We discuss how to build your magic tricks into magic sets that flow together. Constructing a magic act.

One of the most common questions our magicians get asked is how to order magic tricks into sets for performing to the public. Let’s look at the types of magic tricks that can be built into working magic sets, and how to order them into your act to get the best results.

Getting ready.

The first step is to understand what kind of magician you are. Do you enjoy comedy magic? Perhaps you prefer a more serious style, featuring hard hitting mentalism? Your magic style should dictate the shape and style the magic sets, and how you will be perceived by your audience. Take time to decide exactly which style of presentation would suit you best. Choose tricks that compliment and communicate the ‘style of magician’ you want to be.

Once you have a style, it’s time to build magic sets. We will build 3 magic sets, each containing 3 magic tricks. The three sets will each have a different pace, designed for specific parts of an event, and types of spectator.

Set one: The approach.

Magic Trick 1) The Impression.

The first magic trick will be your opener. This is the trick you will use when you join the first group of the evening. It needs to be quick, with a goal of capturing the attention. The magic trick must show that you are professional and skilled. When you join your first group, they may not know that a magician has been booked, so may not have anticipation of the magic they are going to see. Choose a magic trick that requires little initial attention. Think quick, fast, and impressive! A simple coin routine works well in this position, especially a 3 fly coins across. Perhaps a colour change card trick with a little flourish built in? If you use comedy, make sure you get a laugh with a strong line. The aim is to make everyone notice, and focus on the magic as quickly as possible.

Magic Trick 2) The Build.

After your opener magic trick, you will have the group engaged with your magic. This is the time to perform a longer trick that will stand up to focused attention. You are now interacting with the group. Start using spectators names, and get them involved. It’s this point that will most often have new spectators joining the group to see what is going on. Open up the circle if you can. Involve a few spectators, and look for magic that takes place in their hands. This could be a strong card routine, an expanded sponge balls set, chop cup routine. The aim is to relate to the group and expand it.

Magic Trick 3) The Shout Out.

Your final magic trick in this set should cause people to freak out. The aim is to have people getting noisy about what they have just seen. The goal is to capture the attention of other people in the room. Go for a magic trick that blows people away, and gets a round of applause, or some high fives. A bill in lemon, an omni deck, a bottle through table. This trick is a closer, so should end in an applause cue stance, with your arms open.

Keep it to three.

Each set should contain maybe 3 tricks. You want people to remain hungry for more. Explain that you need to visit everyone, but will show them more later.

Set Two : The group next door.

This set follows set 1 as you move to a group nearby. It may be the case that some of the first group will follow you as they want to see more. The new group may have watched a little of you magic from a distance as they heard the reactions form the first group. You now need a new set of magic tricks to perform for the new group.

Magic Trick 1) Moving house.

You are already warmed up, and the reactions you have been getting from your first set, will have been notices around the room. This first magic trick also needs to be quick and capture the attention. This magic set doesn't need to demonstrate your abilities as much as the first trick in set 1. A three card monte works well in this position, or an ambitious card routine. Short, punchy, and lots of climaxes and the secret to opener tricks. Your aim here is to move to the new group and get them engaged quickly to keep the buzz about you going from the first groups reactions.

Magic Trick 2) The Meat.

Now is the perfect position for a more meaty routine. Perhaps some mind reading, metal bending or a levitation routine. Play to the whole group and expand it. Card magic works well here as you could do a multiple selection routine such as the MRD deck by Liam Montier.

Magic Trick 3) The Big One.

To end the second set, we recommend that you hit them hard with a signature piece that will cause a stir. Ring flight, ring in walnut, bottle through body. Something that makes everyone applaud and freak out.

Set Three) The Circus.

You’re in the middle of the room and at a point where a large group is all around you. Most of the people have already seen your magic from sets 1 and 2. This set is almost like a theatre show.

Magic Trick 1) Helpers.

Use 2 or 3 helpers for a routine and bring them into the center of the group. In the hands chop cup routine, a rope routine like fiber optics extended, or a mind reading routine may be perfect here.

Magic Trick 2) Comedy.

Look for a magic trick that allows a few of the spectators to be comic if their personalities suit this. A street hypnosis routine, or an arm bend/twist routine would work well here.

Magic Trick 3) The Closer.

To end The circus set, you need your most dramatic closer. Something that gets 3-4 people joining you to help. Bring in some interaction from tables near you as well, and address the whole room. At the end, go for an applause stance. If you are performing to a single table, have the guests stand during the trick as this is a feature effect and should aim to be as visible as possible.

It's about pace.

So there you have three sets of magic tricks. Each set designed to be used at a different point in an event. You repeat sets 1 and 2 around the room, working towards the middle of the room, stage, or towards a top table. If you have the whole rooms attention, set 3 brings everything to a climax.

The pace for each set is different. Building from fast and flashy, to engaged and interactive.

Once you understand the flow and goal of your magic sets, it becomes much easier to choose new magic tricks to include, and to be able to order the magic tricks you already know, to be positioned within your sets to get the most out of them.

Does the World Really Need Another Magician Doing Close Up Magic Tricks?

by Merchant of Magic Leave a Comment

By Dominic Reyes

Too Many Magicians doing Close Up Magic?

Does the world really need another magician going out and performing close up magic? That’s a common topic of conversation between working magicians. Close Up Magic has never been more popular, both as a performing art and as a private hobby. Should we be worried about a diluted market for live magic?

Does the world need another book or painting?

There are millions of books and paintings in the world. Far more than any person could hope to encounter or even archive. That doesn’t reduce their worth or value. In the same way, the popularity of magic and it’s availability isn’t reduced by its rarity. Being entertained is an insatiable desire. People don’t care how common place a form of entertainment is, only that it IS entertaining. If rarity had anything to do with is, then nobody would be interested in watching movies or listening to music. The value of any entertainment is in its quality. You could say, ‘Does the world need another bad magician?’ Then the answer would be yes, but quality is always in demand.

Perceptual Vigilance

When you buy a new car, you will start seeing that same make and model everywhere.

It’s a psychological effect called Perceptual Vigilance and has been demonstrated in many studies. Psychologists are interested in this because it’s evidence that we process visual information about our surroundings at an unconscious level, BEFORE we become aware of doing do. There is so much data in the world. Our minds fade out information that is common place or not relevant to us, and instead, draws attention and focus to information that is useful or relevant.

Chances are you are just like me and are totally obsessed with magic. It’s become your passion and you work at improving your skills at every chance possible. You seek out friends who also love magic. You read books on the subject, watch magic DVD’s and practice your close up magic tricks like crazy. Because of this, you will have perceptual vigilance about magic. You probably will be the first to notice magic sets on sale as you walk around a superstore. Dlites for sale in Toys are Us, and that many family restaurants have a ‘magic night’. You will spot magic shows being advertised on TV far more often that non magicians. Because of this ‘tuned in to magic’ view of the world, it’s easy to assume magicians are everywhere and common place. The truth is that most people are as blind to magicians being all around then as they are to everything else.

If you want proof of this, read some books on ventriloquism, watch some shows and read some blogs on the subject for a week or so. You will start noticing how much more popular it has ‘suddenly’ become.

The life cycle of magicians on Youtube

Try typing in ‘how to do magic tricks’ in Youtube, it my depress you. You will find countless children performing close up magic tricks in their bedrooms with varying degrees of success. It’s easy to conclude that ‘the games had it’. However, that’s not the case. Ever since, the first magic sets were sold to kids, they have been playing with them in their bedroom. The only different is that they film their play, and put it on Youtube for their friends to watch. Nothing has changed, only our ability to watch kids at play.

The life cycle of a beginner in magic is, on average, 6 months. After half a year, most people with a casual interest in close up magic tricks move on to their next new hobby. If they continue past 6 months, there is a second drop off point after 2 years. Every day, hundreds of people discover magic, and hundreds forget about it. It’s a constant renewing cycle, and on the whole is a good thing. Out of this ‘churn’ rises a handful of magicians that continue to develop and become excellent. It’s just like panning for gold. The more full pans of sand, the more nuggets of gold get found. The sand will simply drop back into the river.

When you see kids or amateur magicians performing close up magic tricks, smile to yourself. It shows that magic is alive and has a future.

Magic Tricks for Kids Vs. Magic Sets for Kids – Buyers Guide and Reviews

by Merchant of Magic 1 Comment

Choosing the right magic tricks for kids can be a real challenge. The easy option should simply be to go for magic sets for kids rather than individual magic tricks. However, even this option can bring you face to face with a wide range of magic tricks to choose from. We will take a look at some of the best magic sets available, as well as individual magic books, magic DVD’s, and stand alone magic tricks for kids, so you have all the different choices laid out for you. But first, let’s look at the goals to aim for when choosing the right magic tricks.

Easy to follow instructions:
Ideally magic tricks should have an instructional DVD included. Magic DVD’s aren’t essential, as long as the magic tricks instructions are clear with lots of illustrations, but they do help. You can always sit down with your child and work through the method together. It’s a bonding experience you can share together.

A simple, clear and easy to understand presentation and premise:
Magic tricks for kids of a younger age, should have a simple easy to follow ‘story line’. Multi-phase magic tricks tend to have a lot of stages, so keeping the method simple, means your child can focus on his or her magic presentation and drama skills.

Clear age suitability ratings:
Magic sets will generally have an age range advertised. However, individual magic tricks, magic books and magic DVD’s may not. If in doubt, ask the magic dealer. Good magic dealers will be happy to tell you if particular magic tricks or magic sets would be suitable for your child’s age.

Safety tested parts for small children:
If you are choosing magic tricks for kids under 3, it’s very important that you check the props have been safety tested and don’t have very small parts that could be a choking hazard. Many magic sets are produced outside of the EU and imported into the country. Make sure you check with the magic dealer that the magic tricks have been rated and certified.

Transferable magic skills:
Some magic tricks for beginners are self working, others will require your child to learn basic sleight of hand techniques. When choosing magic tricks for kids, try to select those that will teach the core techniques of magic and misdirection. Totally self working magic tricks are fine, but don’t develop your kids skills in magic. Good magic sets will contain a mixture of self working tricks and those that will require more work. Magic tricks such as The Cups and Balls are easy to follow and learn, but continue to develop as your child becomes more experienced. The best magic tricks for kids are those that can be simple or complex depending on how technical the magician wants to be with the props.

Magic sets for kids Vs. Individual magic tricks for kids

Going for magic sets gives you a wide range of magic tricks to choose from, but you have little or no choice as to the magic tricks included in the magic sets. Some tricks will be great, and other just ‘fillers’. Magic sets tend to include a lot of small plastic magic props that older children will find childish.

Individual magic tricks allows you to pick exactly the magic tricks your child will learn, but requires more guidance from the magic dealer to pick appropriate items. It can also be much more expensive, as magic sets tend to give you a lot more tricks for the money.

We generally recommend a magic set for kids up to age 9. Older children may be better suited to individual magic books, magic tricks and instructional magic DVD’s.