magictricks-28

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

A Brief History Of Magic
Author: Preston Houer -
With magic, illusions, spells, tricks and ceremonials are usually performed for entertainment. It is a supernatural power which makes the seemingly impossible occur.

'Looking Back'

In ancient Egypt, there was a magician named Dedi who performed in front of a crowd, where he supposedly beheaded two birds and one ox. He eventually restored the heads of these three animals.

Because of this, the Egyptians were considered to be the first magicians recorded in history.

As the popularity of magic developed, tricks involving cups and balls were shown to the public. Then, playing cards, silver coins and dice were added to their slew of magical tricks.

Later on, ancient Greek magicians invented tricks involving the human body. A trick where a performer thrusts a dagger through one's arm without being hurt has been developed and shown in public places.

The ancient Chinese civilization also paved the way for magic. The "linking rings" is one of the earliest tricks ever invented. To begin with, a number of rings link themselves. The rings are made up of solid metal and the illusion is that they eventually unlink themselves.

'Famous Magicians'

One of the greatest magicians of all time is Harry Houdini. He started as a trapeze performer in the late 1800's and eventually became famous for his magical abilities.

He was an "escape artist" who bonded himself using locks or ropes and eventually extricated himself.

Spanish, Italian, British, French and American magicians presented their acts as magic regained popularity in the 1920's.

'Sawing a Woman in Half'

In 1921, the world first witnessed a magician saw a woman in half. British performer Percy Tibbles cut through a box containing his woman assistant. After the trick, she appeared without a harm.

This trick became even more complicated when the woman assistant was 'operated on' with her hands, head and feet in full view of the audience. The assistant was sawed in half using a power-driven saw, and was later restored without a scratch on her head.

'Reaching a Wider Audience'

Before, magicians only performed in theaters which were open to the public where food and drinks were offered but the magic tricks were performed
without any fee given by the viewers.

By the mid-1900's, they paved the doors for magicians to be 'professional performers' by requiring the public viewers to pay for watching magic shows.

In the 1950's, television was invented so magicians were able to reach an even wider audience spectrum.

During the 70's, Siegfried and Roy re-ignited the interest in magical tricks by making large animals disappear. David Copperfield is also a major player in the field of magicians who offered great entertainment to the viewing public.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and slight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today! www.have-fun-with-magic.com

...

magictricks-27

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Top Five Ways To Get Your Kid Intersted In Magic Tricks
Author: Louie Foxx
I used to mange a magic shop for many years. Quite often parents would come in and say something like, "I want my kid to learn some magic tricks, but I don't know how to get them interested?"

That's why I have come up with these five ways to gently nudge your kid into learning some magic tricks.

1.Get them a magic kit
For your kids next birthday or for a holiday like Christmas, get them a beginners magic kit. This way they have a variety of tricks that they can learn. When getting your kid a magic kit, make sure that you get one that is specifically for their age. Try to stay away from a magic kit that has a suggested age range of "ages 8-108" or something like that. Instead look for a kit that is for ages 6-12, or ages 4-6.

2.Take them to a magic show
After your kid sees a live magic show and possibly even helps the magician with a trick, they will be begging you for a magic kit. To find a magic show in your area try checking out your local newspaper, or you could hire one for your kids next birthday. An easy way to find a birthday magician is to do an internet search for "your city, magic show".

3.Learn a magic trick yourself
There are tons of easy magic tricks you can learn to do that don't require any special props. If you learn one or two simple magic tricks and show them to your child many times that will spark their interest in magic.

4.Get a book about magic
You can get your kid a book on magic tricks, but I only recommend this for kids that are old enough to read by themselves, or if you are willing to sit with them and learn the tricks with them (family bonding?).

5.Watch a magic show on TV
Right now magic is having a boom in popularity, with people like Criss Angel and David Blaine's TV shows. Watch one of the magic shows on TV and when your kid is amazed by the magic, ask them if they would like to learn a magic trick. If they say, "yes", then that's a pretty good sign that they are ready for a magic kit or magic book.

Now that you know where to begin, go out and encourage your kid to learn some magic tricks. Did I mention that when a kid learns magic tricks they also get improved self esteem, develop public speaking skills, and much more!

Louie Foxx

Louie Foxx is a professional children's magician and runs www.amazingmagickit.com which features magic kits for specifically for kids.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Louie is a professional magician based out of Seattle and he runs the website www.amazingmagickit.com that makes magic kits for kids

...

magictricks-26

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Magic Cards
Author: Preston Houer -
Magic has been around for centuries. It has even been associated with medieval times in stories of Merlin and King Arthur, which has made religious people believe that this was evil. And people who knew it and practiced it were considered to be heretics and were burned at the stake.

Now who would ever imagine that magic has now gained a more favorable popularity? With more than a handful of famous magicians amusing innumerable audiences, magic has never been this much loved before. This popularity has made a lot of people yearn to learn some magic tricks. One of the most basic is the use of magic cards.

A deck of cards is one of the most common props used by magicians. There are many forms of magic tricks a person can do with a deck of cards. Here's what one aspiring magician has to learn in manipulating magic cards:

The first thing that a person must learn is how to shuffle. This is done using both hands and by having a certain amount of cards on each hand. Then alternately put one card over the other until all the cards are in one stack then putting them together to form a uniform pile.

After that, one can start performing certain tricks that will both fool and amaze the audience. Some well known magicians can make a cigarette go right through a deck of cards while others can make a card float in the air with no visible strings attached.

The most basic trick that anyone can master however is letting someone pick a card and after shuffling it, picking that same card the person selected moments ago. There are so many other tricks one can do with a deck of cards and all it takes is some time to get to know these tricks, practice it then show off to friends.

Other than using magic cards, there are so many other tricks, which involve other props or paraphernalia such as a coin, a hanky, or even a small ball. The use of cards in performing a trick is merely an execution of various optical illusions and manipulation, which just goes to show that the hand is quicker than the eye.

Cards can be bought at the local specialty store or ordered online. Sometimes these come with other special packages that will make tricks more fun to perform and watch.

One secret that either a newbie or an expert can benefit on while using a magic card or just about any magic props is to not reveal the secret of how the tricks are done.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and sleight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today! www.have-fun-with-magic.com

...

magictricks-25

Card Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Magic For Beginners
Author: Preston Houer -
Are you constantly amazed by disappearing acts, card tricks and other magic wonders you see on different occasions? Children's shows, magical exhibitions, trade shows, parties, and carnivals are some of the events where magicians are popular.

Because of the effect of magic on people, many would like to somehow try the basics of magic. There are a lot of online sites that offer tips on how to get started with magic. Others just content themselves with ready-made gimmicks they found at magic shops. But for those who are really serious about trying magic, these magic-filled sites offer different services for newbie magicians. In their sites, they offer free videos that will help you become trained in simple card tricks and other vanishing acts with the use of coins, rings and other magic props.

Before starting to learn magic, you have to know the essence of magic. First, magic or magic shows should provide happiness to people. Magic ought to be truly enjoyed by people watching and by the magician performing. Second, a truly good trick should be remembered. Different methods can be tried in order to make your tricks stand out even more.

The best place to get excited about your first magic trick is in a local magic shop. Talk to the magician of the shop, if there is one, and try asking him basic questions. Then, request him to show a couple of tricks to you. Usually, magicians are very eager to help beginners.

A good magician does not mind putting in a lot of effort to learn and continuously practice his magic tricks and constantly reinvent. Good magicians don't repeat tricks to the same audience. Your audience may figure out your secret. It is not long before people notice familiar moves and can get bored quickly.

Here are some tips:

a. Regularly practice your magic. Allot time every day for your practice.

b. If you are trying to videotape your act, be sure that you have no mirrors around you as they change views and the audience would not see what they ought to see. And remember do not appear as though you are unsure of what you are doing because your audience might easily lose interest watching when the magician looks not confident.

c. Ask other people to watch intently while doing your tricks, then ask for feedback.

d. Master one trick first before learning a new one.

e. Anywhere you go, make it a habit to bring magic props. Take some coins and a deck of cards with you so that if you have extra time, you can use it to practice the tricks.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and sleight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today! www.have-fun-with-magic.com

...

magictricks-24

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Setting Up Your Magic Shows: Part I - The Secret Factor to a Great Magic Show
Author: J.L. Siefers

Imagine that you have walked out on stage and just finished your opener to rave applause. Your show continues like a well tuned sports car until you get to the fourth magic effect. You introduce the magic trick and the audience quiets in eager anticipation. You begin to patter and suddenly realize that the trick was not set up correctly. You can't finish the trick. You are standing in the middle of the stage alone with no out and nowhere to go. The crowd's silence shifts from anticipation to nervousness. What do you do?

I have been there and it's no fun. A witty retort like "you didn't want to see this trick anyway" or "bad magic" is a disservice to both the performer and the audience. I want to share with you my simple method of setting up magic shows so this does not happen to you. This method will improve the professionalism of your show, free you to concentrate on your performance, and improve the quality of your show as viewed by your customers. In short, it will improve your magic shows and make your current customers beg to hire you again and again. Why? You look and act more professional and your customers will reward your increased professionalism with more bookings. Happy customers mean happy magicians!

I assume you have a computer. This process can be done manually but it is much easier with a computer. You will need an office suite (word processor, spread sheet, presentation software, etc.). Most computers come with the software already loaded on it. If you need a good FREE office suite download Open Office at: http://www.openoffice.org " http://www.openoffice.org

Step 1

You need to create a word processing file for each trick you intend to perform at future magic shows. As soon as I get a new magic trick, I create a file for it in my word processor. The file name uses the following format:

Trick-Month-Day-Year.doc

For example, my Substitution Trunk Illusion file is Sub Trunk-08-12-2004.doc. This file name translates to Substitution Trunk Illusion file created on August 12, 2004. The file naming system allows me to easily keep track of my most current file version and have a backup of prior versions if I ever choose to go back to them. I keep all of my magic trick files in a folder called "Magic Tricks" on my computer.

Next time we will find out exactly what to put in this file.

Copyright © 2005 J.L. Siefers, All rights reserved.

J.L. Siefers has been performing great magic for years. He has written extensively on many topics in magic. He has shown hundreds of people how to successfully learn to do great magic tricks.

Want to learn to do magic? Click now to get your FREE magic tricks! http://www.Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com " http://www.Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com

Sign up for The Magic Way newsletter! It's FREE: http://www.learn-great-magic-tricks.com/magic-newsletter.html " http://www.learn-great-magic-tricks.com/magic-newsletter.html

...

magictricks-23

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Magic is Still Kicking in the 21st Century!
Author: John B Williams

I'm a magician and also write books about magic aimed, mostly, at adult beginners. For those reasons, you'd expect that I'd be still saying that it's going well, even if I was reduced to sharing my rabbit's rations! It's still extremely popular and my bunny's biscuits are hers alone. We don't get much magical entertainment on television here.

There's very little live production because of the lower costs for the networks to get programs from America or England. These programs have huge budgets by our standards along with prepared promotional information and an almost guaranteed audience attracted by earlier publicity when the shows were originally sgown in the originating country. That's reduced the potential in that area to casual spots on chat shows and similar until some clever performer focuses on the needs of that market and finds a way to break in. I'm sure that it will happen. I hope I'm still around when it does! However, the demand for magic shows for parties, conferences and special events is becoming stronger after declining in many areas after 9/11.

The heightened security requirements and inevitable minor delays when travelling won't stop companies and other organisations attending junkets ... sorry, industry information events. There's few forms of entertainment with the broad appeal for people attending these events of a quality magic act. There's also very strong interest in specialised magic presentations for break-out events that give conference delegates some light hearted fun between their work sessions and also programs that entertain delegates partners while those work sessions are on. The continued interest in my books, shown by the feedback from readers and distributors, tells me that there are many adults, dedicated to other activities and professions, that love to use magic tricks to break the ice at parties, promote their business activities in memorable ways or even perform occasional magic shows.

I know from the enthusiasm of children I entertain and the comments of parents at the shows or who send feedback after buying my ebooks, that children are learning to do magic tricks or to make and use puppets in greater numbers than ever. The appeal is, I think, in the human interaction that technology hasn't simulated very successfully yet. Even when virtual hologram performances are common, costs are likely to keep them beyond the reach of most for a while. And there's one major attraction that no machine-based system can match.

It's great to watch a magic show, but there's even more fun being the person that waves the wand and causes the scarves to change places or the elephant to appear. And, provided you have access to a well-trained elephant - or the necessary scarves - it's really very easy to learn to do a few little miracles yourself.

John Williams is a part-time professional magician who writes and sells ebooks between his magic shows. The books, including his latest, 'Ezy Magic Miracles' are available from http://www.ezyebook.com/emm.html " Ezyebook.com

...

magictricks-22

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Magic: The Science Of Illusion
Author: Preston Houer -
Magic has been connected to mystery and things that cannot be explained by science. But, during the recent years, there has been in-depth studies focused to magic. Now, magic is known to be the science of illusion. More than that, magic is also an art based on science and techniques.

In fields of sciences like psychiatry, illusion is said to be a distortion of sensory perception. But no matter how negative this may sound, magic has entertained people based on illusion. This gives the impression that something impossible has occurred. Magic tricks are based on scientific principles but people do not seem to connect magic and science.

Different illusions are being used in magic and there are seven types of them.

? Production. These are magic tricks out of thin air. Producing something out of nothing. Tricks like these include appearing acts – rabbit coming out of an empty hat, coins from an empty pocket and the magician or an assistant appearing through a puff of smoke on an empty stage.

? Vanish. Tricks from this category are those disappearing acts like coins disappearing, a dove vanishing out of thin air by a clap of hand and stuffs inside silks into the hands of the magician but when opened revealed nothing. This category is the total opposite of production. The similar tricks are used but done in reverse.

? Transformation. As the word suggest, the tricks in this category involve those which transform anything to another form – chicken to an eagle, fire into a rabbit or a broom into a woman.

? Restoration. Magic tricks using this illusion is meant to restore something to the state it was once before like a cut rope into three parts back into one or cards cut into fourths and back to one.

? Teleportation. This illusion is meant to transfer things to another place. These are the classic tricks that truly amaze people like uncovered cages with one person each and they magically exchange places in a few seconds. This is what is known as double teleportation.

? Levitation. The trick involves lifting objects, animals and even people into air by using trance.

? Penetration. Tricks in this category involve the passing through of objects through a solid wall.

One important thing in maintaining the illusion in magic tricks is the secrecy of the magician. The magician should maintain this secrecy in order to be respected and treated with credibility by other magicians. The only exception is when a magician shares the secrets of the trade with someone who is a serious student of magic.

Remember, you are "killing" the magic by telling the secrets of your tricks to others and reducing them to mere intellectual riddles and puzzles.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and sleight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today! www.have-fun-with-magic.com

...

magictricks-21

Street Magic
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

The Art Of Magic
Author: Preston Houer -
What comes in to your mind when you hear the word "magic"? What is magic? What is the ART of magic? According to World Book Online Encyclopedia, "The word magic also refers to entertainment in which the performer does tricks of so-called magic. In such entertainment, neither the magicians nor the audience believes that the performer has supernatural powers."

On the other hand, Paul Harris who is the author of "The Art of Astonishment" defines magicians as "guides to astonishment". Thus, magic can be defined as "an application of guided astonishment."

The three main branches of magic are "stage magic", "parlor magic" and "close-up magic". Stage magic is any magic that can be done on a stage. Stage magic is used to depict the imagination. On the other hand, there's also "stand-up" magic. If you've ever seen the Amazing Johnathan or Paul Kozak perform, you've been witness to stand-up magic.

Magic can be categorized by the motivations and the performance styles, but it does not end there. Here are some of the types of magic according to motivation:

Parlor magic is performed right on the same floor level as the audience, as opposed to a raised stage. Gospel is a special type of parlor magic that is used to demonstrate religious (mostly Christian) concepts. With the replacement of intimate nightclubs by super-mega-nightclubs and comedy clubs, classic parlor magic is rarely seen today.

A distinctive branch of magic has developed quite recently, called "close-up". Close-up magic, like the other styles of magic, has developed its own individual genres. Other types of close-up magic are "table-hopping", "walk-around" and "street magic". All these magic happens in the magician's and/or spectator's hands. This form of magic has become increasingly popular due to its intimate nature.

After discussing the various ways and motivations of magic, it seems appropriate to talk about the various types of "magic". Eugene Burger, who co-authored the entitled "Magic and Meaning", he mentioned the divisions of magic. First, there is the "primary magic" which is the imagination.

Secondary magic, on the other hand, is drawn out of the imagination and into the physical world. These include "ritual" magic and "stage" magic. Ritual magic is directed to enhance some aspect of life. A good example of this is magic performed by an Indian shaman (i.e. the rain dance around a campfire). Unlike stage magic, ritual magic relies on the imagination itself.

Other types of magic are:

Detached magic, which is a form of ritual magic, wherein the symbols used do not have direct significance to the individual invoking the magic.

Reflexive or trickster magic uses deception. This differs from reduced deceptive magic as it focuses on reminding and telling audiences its deceptive nature. Such include gambling displays and "sucker tricks.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and sleight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today! www.have-fun-with-magic.com

...

magictricks-20

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

What type of magician can I hire?
Author: vnr406
Are you thinking of hiring a magician? Have you hired one before?
Do you know what type you want?

There are various types of magic and magicians. Most magicians now specialise in a few areas of magic although some perform only one type.

Here is a general guide of what types of magician are available for a predominately adult audience although a good magician will take you back to being a child.

Close-up magic/ strolling / mix and mingle/ table magic can often be seen at cocktail parties, corporate events, banquets, weddings and generally any party event where the magician mingles and inter acts with the guests performing tricks. This form of magic is ideal for a reception and then when guests are seated at their tables and enjoying the meal.

Cabaret magic is a great way for a large or small audience to see some bigger or more involved magic tricks. Cabaret magic is suitable for most events but is most popular as after dinner entertainment. Sometimes the close up magician will double up and also perform the cabaret. A lot of magicians include comedy in their cabaret.

More recently mind readers have once again become very popular. Whilst some will include comedy, generally a mind reader is a little more serious and does things like reveal the name of a child hood friend or divine a selected word from a book chosen by a spectator.

If you are looking for larger, flashy magic then it is ideal to hire an illusionist. An illusionist needs a lot more room than a normal magician and work's better from a stage.

Cabaret magic acts last any where between 10 minutes to an hour and normally perform for audiences of 20 to 600 however their are two rules that should be noted. The magician should be able to be seen and heard by everyone. Bear this in mind if booking after dinner entertainment in a hotel conference room. If you have lots of non English speaking guests you may prefer to have a silent magic act either manipulation or illusion however a comedy magician always plays well for an English speaking audience.

Corporations and companies are hiring magicians more and more to perform at Trade Shows and exhibitions. Magic is a great form of interactive entertainment where a message can also be presented in an interesting manner. The magician draws people to the exhibition space where the benefits and features of the product or service can be showcased. The magician can also present and provide suitable magic give aways that are branded for the company exhibiting.

It is always worth checking the credentials of the magician you are hiring. What is their track record? Who have been their previous clients? How long have they been performing? Most professional magicians also carry liability insurance.

For further details and information contact Nick Reade
http://www.nickreade.com

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Nick Reade is a UK based magician who performs his brand of magic and comedy at private parties and corporate events around the world.

...

magictricks-19

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Different Paraphernalia Used In Performing Magic
Author: Preston Houer -
David Blaine and David Copperfield's popularity have inspired a lot of people to learn magic. And with that, there are also a number of stores that sell magic paraphernalia for those who would like to learn the art of magic. Below are some of the popular equipment used for magic:

Visible Sawing - the participant lays flat on a bench or table. Then, the magician places a wooden stock over the participants mid-section. The saw is turned on and is used to cut the individual in half. After the saw has been turned off and the stock is removed, the participant stands in front of the audience unharmed.

Victory Cubes - is a new stage inclusion that can be used to make tricks more well-executed. Perfect for blocking those angles that might reveal the trick's secret, or as a prop container. These instantly make a magic show show bigger and more valuable.

Magic Rose - the magician is holding a full sized white rose and sprinkles it with glitter dust. Then he approaches one of the female specatators and gives it to her. Suddenly, the white rose turns to red.

Vanishing milk pitcher - it looks like an ordinary pitcher. The magician present the pitcher to the audience to show that it does not have any holes. He places liquid (usually milk because it is more visible than water) on the pitcher and covers it with silk cloth. A few magics later and the liquid disappears from the pitcher. The magician even turns it upside down to prove that there is no liquid on the pitcher.

Giant Deck of Cards- there's a deck of cards available which falls perfectly in between the standard poker-size cards and the typical jumbo decks. The Anglo Giant cards measure 3.5" by 5" and their large indices make it easy for audiences to see the cards even from a distance.

Magnetic finger Tips - is used to perform routines with Coins, Silverware, Cling Rings other metallic objects. It can also be used in a trick to move objects.

Wand - it is a slim stick used by magicians to execute some magic tricks.

Collapsible top hat - a black satin lined hat that folds flat when tapped by a wand and springs back to normal when touched again.

Chinese coins - can be used for enthralling type tricks and other magic coin techniques.

Coin bender - a specially made tool for magicians that bends coins during an act.

Feather Flower - this item can be compressed into a thin bundle than can fit on either your coat sleeve or into your hat. Then, they pop open when reached.

Threads - This is almost invisible to the naked eye. It allows you to perform tricks that make objects float.

Fire Wallet - this wallet fires up when opened.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and sleight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today! www.have-fun-with-magic.com

...

magictricks-18

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Magic Tricks - Black Art
Author: Edward Jellard
Black art is an old form of magic that is rarely used today in its original form. The effect black art produces is fantastic, it is as close to trick photography as you can get without a camera!

A magician practising black art will find a stage and dim the lights. While he and his assistants are wearing white, the audience can see them. The performers then command items to appear and move around. Versions of 'sawing a woman in half' are performed and you can see the two halves moving round the stage, only to be melted back together, or just vanish. The possibilities are endless, and all leave the audience feeling mystified.

The theory behind black art is that everything in black won't be seen against a black background. This means at the start of the performance, there can be many items on the stage covered in a black cloth and they won't be seen. The magician simply removes the cloth and voila, an item has appeared. Disembodied bodies can move around by wearing black trousers, or a black jumper. Assistants dressed completely in black can make objects, including people, fly around the stage.

This form of magic really allows the imagination to go wild. Many things are possible with a bit of creativity and a pot of black paint! Black art is truly the cleverest and easiest magic to perform.

Black art is often performed in silence as it is a mystical event to watch, however do not be afraid to talk - your voice will be very powerful coming from the darkness, heightening the illusion.

Although to you, the performer, nothing will seem like magic, to the audience, the whole performance will blow their minds away. It is highly recommended to make a video of the performance so you can see the show from the other side of the stage. From your side of the stage, everything is visible - you can see the props and assistants.

To improve the illusion, some artists have lights above, below and to the side of the stage gently shining at the audience to further reduce the amount they can see. In complete darkness, however, a very eerie performance can be achieved. Another option is to use 'black-light' (i.e. UV light), which makes white and several other colours come to life, leaving black in darkness.

To end the performance, the magician has many possibilities ranging from floating off the stage, to gradually being engulfed by darkness (to do this, use a large piece of black cloth that starts on the floor and is slowly lifted up by two assistants to block you from view).

In a nutshell, your imagination and creativity is the only limit to this fine art.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Edward Jellard has been performing professional magic for many years. His repertoire includes stage magic, children's entertaining and close-up table hopping.

For plenty of free magic tricks , please visit the Magic Hat website.

Why not sign up to the Monthly Magic Hat Newsletter to be informed of all the new tricks?

...

magictricks-17

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Performing Magic for Kids: Part II - How These Four Things Will Make Or Break Your Magic Show
Author: J.L. Siefers

Four Critical Keys to Performing Magic for Kids

Children don't understand many of the common cues in a live performance. Most children are raised in the age of television. Not a bad thing, except the laugh tracks prompt the children when to laugh. No laugh tracks and the children are left out in the cold. They are quick and will get up to speed in no time. But they need your help.

The same issue is even more problematic with applause. Children are not used to clapping. They don't understand applause cues. Those wonderfully timed applause cues will leave you and your audience with a lot of uncomfortable silence.

What can be done? Everything. One of your most important tasks as a children's magician is your opening. The beginning of your show must do four things:

• Establish audience control
• Teach the children to react to applause cues
• Set the tone for the show
• Introduce your performing personality

The audience needs to be warmed up prior to your magic show. It seems hokey and a waste of time, but it can make the difference between a great magic show and a horrible one.

Children love to have fun. Even in school children are taught to obey those in authority. For some reason, many magicians forget to establish authority early in the show. The result resembles a saloon brawl in the wild west.

When you step out for the start of your show, you have the perfect opportunity to establish the ground rules for the show. I don't mean that you should bring out a list of house rules for the show. Instead come out with confidence and warm up your audience.

After you welcome everyone to the show, look out over the audience and say, "This looks like a really great crowd. Let's see how loud you can clap. On the count of three ONE. . . TWO . . THREE . .Not bad! Let's try it again. On three . ." After some byplay conclude by saying, "What do we do when we like the magic? (pause) What do we do when we LOVE the magic?" (pause and react strongly to the crowd)

Four things are being done by that warm up. You have taught the children to clap when they like the magic. It also trains them to react to the applause cues in the rest of the show. The warm up establishes that you are in control for this show. Finally, it sets a fun tone for the show. This is the first time your audience gets a sense of your performing personality.

The next article explains how your performing personality can put your magic show over the top with the kids.

Copyright © 2005 J.L. Siefers, All rights reserved.

J.L. Siefers has been performing great magic for years. He has written extensively on many topics in magic. He has shown hundreds of people how to successfully learn to do great magic tricks.

Want to learn to do magic? Click now to get your FREE magic tricks! http://www.Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com " http://www.Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com

Sign up for The Magic Way newsletter! It's FREE: http://www.learn-great-magic-tricks.com/magic-newsletter.html " http://www.learn-great-magic-tricks.com/magic-newsletter.html

...

magictricks-16

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

So Your Kid Wants To Do Magic Tricks At A Talent Show…
Author: Louie Foxx
Every year thousands and thousands of kids across America display their talents at a school, church or community talent show. Most of the talents that these kids have is either singing or dancing, hardly any kids are doing a magic tricks.

If your kid wants to stand out in the pack of singers and dancers by doing magic tricks, I have some tips to help your kid's star shine brighter than the rest!

Tip Number 1: Give your kid plenty of time to practice!

When I used to run a magic shop, quite often parents would come in and ask me for some magic tricks or a magic kit for their kid's talent show. I would ask when the talent show was, and would be frequently shocked when the parent told me it was only two or three days away!

Learning magic tricks from a magic kit, magic book, or when you just get individual tricks takes time to practice and learn properly. Learning magic is just like learning any other talent…you wouldn't teach your kids a four minute dance routine on Wednesday and expect them to do it well on Friday…would you?

With that in mind give your child at least a month's worth of practice…or more!

Tip Number 2: Make sure the tricks are big enough to be seen from the stage!

When selecting magic tricks for a talent show, make sure every trick you select is large enough to be seen from the stage. For example, if your kid does a coin trick, it will be very difficult for people in the middle or back rows to see it.

If you are getting a magic kit for your kid to select his talent show magic tricks from, make sure the magic kit has items that are larger and will be visible from the stage.

Tip Number 3: Have a script so your kid knows what to say!

One important part of performing magic tricks is knowing what to say when, and making what you say fun!

When you are shopping for your magic tricks for magic kit for your talent show make sure it includes the jokes for the kids to say.

Tip Number 4: Dress rehearsal at home!

A couple of nights before the talent show have a dress rehearsal at home. Maybe invite some aunts and uncles over for a little magic show. This will build your kids confidence in the magic tricks by getting to perform them in a safe place before the big talent show.

Now that you have those four tips, I'm sure your kid will knock 'em dead a their next talent show!

Louie Foxx

About the author:
Louie Foxx is a professional children's magician based out of Seattle. Louie does magic workshops where he teaches kids how to perform magic tricks and he also runs the website www.amazingmagickit.com that features magic kits for kids

copyright 2006 by Louie Foxx

This article is free to use as long as it is unchanged and all the links and bio are included.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Louie is a professional magician based out of Seattle and he runs the website www.amazingmagickit.com that sells kids magic kits

...

magictricks-15

Card Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

History Behind The Hat: The Story Of The Magician
Author: Jim Kapowski -
The concept of magician as entertainer has its roots deep in human history, but mostly dates back to the sixteenth century. Prior to this time, those who practiced magic claimed to have supernatural powers. When this idea clashed with Christianity in the Western world, new magicians, who entertained audiences, emerged.

Chevalier Joseph Pinetti impressed audiences in the late 1700s with his tricks as an escapist and mentalist. Illusionists emerged in the nineteenth century, using devices to produce elaborate stage shows. One of the first magicians to use live animals was

"Hermann the Great," who performed disappearing acts and levitation tricks with the animals. Later, famous magicians Siegfried and Roy gained fame in part because of their elaborate show and tigers.

Harry Houdini, perhaps the most well known magician of all time, developed elaborate escape tricks including handcuffs and locked chambers in the early 1900s. His death on Halloween is now also known as "National Magic Day." Houdini also created grand illusions, some of which magician David Copperfield emulated. During Houdini's time, Vaudeville acts included and promoted magic tricks.

Over time, the interest in magic has come and gone, although it enjoyed a revival in the 1970s that continues today. Many magicians, similar to other performers, develop a unique style or focus on a particular type of illusion. David Copperfield makes large objects disappear. Lance Burton employs many birds, and Penn and Teller are known for their unique style. Most recently, David Blaine gained fame for his street magic and outrageous stunts.

Magicians of all sorts keep their secrets very secret. The appeal of magic is trying to figure out how magicians accomplish those amazing feats. For those interested in learning magic, many sources are available for the entry-level magician. Some well-known tricks are "out in the open," and beginning magic kits can help a beginner learn the tricks of the trade. Many books and other resources are available for card tricks as well. Many stores carry magical wares as well.

For those who are serious about the craft, two organizations are devoted entirely to magic, both with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. The Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians have chapters throughout the world, provide information, and hold conferences. For those
seeking information, these are good places to begin. Your local library is also a good place to find more information, as is the Internet. However, online sources in particular are varied in quality and information, so beginning with one of the organizations may be a better way to begin.

The allure of magic is very real. Throughout the past few decades, magicians have taken magic to a new level, with elaborate stunts and full-out entertainment spectacles. From amazing card tricks to large disappearing acts, magic will likely continue to enthrall audiences worldwide for years to come. It is a performance art unlike any other, and the mystery associated with magic adds a level of intrigue that does not exist with other performance arts.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Magic Magicians is an information site that contains articles, a directory and other Magician Resources . It can be found at: www.magicmagicians.com

...

magictricks-14

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Creators Of Magic Tricks -- A Brief History Of Magic Tricksters
Author: Sally Rogers -
We've all heard the term "magic." Some of us use it in our daily lives. But what really is magic? Well, the formal definition of magic is something like this: Magic is the performance of illusions meant to entertain, baffle and amaze. The purpose of magic is to give the illusion that the impossible or supernatural has been achieved. Although magic deals with the illusion of the supernatural, no ghostly beings or entities actually have any part in a magic act. Truly entertaining magic is always done by a skilled performer who knows how to use natural means to create the impression that something next to impossible has been done.

Early magic was most likely probably used for cheating in gambling games such as cards or in times of war like the use of the Trojan Horse. But during the 18th magic became less of a series of seemingly pointless deceptions and more of a respectable activity done by professional illusionists.

The earliest recorded modern practice of magic tricks was done by Jean Eugene Robert Houdin in the mid-1800s. In fact, many consider Houdin the father of modern magic. Houdin, originally a trained clock worker, switched to the practicing of magic when he opened a magic theater in Paris in the 1840s. Houdin's special magic trick of the time was creating small mechanical pieces that seemed to move and act as if they were alive.

After that the popularity of magic continued to grow. In 1873 two men, British performer J. N. Maskelyne and his partner Cooke established their own theatre, the Egyptian Hall in London England's Piccadilly. The magic tricks these two men were best known for performing were hiding special mechanisms in their stages to control audiences' points of view. So, the magic was in people and items suddenly disappearing and reappearing, or being distorted in some way.

The late 19th century brought on celebrity magic and celebrity musicians. This was the time of the world-famous Harry Houdini, whose real name was Erich Weiss. Houdini's magic tricks were based on the ability to escape impossible situations. Today this term is referred to as escapology.

Depending on whom you talk to today, magic is a trivial passtime for children, or magic can be a real source of entertainment. At least that was the common attitude towards magic in the 1980s and 1990s.

Today magic seems to be in vogue again. But most modern workers of magic follow a strict code of ethics. For example, those who perform on television don't use camera tricks and videotape editing to create the illusion of powerful magic. Magic workers today use only traditional forms of magic. This means they use the same forms of magic for television as they would for a live magic show.

The old saying about magic being smoke and mirrors is true. The art of magic tricks is all about fooling the audiences' eyes and getting them to think they are seeing something that really isn't happening. That's what true magic and the practice of good magic tricks is all about.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Magic Trick Facts is an information site that contains articles, a directory and other Magic Trick Resources . It can be found at: www.magictrickfacts.com

...

magictricks-13

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Abracadabra A Great Birthday With A Magician!
Author: Jim Kapowski -
Children's birthday parties have become outrageous showcases of food, gifts, and entertainment that are costing parents more and more each year. Instead of focusing on the child, parents are striving more and more to "keep up with the Joneses" and put on fantastic displays that involve a great deal of time and money for the planning and execution of the party. Instead of worrying about booking venues packed with activities, consider throwing your child an old fashioned bash in your own backyard. For a special touch, consider hiring a magician to entertain both children and adults for the party. A magician is a great way to entertain the crowd while maintaining a unique aspect for your child's party.

A magician is a classic way to entertain and enthrall the young and the young at heart when it comes to hosting a birthday party. If your child is interested in becoming the next Houdini, use magic as the theme for his or her party. If you are planning to hire a magician to provide entertainment for you child's birthday party, you may need to plan ahead and book the magician's services in advance to prevent any last minute cancellations or bookings.

If you have decided to include a magician in your child's birthday party, call around. Ask friends, family members, or coworkers for a referral of a specific magician they have hired or seen perform in the past. Also, consider contacting your local chamber of commerce or business organization to see if there is someone offering their entertainment services for hire. You will find that word of mouth is incredibly powerful; as you can be sure the magician you hire to perform at a birthday party or any event will provide age appropriate entertainment.

Before your hire a magician or any entertainment provider, be sure to get the agreement in writing. Also, you may need to pay an initial deposit to ensure the date for the party. Some questions to ask the magician include if their material is appropriate for children, how long they plan to perform, if they are willing include the birthday child in their act, and what will happen in the unfortunate event they are unable to attend or perform.

Once you have booked your magician, be sure not to change the date and time of the party. Doing so may cost you additional money or cause you to lose the magician due to previous commitments. A magician may book several parties or events on a given day, so his or her schedule is tight and unable to be changed.

Hiring a magician is an excellent way to entertain everyone present at the party. Many magicians include kid friendly magic tricks and may even teach the children a couple of tricks of their own. If this is the case, be sure to purchase any potential items necessary for the event for the children ahead of time. Also, consider giving away magic tricks as game prizes or party favors so the theme is continued throughout the party. Your child is sure to enjoy the fun filled tricks, jokes, and illusions that a professional magician can provide.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Magic Magicians is an information site that contains articles, a directory and other Magician Resources . It can be found at: www.magicmagicians.com

...

magictricks-12

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Teaching Your Child Magic Tricks
Author: Sally Rogers -
When it comes to fun family entertainment, consider teaching your child old fashioned magic tricks. This is a great way to kill time while waiting for an event to start or to stop those annoying questions of "are we there yet?" while driving in the car. Consider bringing clever magic tricks with you on vacation or camping trip so you children will have no complaints of being bored. You can find magic tricks at any specialty store or even your child's favorite toy store. Many magic tricks do not require any additional materials, besides the old standby of a handkerchief or a bright, shiny penny.

One fantastic option for individuals wishing to teach their kids magic tricks are the Klutz series of books. These books teach kids, "tweens," and teenagers all sorts of things, from different ways to braid hair to how to perform a variety of tricks using an old fashioned wooden yoyo. In addition to in depth instruction especially for the younger crowd, these books include several accessories that are necessary for performing the task. From their instruction book on magic tricks to their instruction book on card tricks, the Klutz series are perfect for any individual of any age looking to learn magic.

A quick trip to your favorite bookstore or local library will result in a plethora of books that will provide you with step by step instruction when it comes to teaching your child magic tricks. From classic tricks that are sure to elicit a chuckle to in depth slights of hand, magic tricks, and illusions that will wow all audiences, you are sure to find out how to perform each task with in depth step by step instructions that anyone will be able to flawlessly follow.

Consider bringing some necessary tools for teaching the specific magic tricks along on a long plane or train ride so your kids can do something more productive than mindlessly play video games or argue. This is a great idea if you are traveling to a city with a renowned magic shop, museum of magic, or show that features world class magicians. For instance, if you are traveling to Las Vegas to see the fantastic Lance Burton, teach your kids a few magic tricks along the way to make the show hit closer to home.

Magic tricks are great for school or club talent shows in which your child wishes to participate. Quite often, children are left at a loss when it comes to participating in talent shows and may feel left out if they cannot think of a talent that has not been chosen. Everyone sings or dances on stage at a talent show, but few children can don a magic hat and cape and perform astounding tricks of slight of hand or illusions. Learning magic can boost a child's self esteem, especially when he or she finally gets the gist of the trick and is able to flawlessly perform the trick in front of an audience. Who knows, your child may be the next great magician and they will only have you to thank for showing them basic magic tricks!

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Magic Trick Facts is an information site that contains articles, a directory and other Magic Trick Resources . It can be found at: www.magictrickfacts.com

...

magictricks-11

Card Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

A To Z Of Well-Known Magicians
Author: Jim Kapowski -
There are many well-known, skilled magicians that you might not know about because even though they're well known, they haven't reached magician cult status. Most people know about the magician David Copperfield, but there are many more magicians equally skilled. So, take a moment to learn about other wizards of magic and expand your knowledge about magicians.

Curtis Adams: A magician who appeared at the age of 16 in the Young Magicians Showcase featured on Fox Television. He was born on October 12, 1984 and was one of the youngest magicians to perform in Reno, Nevada casinos.

Criss Angel: The only three-time magician winner of the Merlin Award from the International Society of Magicians. Angel is a skilled magician who did stunts like lying on a bed of nails while a Hummer drove over him.

Ed Balducci: A street magician who died in 1988 at the age of 82. He is a magician known for his gimmick-free trick of visibly rising several inches from the ground with his back turned to his audience.

Derren Brown: A British magician who practiced traditional close-up magic in the 1990s. Brown's claim as a magician is his "mind-reading" act. Brown claims aliens abducted him.

Cardini: Richard "Cardini" Pitchford was a magician with almost 50 years of performing tricks and illusions. He's one of the world's most imitated magicians, but no one to date has ever been able to completely duplicate his tricks. He was a magician known for his sleight of hand. Items were forever appearing and disappearing from his hands. He died in 1973.

Tommy Cooper: A magician and comedian known who was a member of the Magic Circle until his death in 1984. He collapsed while doing a live magician act that became his last.

Paul Daniels: A currently retired British magician who in 1983 became the first magician to ever receive the prestigious Magician of the Year Award by the Hollywood Academy of Magical Arts.

S.W. Erndase: A magician and author whose real identity has never been figured out. Erndase is a magician who wrote a book in 1902 about card playing tricks.

Ching Ling Foo: The first Asian magician to achieve fame. He was a magician who did tricks like breathing fire and pulling a fifteen-foot pole from his mouth. He died in 1922.

Lennart Green: A magician known for his close-up card tricks. In 1991 this magician became the world champion of in close-up card magic.

Paul Harris: A magician known for pulling coins from mirrors. Many claim he is a magician with skills like a combination of Copperfield and Henning.

Scott Interrante: An American magician specializing in escape-artist tricks. He won awards from the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Ricky Jay: A magician listed in the Guinness Book of Records as throwing a playing card 190 feet at 90 miles per hour.

Fred Kaps: A Dutch magician who died in 1980. He is a magician known for making a saltshaker create an endless supply of salt.

Juan Tamariz: A Spanish magician who in 1971 founded a school that has trained generations of Spanish magicians.

Dia Vernon: This Canadian magician was born in 1894 as David Frederick Wingfield Verner. This magician, who died in 1992, is known for fooling Houdini with one of his card tricks.

Paul Zenon: A British street magician who also performed in the bars and pubs in the U.K. This magician has written three books about magic, the most recent published in 2005.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Magic Magicians is an information site that contains articles, a directory and other Magician Resources . It can be found at: www.magicmagicians.com

...

magictricks-10

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Setting Up Your Magic Shows: Part II - The Great Begining to a Great Magic Show
Author: J.L. Siefers

The last article described how to create a file for each magic trick that you might use in a magic show. This article will show you what kind of information you need to include in each and every magic trick file you create.

This is an important step, because having this information in a word processing file will be very useful for later steps in stting up your magic show.

Step 2

Each trick file needs to have these sections in this order:

• Trick Name
• Items Needed to Perform Trick
• Setup Notes
• Brief Description of Effect
• Performance Script
• Notes

Trick Name

This section needs little explanation. Use the trick's original name or a name you can easily remember.

Items Needed to Perform Trick

This is one of the most important sections of your file. You need to list in detail every item required to perform the trick. I usually separate out the consumables from the non-consumables. Consumables would include any item that is used up during the performance. For example flashpaper, paper money, and lemons are listed as consumables for my bill in lemon trick. Separating out the consumables means I am less likely to overlook them when packing up my show.

The non-consumables list is a great checklist to make sure you have everything you need to perform the magic trick.

Setup Notes

This section reminds you about any important points to remember when setting up your trick. As tricks come in and out of my performing repertoire, it is a nice reminder of key points I may have forgotten if I haven't performed the magic trick in a while.

Brief Description of Effect

You can use the description from the magic trick's ad or write a brief one yourself. I have found it useful to have a description handy if I am looking to add tricks for an upcoming show. You have a vague idea (or none at all) about what this trick is about.

Performance Script

This section contains the complete script that I use to perform the trick. I write out everything I do and say in the form of a script. This is the baseline for my performance of the trick. Once the script is mastered I am able to freely go on and off script during my performance.

Writing the script is a good way to study the intersection of this magic trick and your performing style. I work on the script all of the time. I view it as a work in progress. It is a good exercise to avoid just using the canned patter that comes with the trick. Try writing your own script out for a magic trick or two. You will be pleasantly surprised with the reactions you get from your audience.

Finally, the script is a nice refresher if you have not performed the trick in a while. I hated having developed a good routine for an effect only to have forgotten most of it because I had not used in a couple of years.

Notes

This section contains any of your thoughts and ideas for the magic trick. Put anything and everything you want to remember or try with the trick. This is a good place to record your insights about why the trick didn't play as well as you thought it would.

The next article explains how to create a very useful checklist for each magic show you do.

Copyright © 2005 J.L. Siefers, All rights reserved.

J.L. Siefers has been performing great magic for years. He has written extensively on many topics in magic. He has shown hundreds of people how to successfully learn to do great magic tricks.

Want to learn to do magic? Click now to get your FREE magic tricks! http://www.Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com " http://www.Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com

Sign up for The Magic Way newsletter! It's FREE: http://www.learn-great-magic-tricks.com/magic-newsletter.html " http://www.learn-great-magic-tricks.com/magic-newsletter.html

...

magictricks-2

Magicians
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

A Tip List For Creating That Unique Holiday Party
Author: Peter Togel
A Tip List For Creating That Unique Holiday Party

Once again, it is time for holiday parties. While everyone is downsizing and looking for new ways to cut costs, a holiday party at a lower price may not be a good answer. The following list of useful tips will help and assist you in creating pleasant and successful holiday cheer.

1. The Venue
Choosing a good venue needs a lot of thought. If you choose your venue too big, your guests will feel lost. Choose a venue that is too small and not all guests will fit in. But size is not all that needs to be considered. If you want to have people remember that event forever, choose a venue that is not a typical place for a holiday party. Be creative. Would you remember a party in a barn, an airplane, a mall, the zoo, an indoor pool, an airplane hangar, a theater, a railway car, or an old historic church building? You see, there are other places than hotels and restaurants.

2. The Party Theme
Not every holiday party needs to look like a mall in December. Find a theme that makes it interesting to come to the event. It sounds much more interesting to visit a party with a theme like "Jungle Christmas", "Santa's laboratory", "Party under the Sea", "Dude Ranch", "Out of the Box"...

3. The Decoration
Once you've found a great theme, think about the decoration that supports the theme. You can create your own labels for bottles, rent trees, collect large boxes from surrounding retailers, borrow some cattle (though that might cause some problems....), free lab coats for everyone with the company logo and rubber gloves (who said your employees are thrilled with getting yet another company t-shirt as a Christmas bonus?), rent an "electric cow" (the rodeo thing...), dress up some cardboard Rudolphs with lab coats and goggles, or strap some reindeer antlers to the borrowed cows. Dress up the waiters as Santas or mad scientists. In other words, turn your venue into a stage set for a fun time by making it match the theme. Place single use cameras on the tables so your guests can make pictures for their memories. And don't forget good lighting. Creative lighting will contribute much to the atmosphere.

4. The Music
To find the right music for your event, you have to visualize your guests. See the event through your guest's eyes. While a string quartet might fit great to your theme, the result may be that your guests fall asleep. If you get bored from DJs and bands, try a cowbell orchestra, a square-dance lesson, or a barbershop quartet.

5. The Entertainment
While music is usually a big part of a great evening, music should not be everything. What makes and breaks the evening is the number of different diversions and surprises. This state offers some of the best entertainers you can find in this country. Invite a comedian, magician or mentalist to your event, and your guests will have something to talk about. Good magic entertainers will not only produce the CEO on stage, they will also integrate your guests in the stage performance and make them heroes. This is a perfect treat for persons that work hard and well.

When hiring entertainers, do not always go for the lowest price. Whoever you hire, he/she will affect your image. Reliability and follow-through are more important than a lower bid. You can find great magicians by looking for example at the web site of the local chapter of the Society of American Magicians (http://www.magicsam.com/samweb.html ). When working on the program, don't save the best for last. At the end of the event, the guests may be tired, hung-over, or worried about getting home.

6. The Drinks
The best holiday gift you can give to your guests is preventing them from driving after they have been drinking alcohol. Provide enough low-alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks, for both underage and non-drinking attendees to have plenty of options. Display these options as prominently as the alcoholic beverages. Using smaller cups help your guests to keep their alcohol servings to an appropriate size. Create little stickers like "designated driver" or "I enjoy non-alcoholic drinks" that drivers can wear during the party. Have your guests sign up for alternate transportation at the beginning of your event in case they decide to drink. Provide a "check-in" for car keys. Collect and tag each guest's car keys, and at the conclusion of the party, only return keys to designated drivers. And stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party is over.

7. The Food
The theme, date and place will make the ultimate difference to the type of food you will decide to serve. A mouth-watering buffet is sure to keep people's attention, not to mention help their bodies absorb the alcohol they consume. Especially high protein and carbohydrate foods like meats, cheese, veggies, breads and light dips are very good. They taste great and do not make your guests thirsty. Make sure you have options available for alternative diet needs.

8. The Analysis
After every event, do an "event analysis." Write down what was good, what went wrong, what you would do differently next time, and who the vendors were that made your life easier.

Planning for a successful event requires a tremendous amount of effort, time and energy. Every event is different and if you want your holiday party to be unique, you have to be bold and make a leap. If you don't have the time, talk to some of the events planner about your ideas. They are in business to help you.

About the Author

Best-selling author, mentalist and master magician Pit Finn (aka Peter Togel) is a frequent guest on radio and television shows and a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, the Fellowship of Christian Magicians , the PSI-Clones, as well as the Society of American Magicians. He can be reached at peter@pitfinn.com (http://www.pitfinn.com ).

...

magictricks-1

Magic Tricks
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Performing Magic for Kids
Author: J.L. Siefers
You have just discovered the wonderful world of magic. Trip after trip to the magic shop has added to your ever growing arsenal of magic tricks. Thirty-three days later the credit card bills arrive to remind your wife that this IS an expensive hobby.

No problem! You will make back all of the money you've spent and more by becoming a part-time professional magician. Looking around for places to hone your craft, you suddenly remember that you niece has a seventh birthday coming up. You call you sister and offer your services in lieu of a gift.

Two weeks later the performance time arrives. You pack all of your "A" material into two large cardboard boxes. You start the show for sixteen first graders and all of your relatives. The show goes well. Everybody is laughing and having a good time. You take some theatrical pauses to build suspense as you search your boxes for the next great trick. Finally, your fifteen minute show concludes after fifty-three minutes. You never realized you had that much great magic. The kids cheer and applaud for your debut magic show. Even your sister, wiping the tears from her eyes, says, "I have never had more fun than I did watching your magic show. It was great. John got it all on tape."

This is how many part-time professional magicians attempt to begin their career. They look around and decided that doing kid shows is the best way to start. Performing magic for kids is one of the most difficult areas of magic to do well. This article explores some of the challenges of performing children's magic.

--You are training children--

Children don't understand many of the common cues in a live performance. Most children are raised in the age of television. Not a bad thing, except the laugh tracks prompt the children when to laugh. No laugh tracks and the children are left out in the cold. They are quick and will get up to speed in no time. But they need your help.

The same issue is even more problematic with applause. Children are not used to clapping. They don't understand applause cues. Those wonderfully timed applause cues will leave you and your audience with a lot of uncomfortable silence.

What can be done? Everything. One of your most important tasks as a children's magician is your opening. The beginning of your show must do four things:

•Establish audience control
•Teach the children to react to applause cues
•Set the tone for the show
•Introduce your performing personality

The audience needs to be warmed up prior to your magic show. It seems hokey and a waste of time, but it can make the difference between a great magic show and a horrible one.

Children love to have fun. Even in school children are taught to obey those in authority. For some reason, many magicians forget to establish authority early in the show. The result resembles a saloon brawl in the wild west.

When you step out for the start of your show, you have the perfect opportunity to establish the ground rules for the show. I don't mean that you should bring out a list of house rules for the show. Instead come out with confidence and warm up your audience.

After you welcome everyone to the show, look out over the audience and say, "This looks like a really great crowd. Let's see how loud you can clap. On the count of three ONE. . . TWO . . THREE . .Not bad! Let's try it again. On three . . ." After some byplay conclude by saying, "What do we do when we like the magic? (pause) What do we do when we LOVE the magic?" (pause and react strongly to the crowd)

Four things are being done by that warm up. You have taught the children to clap when they like the magic. It also trains them to react to the applause cues in the rest of the show. The warm up establishes that you are in control for this show. Finally, it sets a fun tone for the show. This is the first time your audience gets a sense of your performing personality.

--You are not performing for the kids--

You will learn quickly that the most difficult task facing the children's performer is to design the show to appeal to children and adults at the same time and at different levels. No I don't mean filling your performance with phrases that have sexual double meanings. Nothing is more pathetic and unprofessional than the performer that gets a child on stage and slyly eyes the adults in the crowd and says "Do I have a big magic wand or what? "

Children's cartoons provide the best examples of the point I am trying to make. Take Loony Toons or Spongebob Squarepants for example. These cartoons work for children and adults on different levels at the same time. This is what you must achieve to be a successful children's magician

This is very difficult thing to pull off. This is one of the main reasons that doing children's magic is so difficult. You must DESIGN your show for both audiences. One key to the show design is your performing personality.

--You are not yourself today--

When you perform magic for children, you must have a distinctive and appealing performing personality. Long gone are the days when the children's magician can come out on stage in a second hand tux and wow his audience with a formal magic show. Look at Silly Billy, one of the most successful children's magicians. His performing personality is fun and engaging. His show tone is fast paced and humorous.

Even beyond children's magic, examine the performing personalities of children's television. Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Rodgers, and Peewee Herman are examples of compelling performing personalities. Each one was successful, yet, had very different performing personalities. The common factor was that each performer engaged children through fun.

Your performing personality must engage you audience, children and adults, with fun and wonderment. You must draw your audience into the show by your performing personality, but you must wow them with a well designed show that delivers great magic. This is why doing children's magic is so tough.

If you want to start your career in magic as a children's magician, think again. Kids are brutally honest. There is nothing tougher or more satisfying than have a great children's magic show. Being a children's magician is not the best way to become a part-time professional magician.

Find out more about perfroming for kids at http://www.learn-great-magic-tricks.com/more Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks

About the Author

------------------------------------------------------------
J.L. Siefers has been performing great magic for years.
He has shown hundreds of people how to successfully
learn to do great magic tricks.
http://www.Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com
Click now to get your FREE magic tricks!
------------------------------------------------------------

...