How do Magicians Force Playing Cards – Questions and Answers

Paul sent us the following question about how to learn to force playing cards:

'When reading instructions and finding something like 'use a force of your choice' or 'control the card to the bottom of the deck'. In theory, I know what both of those mean, but I'm yet to find a resource – particularly for forcing – for learning techniques that seem genuinely convincing.

Can you suggest something to me from which to learn some convincing forces and also a good tutorial on card controls? Thank you!' – Paul H

Paul, You're not along getting frustrated when you come across the phrase 'use a force of your choice' or 'use your favourite force'. We think that a magic tricks instructions should explain at least a basic force if the magic trick requires it.

The good news is that there are loads of ways to learn how to force playing cards correctly.

Solution 1 : Download this Magic Hands Tuition Download : Essential Forces

Solution 2 : Learn from a DVD. There are many good DVDs that cover the basic forces. A good one that will teach you a large range of controls, as well as the right way to use a hindu and riffle force is Born to Perform.

Solution 3 : Learn from a book : Just like DVD's there are a huge range of magic books that will teach you the basic forces. We tend to go with the most highly regarded source for beginners to learn the core sleights of card magic The Royal Road to Card Magic

You have a huge range of forces to choose from, but we would sugest learning and mastering the riffle force as your first project. Follow that up with the Hindu Force, before moving on to work on mastering a Classic Force over time. Thise three forces should provide you will all the technique you need for almost any force condition.

How to Get Work as a Teen Magician – Problems and Answers

by Dominic Reyes Leave a Comment

Seth is a teenage magician who is not sure how to get work performing magic. He asked the Merchant of Magic community for some advice:

My name is Seth and I am letting you know what I am struggling with right now in my magic career. First of all, I am 14 years old and have been doing magic for a few years now. I have performed and placed in a few talent shows in my area. The problem I am having is getting gigs as a teen magician. If you could help me with this I would really appreciate it.

HI Seth

It's great news that you are looking to advance your magic away from private practice, and start performing for the public, but you need to look at the larger picture. There's no rush. At your stage of training, you are still quite young to get much commercial work. The key goal for you is to focus on developing your 'performing style' and technique as you build up sets of working material. There's plenty of time to turn your passion into a business. I don't know you personal situation, but it's likely that you are being supported financially by your parents. That's a situation you only get for a small part of your life ( unless you have a trust fund), so use this time to relax about getting an income from magic. You have no bills to pay, so magic can just be about learning and discovering who you really are. That will push your magic forward far more than any new magic technique or sleight.

That being said, experience is also very important. How do you get experience performing for the public, if you have difficulty getting paid work? For many young magicians, the answer is focusing on magic clubs. At magic clubs (you can be a member of more than one) you can perform in competitions, network with the magic community and take part in open evenings and dinners organised by the club. It's a great way to develop your knowledge of magic and get experience performing for a live audience. Becoming well known in the magic competition world is also a possible gateway to further oppotunities as you become well known.

Another avenue to explore is the volentary sector. Contact local fund raising groups and introduce yourself. Perform at local charity events and nursing/ community homes to gain experience and get your name out locally.

Remember that there is no rush. You can build in paid performances over time, perhaps to suppliment your later study if you decide to go into further education. I funded my university course and lifestyle while a poor student by starting to take on paid gigs. That may be a more appropriate time in your life to start generating an income from you magic. It's very important that you concentrate on your school studies. Perhaps add courses that relate to magic and the performing arts. Also, build as much knowledge as you can about sales and marketing related subjects. Business studies is a good course to consider. You have plenty of time to work on sleight of hand over the years, but only have a small window of time to get the best grades you can with free education. If you perform magic commercially, you become a business owner as well as a performer. Any skills you can learn that will help you there, will give you a competative edge.

Good subjects that relate to magic:

English
Maths
Design and Realisation : Woodwork, Mental and plastic work
IT
Drama
Science
Business Studies

There are a lot of magicians who neglected their studies to focus on sleight of hand. You have the chance to get great grades, and be taught subjects that will help you in the creative and business side of magic right now, sleight of hand can be added later.

Keep practicing!

– See more at: https://blog.magicshop.co.uk/2013/12/get-work-teen-magician-problems-answers.html#comment-3937

HI Seth

The chicken and the egg.

Your community.

Use your school.

Good subjects that relate to magic:

English
Maths
Design and Realisation : Woodwork, Mental and plastic work
IT
Drama
Science
Business Studies

Keep practicing!

Hope this helps you

Dominic Reyes

Do you have any advice for Seth? How should he start out getting experience as a magician? If you faced the same problems as Seth, how did you overcome them?

Share your ideas in the comments section below:

When is the Best Time to Perform Magic Tricks at a Dinner Party?

by Dominic Reyes 1 Comment

By Ben Williams

Ben want's to know the best time to perform magic tricks at a dinner party:

I was asked to go and perform my magic to guests at an Xmas party in a hotel I work for. It was table to table; each table had about 10 people. But I wasn't sure when would be the best time to perform? I think it should be Between the courses of the meal. There was a DJ booked for after the meal, so the lights were going to go down and everyone would get up to dance. So, I was not 100% sure when would have been a good time to go round. When would you recommend close up magicians should perform?

That’s a great question Ben. Timing at an event is something that many magicians come up against.

To begin with, you are there to enhance people's evenings. The guests are not there specifically for a magic show, so you have to make sure that you fit in with everything, but do not disrupt the flow of their evening.

Don’t compete with the food.

It’s not a good idea to perform during the main course; the guests should be able to enjoy their food. Polite people will watch you and let their food go cold, and everyone else will eat their food, but you will not have their full attention, either way it is a lose – lose situation.

Perform to a table or two as soon as the guest sit down. Speak with the waiting staff and find out which tables are being served first, then start with the tables that are being served last. This way you will get some applause from these tables so everyone else will know something is going on, and it will set the night off well.

Ration your tables.

Count your tables, and look at how much time you have to perform for them. You can then calculate the average amount of time you can spend at each table. Do not forget to factor in the main course and reset time. For example, if you have guests sitting down at 7:30 and the DJ begins at 9, you have 1 1/2 hours maximum. If you discount 15 minutes, (to be safe) for the main course, then that is now 75 minutes. If there are 10 tables, then that is 7 1/2 minutes per table which should be reduced down to 6 minutes so as to account for any reset time or disturbances.

Pacing the magic tricks.

In this situation, perform something quick to begin with, and then follow with a couple of magic tricks that are short and fun, and have an impossible climax. Magic tricks like a Drawing Duplication, Bill in Orange or Ring Flight work well to end a set like this.

A general rule of thumb is to not perform during the main course. Perform during the starter, desserts, and coffees if it is necessary for timings. You can work a room so that you begin with the tables that are last to be served; this means that the first tables will be almost finishing their starter when you are finishing with the later tables.

Get some friends on in your team.

If you speak with the waiting staff, show them a trick or two and befriend them then they will help you out rather than nudge you out of the way if they have to serve something to the table whilst you are in mid trick!

Find out the agenda.

Be sure to check if there are any speeches or any other disturbances that may interrupt the meal, as you will have to factor this in as well. This is question worth asking at the time of the booking so that the client knows that there may be an extra fee if they wish you to stay on longer.

The early bird.

It can be tricky making sure you see everyone and make sure everyone has a great time but if you arrive at your venue with enough time and ask the right questions when booking your gig then you will be able to easily work out timings, make sure you get to see everyone, and receive rapturous applause from the whole room!