The Real Magic Tricks

by violscraper

The Real Magic Tricks

Anyone can walk into a magic shop and buy a magic trick.  However, simply being able to operate the trick doesn’t make that person a magician.  The real magic trick is in creating the right atmosphere for the trick.  Magic is a performing art.  It isn’t enough to simply do a trick; it is up to the performer to create the magic.  The difference between a magician and someone who performs magic tricks is in the belief that the performer can create in his audience.

A magic shop that caters to professional magicians carries many illusions.  Rope tricks, balloon tricks and card tricks are just a few which most amateurs can learn without much difficulty.  The way in which the magic tricks are presented is what makes the difference.  If you want to be convincing, take a look at the way that professional magicians present their illusions.

Comedy magic acts have become very popular in recent years.  Many magicians will keep a running dialog of jokes and even appear to flub tricks only to perform more amazing magic tricks successfully.  The way in which they distract their audience is to keep them laughing and they use this distraction to set up their illusions.  One comic magician, famous for his card tricks, would appear to be staggering drunk.  The illusion of drunkenness was the perfect foil to the dexterity required for his card tricks.

Another method of misdirection that has become increasingly popular is the shock factor.  This is a skill perfected by magicians like Chris Angel.  He creates suspense by appearing to put himself in impossibly dangerous situations.  In fact, some of these illusions do involve an element of risk and should not be attempted by amateurs.  Even with preparation and care, some magic tricks which involves elements like fire, can go terribly wrong.  A magic shop usually will not sell illusions that involve danger to non-professionals.

Before you buy a trick from a magic shop, you should decide how you will present the magic tricks in a way that will entertain your audience while misdirecting them.  Most people know that magic is comprised of tricks, yet these same people want to believe that magic is real.  The real magic is to create the suspension of disbelief in your audience so that they believe in magic, if only for the duration of your performance.

Learning how to do an illusion is only a small part of magic tricks.  Creating an atmosphere where the impossible seems possible is the most important part.  David Copperfield spends more time preparing his audience for the performance of one of his amazing illusions than he spends doing the actual illusion.  The Amazing Kreskin performs a mentalist act during which he is able to have the audience suspend disbelief by the use of subtle suggestions, almost like mass hypnosis.  Kreskin has written a number of books and has lectured police on the use of techniques for recovering memories of witnesses and detecting lies through the observation of body language.

If you want your magic tricks to be convincing, look at the different illusions offered by your magic shop and consider how you would present them.  Find an illusion that you know you can present in an entertaining and convincing way for your audience.  Magic is a state of mind.

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