon.
It could be signed or have a corner torn off and when the card is recovered, the corner fits.
Of course you could make it into two effects. Have the card chosen, tear it into bits, give the assistant a corner, vanish the bits and discover the card fully restored( except for the corner) in the lemon.
IF you want to extend the comedy, have an egg,( messy) a potato, a carrot,and any other vegetable( only use 3 or the comedy will be too drawn out) in a container( cardboard box, small basket etc) with the lemon. Taking each of these out, one at a time,cut them open, to try and discover the vanished article gives you tons of cover & time to load the lemon which is obviously the last.
" And we find your card in (CHOP) this carrot. No we don't. So.. it must be in this sprout. ( CHOP) No it's isn't. Well it just has to be in this potato.( CHOP) Oh oh, ..One more try"
Finally the lemon. Find the card, fit the piece and conclude with, " Well the answer to that was a lemon".
IF IT'S A TIMED COMPETITION to save time the assistant( use one on the front row) Thus you won't waste time getting one up on stage.
IN ANY TIMED competition ALWAYS pre prompt a volunteer. this is not cheating, as he only knows he is coming up on cue and will have no idea what he is to do. Safe not sorry( ie Not disqualified)
Any problems, pm me. I've just been working on this for one of our young magicians who's in his first year at University. He now has enough information to write a book on the trick!!!!
Allen Tipton
Began magic at 9 in 1942. Joined Staffs M.S at 13. Nottm.Guild of M. (8 times President. Prog Director 20years)IBM. Awarded Magician of Month 1980 By Intern. Pres. IBM for reproducing Dante's Sim Sala Bim. Writes Dear Magician column for Abra. Mag.