Drikus Botha asked:




Kids magic tricks can help children tremendously in building their self-confidence. When getting started there are a few rules to remember when performing them. Here are 10 things a true magician must always remember.

Never tell anyone how a trick is done Practise each trick over and over again until you can do it perfectly without mistake every time. Keep your audience directly in front of you. Don’t let them sit beside or behind you Don’t repeat a trick in front of the same audience. They are only trying to figure out how the trick works Don’t tell your audience what you are going to do. It is better to let anticipation and suspense build as you perform your trick. You can however talk to your audience while performing your trick because this will help distract them. Use expressions and gestures to enhance your act. For example, you can frown to show you are concentrating hard, or stand still without speaking to gain your audience’s attention. Make absolutely sure all your props are in perfect working order and look good – no scruffy wands or hats. Once you have learned a trick and can perform it, you can alter it. This can be great fun! Practise and perfect the story you tell while performing each trick – it’s what makes you different from another person who performs the same one. Perform against a dark background under a good light.

Whether you just want to have fun with your kids magic tricks or become a master magician it is very important to know that being able to do this tricks enable you to play with people’s minds. Use it in a positive way.

Neil Madgwick asked:




Science and magic are two separate entities, right? For example, with science fair projects you are wanting to be precise and aim at explaining phenomenon and finding answers, whereas “magic” and magic tricks leave you with more questions than answers and your mind boggles as to how what you have just seen can be possible. Right?

Well, lets think about it…

With science, which obviously includes science fair projects, the people involved are only too pleased to share their findings as it will improve life on earth in some way. For example, Mr. Edison did not keep quiet about his light bulb discovery, and now we all have instant light. Watson and Crick told the world about the double helix structure of DNA, which resulted in amazing advances in understanding biology as a whole and the positive spinoffs are more to mention in this article.

Magicians are not so keen to share information as to how their tricks work. Not knowing how a trick works is what makes it amazing and essentially magic.

There is no getting away from the fact that top magicians are talented in their slight of hand and their ability to entertain, but many of the “tricks”can be explained through science. Use of mirrors and visual illusions (what scientists call physics) are part and parcel of magic shows.

Unfortunately I do not have the talent to be a magician, but I do have a scientific knowledge to explain some “magic”. The real talent of a magician, or should we call him a “entertainment scientist”, is to hide the scientific phenomenon used to do the trick. So, although I cannot explain some of the tricks because of this cleverness, I can use science to do some very simple magic.

So what is the reason for me writing this article? Is it to expose magicians? Certainly not. As I have said, they are highly talented and indeed intellectual people who know science. The reason is so that young people will see science as exciting.

I guess now you are expecting me to tell you a magic trick so that you can entertain at the same time as you are doing science fair projects? Well, I have run out of space in this article and what I really want is for you, by using your scientific knowledge, to be excited about science and to work out some magic tricks yourself.

Just do science – or should I say magic!

Chris W Wilson asked:




Kids enjoy magic tricks, adults enjoy magic tricks, everyone enjoys magic tricks. Magic tricks are relatively easy to lower but mastering them can be a difficult task. More often than not, magicians will dedicate an entire year to perfecting particular tricks and illusions. The best practice to use when attempting to master a particular magic trick is usually the use of a mirror. Mirrors can help you see your performances from your audiences point of view. This is a priceless practice because many tricks require that you hide a particular secret move or flourish from view. Again, using a mirror can help you to master where the sweet spot is so that you will never get caught when performing for a real audience.

Another practice that can help growing magicians perfect their trades, is the study of existing magicians who are considered professionals. By studying the moves of a professional magician, one could learn the many ways and methods that the magician presents the trick, performs the trick, and enhances the trick. If you are thinking of getting started in the wonderful world of magic tricks there is no better place to start and then the Internet. The World Wide Web is chock full of people willing to share their magic secrets, and also full of plenty of magic shops that will keep you performing new tricks for ages.

One suggestion that I always put forth in front of newcomers is for them to begin their magical journeys using coin tricks. Coin tricks are generally inexpensive, and there are many coin tricks that can be performed without the use of a trick gimmick coin.

Chairil M Harahap asked:




When it comes to being a magician or even learning the skills that help one effectively entertain their family and friends, knowing how to execute a few magic tricks becomes a very necessary part of the process. No matter how complicated or amazing the magic, there is always a secret that in many cases, is rather easy to achieve. Magic tricks have the power to captivate and fool an entire audience into thinking there is no way to explain what they have just seen. For onlookers, not knowing the secret is part of the entertainment – once the secret has been revealed – the trick has lost most of its appeal. But for magicians and other performers, knowing the secret is part of the delight that comes with achieving magic.

A wide range of interested parties uses magic to their advantage. Some people, such as magicians and clowns, use magic as their main source of income. Others, like the simple hobbyist, enjoy being the life of the party or center of attention when they are able to entertain their peers with magic. Self-working magic tricks involves effects that do not demand a high level of skill. Instead, they are usually learned rather quickly. Many people consider the magic tricks based on simple principles as some of the best.

When learning a magic trick, there are many different factors to consider. Depending on the level of difficulty, practice does make perfect. Some people must develop the ability to use their hands, body language, and even their words to direct onlookers into believing in the magic trick. While many magic tricks use the same technique or basic foundation, not all performances are the same. Whenever a coin disappears or a magician pulls a rabbit out of his or her hat, there is a certain level of showmanship that makes or breaks the delivery. This is why it is important to work on presentation skills so that one may further mesmerize a crowd.

Magicians just starting out in the business generally learn magic tricks that involve coins and cards. The abracadabra and sleight of hands associated with coin tricks, helps make them one of the most popular forms of magic. In order to master most coin tricks, one must possess a certain amount of dexterity pertaining to their ability to use their hands to successfully perform a trick. If you move too slow or too obvious, the secret is blown.

After reading a step-by-step instruction on how to perform a certain magic trick, it may take a little while to get the hang of. While some budding magicians take a few hours to understand the mechanics of a trick, others could spend days learning the same. It is important to correctly perform the magic trick or else the secret to the magic becomes too obvious. Before bragging about your trick, it is suggested to test your newfound knowledge on a family member. If they ask you how you were able to “make their card appear out of thin air,” then you know you have done well.

While card and coin magic tricks are interesting to learn, there are many other simple selections to add to your repertoire that utilize other objects as part of the main theme. In the Color-Changing Handkerchiefs trick, a magician makes the audience believe they have the power to transform a handkerchief of one color into another by simply pushing it through their hand.

The Chinese Linking Rings trick uses solid rings as part of a classic magic trick of illusion. Magicians, who sometimes use fancy costumes, music, and other gimmicks, show that they can make solid rings appear to link and unlink many times. Some people will use money to perform a magic trick, such as switching a $1 bill with a $100 bill, and making ripped dollars become whole again.

With one of the oldest recorded magic tricks in history, the Great Pyramids of Egypt show the ins and outs of the Cups and Balls trick, which includes the use of stackable plastic or metal cups and small balls. In a trick known to some as the Professor’s Nightmare, three unequal lengths of rope are used to perform magic where in the end – each piece of rope becomes the same length.

In regards to magic, the possibilities are never-ending and it is important to remember that no two magicians will perform the same trick and reach the same reaction. Careful practice and patience is needed in the world of magic and in no time, you can move from simple tricks of sight to making things disappear and reappear before the eyes of your audience.

Christopher B Lam asked:




In the same way that you delight in magic tricks, you also want to learn how they are done. For budding magicians, revealed magic tricks are important as they able to discern what exactly is done during the act. This will make them go on the streets and surprise people with amazing performances and dominant tricks. Magic tricks revealed is what makes it such an amazing secret above all and why magicians have been very successful for centuries.

A lot of us may have been made to assume that the secret of the magicians is in their tricks. Actually, it is not in the tricks but in the magician. The trick is only the appearance, the performance and the thing that the viewers interact with. Thus, revealed magic tricks plainly speaking is revealing all about the magician’s way of intermingling with the audience while doing the tricks and moves. Say for instance, it is not about the book but it is about the story that is tackled within the book, the combination of the ink which were put together to create images and the storyline which makes the paperback useful and powerful.

Magic tricks are only the tools that a magician uses while it is the magician who is the biggest secret behind everything in a certain magical or tricky act. It is important to learn how the mind works. You need to recognize how they see reality, the environment around them, how they see you and particularly how they want to see those things. It is the real secret or the key to the revealed magic tricks throughout the history of magic.

As a magician, it is important to enter the minds of your audience and direct their minds in the direction that you want them to head to so as to amuse them. A trick may be very common and you may often see magicians using ordinary and old magic tricks such as a common card trick during their acts. But, we are left in wonder and entirely amused in each ending of every performance.

Sometimes, people would like to be tricked. So, it is not really the revealed magic tricks and the presentation but your presence during the act. Many people find amusement by being amused, this is also the reason why magicians prosper and make an effort to learn to do one or a couple of these tricks. You? Are you interested to perform a magic trick?

Chris Robertson asked:




Magic tricks provide affordable, engaging activity for your kids and entertainment for the entire family. Kids are intrigued with the skill and mystery that tricks can offer. They enjoy trying to “figure it out.” And once they do know the secrets behind a few tricks, kids never tire of surprising friends and family members with their newfound hobby!

Magic tricks appeal to the inquisitive side of a child’s mind. Boys especially want to know what makes things work. They see mechanical devices and immediately want to take them apart. Some would rather take toys apart and put them back together than play with them!

There are also educational benefits for your “little Houdini” who desires to learn magic tricks. Buying books or CDs that reveal how to prepare and perform tricks can help your kids learn fun tricks and develop valuable manual as well as mental skills for future learning. They’ll need to memorize every aspect of the trick from start to finish, which enhances memory. They’ll learn to use swift hand motions and add new words to their vocabulary to use interesting conversation while performing in front of an audience. Magicians often talk their way through magic trick performances, so your kids will become accustomed to speaking in front of people. This skill alone can help with many aspects of life – giving verbal essays in front of class, participating in school or church plays, and public speaking at functions when older such as business meetings or conferences.

Finding the Right Magic Tricks

To get started, find out which magicians your kids enjoy the most or the types of tricks they prefer. Some magicians to consider include Derren Brown, David Copperfield, Paul Harris, and David Blaine. Magic tricks vary according to who performs them and the tools and methods used. Some use street magic while others have elaborate performances. Kids might like learning simple magic tricks or they might enjoy putting on entire shows for family gatherings.

Once you have an idea of what type of magic your child desires to learn, you can find plenty of books and magic products online. Search for magic resources using key phrases including the name of their favorite magician, such as “Criss Angel magic tricks” or “David Blaine magic tricks.” This will narrow your search to the magic tricks that will appeal to your child.

Take it slow and start with some easy, age appropriate tricks. Then work with your child if he/she chooses to learn more advanced maneuvers. Allow them to practice in front of your immediate family before performing in front of large groups. For very young children, be sure the tricks will be easy to accomplish for their small hands and little fingers. Compliment them on a job well done (even if they mess up occasionally). Make much of their achievements so they’ll be eager to learn more. It’s a great way to spend time together while engaging in an enjoyable activity!

Edward Jellard asked:




Street magic removes the boundaries from the stereotypical view of magic. There are no stages, no mirrors, no assistants and generally, no over-glorified props and illusions.

Often referred to as naked magic, street magic strips an illusion down to its bare minimum for maximum effect; using everyday objects, a street magician can outstand groups of passers by in a way no other street entertainer can imitate.

With no stage, large illusions or assistants to pay for, the street magician can find himself making a fortune if he has the right attitude, right location and right performance. Typically this involves passing a hat around (known as “the throw”) – magicians such as David Blaine and Paul Zenon have had the luxury of a television career to significantly boost their income, but it is still possible to make a living from street magic without television.

When starting to perform Street Magic, you must realise that the trick is to maximise your audience – stunning them to the extent of silence will not help you, no matter how amazed they are! The key to success is maximising the audience’s participation – use your voice combined with their applause to attract more spectators. This doesn’t mean you have to shout, then perform a miracle – work the audience – warm them up by making them applaud loudly, bring a child onto the street and get her to do something, and then get the audience to applaud loudly, screaming etc. All of this time, people around you will be curious and join the audience. If you go to any street festival, you will find most of the time the performers are warming up the audience to attract more people.

Once you have your audience, you will need to draw them in to prevent them from walking away from you and your hat! Get close to them, allowing people at the back to hear you easier, and to allow for further expansion. Possibly ask all the kids to come and sit at the front (and for some reason, they always want to put money in the hat – parents’ money of course!)

When planning your routine, make sure it is weatherproof to the extremes. A pack of cards won’t stand a chance in the wind, and on one occasion, the famous ‘Zig Zag Lady’ didn’t stand up – a gust of wind blew it and the beautiful assistant over – not the ideal outcome!

Keep the routine to a fairly short time – people will typically be shopping and won’t want to hang around for half an hour while their car parking ticket expires. Once they wonder off, you’ve lost yourself a few pounds.

I saw one incredibly cunning technique for maximising your ‘hat income’ a couple of weeks ago in London. Two magicians asked a little girl to join them and help them with their tricks involving a purse. At the end of that routine, they gave her the £5 note, which instantly shows what a ‘lovely’ pair they are, appealing to all the people to give a donation at the end of the show – and they all did – there were queues of people waiting to donate!

Give it a try – if it doesn’t work out, you’ve lost nothing, and who knows, you could end up on television!

Izrul Fizal asked:




Children and magic go together. It is wonderful to see the look of amazement on a child’s face when they watch a magician perform. But it is also terrific if a child has a desire to learn these skills. There are many easy magic tricks for kids; you can find resources online or even in a library. Learning these illusions will not only be a fun experience, there are actually some educational benefits involved. These easy magic tricks for kids help to develop mental and manual skills.

Improved Memorization

Magicians know that the details of every trick need to be committed to memory. Even the easy magic tricks for kids carry that principle. The child must learn the steps of the trick, the hand motions that go along with the trick and also the conversation to keep the audience’s attention and the level of suspense high.

When kids learn easy magic tricks, they are using that portion of their brain that involves memory. Every trick they learn helps to improve the memory process and can also develop excellent study habits.

Increased Manual Dexterity

The magician’s hands say almost as much as his voice. Easy magic tricks for kids allow them to increase their manual dexterity through the illusive actions of a magic performance. Dealing cards, palming a coin, or swiftly moving props all requires hours of practice. This, in turn, leads to supple and swift movement of the hands.

Hand eye coordination becomes more highly developed. The part of the brain responsible for these movements is activated and enlarged, and once again, the child may benefit in other ways. Easy magic tricks for kids are not only educational but develops the flexibility of their hands.

A More Active Mind

Magic is awesome to watch, but it also creates questions. Everyone in the audience wants to know the secret of the tricks performed. Children already have an active interest in the world and magic helps them to ask questions and seek answers. Easy magic tricks for kids will help children start to understand the more difficult concepts of physics, chemistry and probability.

A Powerful Personality

Magicians are in great demand, not only for their ability to amaze and astound, but also because they have high energy and interesting personalities. When kids learn some easy magic tricks, they gain confidence that allows them to speak before audiences. Their personalities and presence will be sought after because they are people others want to be around.

How to Start?

When selecting magic tricks for kids, keep them easy at the beginning. Choose tricks that are age appropriate and those that they will be able to do with their small hands. If you decide to buy a magic kit, make sure you get one that fits the intelligence level of your child. While you want to start off with easy magic tricks, kids will lose interest if their level of involvement doesn’t match up with their academic ability.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that magic tricks for kids, whether they are easy or more advanced to master, should be fun. Childhood is already a magical time; encourage your child to make the most of it.

Max Haynes asked:




Do you love entertaining your peers, and would like to do so by learning basic magic tricks? Coin Magic Tricks are one of the easiest tricks to learn, thus they are easy magic tricks for kids and novice magicians. All you need is a quick hand and a lot of practice and you can fool your friends in a wink of an eye!

Before attempting coin magic tricks, one must know the basics or you might end up making a total fool of yourself. Here are the magic basics beginners should know before attempting magic in public.

The Sleight of Hand

The Sleight of Hand is a set of techniques and key moves used by magicians in their magic tricks to fool the audience. Here are some of the basic principles:

•    Palming – hiding a coin in your palm so it looks empty

•    Switching – exchanging the coin from one hand to another

•    Ditching – secretly disposing of the coin, such as up your sleeve, when the audience is not looking

•    Stealing – secretly acquiring a coin, such as taking a coin hidden on your sleeve and bringing it to your hand when the audience is not looking

•    Simulation – Fooling the audience that something just happened, when nothing actually did

•    Loading – sneakily moving the coin elsewhere you need it

•    Diversion – redirecting audience’s attention, so you can sneakily set up your magic trick.

Try practicing these Sleight of Hand methods again and again until you master it, before proceeding to other more complicated magic tricks such as card tricks or levitation tricks.

It takes some practice and effort to be able to perform coin magic tricks well, but that time spent will definitely be rewarded in your audience’s reaction to your trick. t’s good to learn a few coin tricks to perform in quick succession, that way you won’t risk having people make you perform the same trick again and again, and find out how you’re doing it.