Magic 101: Is Your Trick Ready for Primetime?

When you‘re introducing a new trick, here’s a checklist to determine if it’s ready for live audiences. This list can save you some grief and prevent potentially embarrassing moments.

1. Can you perform all of the necessary steps in the routine without thinking about them and without hesitating?

2. Have you thoroughly checked your moves in a mirror?

3. Have you considered the placement of your audience? For example, if you’ll be standing and your audience sitting, have you evaluated your movements from the perspective of a sitting audience. Here, video-tape can be invaluable.

4. Have you considered your environment? Your trick may look great in the mirror, but what about people who creep to your sides during a performance?

5. Is your misdirection strong during any potentially troublesome moments?

6. If you’re not using music, have you thoroughly practiced your trick with your patter? Can you flawlessly talk and perform the trick at the same time? Are there slow spots where you’re at a loss for words? If so, you’ll need to fix these areas.

7. Have you had a magician or trusted friend watch your routine and offer feedback on any problem areas?

Real World Audiences
If you can answer “yes” to all these questions, you’re ready to try out your trick in front of an audience. A tip, when performing a new trick, sandwich it between two tricks that you are comfortable performing. This way, if something goes wrong, you will still have good routines before and after the new trick.

I find that despite all of the practice, it’s a whole new world performing a trick in front of a live audience. In a sense, you’ll be practicing performing any trick in front of an audience to ultimately polish it. Good luck.