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EndersGame Inner circle Reviewer EndersGame 2196 Posts |
I've spent a lot of time around young teenagers and kids learning magic for the very first time. I've helped them get connected with good resources that teach them how to perform tricks. But what advice and guidance should I be giving them more generally?
To begin with, it is important that budding magicians are familiar with some of the ethics of magic. Sometimes referred to as "the magician's code", it's a well-known rule that as a magician you should never reveal your secrets. Why? Because by giving away the method of a trick, you're taking away the very thing that makes magic astonishing and amazing: the unknown. Did you tell someone the secret behind a trick you've just performed? You're actually hurting your magic, and you've stripped it of the ability to surprise and entertain. Now that shouldn't stop you sharing secrets with someone genuinely interested in performing magic. When you have a love for the art of magic, you will want to nurture serious students of magic, and encourage and assist fellow magicians! But this ethical guideline is common knowledge, and is geared to protect the art of magic more generally, and to ensure that your own magic amazes. Besides this basic rule, what other tips and guidelines would you give a newcomer to magic, to help them improve? Here are 10 suggestions to get new magicians started. Hopefully they'll also serve as a useful refresher for old-timers, and a reminder of what is really important about magic! 1. Do realize that your presentation is as important as your moves In fact, good presentation probably even more important than technique - important as that is! Magic isn’t about creating a sophisticated puzzle, or challenging your spectator with a mere impossibility. Learning the techniques and moves required to do a particular effect is just the first step to successfully performing it. In addition you need to be able to present it in a way that is interesting and engaging to watch. Never forget that magic is an art-form that has the goal of entertaining, and that's why good showmanship is essential. You you already have some magic experience under your belt, and know a good range of tricks? Then do yourself a favour by reading some books on the subject of showmanship and magic design. Good examples are Strong Magic and Designing Miracles by Darwin Ortiz. 2. Do say something when you perform Some magicians can get away with silent acts, but for most of us, our voice is another prop that we'll want to make good use of in the course of a magic trick. What you say (in magician speak we call this "patter") is just as important as what you do. So it is important to practice your patter just as much as you practice your moves and sleight of hand. Many magicians will even recommend writing down a script for everything you say, memorizing and rehearsing it. Even if you don't go quite that far, it is important to realize how big a role the words that accompany a magic trick are. Give them careful thought, so that they help disguise the method and enhance the effect. Well chosen words will greatly help your magic be more entertaining. 3. Do focus on simple and self-working tricks One of the best ways that newcomers to magic can work on their presentation is by starting with simple tricks, such as self-working card tricks. Don't make the mistake of thinking that self-working means weak or boring! Some of the most famous card tricks in the world are self-working, such as Paul Curry's oustanding "Out of This World". Learn tricks that don't require complex manipulation. Then you can really focus on the presentation, and make them thoroughly entertaining. You can always work on building up your sleight of hand later. 4. Do practice, practice, practice A poorly practiced routine does the art of magic a disservice. More importantly, it's not very likely to amaze or astonish, because your performance will be lacking. A professional going through his routine might look casual and natural. But you can be sure that very little about what you're seeing is being spontaneously ad-libbed on the spur of the moment. A successful and polished performer is exactly that: well polished. You need to be able to do the moves and techniques required without thinking about them. Also, you need to know exactly what you are going to say. If you haven't practiced these things, your mind will be working over-time, trying to remember what to say and do. Good magic has a high degree of interaction and engagement with your spectators. How do you do this while creating a convincing and entertaining illusion that hides the secret? Here's how: you need to have practiced a lot before performing. The more you practice, the better you'll get, and you'll only enjoy your magic all the more! 5. Do make it seem impossible Ultimately good magic is about creating the illusion of something impossible. The more impossible it seems, the stronger it is. Of course it isn't actually impossible - after all, if it was then you wouldn't be able to do it! But you want to perform a trick in a way so that any possible explanation is eliminated. So think carefully about what might be going on in the mind of your spectator. If they can think of a possible method of accomplishing what they've seen, even if it's not the method you used, they won't be amazed. Do they think that you've stacked the deck? Then let them shuffle the deck first. Do they think the cards are marked? Then let them examine them. Do they think you have a card hidden in your hand? Then show your hand empty. Anticipate their thinking, and deliberately disprove those methods as you go along. That's how you'll create greater astonishment! 6. Don’t learn too much When learning magic, it's easy to make the mistake of taking on too much. In that sense magic is no different than many other passions in life. When you first discover a passion, the temptation is to buy everything you can, and do everything at once. But to become really good at magic, you need to be disciplined and selective. It is vital to present your material well, so you want to give yourself the opportunity to become a true master of whatever it is that you are performing. The classic book Expert Card Technique offers this invaluable advice: "Those new to card conjuring would do well if, instead of attempting to learn a great number of tricks, they would instead concentrate upon a few good tricks and master them so that their technique and their presentation is so excellent that those who see them will want to see them again." 7. Don't buy tons of tricks Whenever you're enthusiastic about something, it's easy to indulge your passion by spending money on it. And in magic, it's really not difficult to find things to spend your hard earned money on. Magic creators are only too happy to take your money. Trust me, the latest and greatest tricks might all look good, but they don't always deliver on what they promise. Don't spend your money on one trick after another, but realize that most of these will eventually be collecting dust in a drawer somewhere. In fact, it can be a good move instead to start by focusing on classics that have been tried and tested over time. With a couple of decks of cards and a good teaching resource, you can get a lot of mileage, especially if you're just starting your adventure into magic. In the end it's more fun to master and improve something you already know, and to learn something from what you already have. That's better than to be constantly spending money and trying new things. Magic doesn't have to be expensive, and you may even improve more quickly if you aren't buying the latest and greatest on a regular basis! Of course, once you have a solid foundation in magic, you can explore the latest and greatest effects - but they are usually not the best place to start. 8. Do get some good books or DVDs As a student of magic, do yourself a big favour and learn from the best. Sure, you can head to youtube, and start binging on card trick tutorials you find there. Unfortunately, a lot of magic on youtube is mediocre. It is often performed by untrained teenagers who have learned what they know from other untrained teenagers. You'll learn bad habits and bad technique. And perhaps most importantly, you won't learn the thing that arguably matters the most: good presentation. Even a basic trick in the hands of a professional magician can look amazing if well presented. But a stunning trick taught badly won't impress anyone. So if you want to progress, learn from a real magician, and get some good books and DVDs that will teach you how to do things properly. It's a small investment, but one that you won't regret. Spending a little money on some good teaching materials is better than spending a fortune on more tricks. 9. Do watch performances by professionals One of the best way to learn how to present magic well is by watching experts doing their thing. This is something different than the previous tip, because I'm not talking here about teaching materials that explain how to do tricks. But by watching a pro perform, you'll learn a great deal about presenting magic and being entertaining. Only by knowing what good magic looks like will you be able to strive for this in your own performances. The more you watch, the more you will subconsciously absorb different techniques. And you will get ideas for patter, and develop your own ability as a magician. Fortunately you can readily find this kind of material online, and much can be learned from it. Watch shows like Penn and Teller, or dig up clips by master magicians like Tommy Wonder and Juan Tamariz. In the process you'll be growing - as well as being entertained by the best! 10. Don't copy cat As a beginner, it's easy to make the mistake of copying everything that you see on a magic video. When you're just starting out, this doesn't matter too much. It's a natural thing that happens, because you're learning everything from scratch. But it is important to realize that you need to develop your own persona and style. Not every magician's style will be right for you, and just because it works for them, doesn't mean it will be a good fit for you. So you'll have to adjust your patter and presentation to fit your own personality and style. Rather than just parrot everything you see, by becoming a clone and imitator, try to be comfortable with who you are, and develop your own style. Finally, remember to have fun! If you’re no longer enjoying magic, take a break. Magic isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay! And if you are getting frustrated because something isn't working or going as well as you'd like, put it away and come back to it on another day. In the end, it doesn't just have to be fun for your audience, but also for you. Magic can be incredibly rewarding. The more effort you put into honing your craft, the more satisfying it will become for you and for those who have the privilege of seeing you perform. Let me quote again from the Expert Card Technique book, which cites David Devant. "One trick, well done, is of greater value than a dozen tricks performed in a slipshod manner." So go out there and master that trick, and amaze! Author's note: I first published this article at PlayingCardDecks here. |
Andy Gemini Regular user England 119 Posts |
Great advice! When I first started studying magic I bought a lot of books and even more DVDs. I quickly realised that some of it was too much for a beginner to really appreciate or understand. So I studied the books people recommended for beginners, such as RRTCM, Bobo, Harry Lorayne's Magic Book and Mark Wilsons Course In Magic and found there is plenty in these books to really get a solid grasp of the foundations of magic.
And although I love card magic, I just wanted to learn EVERYTHING! Coins, spongeballs, mentalism - so I had to discipline myself into NOT trying to learn too much at once. I now have a handful of card tricks I am comfortable performing for people - coin tricks though are still a work in progress! |
Matt Malinas Inner circle Transylvania 1367 Posts |
"Do focus on simple and self-working tricksDo focus on simple and self-working tricks"
Great advice right there! It resonated with me right off the bat. I remember trying to learn everything when starting out. That just encourages fantasizing all the material you're going to perform someday and while imagination is a wonderful thing, it can also hinder your productivity. Pick some simple effects and develop a short routine. Write your patter and think about your persona. While the effects do all the work for you, focus on your delivery, performance and your spectators' reactions. Learn to observe, adjust and try again. You'll have a lot of fun, no pressure and the pace at which you'll be progressing will be that much faster! -Matt
The masters make the rules, for the wise men and the fools
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EndersGame Inner circle Reviewer EndersGame 2196 Posts |
I agree Matt, well said. In fact, it was that notion that prompted me to write an article making exactly that point:
Why you should try self-working card tricks I really like the practical suggestions you make about how to use this to progress. |
Dallas Robbins Regular user 105 Posts |
This is all such great advice. It coalesces a lot of things I've heard over the years, but you put it together so succinctly. I think you have a great outline for a short book geared towards beginners.
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Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
Cards? Pick up THE MAGIC BOOK.
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
I enjoyed reading this and there are some good tips here.
My #1 tip to remember is that your primary purpose is to be entertaining. Please don't get involved with the mechanics or promoting the fallacy that "this is something I can do and YOU can't". Yes they can and some WILL! The challenge is to deliver enjoyment to the audience. The magician is just a willing vehicle. We are the lucky ones! Enjoy! |
3sdb New user Mississauga, Canada 4 Posts |
As a relative beginner yet still, I would wholeheartedly agree that the above is terrific advice.
On rule #10, I saw a clip once of Penn Jillette talking about the unique nature of magic in that - unlike other art forms - in magic if you purchase the magic book or video you can copy the trick and patter. This is not to say at all, of course, that rule #10 above is wrong – it’s 100% spot on, and important to develop a cadence and style of patter and presentation that fits your personality as a performer. But it definitely takes time to develop that and so agreed nothing wrong with standing in the (literal) footsteps of those of came before when still making one’s way out of the starting gate. Steve |
Brent McLeod Inner circle 1792 Posts |
As a Professional performer myself this is so refreshing to see these points emphasised to new performers. They are the bread & butter to help form you as a performer. We all need to come back to these points time & time again.
Loved the point on simple & self working tricks..I pitched for years & sold thousands of Svengali decks at huge trade shows,had large groups of people interacting & laughing at a polished routine done thousands of times, as I concentrated on performance and presentation, many comments daily were I was the best card technician they had ever seen..I couldn't even do a double lift at that time... I also use sometimes a tossed out Invisible Deck Routine in my corporate shows..lots of comedy & Interaction...many magicians on this forum will tell you The ID is one of the strongest effects in magic to perform. Bobs point also about to be entertaining and enjoyment to the audience is the end goal of our performance.. Great points that we all need to read from time to time...cheers |
PhantomStranger New user Tri-State Area 97 Posts |
Such great advice. Revisit this once a week as a reminder usually.
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Ruppenthal Regular user I'm busy, so I only have 104 Posts |
This is one of the best posts I’ve read here in quite a while. Excellent advice that doesn’t come off as preachy or condescending. Thank you for sharing!
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randomwraith New user 3 Posts |
Thanks for posting this extremely valuable advice. For someone like me who is getting back into magic after a long break this is especially useful - a little knowledge can easily fool one into thinking they have some semblance of proficiency.
On (4) Practice, Practice, Practice; it shouldn't be underestimated just how important this is, but knowing how to practice is a skill in its own right. It will come easily to some and not so easily to others. For those interested in looking for ways to improve their practice/study (of anything) there is an excellent free course on Coursera called "Learning How to Learn" which tackles this topic. I'm sure there are others available, this is just one I happened to have taken. Martin |
Seluj New user 35 Posts |
Great advice ! Thank you for writing this amazing post !
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Rodeo New user BC, Canada 51 Posts |
This is all great advice! I originally came across your content (same as here) on Reddit and it has been extremely helpful! As a prolonged beginner, I definitely fell into some of the pitfalls of the "don't" sections. It is great having an article like this to reference! I learned very early on that sometimes the simplest of tricks will floor your spectators (in my case, family and friends) while they might seem obvious to you. Presentation is definitely everything!
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jaschris Loyal user 223 Posts |
Excellent tips from the original poster. After 17 years in magic, I agree wholeheartedly with Enders Game.
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copperct New user Cincinnati, Ohio 93 Posts |
Thanks for posting this guide, EndersGame. It's so interesting to see how many people who know what they're talking about recommend a similar set of points to consider for a newbie like me.
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Josh Riel Inner circle of hell 1995 Posts |
I'll just point out my opinion on #10.
If a magician sells a trick, one would hope he has actually performed it, and has fleshed it out. So it is already good... or should be. Selling it to new magicians with the caveat that you don't do it like the teacher, or other magicians telling you to change it for the sake of "originality" is a little... difficult. For a new magician I think it's better to do it EXACTLY as learned. Then, when you've gotten good at it, change it to fit you. Pop Haydn better explains it, but for me learning magic and immediately disregarding it to be original has been vexing. In my experience magicians are better at telling you to be original than BEING original.
Magic is doing improbable things with odd items that, under normal circumstances, would be unnessecary and quite often undesirable.
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EndersGame Inner circle Reviewer EndersGame 2196 Posts |
That's a good point, Josh. It's why I wrote this about copying everything you see on a magic video: "When you're just starting out, this doesn't matter too much. It's a natural thing that happens, because you're learning everything from scratch."
Beginners need to start somewhere. But it is important for them to realize right from the outset that their aim shouldn't just be to parrot exactly what they see, but eventually work towards their own style and presentation. But as you rightly say, it's much easier to say this than to do this! |
Scorpio91 New user 13 Posts |
Pure entertainment is a great book to pick up!
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EndersGame Inner circle Reviewer EndersGame 2196 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 7, 2021, Scorpio91 wrote: Do you perhaps mean Maximum Entertainment by Ken Weber? If so, I heartily agree with the recommendation - it's excellent. Or are you referring to another book? |
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