Articles Index

The Charlie Caper Interview

Magician Charlie Caper recently took home the top prize in television's "Sweden's Got Talent," the regional version of the well known show. Here, Caper talks with Magic.About.com about the challenges of performing on the televised talent show, Swedish attitudes towards magic, his upcoming performance at FISM and more.

How to Learn Magic Tricks

Want to learn magic tricks? If you have a true love for the art of magic, the next step is learn magic tricks, develop presentations for them and get your feet wet standing in front of and performing for audiences. Here's just about everything that you need to successfully learn and perform magic tricks.

Choosing Tricks That Fit Your Act

As I've discussed in earlier articles, it's always best to choose the tricks that allow you to best entertain your audience and will work best under your particular performing conditions or venue. But how about considering what you already perform in your act and adding routines that are different?

Choosing Tricks That Fit Your Act

As I've discussed in earlier articles, it's always best to choose the tricks that allow you to best entertain your audience and will work best under your particular performing conditions or venue. But how about considering what you already perform in your act and adding routines that are different?

Interview with Justin Miller

[link url=http://magic.about.com/od/famousmagicianproducts/tp/jmiller.htm]Justin Miller[/link] is a magician’s close-up magician. The well known magic creator has published numerous effects that include: [link url=http://magic.about.com/od/magicreview/fr/020508xmarks.htm]X Marks The Spot[/link] and [link url=http://magic.about.com/od/magicreview/fr/020508timespace.htm]Time and Space[/link]. He recently took time out to talk with Magic.About.com.

How to Choose a Trick for Your Skill Level

In order to perform a magic trick, you must possess the necessary skills to execute the moves and steps. Here's everything that you need to know.

How to Select a Trick for Your Venue

When performing magic, in addition to thinking about who you are performing for, your audience, you always have to think about where you're performing. You may be on a stage, in front of a classroom, in the center of a party, at a restaurant table or in a conference room or office cubicle. The tricks you perform have to work in your chosen venue and within your performance conditions.

How to Select a Trick for Your Audience

The tricks that you perform and your presentations have to appeal to your audiences. Here are things to keep in mind when considering a new trick.

Tips for Making Balloon Animals

If you're learning how to make balloon animals, here are tips and solutions to some common problems.

What Pumps to Use for Balloon Animals

If you're getting into balloon twisting and animals, you'll want to invest in a good pump, as well as quality balloons. Somehow, you have to inflate your balloons and here you'll learn how.

Balloons for Balloon Animals

When you perform balloon twisting, spectators will often ask if you are using special balloons. The answer is "yes." Here's what you need to know.

Why Learn Basic Balloon Animals?

Almost everyone who performs magic professionally learns how to twist balloons. Why is this the case and why is balloon twisting considered an art that complements magic? Some of the reasons are due to market forces while others can help you to become a better performer. I'll explain.

How to Inflate a Balloon Animal

Proportions are the key to successful twisting and animal balloons. And to twist, you'll need to allow extra space in a balloon after inflating and tying it to accommodate the twists that you will be applying. Here are tips on inflating a balloon for twisting and animal balloons.

YouTube Magic Exposure? No Problem

There's lots of talk that many of magic's secrets are but a mouse click away. To see what's out there, I recently evaluated exposure videos on YouTube and concluded that there's little to worry about. The majority of the exposure videos fell far short of being dangerous for a number of reasons that I'll explain.

Buying Magic Online

Are you thinking about buying magic online through the internet? A young magician recently asked me after a show for some advice on purchasing a particular magic prop. His question prompted some thought and the following article that discusses purchasing magic via the internet. I hope that you find this helpful.

Review: Magicopolis

We review Magicopolis in Santa Monica, California find great magic

Handling Magic Secrets With the Public

Does our protection of secrets hurt our image as accomplished entertainers? I'll discuss how I handle inquiries about secrets in what I feel is a positive way.

The Top Ten Magicians of Our Time

Who are the top ten magicians in history? Learn more about the top ten magicians.

Opinion: What Makes Great TV Magic?

Prompted by the recent "Masters of Illusion" series, here's what I want to see on a magic television show.

Demo: Mind Reading Cards

A well known beginning trick that’s found in magic kits and is sold on its own, mind reading cards allow you to identify a playing card or number that a spectator is thinking of.

Review: Lance Burton Master Magician

A reliable Las Vegas mainstay, Lance Burton offers one of the finest magic shows on the strip. With his showmanship, fantastic illusions and dazzling technical skills, Burton does it all. The end result is a must-see for magic fans.

Demo: The Chain Escape

Here's a great escape style trick for beginners. After spectators tightly bind your hands with a normal chain and lock, you immediately break free.

Magician Gerry McCambridge

Gerry McCambridge makes the simple promise to "screw with your mind" and in his Las Vegas show, The Mentalist, which plays at the Hooter’s Casino Hotel, he successfully does so.

Magician Franz Harary

Best known for his large-scale illusions, which include: the vanish of the Space Shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center for an NBC special in 1994 and moving Hawaii's Diamond Head, Franz Harary is in constant demand worldwide and works with numerous celebrities and musical stars.

7 Themes To Improve Your Magic

Here are seven themes that you can apply to tricks to make them stronger and increase their impact. When possible, I've suggested an easy magic trick from here at Magic.About.com that the theme can be used with.