According to the article, the researchers concluded that magicians sometimes understand the workings of the human brain better than they did. "The more we thought about it, the more we realized that magicians actually had skills that we didn't have, as scientists," says Dr. Stephen Macknik in the story.

Mac King performed for a subject who's eye movements were closely monitored. The conclusion? "You think you can see everything all at once, when in fact, you can't," says Macknik in the story. "So, the fact is that magicians are able to take advantage of that by knowing that you can only focus in one place while they do something somewhere else."

"We predict that autistics will detect the method in a magic trick better than someone with a Ph.D," Macknik also says in the story. "Autistics are people with deficits in joint attention, so they not only can't pay attention very well to people and where they're supposed to pay attention, but they're kind of repulsed by it.

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Magicians Penn and Teller
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I admit a recent craving for Hulu.com where I've been watching "The Biggest Loser," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Family Guy." I recently discovered that the entire first season of Criss Angel MindFreak is now available to watch online for free via Hulu.

It's interesting for me to go back in time and read my thoughts about Angel's first season. At the time, I even interviewed Angel just as the season got underway. This was long before Angel's Believe show in Las Vegas and all the criticism hurled from the magic community.

I reviewed the first two episodes, "Burned Alive" and "Levitation" in a single review.

I said in my review:
"Despite some great effects and Angel's brooding charisma, the show lacks the uplifting feel and impact of Copperfield's best television specials...Overall, Criss Angel Mindfreak was baffling, mystifying and mostly entertaining, which made it good for magic."

I stand by this statement today.

I also commented on Angel's new look and persona:
"I haven't seen Angel's first television special in a long time, but it seems to me that he is wearing less theatrical make-up these days, and, in interviews, is trying to portray himself as more of an average, affable guy that people can relate to. I think he is intentionally toning the down the extreme elements."

Of course, Angel eventually sold the secret to one of the show's levitations to the public on a DVD. You can watch the episodes, "Burned Alive" and "Levitation" on Hulu.com.

I also reviewed later shows in the season including the "Wine Barrel/Nail Bed" and "Prediction" and you can watch these via Hulu as well ("Wine Barrel", "Nail Bed" and "Prediction").

I said in a review of the entire first season:
"The high level of magic that Angel presented in his first season is a testament to his creativity and hard work and the dedicated efforts and contributions of his magic consultants and staff. While I recognized some magic effects, there were many that simply left me fried."

Was I being too nice? Many of you who wrote me thought so. But thanks to Hulu, you can now view the episodes and decide for yourself.

More Reading:
Review: Criss Angel Believe
About Magician Criss Angel
Interview with Criss Angel

I responded negatively to a recent press release that touted a new firm. "Teach By Magic" promises to instruct teachers on how to use magic to enhance class lessons. In my story, I found the quoted statistics misleading and the "lessons" to actually be simple magic tricks, many of which are already taught here for free.

What irritated me most was that I found the concept downright insulting to teaching professionals. After all, what do magicians know about teaching and standing in front of a classroom of students?

Many of you responded with reactions. Thanks to all who wrote in.

To use magic to teach the lesson is ridiculous. It doesn't speak well for you as a teacher if you have to entertain your students to teach them. While education can be entertaining, education is not entertainment, and shouldn't be treated as such. Sounds like these "Teach by Magic" guys are just out for a quick buck. The educators I know would never go for it.
James Jay, October 13, 2009

I think we can add stuff like this as another reason why the art of magic is not well respected. This kind of stuff just cheapens what magicians do (not to mention what teachers do). Anyone can teach. But not everyone can inspire with their teaching. Anyone can do magic. But few can do it well enough to inspire and capture the imagination.
Unmasked Magician, October 20, 2009

I'm a teacher and I can't believe that these magicians think they have all of the answers. Let's see them prepare a real lesson and spend an entire day with the kids and see how far their simple magic tricks take them. I'm also an amateur magician and I sometimes do tricks for the kids as a reward. The tricks I see on the teacher site are ones that I teach the kids. I find that some of the kids already know these when I teach them. I wouldn't want to try and fool them with those simple tricks. As Wayne says, leave the teaching to the pros.
Vbennet, October 13, 2009

Coincidentally enough, during the past year, I've been using magic to reinforce lessons in Alaska history. The classroom and library programs have been popular enough that I began developing a book and a series of magical effects to highlight American history instruction. First, I would NEVER try to tell teachers how to teach. What I would offer would be a series of magical effects specifically designed to help them do what they do best, and that is educating our young people. What I would hope to present is more than just changing the patter slightly to make the trick seem educational, but something that incorporates curriculum values within the script. It's not easy, and not all tricks can be adapted. But that's where the fun and creativity come in. If you're interested in what I'm doing check out my website, and in particular, join the Society of American Magicians in time to read the December edition of M-U-M. It's even available on line!
Jeff Brown, October 23, 2009

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"Teach By Magic" Doesn't Make Grade
The Best of the Easy Tricks
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When Ellusionist released the first Black Tiger and Ghost themed decks some years back, I loved the edgy look of the cards as well as their quality and feel. However, at the time, I was apprehensive about performing with cards that were not standard Bicycle cards. My initial fear was that spectators may think that the unusual looking cards were gimmicked or trick cards.

But after several years of popular cards in all sorts of colors and designs, most of them manufactured by the U.S. Playing Card Company that produces Bicycle, Bee, Aviator and all the popular brands, I think that magicians are now free to use whatever cards they wish.

Spectators are accustomed to seeing different back designs and some designs can lend to a magician's persona. In particular, I think the cards are fantastic for extreme card manipulation (XCM) and card flourishes as popularized by Jerry Cestkowski and Dan and Dave Buck.

Arcane, the newest theme cards to hit the market, come from Ellusionist. The edgy-looking and attractive cards come in both black and white versions. I like the reverse exposure face cards, the slightly thinner and quality card stock, the gradient indexes that feature a slight fade out and ultra smooth finish that makes fanning smooth as silk. Like the Black Tiger and Ghost Decks, the Arcane decks are manufactured by the U.S. Playing Company for Ellusionist.

I also like another new and edgy deck called the Karnival Assassins from Big Blind Media and the U.S. Playing Card Company. The cards feature skeletons and like the original Karnival cards, were designed by artist Sam Hayles. In addition to a high grade stock the deck offers features for magicians that include: a subtle one-way back design and card revelations on the box's barcode and on a joker.

In the end, it's all about personal preference and the kinds of card that you like to work with and the design that best supports your performing persona. There are lots of choices out there and you can be free to perform with the decks that you like best.

More Reading:
Karnival Cards
Black Tiger Deck, Gaff Deck & Black Book
Xtreme Beginnerz

The Trilogy (3 DVD Set) by Dan And Dave Buck

If you're putting together your stand-up magic act, you're in the exact same situation as reader "Barry" who emailed me and provided the impetus for a thread on our forum.

In this thread, you'll find advice and discussion on stand-up tricks that are good for those who are starting out. These tricks are generally fairly easy to learn and perform and offer lots of entertainment possibilities. And if you have a question about a stand-up effect, this is the perfect place to ask and obtain answers.

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Choosing Tricks That Fit Your Act
The Five Biggest Mistakes Made by Beginning Magicians
How to Master Magic Tricks
Seven Themes To Improve Your Magic

I know that most of you out there are only interested in magic, but if you ever plan to work the kid's party circuit or entertain children, chances are, you'll be asked to create balloon animals in addition to performing a magic show. I know that this is the case among the shows booked by the low-end party planners in Southern California. So here are five essential balloon animals that you need to know.

Also, as I mentioned in my article on why magicians may want to learn balloon animals, my ability to twist balloons has saved me at events. I've arrived at an event ready to stroll for three hours and discovered that there were only 35 people, many of them kids. After entertaining with two or three sets of close-up magic for each table, I was glad that I could make balloons for the kids to fill up the rest of the time.

So on this page, I show you five balloon animals that you need to know to entertain at a party. If you can make these five balloon animals quickly, they'll serve you well in many situations.

Sure, you'll have kids asking if you can make other balloon animals. But with this information, you'll know what you need to learn next to become a competent balloon animal artist and not just someone learning enough to just to get by.

More Reading:
How to Make Balloon Animals
Basics of Balloon Twisting and Balloon Animals
How to Make a Dog Balloon Animal

Daily Show Provides a Winning Magic Routine

I feel that the best way to create involving and entertaining magic is to apply a theme or story. Admittedly, I don't always succeed at this myself, but I'm always trying.

Recently, "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" featured an excellent magic segment, "Playing the Race Card," by Larry Wilmore (the magic begins at the three minute mark). While it's notable that a magic routine has been featured on the show, what's impressive here is that the routine successfully mixes a political theme with a standard card trick.

I think that the routine provides a first rate example of what can be accomplished by applying a theme. Instead of simply showing off, as so many magicians do, the routine involves spectators and provides a reason for the various effects. Well done.

And while I'm talking about great routines, I think that the UK's Barry and Stuart are performing some of the most amazing, cutting edge magic that I have ever seen. I'm a fan of their YouTube videos and this "voices/alter ego" routine is among the best that I've seen (warning, it's PG-13). The routine creates a hilarious theme, provides a great setting for the tricks and effectively tells a warped story.

More Reading:
Seven Themes to Apply to Your Magic
Dealing with Nervousness
The Five Biggest Mistakes Made by Beginning Magicians

Cyril will perform in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Taiwan and follow in the footsteps of David Blaine and Criss Angel who starred in Asian TV specials. The big difference, however, is that both performed for American audiences in their shows.

"What sets me apart from [them] is that I am here, in Asia, for the Asian people," says Cyril in the article. "You will not see David Blaine or Criss Angel coming out here, but I am coming to the countries these people who watch the show live in."

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The Top Ten Magicians of Our Time
Famous Magicians

After being punched in the abdomen a week earlier, Harry Houdini died on Sunday, October 31, 1926 at 1:26 PM. For the great showman, Halloween seemed a fitting day to die and this date is now remembered as "National Magic Day." Despite over eighty years since his death, Houdini is undoubtedly magic's best-known entertainer of all time.

I think that Milbourne Christopher, in "The Illustrated History of Magic," best describes Houdini.

"Harry Houdini, a short muscular man with curly dark hair, an infectious smile and compulsive drive to succeed became a legend in his own time. Unexcelled escape artist, silent film star, scourge of fraudulent mediums, and eventually presenter of an illusion show that many critics said was more exciting than Thurston's, he had an uncanny understanding of audience psychology."

It's no wonder that Houdini's story continues to form the basis of movies and books. He is remembered for his legendary escapes; showmanship and promotion; the loss of his mother and attempts to reach her through spiritualism; his frustration with mediums and exposure of their methods and his death on Halloween with the storied promise that if anyone could find a way back from the dead, it would be Houdini. All of these aspects contribute to his myth and memory.

I think the truly amazing thing about Houdini is that he is not only the best known magician of all time, he is arguably the best known entertainer of all time. Try to think of an entertainer from his era that is an equal household name today-the only name I come up with is Charlie Chaplin. Houdini continues to hold a place in our culture and history. Now that's living on...

More Reading:
Profile: Harry Houdini
Houdini Book Test
Famous Magicians in History

Windows Animate With Haunted Hanks and Showcase Houdini Props

A recent announcement stated that Houdini's Magic Store would be taking over the Disneyland Main Street Magic Shop. The first phase in this transition involves new Houdini-themed windows that replace the old magic-themed displays with Goofy.

The windows also have a fun moving display that depicts a classic magic stage effect called "haunted hanks." Every ten minutes or so (I didn't time the duration), the hanks come alive in a display that you can view in a video that I shot and edited today. Even when the hanks aren't dancing around, you'll find that the prominent red handkerchief in the left window occasionally twitches - a precursor to the dancing effect.

The new windows seem to cover every aspect of Houdini's career including: escapes, exposure of mediums, his films, King of Cards and more. There are some cool props as well copies of his letters and posters, which you can view in this image gallery.

More Reading:
The Return of Disneyland Magic?
Readers Respond to "A Hit on Disney Magic"
Disneyland Magic - Pepper's Ghost