Make a Borrowed Bill Climb a Rubber Band Ladder

You’re at a restaurant or hanging out with friends, and someone asks to see a trick. You don’t have a deck of cards, but you have two rubber bands on your wrist. You borrow a five-dollar bill, and suddenly, you’re performing a visual miracle right under their noses.

How Eddy's Stairway Works

Eddy’s Stairway is a classic piece of impromptu magic. You stretch two rubber bands between your fingers to create a "ladder" with four steps. You fold a bill and place it on the very bottom step. Without you moving your hands or doing anything suspicious, the bill jumps up to the second step. Then the third.

For the finale, you can even let the spectator hold the bill themselves. While they are holding it, it jumps to the top step. It looks like the bill is moving on its own. When you're done, you just open your hands and everything is completely normal.

What You'll Learn

Julio Ribera breaks this down into simple steps. He shows you how to set up the "ladder" invisibly while the spectator is busy looking for a bill in their wallet. You'll learn the exact finger movements needed to make the bill jump, as well as a way to make the bill "climb down" the ladder for an extra visual punch.

Julio also covers the "clip" version. While using a small paper clip makes the bill more secure, he teaches you how to do the entire routine without any extra props at all. You'll be able to do this anytime you have two bands and a piece of paper.

About Julio Ribera

Julio is a master of street magic with over a million followers. He specializes in "doing" rather than just talking, and he’s performed this specific routine in real-world conditions thousands of times. He knows exactly where people look and how to make the secret moves invisible.

What's Included

• How to set up the "ladder" using two rubber bands
• The secret "load" move to prep the bands invisibly
• The "step-up" technique to make the bill jump
• How to make the bill climb back down the ladder
• Performing with a spectator holding the bill
• The "clean up" so you can hand everything out for secret inspection

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this hard to learn?
It’s a mid-level trick. You’ll need to practice the finger positions a few times to get them smooth, but there are no "knuckle-busting" moves. If you can hold two rubber bands, you can learn this.

Do I need special rubber bands?
No. Any standard rubber bands will work. It’s actually better if they look like regular office supplies.

What if I don't have a paper clip?
Julio teaches a variation where you just fold the corners of the bill. You don't need any special props to make this work.

How long does it take to learn?
You can understand the method in about 10 minutes. To make it look smooth and "magical" without your hands looking cramped, you’ll probably want to practice in front of a mirror for an hour or two.