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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
About the Author:
Magic is joy. Learn more styles and show, enjoy more magic. This article, Different Types Of Magic Tricks is released under a creative commons attribution license.
