Visual Sleight of Hand Techniques to do with Coins or Rings – Ratings

Clint asks:

'I would like some really visual slight of hand techniques that I can do with coins or rings. While I have some experience with cups and balls, linking rings, and card tricks, I am pretty new to pure slight of hand.'

Adding some a few routines or even a small 'bridge section' into your act, that involves some sure sleight of hand with everyday objects such as rings or coins, can both impress your audiance and add balance to your act. I'll suggest some of the best visual sleight of hand routines to consider adding to your act, but first, a warning..

Being Consistant

Visual sleight of hand techniques take a great deal of practice to master, so it's important to take the time to choose sleights or magic routines carefully, so your time is effectivly used.

Have you ever seen Derren Brown suddendy launch into a coin coin flourish routine in the middle of his show? How about Dynamo Magician Impossible performing Hippity Hoppity Rabbits? These magicians have a consistant image that they reinforce by the types of magic tricks they perform. In your magic, we recommend that you do the same. The magic tricks you choose to learn should complement your existing material. If your card magic tends to have a gambling theme, them adding in some coin magic, or poker chip tricks, will keep the act 'on theme'. Conversly, if you have a high degree of comedy running through your presentations, then a sudden display of card fourishing, whilst looking inpressive, will not 'fit' with your act. Make sure you choose magic tricks that work together to tell a greater story, or communicate a common message about your act in general.

Here's 5 of the most popular visual sleight of hand teaching guides that professional magicians order from the magic shop:

World Class Manipulation Jeff McBride

Jeff McBride is one of the most famous sleight of hand magicians in the world. His complete understanding of sleight of hand magic is first class. As a teacher, he is an engaging and enthusiastic speaker on the meaning of magic and its place the world. In this DVD, Jeff teaches techniques of the master sleight of hand experts. Jeff walks you step by step through a wide range of techniques. A lifetime of sleight of hand can be mastered with this DVD.

Ring Thing

Although this isn't hardcore sleight of hand, it gets the same reaction from the public. It's a fast and easy way to introduce sleight of hand manipulation into your working set. David Blaine, Jeff McBride and Gregory Wilson among others speak very highly of Ring Thing, with good reason!

It’s a fast, visual, ring magic routine that can be performed anywhere. You remove your finger ring, throw it back at your hand , and it instantly returns to your finger!

Sick – By Ponta the Smith

Fancy mastering some serious coin magic? This is a coin magic DVD teaching how to make coins smoothly disappear, reappear and change right in front of peoples faces. Working in just one of these sleight of hand techniques can lift the whole of your act to a new level.

De Ring

This without doubt the most awesome teaching guide for ring manipulation that you can own. De'vo's ring sleight of hand is simply stunning. De'vo has been performing ring manipulation for over 20 years. The style and technique taught will have you in disbelief! Finger ring magic, taught by the finest sleight of hand expert in the field.

Contact by Tyas Frantz – DVD

In Contact Juggling, balls are rolled across your hands and body in visually attractive patterns. Many magicians are starting to adopt this skill to build into their magic. Producing a ball by magic, then having it come to life and dance around the magician, before vanishing again.

Contact Jugglers use a range of objects from pens to tennis balls. The most common object is a 3" acrylic ball. Contact balls are clear, so they don't seem to be spinning. This allows the magician to produce a visual effect wherein the balls seem to be moving or floating across the body. It's that effect that sparks the interest of magicians to Contact Juggling.

What have we missed?

Those are the most popular training guides for sleight of hand with everyday objects. However, there is a huge range of excellent material on the market. What would you suggest? Leave a comment in the section below:

Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic Wants Young Magicians for CBBC

by Merchant of Magic Leave a Comment

Be part of CBBC’s ‘Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic!’

Are you inbetween the ages of 7 and 15? Do you LOVE magic? Would you like to be a part of a TV series on magic?

If the answer to all of these three questions is yes then pay attention closely, as we have an offer that is quite special that doesn’t come along very often.

We have been contacted to help CBBC find a new Wannabe Wizard for the show Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic. The Wannabe Wizard is a part of the show which they showcase the talents of young magicians. You send in a video of yourself performing a magic trick and it gets played on the show!

This could be your chance to get your first airing on TV! CBBC really want to make this part of the show varied and fun, but most of all they wish to show off the talents of all the young magicians out there.

If you are interested in having a go at taking part in this great offer then please visit this link and follow the instructions to see how you could be part of Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/help/tvhelp/help-my-supply-teacher-is-magic.shtml

The Closing Date for entries is 31st January 2014

Top 10 Signs That You Are In Love With Magic

by Dominic Reyes 1 Comment

You've been practicing a few magic tricks and enjoyed entertaining your family and friends; But now you can't stop thinking about magic!

In order to help you figure out what is happening, we have compiled the following top 10 ways to know you're in love with magic:

Number 10

You've forgotten your previous hobbies.
Do you find yourself wanting to spend more and more time practicing your magic, at the cost of your other interests? If you find that your regular sessions at the gym, or your music practice are suddenly an inconvenience that is eating up your 'practice time' it's a clear sign that you are developing a magic obsession.

Number 9

You can't stop thinking about magic tricks.

Do you find yourself thinking about magic, presentations, and patter lines all day long? In the shower, whilst driving, or even when you are tailing behind your partner in department stores? If every waking moment is filled with thoughts of magic or ideas for new tricks, its a good sign that you are in love with magic.

Number 8

You care about magic.

There is a reason why you don't want to know the history of the band you went to see recently: you don't love it. When you're in love with something, you want to know all about it: It's history, it's community, what makes it work. You truly care about it, and it's popularity and future.

Number 7

You don't care about the quirks and geekiness of magic.

Even wearing a playing card tie doesn't seem so terrible. You wouldn't do it yourself, but can understand the temptation.

Number 6

You have great chemistry.

You can't be in love with something that you have no chemistry with. You are beginning to think like a magician, and think in similar ways to other magicians, that's a good sign. You can sit down with anyone who is interested in magic and chat to them for hours.

Number 5

You start seeing magic everywhere.

Suddenly, you start to notice adverts for local magicians, when you are out and about. The TV listings start to seem to have more magic that usual, and you start spotting magicians performing when you visit restaurants and pubs. You automatically switch to become 'open' to seeing magic performed all around you.

Number 4

You love spending time practicing.

You look forward to practicing, and don't care much about what else you could be doing. Lately, just sitting on your own with a deck of cards sounds like the best way you could spend an evening.

Number 3

You cram everything into one pocket, so you have room to carry magic props.

Pocket management suddenly becomes all consuming. You start looking at little bags to carry magic tricks and coin holders for your gimmicked coins. You start carrying a sharpie pen with you at all times.

Number 2

Other priorities take a backseat.

You used to train religiously, but lately, if you have a new magic DVD, you don't mind missing a workout. Not only that, but your workaholic drive of take home your work on weekends, seems like an unwise lifestyle choice.

Your to-do list seems to have become filled with new moves to learn and tricks to purchase and learn.

Number 1

You start planning about the future and magic is in it.

You start dreaming of turning your love for magic into a career. You find yourself looking at professional magicians websites online and reading about performing commercially. In the future, you want to make an income from magic, perhaps as a side line at first, but the thought of the lifestyle of a professional magician seems like a dream job.

When planning your next holiday, you know you want to build in magic somehow. A holiday to Vegas has taken over from the beach as your dream destination. Your future plans seem to have changed to include magic as much as possible.

It's love!

If you find yourself identifying with most of the above signs, there's a good chance you are in love with magic, rather than it being just a passing phase. If that's the case, congratulations! This is a lifelong love affair that will bring you more happiness than you could ever believe. Jump right in and welcome the obsession!