I think the most important thing to do when just starting to dabble in magic, is to learn a few simple magic tricks that can be done without having to use any gimmicked apparatus or special props. I mean magic tricks that can be done using ordinary items that can often be borrowed and handed out for examination after the miracle has been performed.
This can be really stunning for any lay audience, as they are so used to seeing magic tricks and illusions on TV and video, where fancy and often expensive props are used and also where camera tricks and clever editing are used to create a more exciting TV program.
I'm sure you're well aware that most magic can be purchased from reputable magic suppliers and you'll also know that the cost of most magical secrets is usually very high. (Often very expensive)
So how can you possibly learn how to do magic tricks without spending a great deal of money for these secrets and when most top magicians will just not explain how their magic tricks are done.
Most magicians first started to do magic tricks after receiving a small magic set, but unfortunately the typical magic set is usually made up totally of “self-working” tricks, with trick cards and boxes etc., none of which can be examined by the audience after the trick has been shown, and so there's the problem and worry of having to hide your tricks as soon as you finish each one.
For a beginner this creates a problem, especially among friends and classmates, who are always desperate to examine the magical props and try to find out “how it's done”.
So that's why I suggest learning some simple magic tricks with ordinary everyday objects that can often be borrowed and then freely handed out for examination. Ordinary everyday items like coins, pens, banknotes and such like, appear to be beyond any suspicion of trickery and doing magical things with them is so very effective and yet often very simple.
This really adds tremendously to the magic and of course, as most professional magicians will tell you, - “the simple effects are the ones that are usually the most stunning to the audience and in my experience, get the best response”.
Some of the best items to use to amaze your friends are coins, banknotes, pens, rope etc. and there are a few basic skills that are so easy to learn and will very quickly allow you to vanish and exchange coins and several small objects.
One of these basic skills is known as the “French Drop”, which is what all magicians use to vanish and exchange small items like coins, keys, balls etc. So I would certainly recommend that one of the first things that you should practice, as a beginner, is just that (French Drop) and coupled with the simple Palming of a coin.
This will allow you to carry out a nice magic routine with borrowed coins etc. and will leave you “Clean” at the end of the effects. It will also get you out of difficulty when you are expected to do something magical.
This is magic that requires no props or fancy apparatus and there are now many great magical Websites where you can learn hosts of magic tricks for free.
In fact I set up my own Magic Website with the soul purpose of passing on my experience and knowledge to help all those eager would-be magicians to enjoy the sheer joy and pleasure of performing magic and entertaining others.
So in today's digital Internet world you can get some amazing and exciting magic for free if you just search for and visit the right magic websites. – So go ahead and look around and welcome to the wonderful world of magic.
How To Do Magic Tricks
There are many kinds of magic tricks, but most fall into one of a few categories. Oftentimes, a magician will specialize in one or a few areas. For those who employ a range of techniques, they will often develop some type of persona or specialty act to differentiate themselves from other performers. Just as other entertainers often find a niche, so too do magicians.
While no type of magic is particularly easy, some types are common for beginning magicians, such as learning sleight of hand tricks. Most magicians know a core base of tricks, and then develop their particular repertoire from there.
Magic is based on illusion and mystery, and all types of magic tricks employ this mystery. This is what is so alluring about magic! Secrecy is of course another major element of magic. Practicing magicians are very selective about who they share their secrets with. People who work with magicians are often required to sign contracts stating they will not share the magician's secrets with anyone else.
What types of tricks do magicians perform? The following list is a basic overview of magic tricks that are commonly associated with the practice of magic.
Sleight of hand tricks are those that involve skilled hand movements where objects seem to appear and disappear in the hands of the performer. One of the oldest sleight of hand tricks originated in Ancient Egypt. In this trick, the performer hides balls under turned-over cups. As the performer moves the cups around, the balls change positions under the cups. The observers try to watch and guess where the balls will appear, but the magician fools them every time!
Sleight of hand tricks are used with a variety of objects, including card, coins, balls, and other objects. Some magicians have even used live animals. A magician skilled in sleight of hand can perform magic almost anytime, anywhere.
Illusions are those where the seemingly impossible becomes possible. Some of the better known illusion tricks include those where a woman is sawed in half and levitation tricks. Other illusions involve making people, animals, or objects reappear. David Copperfield, a modern-day magician, has made such large objects as the Statue of Liberty and a jet airplane disappear in front of live audiences.
Escape magic is just as it sounds. The most famous escape artist was Harry Houdini, who performed a number of daring escapes in front of large audiences in exotic locations. Suspended high in the air, Houdini would be handcuffed and placed inside locked or otherwise sealed containers and emerge moments later. Escape magic is intriguing not only because of the amazing feat, but also because of the danger involved.
Mentalists are another form of magicians who appear to read the minds of strangers. In front of live audiences, mentalists will recreate drawings done by audience members that are unseen to the magician, but visible to the audience. They will also read the minds of strangers and perform an array of amazing mental tricks. The mystery of the mentalist lies in the performance in front of a live audience. Some mentalists in modern times have even created tricks for television where they seem to read the minds of viewers!
How and where magicians perform varies a great deal as well. Street magic, close-up magic, and stage magic all offer amazing performances in vastly different settings. Street magic is as it sounds, performed outside and in the spur of the moment. Street magic often includes sleight of hand tricks, although a variety of magic is performed this way. One of the most famous current-day street magicians is David Blaine, who performs a wide range of card tricks, disappearing acts, and even levitation on the street.
Close-up magic is performed indoors or out, and often involves such things as card or coin tricks. It is performed just as it sounds--in close range. The audience is small, and the magician sits or stands in the middle, which adds to the allure--when people surround the magician, he or she has little room to "hide" anything. Additionally, when the audience is so close, one might assume the observers could easily see the magician's tricks--but this isn't the case!
Finally, stage magic is just as it sounds--magic performed onstage. These magic tricks date back in history to the 1700s, and are often very elaborate performances. Stage magicians offer an extensive range of tricks from sleight of hand to making large objects float or disappear. Oftentimes large animals are involved. There are a number of present-day famous stage magicians, including Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield, and Penn and Teller.
Both Johnnie Gentle & Sally Rogers are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
