How To Master Professional Magic Tricks In 4 Easy Steps

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Anyone can perform professional magic tricks; all it takes is courage and commitment. Most magicians can truthfully say that the majority of tricks in their bag are relatively easy to perform, yet the real work is done offstage with hours of practice. Many professional magic tricks are based on scientific principles, and learning what makes them work goes a long way in making a better performance.

Whether you want to make a lasting name for yourself, or if you just want to be the life of the next party, here are a few keys tips to developing a set of professional magic tricks.

1) Learn Each Trick Completely

If you are a beginner, learn simple tricks first. The procedures for doing magic tricks can be found online or even in books from your local library. Even though tricks may be classified as easy, study and memorize every step. This will be good training for you when you advance to more difficult tricks. Get into the habit of learning each trick completely; this is a good first step to performing professional quality magic tricks.

2) Practice Makes Perfect

Sometimes, practicing is the hardest part. We all want to immediately work in front of an audience to hear their applause and gasps of wonder. But to get the accolades, you must first do the time. Practice your magic tricks before a mirror, or videotape yourself for a play by play account. Practicing is never a waste of time.

Each minute brings you closer to your goal of performing professional magic tricks. When you watch your performance, either in a mirror or on videotape, you can spot any mistakes or actions that should be corrected. Practicing is the best way to progress.

3) Zero in on Details

Once you get the hang of a few tricks and understand the basics of magic, you may think you can relax a bit. Not so. Magic tricks, even the simple ones, have details that can't be overlooked.

Every magician knows that their entire performance may hinge on the smallest of details. Never look for a shortcut; there are none in magic. Professional magic tricks succeed because the magician considers every step and detail to be equally important.

4) Simplicity Equals Success

Here is an amazing and totally true thought: Most magic tricks are incredibly simple. Of course, professionals want their magic tricks to confound and astound, but the reality is that these illusions are based on easy to learn principles. Sometimes, most of the magic is in the magician's performance, rather than the trick itself. Many tricks that are currently seen in shows today are actually hundreds of years old. This testifies to the magician's everlasting ability to entertain and to the audience's never ceasing wonder.

To perform professional magic tricks, first develop a professional attitude and then practice until your skills are of professional quality. Remember that a professional is merely someone who has studied and mastered his subject. In the case of magic, anyone can reach this level with a determined commitment and a desire to be the best they can be. Before going onstage, repeatedly practice your act offstage. And then listen to the applause that you will conjure up!

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Close Up Magic Tricks With A Beaker

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Here are two close up magic tricks that involve a plastic beaker. Both tricks are easy to perform and easy to prepare, yet provide a powerful effect that will entertain your spectators.

Trick 1: The Disappearing Beaker

You show the audience a tray with a small beaker on it. You cover the beaker with a napkin, take hold of the beaker and then remove the tray. Suddenly, you throw the napkin into the air and the beaker has vanished.

The Preparation

Take a small wooden tray and glue a small plastic beaker to the center of the tray. Next take a cloth napkin or a hankerchief and sew a small circle of cardboard (the same size as the top of the plastic beaker) into the center of the napkin/hankerchief.

The Secret

Show the beaker in the center of the tray, them cover it with the napkin so the cardboard circle is over the top of the beaker. As you lift the napkin, hold the cardboard disc in the napkin so that it looks as if you're holding the rim of the beaker. As you remove the napkin turn the tray with the beaker away from the audience and stand it against something behind your table.

Everyone will think that you still have the beaker in your hand. But when you throw the napkin in the air and catch it, they will know that it has vanished.

Trick 2: Beaker Through The Table

A small beaker is wrapped in a sheet of newspaper and then disappears only to reappear under the table.

The Preparation

Gather together a small beaker, a small object that will fit under the beaker and a sheet of newspaper. Make sure that the piece of newspaper is larger than the beaker so that it can be completely covered with extra to spare.

The Secret

Place the small object of interest on the edge of the table. Then place the beaker upside down over the object and finally wrap the newspaper around the beaker. Now ask the audience what is under the cup. This will lead them to believe that you are about to make the object disappear.

Next, lift the paper and the beaker to show the audience that the object is still on the table. As you lift the beaker, move it slowly towards you until it is just clear of the table.

Now let the beaker discreetly slip from the newspaper and land on your lap. The audience should have their attention fixed on the object, so this should be easy to achieve without them noticing.

The newspaper should hold its shape so that your spectators assume the beaker is still in your hand. Replace the paper over the object (still maintaining the shape of the beaker).

Say the magic words and say that the object will disappear. Lift the "beaker" and look puzzled that the object hasn't vanished. Pick up the object and replace the "beaker".

Tell your audience that you can't make the object disappear, so you'll have to try the beaker instead and promptly smash your hand containing the newspaper onto the surface of the table.

The newspaper will squash flat and the audience will gasp. Now you can claim that the beaker has passed through the table and prove it by bringing it out from your lap under the table.

Article Source:http://www.articles321.com

LucasDaSilva

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A List of the Most Popular Magic Tricks

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If you are interested in performing magic tricks, you should be open to the different options in your performance and the different methods of presenting the tricks. Doing the tricks can make you a very good entertainer but this is not achieved easily. You should practice the craft so that you will be able to perform the right way. Also, you should check on other people's skills and try learning from them. You can also have several options in terms of the types of tricks that you can do. You can try learning from books, videos or through the Internet. Once you have learned the basics, it would be better if you are able to know which method would suit your skills best. You can know the basic of some of the tricks but once you want to make improvements and deal with the more complex tricks, you should deal with it more seriously thus you have to focus on one type of magic tricks. This will help you to be a better magician and so that your performance can look more unified since one form is followed only that it is done in different methods.

Among the list of kinds of magic tricks, one of the most common is the card tricks. This is common since there are many people who are able to practice it also this is primarily because you will only have to use cards to do the tricks. This is handy and you can perform street magic tricks. Also, since the medium used is common and small, it is easier to practice and manipulate it. In performing tricks, you should be able manipulate what the audience is thinking and seeing. Through the use of the cards, you will be able to do this. This is a common trick performed in shows and this is done normally at the start. Added to this, there are tricks that look simple but are learning it does not directly mean that it is easy. Manipulation of the audience should be well done to make this trick successful.

Another popular magic tricks are the disappearing acts. There are many people who get really interested in magic especially when it makes a thing or even a person disappear. Additionally, this trick is a favorite of many since it catches the attention of the person and even makes the people think of the magic or the reason behind the act.

Those are common tricks done and you can also learn how to do it. However, you should not only learn how to do it but also know how the trick should be done. Putting interest in the show is not only seen through the magic tricks but also in the way that you do it.

Magic Tricks

Article Author Eliza Maledevic from http://www.Jump2top.com, a SEO Company.

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Learn Magic Tricks Online

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I think that many people would agree that magic tricks can be fascinating to watch. It is amazing when you see an apparently impossible feat being done right before your eyes. It is hard not to wonder how the magician did the trick, and you may even find yourself wishing that you too could perform the same trick.

Of course, not everybody is cut out to be, or even wants to be, a professional stage magician. However there is no reason why you can not learn to do "simpler" tricks - perhaps card tricks, feats of mentalism, and tricks involving only affordable and readily available props, as well as those that might be described as "street magic". You don't have to apparently saw a woman in half, or magic the Statute of Liberty disappear - after all, even these so-called "simple" tricks can still be astounding and entertaining, if done well, and such "simple" tricks can be a big hit at parties and family events!

If you want to learn how to do some magic tricks, you could do a lot worse than look online. There are many web sites that contain step by step instructions for magic tricks, and some of them are very good. As well as instructions, many web sites include photographs, and some even have videos too. Of course, learning how to do magic tricks effectively does require practice, but if you have good instructions, you might be surprised at how easy it can be to learn new tricks.

By S. Tanna. Discover Resources to Learn Magic Tricks at http://www.downloadfocus.com/cat_hobbies_magic.php

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Performing a Vanishing Magic Trick with a Coin

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The hand is faster than the eye and this is so true once you have mastered performing the vanishing magic trick with a coin. The key to this trick is the position of the coin and for this to work; you will need two of them.

The first you have to do is lay one coin in the palm of each hand. The coin on the left should be placed in the middle of the palm. The coin on the right should be near the thumb.

In one quick motion, you should flip both hands and then let it face down on the table. You must quickly move the coin on the right hand to the left without anyone noticing then twitch the right thumb a bit to deceive people into thinking that both coins are there.

You then ask the audience where the coins are. The deception you caused earlier will make many believe that the coins are on the right but when you open it, they are wrong because the two coins are both under your left hand which they will see when you open up your hand.

This trick can also be done with the opposite hand. You should just put one coin in the middle or your right palm and the other coin near your left thumb then repeat the instructions as mentioned before.

Again, the key to this trick is the position of the coins. When you rotate your hands from palm up to down, the coin in the center stays put while the other shifts the coin to the other hand. You have to do this very quickly so the audience does not suspect what happens. If you don’t follow the proper positioning of both hands, one coin will flick away and your trick will fail.

One way to practice this trick is to imagine your hand is a table tennis paddle. If the coin is in the center of your palm, this will make sure that the coin will stay in the same place when it lands. As for the other, something different happens.

This helps you move the coin from one hand to the other so when you lift the hand containing the coin, people will see two and not one.

The speed at which the coin travels from one hand to the other varies. The more time you have to practice, the better so even when people ask how you do it, you simply say “a magician never tells how he does his tricks.”

The vanishing magic trick using a coin is just one of many tricks you can do. There are also variations which you can learn and try out so those who watch you won’t feel bad always seeing the same thing. A lot of these can be found online while there are a few that are written down in books with pictures to guide you along the way.

When you are ready, try to do this with a friend first and see if you are successful. If it works, then perhaps it is time to try this out in the presence of strangers. In any magic trick, just remember that positioning is everything and this can only be achieved with patience and practice.

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Mind Reading Magic Tricks

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Can we really read the person’s mind? No but when you perform magic tricks, anything is possible so lets discuss some of them.

The first magic mind reading trick is called name of the dead. For this you will need a sheet of paper and three volunteers. You tear the paper into three pieces and tell two of the participants to write on each sheet the name of a person who is still alive. The third person will be instructed to write the name of someone who has already passed on.

Take note that when you cut the paper into three pieces, the top and bottom will have only one rough edge while the one in the center will have rough edges on both sides. To make people believe you can read their minds, all you have to do is give the center piece to the one who will write the name of the person who is already dead.

To make people believe that you can do this, you tell them to drop the three pieces of paper into a hat which is resting on the table or raised above your head. You then put your hand in the hat and simply feel the paper which has the rough edge and then take it out.

To build the suspense, put that piece of paper on your forehead to make them think you are sure about the sheet of paper you picked. You then give this paper to the one who wrote on the paper that has the rough edges.

The next mind reading trick is called famous names. For this, you will need to get 10 famous names from the audience and then write these down on a separate card. They are mixed and then you make a prediction of the name written on the card which will be checked by someone from the audience.

For this trick to work, you will need ten small cards or ten small sheets of paper. The 10 famous names should come from the audience so once they give out a name, write it down and then do the same for the rest.

What the audience does not know is that the first famous name written will also be written on the rest. You then put these into the hat and shake it. You now ask a volunteer from the audience to reach into the hat and give you the paper.

You put this on your head to create a dramatic effect and then say the name of the famous person aloud which will be confirmed by the volunteer. So no one will discover what you did, make sure to get rid of the slips.

The two minding reading tricks mentioned are really simple to do and anyone can do them. This just proves that magicians who perform this trick don’t really have the talent but rather pull a fast one to make people believe that they have this gift.

If you want to learn other mind reading tricks, do some research and then practice this a little then do it with a few friends. At the end of the trick, some people might really believe you have this gift which is funny especially if they knew how you were able to do it.

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Easy Magic Tricks

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Easy magic tricks can be learned in an instant if you wish to impress friends or relatives. There are a lot of easy magic tricks that you can learn and master that would only take some bit of practice and some showmanship. Here are some god examples of simple yet effective magic tricks that you can learn:

The Self-Tying Handkerchief

For this trick you would need just an ordinary cloth handkerchief that has one end tied into a simple knot. The object of the trick is to convince your audience that you have the ability to tie a knot in a handkerchief using just one hand. In order to make it possible, you try to take your handkerchief out of your pocket. Try to let them see only the end without the knot. With the knotted end hidden in your hand, try to pick up the hanging end with the other hand and then releasing it again.

You can do this two times to add some flair on your magic trick. But on the third try, let go of the knotted end by dropping it instead of the expected corner. Try to remember to conceal the switch by hiding it with your fast hand movements. This will add to the baffling effect of this simple and easy magic trick.

The Knot Tying Challenge

This is a pretty simple trick that can impress your friends. What you need is a single piece of rope about three to four feet long. You lay the rope in front of your audience of friends and then challenge them to tie a knot into the rope without letting go pf both ends while doing so. It can be sort of a puzzle that you let them try out for awhile.

When none of them can figure it out, which would mean most of the time, you then try to do it yourself. The secret to this trick is fairly simple- just cross your hands when taking hold of the rope. When you cross your hands, you are seemingly making out a knot with your hands. When you have done this, try to get hold of each end of the rope. Then try to uncross your hands. As you to this, the tie that you have made with your hands will transfer to the rope. Therefore you have successfully tied up a knot in the rope without letting go of the ends while doing it.

The Unbreakable Match

This magic trick may require some bit of preparation. You would need a handkerchief with a hem or sewn fold on the edges and two wooden matches or toothpicks. Before you show the trick to the audience, place a toothpick or a wooden match inside the hem of the handkerchief beforehand. Then let a volunteer to choose a toothpick or match from several others that you have brought with you.

Once a volunteer has chosen a toothpick or matchstick, lay out your handkerchief on the table and place the chosen matchstick in the center. Roll out the handkerchief with the matchstick covered in the middle. As you do this, try to get hold of the matchstick hidden in the hem by feeling it and then let the volunteer touch it. Have it confirmed from the volunteer that there is indeed a matchstick inside. You can then either break the matchstick in half or you let the volunteer do it.

Take the rolled up handkerchief back and then break the matchstick again. Your audience will think that the matchstick that was broken was the one that they saw rolled up a while ago.

Slowly unroll the handkerchief and show them the matchstick, still at the center and unbroken! Now that's an easy magic trick to learn and try with your friends.

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Cup Magic Tricks

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There are many magic tricks you can do with a cup. Here are two of them which you can practice and perform in front of your friends.

The first is called the Three Cup Shuffle Magic Trick. Here, you use a poker chip or large coin and guess where it is hidden. For you to tell where it is each time, you have to put a piece of invisible thread measuring about 3 to 4 inches long taped to it. You have to be sure that no one will see this and know what to look for when the cups are shuffled.

The trick begins by explaining to the audience that you can find the chip regardless of which cup they put it in. You then ask someone from the audience if anyone is willing to challenge you on that. (Chances are someone always does.)

Once you have a volunteer, let this person inspect the three identical cups and when it is finished, you place the chip over one cup and then let them shuffle as long as they like.

To create suspense, turn your back and only face them again when they are finished. You now look over the three cups searching for the invisible thread and when you find it, tap the cup so the volunteer will open it.

The second is called the Cup and Balls Trick. The objective here is to let all the balls pass through all the cups. For this, you will need three cups that are not see through, four identical balls and a wand.

You begin by stacking two of the cups together then place one of the identical balls into the second cup and place the third cup underneath hiding the ball. Don’t forget to place the other three balls into the third cup before you go on stage.

When it is time, dump the three balls onto the table in a row with gaps in between them. Place the cups behind the balls with the cup that has the secret ball in the center. You should practice this often to avoid having the hidden ball come out.

To make people that the cups are empty, you tap each of the cups using your wand. Then you begin by placing the ball in the center on top of the cup that is behind it and stack the other cups on top. Tap it using your wand then lift all three cups to show to the audience that the ball has gone through.

Next, you place the cup that has the other secret ball on top of the ball that has gone through the cup. Place a ball on top of the cup with the two balls underneath it and put the other two cups on top. Again, you tap using your wand and show once again that the balls have gone through.

Put the cup with the remaining secret ball on top of the balls that have already gone through the cup.

Now put the last ball on top of the cup that has three balls inside. Put the other two cups on top of the cup that has the ball on top of it then tap one more to show that three balls have gone through.

This magic trick is a little bit complicated than the first but with some practice, you will be able to make people believe that a the ball actually went through the cups.

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Types of Magic Tricks

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Magic tricks aim to astonish and bewilder people. They are illusions that aim to entertain a large number of people or just a single person. They can be done in close proximity or with the aid of a large stage at a certain distance from its audience. However the trick is done, successful magic is one that can keep audiences wonder in awe at what has just happened.

There are many different types of magic tricks that performers practice and use to entertain and to astonish. Different magicians try to specialize in one or a couple of the different methods in order to master. Different types of magic usually take years to learn and to master. Here are some of the different types if magic tricks that magicians try to perform and master.

Stage Magic

Stage magic is probably the most popular of all types of magic. Also known as platform magic or stand-up magic, stage magic generally refers to magic being performed for a medium to a large number of spectators. It can either be indoors or out of doors. But what makes stage magic different is that it usually makes use of a number of props to help the magician perform his illusions.

Street Magic

Street magic is a form of magic that usually is performed quite randomly while walking down the street. Street performances are characterized by a lack of big props usually being used in stage magic. What props may be used by a street magician might be something that one can bring in his pockets. What makes street magic so appealing to most people is that it requires a closer interaction with the audience who may happen to be passing by the street. It may also take the magician some considerable skill to master since it may be quite difficult to perform most magic tricks with the audience being so close to see each trick or illusion.

Escape Magic

Escape magic is another form or technique used in performing that deals with a variety of tricks that involves confinement or restraints. This type of magic is also known as escapology with the performer usually allows himself to be tied up or confined into a cramped space and locked from the outside. The magic trick stems from the ability of the magician to escape from such restraints without the obvious use of tools despite seemingly insurmountable odds that he finds himself in.

Mentalism

Mentalism is another form of magic where the magician tries to create the impression in the minds of the audience that he possesses special abilities to read thoughts, predict events or control the minds of others. Mentalist feats can either be done with a large or solitary audience, on a stage or close-up.

Theatrical Seances

A theatrical seance is that branch of magic that makes use of spiritualistic or mediumistic methods for effect. It is not usually "spiritual" in nature but is merely meant purely fore theatrical purposes. Magicians who follow this method usually lead the audience to believe that they are conjuring up spirits.

Unfortunately, this is a form of stage magic that is often misused by many con artists pretending to actually be in contact with spirits and mislead people for profit.

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Magic Trick Tips

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There are various magic trick tips that will help you learn magic faster. With a number of magic tricks to learn, you must also have to know some of the important principles behind most magic tricks. Among the principles involved in doing magic tricks is sleight of hand.

Sleight of hand is actually a technique used in magic where a magician makes use of certain hand movements to manipulate objects such as coins and cards. Sleight of hand is a technique that magicians and performers use in order to produce a certain effect. Sleight of hand is that technique where the magician tries to show an audience something and lets them see it in a certain way. It is like trying to force upon a spectator to see a certain object in effect that will lead them to believe that it is so.

But the fact of the matter is that it may not actually be how the spectator actually sees it. It can be quite confusing but learning more about sleight of hand would help you further understand about the process.

There are seven different methods used for sleight of hand magic tricks. They usually require lots of practice before a person can be effective enough in using them. Palming is one of the most common of sleight of hand methods. It refers to the action of trying to seemingly have an object in an apparently empty hand. Steal is another sleight of hand method wherein a performer tries to obtain a needed object secretly.

Another sleight of hand method used in magic is ditching. It is a method used to try and secretly get rid of an object that the performer doesn't need. Loading is another sleight of hand technique that is used to move an object secretly to where the magician wants it to be. Simulation is another sleight of hand technique that magicians use to give the audience the impressions that something has happened when in fact, nothing has.

Another popular sleight of hand tool that magicians often use is misdirection. It is a series of actions that lead the audience to look the other way while the magician tries to do a secret move. Misdirection allows magicians to hide what he is doing that might obviously give away the trick to the audience. Switching is another sleight of hand principle that is used to exchange an object secretly in place of another.

Doing sleight of hand magic tricks takes a lot of practice since hand and body movements are often employed to generate a certain effect. The different techniques can provide the basis to how magic tricks can be performed. Most sleight of hand tricks are utilized in close-up magic although they may also work as well from a distance or above the stage.

Although most sleight of hand principles are being used for magic, there are other people who try to use it in order to deceive. A lot of sleight of hand techniques can be used by some people to cheat at gambling games where the techniques can be performed quite differently than how magicians usually do it.

That is why sleight of hand techniques also brings with them a negative association that is borne out of the use of such skills for doing bad things.

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Magic Tricks For Beginners

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There are many magic tricks for beginners that require just a bit of time and patience to learn. But mostly such magic tricks really does not require that much effort in terms of skills. There are certain magic tricks that work with just a bit of showmanship and presentation.

One magic trick that beginners can try out can be the vanishing coin trick. All you need is a coin and a table to place it with. This magic trick for beginners will need some bit of showmanship in order to be baffling enough. What you need to do is to put a coin in the center of the table. While seated by the table, try to get the attention of friends or anyone who cares to see your magic trick.

The important thing on this trick is to have some bit of confidence. You will need to press on the coin and let it slide towards you. But the way to do this is to keep your index, middle and ring finger always close together. You will use the three fingers to cover the coin as you bring it towards you. Press the coin with your middle finger and then slowly bring it towards y6ou. As it nears the edge of the table, have the coin fall into your lap. The cover that your three fingers close together will make it go unnoticed if done correctly.

The next thing you do is that you try to bring your thumb towards your middle finger to create an effect as if you are holding something. Try to bring up your hand towards you and away from the table but still carefully keeping your fingers close together. And as you do so, try to make circular motions of your thumb with your middle finger. Then slowly turn your hands towards your audience and at the same time spreading out your fingers. The effect will be a surprise for your friends in that the coin has vanished in thin air.

This is just one of the many magic tricks that even beginners can do. And there are other tricks that can require a bit of practice and skill. Getting better at them can require some patience as well as the motivation to learn new magic tricks along the way. Beginners should also try to learn about the many rules that most magicians try to follow when doing their magic tricks.

One of the most popular of these rules is to never do the same trick twice to the same audience at any one time. Doing so will prolong the wonder and surprise in the eyes of your audience. Doing the trick many times may run the risk of your audience guessing how it is being done. Avoid also the temptation in telling your audience how the trick you just performed work. It is important for magicians to keep their audience guessing to heighten the magical experience.

Once you tell them the secret, they no longer seem to be impressed with other things that you may do later on. The wonder and enchantment that every magic trick has on the audience depend on how their secrets are well kept. And even magic tricks for beginners depend on this rule in order to continue to enthrall audiences.

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Learn Magic Card Tricks

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You can learn magic card tricks in order to have your friends or family spellbound by your skills. There are many magic tricks that depend on following a certain process or method. It is important for the magic student to learn about these different methods of magic card tricks in order to become a master.

One of the methods being used in magic card tricks is by employing a trick deck. A trick deck refers to a special deck of playing cards that has been altered in some ways in order to allow the magician or performer to do certain tricks with them. Trick decks are usually used when sleight of hand might be difficult or impractical to use for certain tricks.

There are various types of trick decks that magicians use to do special magic tricks. One of them is the stripper deck. The stripper deck is a type of trick deck that allows a magician or performer to easily control the location of a card or group of cards even after being shuffled by a spectator. The stripper deck always allows the performer to cut to the selected card or put a selected card at the top or bottom of the deck with just a few shuffles.

The Svengali deck is another type of trick deck used by magicians to perform certain magic card tricks. The Svengali deck usually allows certain tricks to be performed with almost no skill required. Most tricks done with the Svengali deck are known to be self-working. This trick deck can be riffled or even shuffled to give the illusion that it is quite an ordinary deck of cards. But using the Svengali deck can allow the performer to have a chosen card appear at any part of the deck.

Force decks are the kind of trick decks used to force a spectator to choose a particular card. One of the most common of force decks is one that contains identical cards. This way, the magician already knows what the spectator is choosing even with the illusion of letting the spectator choose from a number of different cards. But the performer is always careful not to let the audience see that faces of the identical cards of the force deck in order for the trick to be successful.

A marked deck is another specially made trick deck that is characterized by certain marks that only the performer knows about. The marked deck may look just like an ordinary card to the spectator, but such cards usually have subtle marks on the decorative side of the deck of cards that tell the performer about what each one is. The marks can either be placed at certain positions to indicate the number of the card and at a certain color to indicate the suit.

There are other trick decks that performers make use of to do their amazing magic card tricks. Some of these trick cards require some practice and a bit of knowledge to use correctly and to do tricks quite successfully. Learning always is important even in doing magic tricks.

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How to Start Learning Magic Tricks

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Learning magic tricks is similar to learning something new in school. You don’t expect to learn things right away but with the right attitude and discipline, you will be able to become better at it in the long term.

The first thing you have to do is figure out why you want to learn magic Chances are, you are not doing this for the money because there is not that much you can get from it except if you become very famous like David Copperfield or David Blaine.

For some, they simply wanted to follow the footsteps of their favorite magicians which they saw as they were growing up. Whatever your reason is, that is up to you.

Before you start learning magic tricks, you have to learn its history. Magic has been used for hundreds of years. Technology has helped make it bigger than it has ever been but in order to understand it, you have to learn how and why it works. From there, you will learn the various techniques and get an idea what you want to specialize in.

Once you have figured that out, it is time to learn the basics. There are books about magic tricks as well as tutorials which you can view online. Study them and then see if you can do the same thing until you are able to do these on your own.

Since almost every magic needs some sort of tools to make it work, you have to buy some by visiting your local magic store or purchase these items online. When you are able to master the simple tricks, you can now move on to the more challenging ones.

Whenever you practice doing some tricks, be sure to have a friend or a family member watch how you do it. Their feedback is very important so you will know if what you are doing is right. It also wouldn’t hurt to record yourself with a video camera then play it back later.

You are the only one who can tell if you are ready to put on a magic show or not. If you think it is time, sign up and be one of the many who will be part of the amateur magic show. Remember that you only have a limited time on stage so choose the best magic trick you know and give it your all.

Be sure to keep eye contact with the audience because you are expected to entertain them. If ever you make a mistake, just apologize and move on.

Once you finish your act, decide if you want to continue performing magic tricks or move on. Some people are already content with doing something just once while others are motivated to learn other magic tricks and pursue this as a long term career. You can even teach people how to do this so you are able to impart some knowledge to those who are also fascinated.

Will learning magic tricks easy? No but you can improve your skill each time you try. Sometimes you learn more by making a few mistakes on the way so that when you are up on stage, this mistake does not happen and you are able to get the recognition from the audience.

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How to Perform Magic Tricks on Stage

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There is a difference between watching and doing magic tricks. When you are part of the audience, you are there to enjoy the show but when you are on stage, you have to give an amazing performance or else be booed by the crowd so when it is your turn to do the tricks, you better be ready.

Preparation is key to be able to perform a good show. You have probably mastered a few tricks already so all you have to do is figure out which ones will be part of the act. If this is your first time, make sure you can keep the audience entertained for 9 to 10 minutes.

You can time this and practice your act in front of a few friends. If they like it, then there is nothing to worry about but if they have some comments and suggestions, listen since this could help make your performance more interesting.

First time magicians don’t always have to choose the venue for the magic show because there is one already so you just have to sign up. This is sometimes known as amateur night where magicians, singers, dancers and other artists are able to make their debut. Be sure to come early so you can relax before it is your turn to go on stage.

If you want to pick your own venue and don’t want it to be in a commercial establishment, a good idea will be the living room in your house or even the backyard. This depends of course on the number of guests that you are planning to invite.

One thing you must never forget to have is a costume. You can pick any outfit you like so don’t be afraid if it is too glamorous or showy.

Before the show starts, be sure that everything you will be using is ready on stage. When its time, there is no turning back. Remember you are the center of attention and everyone will be watching you.

One way to distract then when performing an act is to come up with a few jokes or stories. Others use a wand because the moment you point it in a certain direction, the eyes of the audience will follow so you can make that switch and they won’t know what happened giving you ample time to perform your trick.

If some tricks require a volunteer, pick someone and just do your best. Once the magic show is finished, be sure to thank everyone for coming. You can also give a few things away and then have fun with everyone else.

Performing magic tricks on stage takes a lot of practice because you don’t want to screw up when it is time for you to show your stuff. Sometimes the show that you will be doing could be your first and of many more in the future or your last if things did not work out.

So, practice diligently until you get it right. If you need help, get friends to see how well you perform and get feedback. It is better to make mistakes now when you are not performing yet so everything will go off without a hitch which is what you want to achieve for the next 10 to 15 minutes.

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How to Make Your Own Magic Tricks

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Magic has been around for more than 2 centuries. Some tricks have been modified or customized by the magician and you can do the same so you are able to perform your own magic tricks.

For that, you need to list down all the magic tricks you know. You probably learned this by reading a book or viewing an online tutorial. You then figure out which tricks you can change slightly and get the same results. Sometimes, instead of using one prop it can be substituted for another.

The best way to do this is to work your way backwards by knowing what is the end result then working your way towards the very beginning. This should be practiced as often as possible to see that it really works.

Aside from making changes in the magic tricks, try to also modify your presentation style. This will make it look as though no one has done this before even if someone already did it. For instance, if you have never used a wand before, introduce it into your act.

The wand has been used by many as a way to distract the audience so you will have to time to make the trick work.

When the changes have been made, try to get a small group of people to watch your perform. This could be some family members or friends. After its done, get feedback from them and listen to what they say. If they like it, try to get another group to watch because you want to make sure that your routine will be entertaining when you put on a show.

Given that magic has been around for so long, it is impossible to come up with a new magic trick unless perhaps this is done on a very large scale. There was a time that a magician made a plane disappear then years later, something bigger came along like the Statue of Liberty.

But if you think about it, the principle is still the same. This was done using lights and creating the illusion that it really disappeared when in reality it is still there which just goes to show that sometimes coming up with a magic trick involves outdoing what someone else did.

Since it is hard to come up with a new magic trick each time you put on a show, one thing you can do is learn new tricks and then introduce this into your act. This will mean studying the trick from scratch like you have done so many times before and then practicing until you get it right.

You can do some research or get a fellow magician to teach you how he or she does it in exchange for teaching something that they want to learn. This is beneficial to both since you are both getting something new from this arrangement which will improve your skills as magicians.

Can you really make your own magic tricks? The answer is no but you can make some changes to what has been done by others in the past making it look different in the eyes of the audience. This could even be your signature magic trick if you don’t tell anybody about it even if someone somewhere else has probably done it.

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How to Find Magic Trick Equipment and Which Ones To Get

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A magician can only perform magic tricks by bringing along some equipment. These come in all shapes and sizes so you can build a routine using deck of cards, balloons, small creatures and anything else that will likely entertain the audience. But before you do that, you have to know where you can buy it.

Some of the items can be purchased in the grocery. A few examples of these include a box of matches, glasses, money, paper, cutlery and sugar cubes.

But if you are really serious, you have to get these from the magic shop. Inside, you can get ideas of new tricks you can try so there is always something different to offer each time you have a performance. You can also check online for such props because they could be much cheaper through the web.

You can also try to make some after all some tricks like being able to levitate in the air is done by sawing a small piece of plywood and then standing on it for a few seconds. You just have to be careful so no one will notice that you are using something to help you perform this trick.

Another example is creating your own magician’s table. Since you will be the one using this, you will be able to customize it so there can be hidden compartments to make things appear and disappear.

What the magician wears is also part of the act. If you don’t know how to sew, bring this over to a tailor who can sew a pocket.

Most magicians use cards in their acts. If you will be using play cards, there are two main types namely the Bridge size and the Poker size that are not that different in terms of size. But there are also double faced, double backed and marked cards. When you buy them, you will notice that there are two main colors namely red and blue. You might even be able to find some in other colors or get the retailer to make a customized version.

If you are performing in front of kids, naturally you will need some animals which you can get from the pet store. The two most common are white rabbits or white doves because can easily be trained for a performance. They also do not bite, cry or scream which make them ideal for a show.

The use of cups and balls are also popular because these are available in different shapes, colors, sizes and material. You just have to see which one are you most comfortable with using. The best are perhaps sponge balls because they are easy on the hands and can easily be hidden.

For magicians who want to cover something as they are performing a trick, use silk and not an ordinary 100% cotton handkerchief because they are much bigger and available in different colors.

You can’t perform a magic trick without a few tools to help you along. So, go shopping or make your own. Just remember that you make it happen and not what you use. Be sure to practice your tricks until you get it perfectly so there won’t be any problems when you finally perform before a large audience.

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Cool Magic Tricks

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Cool magic tricks need not be too complicated in order to delight audiences. In fact, some magic tricks are so simple that they can be learned in a matter of minutes. Some magic tricks also depend on how the performer goes through the motions in order to be successful. Even the most simplest magic tricks can be the most baffling thing to see if done perfectly with skilled presentation and showmanship.

The Magic Cup
Show your audience an ordinary cup that you have filled with ice cubes. Blow inside the cup and turn it over to reveal the ice cubes inside. Tell your audience that you will attempt to make water vanish inside the magic cup. Drop in the ice cube and then pour in a little amount of water inside the cup. With a little shake, turn the cup over and walla, out comes the ice cubes minus the water.

The secret to this cool magic trick is that you make use of a cup or glass that your audience can't see through. Now try to fit in a piece of sponge at the bottom of the cup and make sure that it fits securely even if you turn the cup upside down. When you pour water into the cup, the sponge will readily absorb it. So when you turn the cup over, no water comes out. Make sure that you pour only enough water that the sponge can absorb.

The Vanishing Coin
Here is a magic trick that can be as easy as any trick can get. All you need is a coin, a table and an audience. As you sit at one corner of the table, place a coin on top of it and try to get the attention of your friends by pointing on the coin. Try to reach for the coin by putting your index, middle and third fingers closely together. By pressing the coin on top with your middle finger with your arm in parallel with the table. Slide the coin towards you, making sure that you try to cover it up with your three fingers as you do so. Then slide the coin off the table and let it land into your lap.

As you get to the edge of the table, put your thumb together with your middle finger, acting as if you are picking up the coin. While keeping the three fingers still close together, stare at your fingers and move your thumb in a circular motion. Then slowly turn your hands to your audience and spread your fingers apart. The coin has mysteriously vanished!

Floating Ring Trick
Here is another cool magic trick that you can try out. Mix lots and lots of salt into a small amount of water to make a really,really thick salt mixture. Then try to soak a piece of string or thread in the mixture for about an hour or more. Then take out your string and let it dry.

Next, try to get a small ring either from your pocket or one from your audience. Next, tie it up with one end of your prepared string. As you hold the string by the other end, light up the thread starting from the ring end. The string will burn but the salt crystals will continue to hold the light ring.

This would surely cause a gasp from your audience as you finish up with your cool magic trick.

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Cool Card Magic Tricks

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Some of the most common magic tricks that you will see being performed at shows are those that require cards. Card magic tricks have been popular at performances and yet they continue to mesmerize audiences. There are many different types of card tricks that make use of various techniques to achieve their level of surprise and astonishment among audiences. Here are some simple card magic tricks that you can try out on your own.

ABRACADABRA Card Trick
This card trick is a self-working card trick if you know how to do it step by step. This card magic trick requires 21 cards from any deck. In order to perform the trick, try to deal three rows of card into a table with their faces up. Then try to place the next set of cards atop the previous ones and do this with the other cards until you get three sets with seven cards each. Make sure that you lay them on the table with each face of the cards visible to the audience.

Get a volunteer and ask him or her to think of a card fro any of the three groups that lay on the table. Tell them to remember it. Next, try to let him or her tell you from which group that card belongs. Once told, pick up one group of cards and then place it on top of the chosen group with the other placed at the bottom of the chosen group.

Next, try to deal the card the same way as you have done previously, by laying the cards in groups of three with seven cards each. Now ask the volunteer from which group the chosen cards can be found. Once the chosen group is given, carefully collect each group of cards with the chosen group still sandwiched from the other two. Once the process has been done three times, you are now ready to choose the volunteer's card.

Now hold the cards face down in your hand. Try to ask the volunteer if he or she has heard about the word ABRACADABRA. Tell the audience that it is a magic word that will help you find the volunteer's card. As you deal the cards one by one, do so by spelling the word ABRACADABRA as each card is being dealt. Once you have reached the last "A" stop for a moment and turn the card face up. That card would be the volunteer's chosen card. Doing the process perfectly would always get you the chosen card along with knowing how to spell ABRACADABRA correctly.

Simple Card Trick
Here is a simple card trick that would not require anything to remember or practice. It is simply a matter of natural probability used for amazing effects with cards. This trick can make use of any ordinary 52-card deck. What you want to tell your audience is that you can have them choose two numbers from one to ten and then you'll try to have them show up in the deck either together or with a card separating them.

When a volunteer has chosen two numbers from one to ten, try to deal the cards one after the other face up. Surely enough you will find them surprisingly either together or with just one card separating them from one another. It can have a baffling effect on the audience, but it is a trick that is made possible by pure probability.

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Animal Magic Tricks

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Some magicians use animals when they perform a show. Do you know how they do it? Well it’s pretty easy and you can also learn how to do it.

The first trick is bringing an insect back to life. For this, you will need an insect like a fly or a bee. There are two ways to catch it. First, you can swat it hard enough or catch it using a piece of paper and then putting it in the freezer because this will put them into a temporary coma.

You then put this on your windshield or a flat surface and call someone over and show the insect to them. You say that the insect is dead and that you can make it alive again.

This is done by saying a few magic words which you know does not have any effect and making a few passes with one hand until the insect suddenly wakes up and flies off.

The secret to this magic trick is being able to determine how long it takes to make the insect wake up once it has defrosted. Waving your hand helps since it will speed things up a bit. So the insect does not fly off too quickly before you come back and show this off to someone, make sure this is done under the shade.

Another animal magic trick involves pulling the head of a live chicken. For this, you will need a live chicken and fake chicken head.

You will first present a chicken to a live audience and ask if chickens have nine lives or less just like cats. To prove your theory, you hold the chicken with one hand and then pull the head with the other. After some time, you show the severed head to the audience telling them that it is dead and that everyone shouldn’t worry because you have the power to put it back together.

This is done by screwing the severed head back on the chicken at a 90 degree angle so they won’t see the fake head so you can present the chicken alive and kicking to everyone’s delight.

But how do you hide the real chicken head? You do this by tucking the head under one of the wings of the chicken. As for the fake head, this is hidden up your sleeve and brought out when you appear to be pulling off the chicken’s head then returned when you present the live chicken back to the audience.

If you don’t want to harm an animal or make people think that you did, you can make it disappear by putting the creature in a box that has a secret compartment so they can be hidden and brought out when it is time for them to appear again. The best animals for this trick are white doves or rabbits because they don’t cry, bite or scream that could spoil the trick.

For those who will use doves, be sure to trim the wings every two months so they don’t fly away. It is a painless procedure so they won’t feel a thing.

Bringing an animal back to life and making it appear and disappear are just a few magic tricks you can perform on stage. If you are concerned with animal rights group which say this is inhumane, you can give this up and use other props instead or learn to perform other tricks.

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3 Magic Tricks Using a Coin

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Magic tricks can be simple and at times they can be very complicated. If you are just doing this for fun or maybe to impress a girl, there are three magic tricks you can do by using a coin.

The first trick is how to make a coin disappear. For this, you will need a coin, a piece of paper measuring 5 inches by 5 inches, a handkerchief and some tape.

If you don’t have a coin, ask the person you are with if you can borrow one. Get the piece of paper and show both sides so they will notice that it has not been altered. When you are done, put this paper flat on the table with the coin in the center.

Next, fold the paper in half leaving about half an inch in between the top and the half that has been folded. You then fold the right side of the paper around the back to the halfway mark and fold the left side back over this half.

Fold half an inch of the top of the paper down so it appears you created a packet. Hold it in front of them and let them touch it to let them know the coin is still there. You make one turn and with your back to the audience, you slip out the coin. You then pick up the handkerchief and put the coin down in the same movement.

You then cover the paper with the handkerchief and give this to the person. Say some magic word, lift the handkerchief and let the person open the folded piece of paper to discover that the coin that was placed in there disappeared. After you ask them where is the coin, you show it and hand this back to them.

The second trick is turning a dime into a quarter. This is where you will be using the tape and two sets of coins. Before you begin, make sure the quarter is already taped in your hand so you can make the switch later on.

You then ask the person for a dime. Once it is given, you hold on to this tightly in between the thumb and index finger of your right hand so you will be able to slide the quarter into position behind the dime.

Use your left hand to press the dime onto the tape covered side of the quarter and use your fingers to squeeze these two together.

Then it is time to take the coins between your left thumb and index finger and turn the hand so that the face of the quarter can be seen. Now drop the coin quickly into your right hand to make them think that you only used on coin for the trick.

Another trick is called Bend the Coin. For this, you will need to buy a coin that can bend in two or three places which is available in the magic store. You ask for a real coin that is the exact size of the one you are using and write your initials on it to make the person believe you didn’t switch it.

With the hidden coin in one hand, you make the switch and pretend that you are using a great amount of effort to bend it. After some time, they will see that the coin is bent and then quickly switch and return to them the original coin.

Coins are great to use for a magic trick. It just takes some practice to impress whoever is watching.

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