Magic Pros and Serious Amateurs
Anatomy of a Magic Music Video
If you were interested in the moves, effects and techniques used in my magic music video with playing cards, in this story, I discuss them.
Learning Magic Via Books or DVDs: Bannon’s Bullet Party
Is it better to learn magic from books or instructional magic DVDs? In a unique situation, I compare learning some great tricks from John Bannon's "Bullet Party," which is available in both book and DVD formats.
All About The Magic Square
The magic square is a mathematical curiosity that is sometimes performed in mentalism and magic acts. Here's background on the concept that Corinda refers to as a "brain teaser."
Interview with Wes Iseli: "Charitable Magician"
Wes Iseli is a Virginia-based magician who often performs for charitable causes. In this interview, Iseli talks about his "24 Hours of Magic" project and more.
Review of Spider Pen Pro by Yigal Mesika
Yigal Mesika's Spider Pen Pro offers the next generation device for levitating small objects. It offers definite improvements over its predecessor.
The Pushpin Gimmick by Matthew Vizio
Matthew Vizio generously teaches how to make and use his holdout, which is based on one by Jean Hugard. You'll find the holdout useful in a cups and balls routine or any table-based routine where you need to store and ring in small objects.
Tell Us About Your Toughest Magic Show
I want to hear about your most difficult and challenging magic shows. Despite our most careful preparations and contingency plans, anything can and will happen. What transpired? And how did you get through it? What have you changed so the situation won't occur in the future? See submissions
What Inspired You to Pursue Magic?
What inspired you to want to learn and pursue magic? Here's an area where you can share your experiences with your fellow readers. See submissions
Cut the Candy - Magicians Cut the Candy
I have seen bad magicians produce bags of candy and then whip the kids into a greedy frenzy as the candy is dropped on the floor in a wild free-for-all or tossed into a crowd of jumping and yelling kids. In my opinion, there is no room for candy in a good magic show and here’s why.
Readers Respond: Exposure Caused You to Give-Up a Trick?
Readers respond to my article on tricks that I have stopped performing due to exposure.
Street Magic Resources
Want to learn street magic? Here are resources for working those urban areas and filling hats.
Magic Based on Popular Movies
Movies are a natural theme for magic tricks. There are the plots, characters and celebrities. If you would like to perform magic with a movie or celebrity theme, here are tricks that use them.
Resources for Card Through Window
Ever since David Blaine caused a spectator's selected card to seemingly pass through a window and adhere to the other side, there have been several versions of the effect that have come to market. Here are versions that we have reviewed.
Magic for Kid Shows
If want to perform magic for kids, here's a collection of DVDs that we've reviewed that teach you how.
World's Greatest Magic DVDs
L&L's "World's Greatest Magic" DVDs compile routines from famous magicians and each DVD has a theme. By combining routines, you can watch a DVD with routines related to the same subject to help you build your own routines.
iTricks.com
This site does a fantastic job of staying on top of and presenting the latest news and even rumors in the magic world. You may also enjoy their weekly audio podcast that features various magic celebrities and experts who comment on the magic news of the week.
The Australian Institute of Magic (AIM)
The Australian Institute of Magic is an organization that’s dedicated to furthering the standard and reputation of Australian magicians both nationally and internationally. It is the only organization that represents FISM in the Oceania region. The AIM website is an online magic resource for agents, historians, magicians, businesses, media researchers and the general public.
Rope Magic
Here's a round-up of our reviews of rope tricks and routines. Whether you want to cut and restore a rope, perform classic Professor's Nightmare or do other outrageous feats with ropes, here's our resource.
IT Resources
Bills float, cards hover and decks mysteriously cut by themselves to reveal a chosen card. If you've been wanting to work with IT, here are resources to learn how.
Tricks with a PK Ring
If you own a PK ring, here are reviews of products that teach you tricks with the popular gimmick.
Resources for Cups & Balls
If you want to perform tricks with cups and balls, here are resources at Magic.About.com.
Guide to Packet Card Tricks
Here's a guide to some of the many packet card tricks on the market. Are they worth the money? Read our reviews and find out.
Book Test Resources
In a classic book test routine, a spectator turns to any page in a book and selects a word or sentence, and the magician can name the word or offer an impression of what's in the sentence. It's a traditional and powerful mentalism effect. If you're interested in performing a book test, here are some resources.
Coin Magic Resources
If you want to improve your coin magic, here are resources that you can tap.
Poker Themed Tricks
Here are magic tricks and products that are related to the game of Poker.
The Razor Blade Trick
If you've always wanted to swallow razor blades and thread and bring it all back up, strung together, here are resources to get you started.
Coins and Other Objects in Bottle
If you want to put anything into a bottle: a coin, label or other object, here are DVDs that will teach you how.
My Favorite DVDs and Tricks
Here's a list of the tricks and DVDs that I have reviewed and use in my strolling and stand-up sets. There's a definite tendency towards close-up and card routines that don't require a table for my restaurant work, which I do a lot of, and less for stand-up because my act is fairly mature. But here are my favorites that I currently use.
Scam Targets Magicians & Entertainers
An internet scam that targets magicians is trying to separate you from your money. A con man recently tried to pull the scam on Lyndel, who graciously provided Magic & Illusion with a detailed time line of events so magicians can better understand the scam and recognize it.
Do You Need an Accounting Program to Manage Your Magic Business?
Are you adequately managing your magic business on paper? Or is it time to consider some computing horsepower? This article discusses the basics.
Video Review: DVD Xpress
If you've been wanting to edit your magic performance videos into a promo video, you may consider the DVD Xpress.
Review: Pinnacle Studio 9-Edit Your Magic Video
If you want to edit your magic video, Pinnacle’s Studio 9 software offers the easiest, and lowest cost way to do so.
McBride's Magic and Mystery School
Jeff McBride's "Magic and Mystery School" offers high-level seminars and classes for the magical performer.
Genii Magazine
Genii Magazine is the oldest and most respected magic magazine in the United States. Each month, the publication is filled with magic advice, techniques and reviews. Also, the Genii forum is among the most active in the field of magic.
Handling Magic Secrets With the Public - Dealing With Magic Secrets
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.
Readers Respond "YouTube Magic Exposure? No Problem"
Readers respond to my story about magic exposure on YouTube.
Should Magicians Ever Put Spectators in Danger?
Are there performance situations where a magician can justifiably place a spectator in danger of being injured? My answer is an emphatic "no" and here's why.
Why Are Beginning Magicians So Over-Confident?
Why do beginning magicians often have these out-sized expectations of their abilities to perform magic and entertain?" I welcome your comments.
Show Us Your Magic Video
Do you have a great video that promotes your magic? Here's the place to tell us about it and provide a link. See submissions
All About 3 Card Monte
Three card monte is a scam that employs three playing cards and is often performed on the streets. The practitioner shows three cards and one of the three, the "money" card, contrasts with the others. The cards are tossed onto a table where they’re mixed, and the mark (victim) gets to bet on which card is the money card. In the end, the apparent...
Interview with Christopher Handa - Spooky Magic, Part Two
I talk with magician Chris Handa who acts as the Magic Director for Castle Blood: a theatrical, haunted attraction in Beallsville, Pennsylvania. In this interview, the second of two parts, Handa discusses how to apply haunted themes to magic and make a connection with audience members.
Interview with Christopher Handa - Spooky Magic, Part One
Christopher Handa is an expert in spooky magic. In this interview, Handa defines "spooky magic" and discusses how he applies and interacts with spooky magic and connects with spectators. This is the first of two parts.
Beginning Versus Pro Tricks
So what's the difference between a beginning and pro-level effect? In this article I compare two marketed effects.
Don't Waste Time With "Magician Foolers"
Lately, I've been seeing magic tricks that are marketed for their ability to "fool magicians." But is this a good thing? I think not.
Review: "Sleights of Mind"
Every magician knows that "magic" happens in spectators’ minds. It's all about leading spectators down that proverbial garden path: the magician places something here, shows this and that, and, at the end, something unexpected, and hopefully unexplainable, occurs. This is why a new book, "Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals...