Stiff Rope - Thick

Magician displays a piece of rope about 30" long. Rope is coiled over magician's hand to prove it is just an ordinary rope. Now magician stretches the rope between his two hands, horizontally, and pretends to hypnotize the rope. One hand is now released and the rope stands rigid like a stick. Magician merely blows on the rope and it falls down limp once again.