Advice for beginning to learn magic tricks – David Regal Interview

by Dominic Reyes 1 Comment

One of the most recommended books on learning how magic works and how to perform it with impact is Approaching Magic by David Regal. It's been a best selling magic book consistantly since it's first publication, and finds a home on most successful magicians bookcases.

If you are very new to learning magic, I should give you some background on David Regal. David is a television writer and one of the worlds most respected creators of magic tricks for magicians. He served as head writer for Nickelodeon’s Rugrats, and has written for many sitcoms, including multiple episodes for Everybody Loves Raymond. David Regal magic tricks are performed worldwide.

Dominic Reyes caught up with David Regal to ask him for some quick tips for magicians beginning to learn magic tricks.

If you were at the start of your magic career again, what three things would you do differently?

1) I’d have studied more about all types of fabrication. Woodworking, metalworking, plastic, etc.

2) I should have kept a list of magic that I’ve seen and loved, so I could better try and understand the qualities I admire, both in performance and the principles involved.

3) I’d have learned false transfers earlier in my development. Why? I feel a false transfer is the ultimate lie in a craft built on lies, and the least armor a performer can wear. Getting into magic, we often try to cover ourselves with armor via method; but a false transfer, well performed, teaches us and corrects us – it opens a door.

Have you found that being a writer for shows such as Rugrats has helped with your creativity?

I see the problems one faces when writing episodic television, and the problems one faces when structuring a magic routine or seeking a method, as identical. Both involve what I see as multiple knots, tied one upon the other. Issues that lack solutions. There are many ways one can reach the end – the best are the most elegant, and generally seem simple in retrospect.

Are there any amazing creative tips you learned from them that you would like to share?!!?

The best creative tip I can offer is:

Begin.

Most people never do that out of fear of the immensity of the task. Most important, when you begin, have intent. Without intent, it is difficult to evaluate one’s movement. Don’t expect to succeed every time – you will and you won’t. Simply have intent, see where you arrive, and compare it to that intent.

What came first for Clarity Box, the method for the trick or the idea for the trick?

Most things start with a problem I’d like to solve, or an image I’d like to create. I wanted to have a clear box that exact size of The Clarity Box, that would do what The Clarity Box does. I drew it while on an airplane, on the barf bag, and took it home with me. I made the first one out of come pieces of clear plastic I’d purchased for another magic trick I was working on, one that never worked right. I taped it all together and tried it out in front of the bathroom mirror.

If you could give a complete beginner one piece of advice what would it be?

A great thing about magic is no matter what age you are when you start, there is always something wonderful that you can do. Find a trick you love performing that fits your skill level, and do it well. Simultaneously challenge yourself. Work on something that you find more difficult. Work on it for weeks, months, maybe a year. Show your magic tricks to a friend who will be honest with you about the good and the bad. There is great satisfaction to be found when one both enjoys the pleasures that come with performing magic for others, and privately works on that “next thing.”

The Merchant of Magic offers a full range of magic books, tricks and DVD's by David Regal. You can visit the David Regal section here.

How to be the Best Magician at School

by Dominic Reyes 1 Comment

By Ben Williams

Matthew asks: How do I prove I am the best magician in school?

We recently had this question come in from one of our customers and it raised a great point for us. Due to the increase in the popularity of magic, students are likely to encounter other people at school that also study the art of magic. What should you do if this situation arises?

I think it is very important to consider why you are asking this question. There really is no way to prove you are the best. However:

Your thoughts shouldn't be about how you can be the best magician,

it should be on how to give the best possible experience to someone else.

If you concentrate on making sure you are personable, friendly, non egotistical, and you also practice hard, everything will fall into place. It will become known that you are skilled in all aspects of performing, and presenting magic. You will be able to give your spectators the best experience, and as a result, you won't have to feel like you have something to prove.

School can be competitive. Try not to get sucked into the 'I'm better than you game'. Rise above comments like this. Concentrate on what you are doing, and what you love. It doesn't matter what they think, just keep giving, and respect will fall your way.

Everyone is different.

It is up to the audience to decide whom they like, and people's opinions are different. Some people like chalk, and some people like cheese, it is the way of the world. You cannot please everyone, so even if someone prefers another magician at school over you it doesn't matter. There are billions of people in the world, so there are many more you can please!

What to say.

I understand that this can be a tough situation, but the best thing you can do for you and your magic, is to not get bogged down with it. If someone says they are better than you, simply say, 'ok, that's good!' if it doesn't rattle you, or bother you, then there is no ammo for them anymore . They will realise they are not in a race or competition with you.

If someone says 'so and so is better than you' just say, 'that's cool, they practice lots, I'll keep going though!' Statements like that pop their bubble and there is nowhere for them to go. People only make statements like that to get a reaction, and if it doesn't bother you then they realise they cannot affect you. They may even respect you more for remaining kind about the other person.

The best piece of advice I can give you is to stay true to yourself. Keep practicing your magic. Focus on what you love (even if it isn't magic), and don't worry about other people and what they are doing. Build a magic act with magic tricks that work well together, and focus on your own development. You will soon see that it really doesn't matter who is the best magician.

How to Stop Feeling Guilt When Doing Magic Tricks and Sleight of Hand

by Dominic Reyes Leave a Comment

Ben Williams suggests ways to reduce feelings of guilt when performing close-up magic tricks and sleight of hand.

Guilt is something every person has to deal with at some point when studying sleight of hand and magic tricks. Simply because you have to lie to your spectators faces about what you are doing sometimes. Simple statements like, ‘we’ll lose your card in the deck’ or, ‘if I place the coin in my hand’ sound easy to say. However, these statements can be tougher to say convincingly whilst performing your sleight of hand.

Telegraphing.

Another common issue with guilt can be the guilt of performing sleight of hand in general. Some moves (especially ones that you worry about performing) may become apparent to a spectator simply because you are telegraphing the fact that you are performing a sleight. You must learn to feel at ease with all the sleights you perform. If you feel guilty when performing a move like a shuttle pass or false transfer it will only give the spectators more chance to catch you out. The more you worry about the move, the more you transmit through non verbal communication that you are doing something fishy.

When you have to perform a move you are worried about, the body tenses up and you may stutter or hesitate. You may even become slightly more withdrawn, and look at the cards, or your hands instead of the spectator. All these subconscious clues tell the spectator that something dodgy is about to happen. Relax and believe you are doing what they think you are doing, and it will all become easier and more enjoyable!

The solution to magicians guilt.

If you have guilt about doing something secretly in your pocket, like load a box, or switch an item, and you really don’t want to draw attention to it, then there really is only one answer for this: practice! Practice the load or switch over and over again, and also make sure you practice in the clothing you will be performing in. If you practice in baggy clothing, and are wearing tighter clothing when you perform it can really make a difference with the handling. Use pocket managment. Try to look at where things are in your pockets, or if there is another pocket you have that it would work equally well with but be less fiddly. If you are fidgeting and people pay attention to it, simply joke and say, 'sorry I am not being rude, I just have so many things in my pockets, like fairy dust, and whatchamacallits. I cannot find my little box!' A simple comment like that, and they will be thinking you have all manner of things in your pockets, so the fidgeting is now justified. People don't really know what a magician has in their pockets! You can help to draw attention away from your pockets by asking the spectators to do something at the same time. Ask the spectator a question, or hand them something like the deck of playing cards to shuffle. Any action will buy you a few more critical seconds.

Once you are practiced, and up to speed with all of your sleight of hand and routines then all you need to do is perform, the guilt will disappear. You can always justify it by telling yourself that you cannot give someone the wonderful experience of magic without a little white lie here and there!