I have read the first post and jumped to make a reply, so I do not know if there have been other people who have pointed out the same things I am going to point.
Effects with objects they have on them or they interact with during their day to day lives. I ask them what is it they come in contact with most often. If they work at a bar I show them the bending straw, if they work at a restaurant as a waiter I will show them some trick with the coffee cup or napkin, something simple like the levitating cup between the hands (where you hold the cup with the thumbs) or vanishing the cup with the napkin (lapping it), or if they work in a office then I will show them how to vanish an object from the table (they place their hand on top of the object, pull it off the table, object drops in your hand, vanish) and make it appear; you get the point.
I know how fast people get distracted and can end up forgetting information, so I make it an effort to write the short description of the explanation, or make them take a note on their phone.
dis my 3 cents