Different Types Of Magic Tricks

Magicians have mystified and amazed the masses for hundreds of years. There are innumerable magic tricks of various genres and new ones are being invented most every day. People all ages, backgrounds and lifestyles love to be made to believe the unbelievable.

Learning to effectively perform magic is not an easy task and students of the art will literally spend years perfecting their craft. Most magicians tend to pick one or two styles of trick and concentrate on becoming masters of the task. Practitioners may share tips with each other and use feedback to tweak a new idea.

The Magician's Code is an understood directive that secrets of the trade are never to be shared with the general public as it would completely ruin the wonder of the show. The secrets and techniques are important and must be mastered to be effective, but the true power of the magic is in the showmanship. The methods by which the performer manipulates the audience will depend largely on their chosen genre.

There are some tricks, like those involving a normal deck of playing cards, that anyone can perform with very little practice once they understand the technical aspects behind it. These are known as being self-working because the basics never change and they rarely ever fail. Performances that rely on specially designed props like a fixed coin or fake thumb are referred to as gimmicks. The key to their effectiveness is depending on the magician's misdirection and concealment coming off as planned.

A very popular genre of the trade is close-up performance which is often performed on the street using everyday objects. The magician can even use objects borrowed from audience members because their success in not in the props used, but rather in the performer's skill at misdirection and manipulation. Commonly referred to as slight-of-hand, this style is very difficult to master, yet captivated on-lookers rarely fail to be amazed and craving more.

Platform, or Stage performers are a very well known type of magician. This group includes illusionist who specialize in doing shows on a grand level that usually involve mirrors, hidden compartments and several assistants. Levitation, disappearing ladies and sawing someone is half are some of the more popular pieces performed in this style.

Escape artist have a style that relies on both actual physical skills and gimmickry. They must be physically fit and flexible enough to do stunts that most people would never be able to achieve. Just as important as their strength are their props which include items such as hidden keys and tricked out locks. This form takes the talents of misdirection, manipulation and illusion to a more dramatic level of performance.

Mentalists often use a type of illusion to convince crowds that they can tell the future, read minds or even talk to the dead. The shows rely on the performer's talent for dramatic flair and creative storytelling. What they are actually doing is using their skill at reading subtle changes in body language and taking clues from their subjects to make educated guesses.

The most important success secret of any magician is practice. No performer in the trade ever started at the top. They all started with simple magic tricks and worked their way up to perfection in their chosen style of craft.


Different Styles Of Magic Tricks

Through the ages, practitioners of the magical crafts have entertained crowds of people and left them awestruck. There are several styles of magic tricks and their numbers are steadily increasing as performers become ever more creative. Pleasing people of all ages and life sets is what makes perfecting this craft worth the effort.

Students of magic will spend years learning to perform a trick to ultimate perfection. Because there are so many different styles of tricks, many magicians will chose one, possibly two, types that they wish to master and then concentrate on them exclusively. It is not uncommon for performers in the same genre to work together to come up with new ideas.

The one code by which all magicians are expected to abide is to never share trade secrets with members of the general population. The real magic is in the mystery and it is important for a performer to finely home their showmanship talents and techniques. Style and methods of manipulation are determined by the magical genre chosen.

Tricks that can be performed by almost anyone who knows the technicalities behind it are known as self-working. They take very little skill and almost never fail because the constants never change. This genre includes quarters that disappear behind the ear and manipulating everyday playing cards. Gimmicks are performances that need special props like fake coins and depend on the magician's skills at concealing and misdirecting the audience's attention.

On the streets, magicians perform close-up magic. Success in this genre is completely reliant on the performer's talent for misdirection and manipulation. The props used in these tricks are common objects often borrowed directly from members of the audience. A common name for this type is slight of hand. One of the more difficult styles to master because of its up close proximity, it is guaranteed to please a crowd when successfully performed.

Stage and Platform magicians perform their task on a grand stage with pyrotechnics, assistants and special lighting. Often called Illusionists, these performers use special props such as mirrors and hidden compartments. They successfully pull off stunts like making someone float, disappear or miraculously reform after being sawed in half.

To be a success as an escape artist, one must have incredible physical skill as well as an actual bag of tricks. Escaping a straight jacket or a huge fish tank bound with padlocks and chains does take a talent for flexibility and body control, but it is just as dependent on the right rigged prop and hidden keys. These performers take misdirection, illusion and manipulation to their most dramatic level.

Another type of illusionist is the Mentalist. This art uses tell-tale body language signals and subtle hints given by a particular audience member to convince the crowd that the performer has the ability to speak to the dead, read minds or predict the future. A flair for the dramatic is a must in this field.

All magicians start with simple magic tricks and hone their skills gradually. Practice is the key to perfecting their talent. A great performer never stops trying to improve.


Various Genres Of Magic Tricks

Throughout history people have been mystified by the unknown. Every day new magic tricks are being created and added to the thousands that already exist. The allure of this craft will never fade because the masses will always be fascinated and trilled by the talents of magicians.

Perfecting a skill for performing magical mysteries does not happen by chance. Students of the craft will spend years learning to hone their talents to their fullest. That is why most magicians will stick to performing no more than two genres of tricks. They often confer with each other to create new material.

Magicians follow a code of conduct that states that they will not share trade secrets with people who are not members of the magic society. It is important for them to have superior techniques and skills but the real mystique comes from a performer's talent for showmanship. Each genre will have individual methods that work best for manipulating an audience.

Self-working tricks are those that can be done by anyone who learns the technicalities of the move. These take no real talent because the rules never change. They can be done with a regular deck of playing cards. Other performances that require a prop that has been been specifically designed for the task are known as gimmicks. Success depends on how well the magician can conceal the prop and misdirect the audience's attention.

Close-up performances are the type that are commonly performed on the streets or at parties. There are no trick props but the magician must be a master at slight of hand and misdirection. Items used are every day things often borrowed right from the spectators. Performers must also have a great flair for keeping the audience mesmerized and their attention directed exactly where it should be for optimum effect, and a talent for showmanship that leaves them begging for more.

Stage performers, sometimes referred to as Platform Artist, are the well-known theatrical performers of major entertainment hubs. Routinely called Illusionists, these magicians specialize in extravagant stage set-ups involving flashy lights, pyrotechnics, beautiful assistants, suspenseful music and colorful props. Bits such as levitation, disappearances and body separations are performed using deceptive props and mirrors.

Perhaps the most dramatic and heart stopping brand of magic belongs to the escape artist. They require both great acting ability, unique physical prowess as well as their own special gimmicks. These performers achieve death-defying feats that the average person would never dare dream to attempt. While the audience stares with wide eyes and bated breath, the magician uses his unique skills and special tools to succeed at an exciting last minute escape.

Mentalists are often mislabeled as mind readers. That is because their skill lies in being able to create a dramatic atmosphere while reading the subtle body language changes of the audience members. They use these hints and specialized acting skills to convince the crowd that they can read thoughts, tell futures and contact lost loved ones.

No matter what the chosen genre may be, all magicians share one common trait - lots of practice. No one was perfect on their first attempt. They never stop practicing and creating magic tricks in their quest for perfection.



