2. What is magic?
It is a performing art that entertains
audiences by staging tricks or creating
illusions of seemingly impossible or
supernatural feats using natural
means. These feats are called magic
tricks, effects, or illusions.
3. People
Person who performs such illusions is called a
magician or an illusionist. Some performers may
also be referred to by names reflecting the type
of magical effects they present, such as
Prestidigitators,
conjurors,
mentalists,
escape artists.
4. The history of
magic
The term "magic" is etymologically derived from the
Greek word magika. Performances we would now
recognize as conjuring have probably been
practiced throughout history. The same level of
ingenuity that was used to produce famous
ancient deceptions such as the Trojan Horse
would also have been used for entertainment, or
at least for cheating in money games, since time
immemorial.
the profession of the illusionist gained strength
only in the eighteenth century. The model for the
look of a 'typical' magician—a man with wavy hair, a
top hat, a goatee, and a tailcoat—was Alexander
Herrmann who is considered to be the first
professional magician.
5. Categories of
•
effects
Production: The magician produces something from nothing—a rabbit from an empty hat, a fan of cards from thin air, a
shower of coins from an empty bucket—all of these effects are productions.
• Vanish: The magician makes something disappear—a coin, a cage of doves, or even the Statue of Liberty. A vanish is the
reverse of a production.
• Transformation: The magician transforms something from one state into another—a silk handkerchief changes colour, a
lady turns into a tiger. A transformation can be seen as a combination of a vanish and a production.
• Restoration: The magician destroys an object, then restores it back to its original state—a woman is sawn in half, a
borrowed watch is smashed to pieces—then they are all restored to their original state.
• Teleportation: The magician causes something to move from one place to another—a borrowed ring is found inside a ball
of wool, for example.
• Escape: The magician is placed in a restraining device (i.e. handcuffs) or a death trap, and escapes to safety.
• Levitation: The magician defies gravity, either by making something float in the air, or with the aid of another object
(suspension)—a silver ball floats around a cloth, an assistant floats in mid-air, another is suspended from a broom, a scarf
dances in a sealed bottle, the magician hovers a few inches off the floor.
• Penetration: The magician makes a solid object pass through another—a set of steel rings link and unlink, a candle
penetrates an arm, etc.
• Prediction: The magician predicts the choice of a spectator, or the outcome of an event under seemingly impossible
circumstances.
6. Types of magic
performance
• Stage illusions are performed for large audiences,
typically within a theatre or auditorium.
• Platform magic is performed for a medium to large
audience.
• Micromagic is performed with the audience close to the
magician, sometimes even one-on-one
• Escapology is the branch of magic that deals with escapes
from confinment or restraints. (Harry Houdini is well-known
example of an escape artist)
• Mentalism creates the impression in the minds of the
audience that the performer possesses special powers to
read thoughts, or predict events.
• Bizarre magic uses mystical, horror, fantasy and other
similar themes in performance.
• Shock magic is a genre of magic that shocks the audience.
• Children's magic is performed for an audience primarily
composed of children.
9. How to be a great
magician
1. To start, watch other magicians
do their stuff.
Masters of the art know what an
audience wants to see, so pay
attention to what types of tricks and
what styles modern magicians use.
10. 2. Now, learn some magic.
Do not, however, buy a beginner's magic
set (unless you're a kid). Apply the
stuff you learned from modern
magicians and decide what type of act
you want to do. There are 7 kinds:
street, close up, parlor, stage, escape,
mentalism, and grand illusions.
11. 3. If you have the opportunity, try
to get a magician to guide you.
He might not reveal you any tricks, but
he could give you tips on how to
perform your first tricks like a pro. If
you don't have this advantage, try to
learn from your mistakes as much as
possible. Over time, you will know what
your audience wants most.
12. 4. Have some tricks of your own.
No one wants to see an unoriginal magic act being performed
over and over. Of course, you should have some (or many)
old and famous magic tricks in your act. The public may enjoy
some old classics, but you should avoid certain old
classics, like pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Think of an idea
that has never been done before. For example, make strings
disappear from a guitar. Then, decide how you will
accomplish the effect. Now, think of a way to make the trick
convincing. Make some equipment, if necessary. You might
even need duplicate object with which you're working on.
Once you've got all the parts planned out, start practicing
the trick.
13. 5. Develop a unique style of
performing.
Don't steal others' styles. You
may take an old (dead) magician's
style and put a unique twist on it,
but never take a modern
magician's style.
14. 6. Get organized.
Before performing a show, be sure to
rehearse it many times. You also might
need to know how the room you
perform in is designed. If you're
performing at a party at your friend's
house, that's not really necessary.
15. 7. Make your own equipment.
If you can't produce your own
equipment, ask some of your
friends to do it for you, or go to a
magic store or website and buy
the equipment.
16. 8. Get a good costume.
A traditional costume for magician is a black
jacket, a red formal vest that goes under it,
and a pair of black pants that go with the
jacket. The jacket should have many little
pockets on its inside for storage of secret
coins, cards, balls, etc. The vest should have
big pockets on the inside so you can make big
objects, such as plates, disappear/appear.
17. 9. Improve the flexibility of
your arms, fingers and
hands.
Start with coin manipulation.
It's easiest to master, but is
still hard.
18. 10. Develop some artistic talent
and sense of humor.
Try to narrate or tell a story with
your tricks. Be very humorous and
funny (unless your style is to be
mysterious or serious). If your magic
act is boring, no one would want to
watch it.
