Does Fashion Matter When Doing Magic Tricks?

Dressed For Success

So you have an awesome magic trick you want to perform on somebody. You've practiced it thousands of times, perfected it in front of the mirror and now are ready to take your act to the streets...ok maybe not the streets but to one of your friends or family members. But wait....what are you going to wear??? You say "What?, who cares what I am wearing?". Let me tell you something, image and presentation is everything, it is like giving your audience the total package. What is the first thing people see?? It's you of course, this is your first chance to make that great first impression on someone before even doing your magic trick bit. You may think, I can wear anything to do my magic trick and it will still wow them and you know what, you are probably right, that is if you perform a great magic trick. But you can take that to a whole other level, and that is with your image. It's like shopping for a car, you first look at the look of the car, the one that looks better is the one you will check out, even though the uglier car may have the same sport suspension and high powered engine underneath its covers, but you see what I mean.

If you are dressed in just your regular jeans and T-Shirt and performing tricks, yes you will still probably get great reactions, but if you stepped up your dress code a bit, believe me, you will leave even a more lasting impression to your audience. Think about it for a minute....think of all the great magicians out there from David Blaine, David Copperfield, Lance Burton, and the list goes on way beyond the people I mention here, you have an image in your head when I mention these people to you, right??? David Blaine, he wears nothing to fancy but he is usually in a nice black collared shirt and black pants, that gives him that mysterious look....David Copperfield, always dressed up to the T for his shows. Now I am not saying go out and wear a tux or your best suede suit to perform, but be aware of what your are wearing, it can be the difference from a good performance to a great performance.

About Steve Fearson

Entering magic in the early 90's at the age of 21 Steve Fearson won nearly a dozen first place magic awards during his short performing career. He is one of the only magicians to ever win both the IBM and the SAM competitions, receiving first place in both.

He was also awarded the coveted Silver Medal from the SAM. The Silver Medal has only been awarded a few times in the history of the contest. The Gold medal has never been awarded to anyone.

Soon, Steve parlayed his contest wins into his own magic special. In the mid 90's Steve was the star of the very first television special devoted solely to a close up performer. His one hour long special titled "Mr. Creator" was filmed and televised by the NHK network, the largest television network in Japan. This led to many more performances and television appearances. Within a few years though, Steve decided to retire from the performing scene.

Today, Steve Fearson is recognized worldwide by his peers as one of the most creative minds in magic. Several of his marketed inventions have become quite popular, including Fearson's Floating Cigarette which is considered by many to be a modern day classic. You may have seen David Blaine float a leaf on television using Steve's method.

Steve is also the creator of Fearson's Fantastic Floatation which was the first close-up self levitation on the magic market and spawned a ton of imitators. It is still a popular item among professionals, having been used on television by numerous performers like the Amazing Johnathan.

David Copperfield Laser Illusion The creation Steve is best known for recently is The Laser, as performed by David Copperfield in his live tour and on his most recent special. In this illusion, David's body is cut in two in full view with no cover whatsoever!

Steve also created the very first pay for download magic shop, DownloadMagic. Today DownloadMagic.com is a great success and is probably the only magic website you'll find that's been mentioned on the Howard Stern show and sports an endorsement from David Copperfield!

Furthermore, I have recently discovered this secert page on Steve's site. It's loaded with free magic downloads...some great tricks. Well worth a look!

Does it Matter Who Does the Magic Trick?

The magic that you see magicians performing today is really truly amazing. It seems like every year the bar is being raised to put the challenge on the rest of the magic community to come up with the next "big thing". Magic shows are getting bigger; they're getting more elaborate; they're getting extreme. But is bigger always better?

Think about it. What would you rather see, David Copperfield on stage performing one of his unbelievable elusions with all the lights, pretty assistants, and fire and smoke or some ordinary Joe walking up to you on the street and asking you to pick a card, any card?

What's your first reaction? Of course, who wouldn't want to go see David Copperfield? He is the man, well known for all of his mind blowing magic that he has performed on stage and seen by millions on TV. Hey, if I was asked this question, I'd be the first to admit, I would choose David Copperfield in a heartbeat.

But let's take a step back and think about this question, David Copperfield or Ordinary Joe. You've got the glamour versus the struggling street performer. Why would we choose Copperfield over Ordinary Joe? Is it because we know what Mr. Copperfield can do and we know whatever he does is over the top and we will enjoy it? Most likely, but what about Ordinary Joe? Why not give him a chance?

If you really think about it, do you know what this Ordinary Joe can do? Nope. So maybe it may be more exciting to see what he can do over Copperfield. Just maybe this Ordinary Joe has something that you and the rest of the world have never seen before. He may even have the next "big thing" in magic.

Maybe Ordinary Joe isn't so ordinary after all. Now that I have put this perspective into your mind, I'll ask the question again, Copperfield or Ordinary Joe? It's still a tough sell, isn't it? We are still drawn to the glamour and lights of Copperfield because we know what he can do, he is a proven entertainer.

You may be asking yourself, so what is the point in all of this? My point is that David Copperfield use to be that Ordinary Joe and now look at him. He is far from ordinary. So next time, take the time to give that Ordinary Joe a chance to show you the magic he can do because he could be showing you the next "big thing". In the end, magic being performed by some one on the street or on some big stage, it is still magic and that's what counts.

How To Do The Twenty One Card Magic Trick

The Twenty One Card Trick is a trick illusion effect where the conjurer deals twenty one playing cards onto the table, and into 3 card value face up piles of 7 cards each, & asks the observer to try to remember any of the cards viewed. The viewer is not supposed to tell the magician which card is being thought of, but advises the conjurer which stack the card is in. This is executed three times & the conjurer is able to tell the spectator which card they had in mind. The cards are doled out into the piles one after another, like when dealing out hands in a playing card game. Every time they are dealt, after the observer indicates which stack contains the thought of playing card, the illusionist places that pile between the other two. After the first time, the playing card will be one of the ones in positions 8 to 14. When the cards are dealt the second time, the choice will be the third, 4th, or fifth playing card in the stack it finds itself. In picking up the stacks, the conjurer places this stack between the other two again. This guarantees that the choice will now be one of those in position ten to twelve. The third occasion the playing cards are dealt out, the choice will be the fourth playing card in which ever pile it ends up in. On the third deal, as soon as the spectator points out which stack contains the choice, the magician knows that it is the 4th, or centre, playing card in that stack. If the magician collects up the piles again, as before with the pile comprising the selection in the middle, the choice will be the eleventh card in the 21 playing card packet.

Magic Levitation - The Ultimate in Magic

There are all kinds of magic tricks these days that are quite fascinating and amazing. You have your classic everyday card tricks, you have coin tricks, and magic tricks involving everyday objects. But there is one magic trick that blows all other magic tricks away, and that is the capability of being able to levitate some object into mid air.

Of all the magic tricks that I perform for people, when I can all of a sudden borrow a dollar bill from them and magically have it float under my command without any evidence of magnets or strings, and hand the dollar bill back to them, they are always blown away in astonishment. Magic levitation defies gravity and it messes with people's minds because what they are seeing is something you would only see on television or in movies. But there they are, staring at this dollar bill, right in from of their eyes, magically floating up and down.

The best thing about performing magic levitation is doing it impromptu. This adds more to the effect as the spectator will believe more into your magical powers as the questions that they will have cannot be answered. And this is the beauty of being able just to walk up to anyone at anytime and levitate something. They will realize that there was no setup. It just happened, pure magic.

To top off all of magic levitation is the art of being able to levitate yourself into the air. This is ladies and gentlemen, the show stopper. To actually show somebody that you will levitate off the ground and float is one of the best reactions you will get from performing magic.

There are various guarded methods today that magicians use to pull off this effect. Some of them are better than others and have their advantages over one another also. The most commonly used levitation effect is the Balducci Levitation. It's common because it is easy to perform and does provide a great illusion of floating. Another levitation effect used and has become popular is The King Rising. This routine is slightly different than the Balducci effect and can achieve more height off the ground in my opinion. But the latest levitation effect that has come out that really blows all levitations away is the Icarus Levitation. This levitation is truly mind boggling to see in person. It really is hands down the most visual levitation to date. If you really want to make some one faint, this effect will pretty much do it.

So if you really want to take your magic to another level, and I mean literally another level, you should invest your time and practice into magic levitation. In today's world, it is getting harder and harder to shock people as people have seen everything done from watching TV or Movies. Our minds have been programmed to accept what we see for the most part, but the one thing that still will turn heads and make people think twice, is being able to levitate.

Magic Tricks and Kids, What a Combination!

Magic Tricks and Kids

Performing magic tricks for people is always fun. I can honestly say I will never get bored or tired of doing magic tricks for people as long as I live. There is something about getting that reaction of disbelief from people. Having that satisfaction just for a moment that what your spectators just witnessed you do, may have indeed been real magic. To be able to put doubt in their head, even know they know it really is just a "trick", they some how start to question themselves that maybe, just maybe, you truly are magical. Just to watch someone's eyes, the laughter, and even the odd screams, it is something I will always cherish and continue to appreciate when I perform magic tricks. But there is something a little more special when doing magic tricks for specific people. The people that I am referring to are kids.

The Imagination of Kids

Magic tricks and kids is quite a combination. Kids seem to have a very different perception of the world than adults. What goes on in their little minds, I don't think we will ever understand or grasp but it is pure entertainment and just plain innocent fun. For instance, when I performed a very famous coin trick for a little boy, the boy was maybe 6 years old, his expression and the words that came out of his mouth were priceless. I made the coin disappear in front of his eyes and did the classic move of pulling the coin out from his ear. Well, this boy's mouth went as wide as the moon, I mean I could of just put my hand in his mouth and easily removed his tonsils for him, hopefully he won't need that done down the road, but it's those type of reactions that I love. Then, the words that end up coming out that mouth are even more priceless. Something that you can never prepare yourself for, and I quote, "Wow, can you pull more money out of my ear so I can buy a new bike!". Well, I couldn't stop laughing for about a minute, I am not sure if he understood what just happened but it's instances like these where reality just doesn't matter, just pure innocent fun.

Magic in their Eyes

Kids alone, just being themselves, bring their own type of magic to us. One place that comes to my mind is Disney World. When kids see or hear about Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck, their eyes light up, a smile comes to their face, just a magical glow all around. I get this same look when I pull a rabbit from a hat, or make a worm crawl out of my pocket and onto my arm. It's really not hard to make kids laugh and be astonished at what you do. You know they are not out there to try and figure out how you did that or try and spoil your magic trick, they are there to be entertained, they are there for the magic.

REBIRTH OF THE PHOENIX

The late, great Eugene Poinc was a firm believer in two things, when it came to bizarre magic:

1: He used props that were so basic, so simple that no one else would given them a second glance; consequently, he was able to pull off some wonderful things, given all his thought to the presentation.

2: He believed that bizarre magic didn't have to be ghoulish, ghastly, or ghostly. In fact, it could be downright funny at times.

As a great believer in those two things myself, I have taken one of Gene's routines, put some of my own spin on it, and - even though it finishes with a joke, I add a second punchline, to:

REBIRTH OF THE PHOENIX
By Fredrick McValentine and Gene Poinc

The magus places an empty, silver pan on the table and takes a piece of paper.
With a few deft folds, he turns the paper into a bird, which he places in the pan.

"Among the ancients, was the belief in the phoenix, that mythical bird that could never die. When it lived out its lie span - usually about 100 years - it would burst into flames and then, when it appeared to be totally destroyed, it would rise again - young and virile - from the ashes of its former self.

"Phoenixes are hard to come by and don't always self-immolate on command. So I will use this piece of origami paper made into the shape of a bird in its place.

"When its time came, the bird would burst into flames!"

Set the paper bird in the pan on fire and put the lid on the pan.

"And then, when the ashes had cooled, the phoenix would be reborn."

Remove the lid from the pan, showing a scrawny rubber chicken. Look slightly puzzled and give the audience time to react.

Take the chicken out of the pan and old it up by the neck.

"Well, it appears they aren't making phoenixes like they used to."

(First laugh - we hope - attributed to Gene Poinc.)

"Gee, the magic catalog was right - it said I'd get a laugh just by showing this rubber chicken.

(Another laugh - we hope)

"Now this reminds me of the old question: Why did the chicken cross the road. Well, it appears that all of them didn't make it."

As you say this, you turn the other side of the chicken to the audience, showing a tire tread across its middle.

(Third laugh - we again hope, this one attributed to me, Fredrick McValentine.)

Working: Okay, this shouldn't even be necessary.

The pan is, of course, a dove pan and the rubber chicken is stored in the load chamber in the lid.

In the bottom is an origami bird; this can be made of flash paper or regular paper. (For the making of the bird, check any of a dozen or so origami sites on the Internet; many explain how to make a basic swan. And the nice thing is, it's free!)

On one side of the large rubber chicken, use a Sharpie marker to draw two lines, about three inches apart; the lines should be about a half-inch wide, at least. Between the lines, do a cross-hatching effect so that the finished product looks like a tire tread.

Have fun with this; I know your audience will enjoy it.

Hire a Magician? (...continued)

Questions you may like to ask any prospective performer you are engaging are...

How long have you been a professional?

Some magicians may seem great on paper but as all know paper doesn't refuse ink. Experience is the key in this industry so make sure they have cut their teeth.

Can I see you perform?

The answer depends on the type of performer you are considering engaging. If it's a cabaret magician he may well work at comedy clubs where you can go and see him perform and close-up magicians often work at hotels, restaurants and bars as the resident entertainer several times a week. If it's open to the public then go and see them work. However if the performer works mainly at corporate events, weddings and/or trade shows you may find it impossible to see him work live as these are closed events.

Have you got a brochure/video I can see?

Most professional performers will have promotional kits including photographs, video and brochure. A good promo kit doesn't mean they are a good magician, it may just mean they know somebody who works at a printing press. A cheap and tatty looking promo kit doesn't definitely mean the performer is bad, but it does show a lack of professionalism and that is a warning sign. In this day and age some performers have no hard copy for promotional use as it dates so quickly so there website acts as the brochure. If the website looks like it was made from cut outs of magazines then they are not interested in making a good first impression. Would you trust somebody who didn’t make a good first impression at your event?

Does the price include VAT and any other charges?

When in negotiations don't forget to clarify if there as any other expense other than fee quoted.

What magic tricks do you do?

You should be able to gain a good idea of the style of the magician from any online or hardcopy brochure but if you want to know what kind of effects he/she performs - go ahead and ask!

Are you a member of any magic societies or performer bodies?

Many magicians will be members of different magic clubs around the world. In the UK the most prestigious is the The Magic Circle where there are only 1500 hundred members world wide and you have to perform in front of experienced peers to gain membership. Again in the UK you will find many magicians are members of Equity the performs union which is another sign of their professionalism.

Have you got any referees I could phone?

This may seem like a reasonable question but a lot of magician's work mainly in the corporate area and are not permitted to pass out the contact details of their bookers. You should be able to see testimonials and letters from clients on the websites/brochures. Of course the best way is personal recommendation; ask friends if they have ever hired a magician.

Have you got public liability insurance?

This is crucial. The magician will be in close contact to your guests and maybe borrowing objects from them for effects. You don't want to end up with a magician who isn't covered!

I hope this all helps to give you a better idea of the different types of magic that are available for you to hire for your next event and what to look out for when hiring.

Hire a Magician ? Definitions and Tips

For a lot of people the last time they wanted a magician at their party was when they were 8 years old but magicians don't just work for children. Adults have always been a great audience for magic because they have defined critical thinking. They "know" it isn't "real magic" but if the performer does his job right he can bring about the childlike state of wonder in an adult. A good magician can bring you right back to experience the fuzzy feeling you had as a kid when your grandfather pulled a coin out of your ear.

There are 3 types of magic that are most often hired for events where adults are in the majority.

Close-up magic (the most popular choice for people hiring magicians)

Cabaret shows

Drawing room shows

Close-up magic is often seen at cocktail parties where the magician mingles amongst the guests performing miracles with borrowed objects and simple objects he has on him. He works without a table and uses people hands when he needs to. This is an excellent choice if all the guests will be standing with drinks and eating finger food.

Another type of close-up magic that is closely related to strolling magic is table magic. Table magic is performed between the courses at dinners, wedding breakfasts, balls and banquets. You are more likely to see a short (between 3 - 8 minutes) mini cabaret act that has a structured feel to it. The magician may use the table but it will be as unobtrusive as possible because at banquets there is a premium on table real estate.

Close-up magicians are being hired more and more for Trade Shows to draw people to the stand with customised magic presentations. Presentations are designed to showcase the features and benefits of the stand they are representing but with amazing magic and not just dry sales pitches.

Cabaret Shows are a great way for a lot for people to see some great magic in a relatively short space of time. Often a close-up magician who has performed strolling/table magic before hand will also do a 20 minute cabaret act after dinner.

There are many different styles of cabaret magician - comedy, traditional manipulation act to music, mind reading etc. The type of event you are organizing will dictate the type of cabaret magician you will require. If you would like lots of audience participation and laughter go for a comedy magician, if there will be lots of non-English speakers present then go for a visual act like the manipulator and if it is a very business orientated environed maybe a mind reader would be more suited.

You also see cabaret magicians at comedy clubs, cruise ships and also occasionally at motivational events where the magic is combined with a motivational speech.

Drawing room shows were almost a dead art for nearly a 100 years. They were immensely popular with the Victorians where the gentry would all gather to watch a conjurer perform magic. In recent years it is coming back into fashion at private parties where a magician may perform after dinner for 30 minutes or so. This is a taste of days gone by and is close enough for apparently no shenanigans to be going on yet far enough away to use larger effects for everyone to see. This kind of show is most related to a cabaret show but the effects are smaller and it is more interactive as the audience in only a few feet away.

When choosing a professional magician it is important to choose wisely as in any industry there are "cowboys".

How To Do The Best Magic Tricks

If you are a newbie magician and you want to improve your magic tricks, follow these tips and you are guaranteed to perform magic tricks that will amaze your audience.

Be Natural

The secret in having a great sleight of hand is your naturalness. There should be no hand wagging, no hand waving, jerky or quick motions. You should work naturally, deliberately, and slowly. If you master this, balls, coins, rings, cards, and coins will begin reappearing and disappearing at the tips of your fingers.

Watching your angles

You should be aware of your angles. Angles refer to the sleight lines between the item that you have just palmed off and the eye of your spectators. If you do not have the right angles, the audience could take a glimpse or see the object in your hand and your trick will be caught.

Practice your palming skills wherever you go

The most necessary skill of a man with a great sleight of hand is the ability or skill of palming an object that goes undetected. You could perfect this after some time of practicing palming small objects like coins in your everyday normal routine. You could palm a small object or item in both of your hands or either while writing, eating, watching TV, walking around, or doing other activities. If you practice care about the angles, no one would notice what you are doing, and after some time, what you are now doing self-consciously would later become almost natural to you. From then on, you could be able to palm objects or items more confidently, boldly, and successful each time.

Master your presentation

Practice your presentation. A small trick that is well presented could work wonders even without the most sophisticated of techniques since the audience would most likely relate to your trick or understand it.

What good is a magician if nobody understands or enjoys his or her tricks? The presentations therefore should be straightforward, simple, and understood easily so that your viewers or watchers could understand and enjoy the complete meaning of what you have been saying and doing.

Do not replicate a trick

Do not repeat the same trick for the same viewers or watchers. That is one of the basic rules in doing magic. When you repeat a trick, your audience would immediately know what you are going to do next. What may have been a miracle for you when you did your trick for the first time may not be quite satisfying or dazzling the next time around.

A Brief History Of Magic

With magic, illusions, spells, tricks and ceremonials are usually performed for entertainment. It is a supernatural power which makes the seemingly impossible occur.

'Looking Back'

In ancient Egypt, there was a magician named Dedi who performed in front of a crowd, where he supposedly beheaded two birds and one ox. He eventually restored the heads of these three animals.

Because of this, the Egyptians were considered to be the first magicians recorded in history.

As the popularity of magic developed, tricks involving cups and balls were shown to the public. Then, playing cards, silver coins and dice were added to their slew of magical tricks.

Later on, ancient Greek magicians invented tricks involving the human body. A trick where a performer thrusts a dagger through one's arm without being hurt has been developed and shown in public places.

The ancient Chinese civilization also paved the way for magic. The "linking rings" is one of the earliest tricks ever invented. To begin with, a number of rings link themselves. The rings are made up of solid metal and the illusion is that they eventually unlink themselves.

'Famous Magicians'

One of the greatest magicians of all time is Harry Houdini. He started as a trapeze performer in the late 1800's and eventually became famous for his magical abilities.

He was an "escape artist" who bonded himself using locks or ropes and eventually extricated himself.

Spanish, Italian, British, French and American magicians presented their acts as magic regained popularity in the 1920's.

'Sawing a Woman in Half'

In 1921, the world first witnessed a magician saw a woman in half. British performer Percy Tibbles cut through a box containing his woman assistant. After the trick, she appeared without a harm.

This trick became even more complicated when the woman assistant was 'operated on' with her hands, head and feet in full view of the audience. The assistant was sawed in half using a power-driven saw, and was later restored without a scratch on her head.

'Reaching a Wider Audience'

Before, magicians only performed in theaters which were open to the public where food and drinks were offered but the magic tricks were performed without any fee given by the viewers.

By the mid-1900's, they paved the doors for magicians to be 'professional performers' by requiring the public viewers to pay for watching magic shows.

In the 1950's, television was invented so magicians were able to reach an even wider audience spectrum.

During the 70's, Siegfried and Roy re-ignited the interest in magical tricks by making large animals disappear. David Copperfield is also a major player in the field of magicians who offered great entertainment to the viewing public.

The Goblet of Fire

This could work well as part of a Harry Potter-themed show (just be careful not to tread on any copyrights!).

It works equally well for kids and for adults. It is purposely brief because most of the presentation will depend on the type of show you do and the type of persona you want to create.

Effect: The magician shows an old drinking goblet -and, talking about the Harry Potter books, he refers to it as "The Goblet of Fire" -- to be empty. Pattering about ancient alchemists trying to turn base elements into gold, he adds the basic elements - air, earth, and water. The fourth element, fire, is added with a match and the whole thing bursts into flame. The magician then covers the goblet, pointing out that the ancient alchemists never succeeded in turning base elements into gold. "However, with a little magic, we may achieve today, what the ancients could not: the basic elements - air, earth, fire, and water - turned into gold."

The magus removes the cover from the goblet and it is brimming with gold coins.

Working: You'll need a chick pan (don't use a dove pan; it is simply too big and will look ridiculous).

To the base, hot glue or solder a short, cheap candlestick, making the whole base look like a medieval goblet. In the load chamber, fill with fake gold coins. If you are doing a kids' show, you may want to use the chocolate covered coins and distribute them later. For adults, there are plastic or aluminum coins, colored gold. The point of the fake coins is weight: Heavy, metal coins would simply be too awkward for the load chamber. When adding the "elements", the air is, of course, all around; the earth is a pinch of sand, taken from an antique bottle; the water is lighter fluid (use only a small bit); the fire is, naturally, a match.

Presentation: As in the effect, above. As I said, it is purposely sketchy because you can do this as part of a themed show or can build it up to be a feature number.