Info Magician

Anyone interested in the mysterious and exciting world of magic need not look any further than the World Wide Web to discover the tricks of the trade. Many people know famous magicians such as David Copperfield, Siegfried and Roy, and Lance Burton and wonder how these men have managed to keep the art of magic fresh and exciting. Most magicians concur that well-honed skills and presentation will win over an audience every time, regardless of whether the trick is known or not. If one can learn his or her craft well and master the art of showmanship, than the chance for success is very likely. Now, via the Internet, computer users can access valuable resources that share the history and mystery of magic.

To begin an education in the world of magic, the Web has a selection of tricks of the trade. Many sites sell products or are advertisements for magicians for hire. Because magicians take their craft seriously and do not want to reveal their secrets to the masses, online resources that provide an education in magic are limited, but priceless. A popular trend to reveal the secrets of the trade on national television has forced magicians to go to a whole new level of magic, further encouraging their secrecy.

A good introduction for the beginner or a forum for the professional is The Magic Pages, a site that offers step-by-step directions for developing magic skills. Other web sites provide an overview of the world of magic, including its history and rich tradition. Whatever the reason for wanting to explore the world of magic, be it to discover its secrets or to become a master of the trade, the World Wide Web is an excellent tool for conducting your research.

Money Magic - Coin click
The magic effect:
You start this magic trick by placing a coin onto the palm of a volunteers outstretched hand, then with the click of your fingers the coin will seem to have vanished in an instant, this magic trick takes quite a bit of practice to perform but when you get it right it is quite an amazing magic trick.

What you will need:
To perform this magic trick you will need a coin, long loose sleeves and good accuracy.

How to do the magic:
Take a coin and place it in the palm of a volunteers hand, then tell them you will make the coin disappear with the click of your fingers. Put your hand over the persons hand with your fingers ready to click near the coin, build up the anticipation by counting down from three to one then click your fingers, making sure the force of the click flicks the coin off the volunteers hand and up your sleeve. Raise your arm slightly making sure that the coin doesn’t fall back down your sleeve, if you perform this magic trick well the coin will move to fast for the volunteer to see. Even if you don't manage to get the coin to shoot up your sleeve it should disappear out of site (be careful that you don't hit anyone with the coin projectile) and if there is enough background noise no one will hear it, the problem will be when you try to find it again.

Money Magic - Match box coin, make a coin vanish from a match box

The magic effect:
You take a match box and show your audience that it is empty, then you ask a volunteer to place a coin into the box. You then close the box and shake it from side to side so the audience can hear that the coin is still there. Now for the magic bit, when you open the box the coin has vanished.

What you will need:
Take one ordinary match box and cut a hole in to the bottom of one end, as shown in the animation above, you will also need a coin.

How to do the magic:
Once you have your magic match box with a hole cut into one end, open the box and show your audience that the box is empty (you should be able to separate the two parts of the match box without anyone being able to see that there is a hole in one part, as long as you hold the part with the hole at an angle). Ask a volunteer to put a coin into the box (do not give the box to your volunteer), now close the box and shake it from side to side so as to show the coin is still in the box. Tilt the box up so the coin can slide out into your hand, palm the coin and put it into your pocket while focusing your audiences attention on the match box. Now to finish the magic trick, open the box to reveal that the coin has vanished.

Money Magic - Vanishing coin

The magic effect:
Make any coin vanish, by holding the coin in one hand then it will appear that you have taken it with the other hand but instead it will appear to have vanished. On its own this is a very simple and unimpressive trick but when used as part of more elaborate magic it’s a very useful technique.

What you will need:
To do this trick you will need two hands and one coin.

How to do the magic:
Take a coin between the thumb and forefinger of your left hand then make a fist with your right hand over the coin, as you do this drop the coin into the palm of your left hand. To direct attention to your empty right hand point to it with your left hand, now raise your right hand to the viewer, as you do this loose the coin by dropping it into your pocket, to finish the trick slowly open both empty hands.


Money Magic - Vanishing Tenner

The magic effect:
You show the spectator that you have three ten pound notes in your hands (can be any currency, as long as it is paper notes), then you fold over the notes and count them out onto a table. Magically there are only two notes.

What you will need:
To perform this magic trick all you will need is two tenners and a little practice.

How to do the magic:
This trick takes a bit of practice to perform it well and so it doesn't look daft, also it will work better if you do not to let on that you intend to make one ten pound note disappear, it would be better to say something like ‘here’s a bit of magic using three tenners’ or something similar. You start the trick with one of the notes folded in two under the other flat note, so as to hide the fact that one is folded, then count the three ends. As you do this start to fold the top note around to match the folded one underneath and finally finishing the trick by flattening both notes out to reveal there are only two ten pound notes.

Chad Juros: the Magic of a Cancer Survivor

An accomplished magician at the age of 18, cancer survivor Chad Juros is the official magician for some Philadelphia sports teams and was featured in an episode of Criss Angel's MindFreak.

He is also the founder of Spread the Magic Foundation, an organization that uses magic to help kids with cancer find laughter, joy and hope.

For a young adult of 18, Chad Juros list of accomplishments is impressive. Magic, even.

An episode of Criss Angel's MindFreak featured Chad. He is an official magician for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Philadelphia Eagles Fly organization. He performs at Richard Petty's and Paul Newman's camps for sick kids. He is the youngest magician ever to perform at the White House. He is a finalist in the World Magic Seminar Stage Competition. He was the finalist in the Volvo for Life Award and was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award for the Leukemia Society.

Chad Juros is also the founder of Spread the Magic Foundation, an organization that uses magic to help kids with cancer find laughter, joy and hope. He knows about childhood cancer and the struggles faced when fighting cancer. At the age of three, he was diagnosed with leukemia. At the age of seven, his cancer came back. He needed a transplant, no match could be found. They put Chad on an experimental protocol where he spent 17 months as a hospital inpatient. He suffered cardiac arrest, and for a while, went into a coma. Chad's father taught him magic tricks to distract him from the fear and pain of the grueling ordeal he faced as a child in cancer treatments.

Chad Juros has continued to perfect his magic. He is a remarkable young adult. Inspiring as a cancer survivor, skilled as a magician. You can visit Chad Juros at his website, and learn more about Magic Chad and the Spread the Magic Foundation.

Chad's Story
In 1991, at the age of three, Chad was diagnosed with leukemia. In 1995, at the age of seven, he relapsed. He needed a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of friends, family, and his medical team, no match was found. As a result, doctors decided to try an experimental protocol. For the next 17 months Chad lived as an inpatient in the cancer ward of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. There, he fought the good fight, which included having to learn how to walk and talk again because of the devastating side effects of the drugs that were intended to cure him. Tubes were attached to him so he could breathe and eat. Through the ordeal, he experienced cardiac arrest and coma, and underwent numerous surgeries and multiple blood transfusions.

While he was bravely fighting the battle, his father would use magic to distract Chad from the fear and pain he was enduring. While receiving his treatments, Chad would lie in his hospital bed and practice making magic for hours a day. Each week, his dad would teach him new tricks to master. In 1998, at long last, Chad was released from the hospital. That same year, Chad's dad collapsed and was subsequently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. A respected dentist and local tennis champion, Chad's dad Don deteriorated quickly. In a matter of a few months, he became a three month old trapped in a 41-year-old body. Don died on January 17, 2000, leaving behind Penny, his wife, and his children, Faith and Chad.

The following two years Chad dedicating himself to perfecting his magic act: the legacy his dad had left him. . Chad has performed around the country including: A special invitation by The President of the United States, George W. Bush and our First Lady, Mrs. Laura Bush, at the Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn; The Magic Castle in Hollywood, California; the Philadelphia 76ers; Epcot/Disney World; Richard Petty of NASCAR; Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camps; Ronald McDonald Camps; and for Senator Mike Eman of the country of Aruba. Other performances include: Las Vegas Casinos, Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado; CN 8 - Comcast TV; The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; American Cancer Society and Children's Miracle Network. He has appeared on Criss Angel?s Mind Freak Show for the A&E network and was cast as the young David Copperfield in a primetime TV show. Chad was awarded the Philadelphia 76ers Hometown Hero Award and a college scholarship from the Philadelphia Eagles. He made his own DVD teaching simple magic. Chad was the finalist in the Volvo for Life Award and was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award for the Leukemia Society. Chad is the founder of the Spread the Magic Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that performs magic for pediatric cancer patients (www.spreadthemagic.org).

To this day Chad continues to add the abracadabra to all our lives, as his dad did for his, in the hopes that everyone can find the magic in their lives as he did.

Best known for his television specials and well-promoted physical stunts, David Blaine is among the best known magicians in the world.

He was born David Blaine White in 1973 in Brooklyn, New York and began his magic career performing close-up tricks. After filming his act, he landed his first television special. When he first appeared on television, most magicians had never heard of the young entertainer.

Stunts Vs. Magic:
While the first special, “David Blaine: Street Magic” featured close-up magic performed on the streets of well-known cities, his later specials inspired large-scale physical stunts that Blaine used as promotions, but eventually became the focus of later programs. Blaine has been recognized for making magic appeal to a younger generation.

Buried Alive:
In 1999, Blaine resided for seven straight days inside a glass coffin that was submerged in an open pit in New York City. As he would do in future stunts, spectators were free to walk up and observe him. And the open nature of these stunts would prove to be irresistible to the media. In a sense, Blaine is a modern-day Houdini who may not perform the grand escapes of the master from some 70 years before, but has proven to be a wizard at promotion.

Frozen in Time and Vertigo:
In 2000, Blaine stood in a hollowed-out block of ice in Times Square, New York. He stood in his icy cell for almost 62 hours. In 2002, Blaine stood atop a 90-foot pole in Bryant Park, New York City. Blaine stood on the tiny platform for over 34 hours. At the end of his ordeal, he jumped onto a landing pad that consisted of cardboard boxes.

Fasting:
In his most criticized stunt, in 2003, Blaine began a 44-day fast while suspended in a plexiglass case that was suspended over the south bank of London’s River Thames.

Life in a Fish Bowl:
His most recent stunt, “Drowned Alive,” had Blaine living in a literal fish bowl in front of New York’s Lincoln Center. He resided in his watery sphere, an aquarium for all practical purposes, for seven days and then tried to break the world-record for holding one’s breath (eight-minutes and 58 seconds). After attempting an escape at the same time that he broke the world record, Blaine failed.

Criss Angel was born Christopher Sarantakos on December 19, 1967 in New York. While he experienced considerable success as a live performer, he is best known as the creator and star of Criss Angel Mindfreak, a television series on A&E. The series has run for two years and is entering its third season. Most significantly, Mindfreak has attracted a youthful audience and A&E’s largest ratings ever.

Illusions: In his show, Angel performs illusions, close-up and stand-up magic, escapes and mentalism. Some of his notable effects have included: suspending a woman in the middle of Las Vegas’ Fremont street; sawing himself in half; walking through a glass window; impaling himself on a wrought iron fence; pulling a woman in half; transporting himself from an inverted trash can that was surrounded by numerous people; swallowing a coin and producing it from his wrist and being buried alive.

Escapes and Stunts: His highest profile stunts are his dangerous escapes and physical stunts. In his first season, Angel escaped from a barrel that was hanging seven stories above the ground.

Some of his pure physical stunts have included: hanging from a helicopter via large hooks that had been pierced through the skin in his back; laying on a bed of nails and bearing the weight of a car; lifting a car and allowing himself to be hit with three million volts of electricity. He has a phenomenal team of advisors that includes Johnny Thompson and Banacek.

Magician of the Year: In 2005, Angel was named 2005 Magician of the Year by The Academy of Magical Arts (AMA) at a press event at Hollywood’s Magic Castle.

"Criss Angel is going to be a huge superstar in the world of magic," said Dale Hindman, then, president of the AMA. "I predict that he will eclipse David Copperfield at some point because he is brilliant, he cares about magic and is willing to think outside the box.”

In 2005, Magic & Illusion interviewed Angel. Angel released two instructional DVDs for the magic community that explain two effects performed on his show: Quarter Through Soda Can and Criss Angel Self Levitation.
In a November 2006 announcement, the Luxor Resort and Casino in Las Vegas was named as the home of the third season of “Criss Angel Mindfreak.” Filming began on Monday, November 6, 2006. The first of the shows to air in Spring 2007.

Angel has aspirations as a rock star and was in an industrial band known as Angeldust and has released several music CDs.

Burton Leaves Kentucky for LA: In 1980, shortly after his 20th birthday, Burton wins the "Gold Medal for Excellence" from the International Brotherhood of Magicians and moves to Southern California. Bill and Milt Larsen, the founders of the Magic Castle, feature him in their annual "It's Magic" show and land him an appearance on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson. To date, Burton has appeared on the "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson ten times and appeared five more times with Jay Leno as the host.

Competes and Wins FISM: In 1982, Burton competes in the Olympics of magic, "F.I.S.M." (Fédération International Société de Magie) in Lausanne, Switzerland and wins the "Grande Prix." Burton was both the first American and the youngest performer to be so honored. Burton accepts an eight-week trial engagement at the "Folies Bergere" in Las Vegas.

Burton Stars at the Hacienda: In 1991, Burton produced, directed and wrote his own show, which opened at the Hacienda Hotel and played for five years.

The Mantle of Magic: In 1994, Burton was given the honor of having the "Mantle of Magic" passed to him from Magician Lee Grabel, which allowed him to join "The Royal Dynasty of Magic." This honor, has been passed in an unbroken line beginning from Kellar to Thurston in 1908, to Dante in 1936, to Lee Grabel in 1955 and to Lance Burton.

Monte Carlo Calls: Also in 1994, Burton entered into a contract to star in, produce and direct a new version of his magic show at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino which opened in 1996. This 13-year contract is the longest legal agreement ever given to any entertainer in Las Vegas history. The $27 million Lance Burton Theatre was built especially for him and designed to his specifications.

Burton has been featured in numerous television specials and starred in four network television specials. He has performed for President Reagan, (during his presidency) and was presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, after a Royal Command Performance at London's Palladium Theatre.

The best known and richest magician-he ranks among the wealthiest of all entertainers-David Copperfield is a household name. He is known to millions through his numerous television specials over the last couple of decades and he continues to tour, taking his show around the country.

Takes to Magic: Copperfield was born in New Jersey on September 16, 1956. He started as a ventriloquist and then quickly took to magic. Copperfield became the youngest magician admitted to the Society of American Magicians (SAM). At age 16, he taught a magic course at New York University. When he was 18, Copperfield was cast as the lead in a Chicago production called “The Magic Man.”

Network Magic Specials: His many magic specials have aired on network television over the past two decades, bringing his brand of illusion and magic to millions. Copperfield not only performs with large illusions, his shows typically feature a major magical feat.

Big Scale Magic: Copperfield’s many effects include: making a Lear Jet vanish; causing the Statue of Liberty to disappear and reappear; escaping from a locked cell on Alcatraz; passing through the Great Wall of China; vanishing a train car; flying on stage; escaping from a burning raft before it plunged over Niagra Falls; challenging the Bermuda Triangle and many more.

Magic Collector: Copperfield has one of the largest collections of magic-related props, books and items of historical interest in the world. This collection is housed in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Houdini Lives: Arguably, the most famous entertainer of all time was a magician. Harry Houdini, who died some 80 years ago, is still a household name today. Try to name a contemporary of Houdini from an era that lacked televisions, video and DVDs. Perhaps today, only Charlie Chaplin can compare.

Born in Hungary : Harry Houdini was born “Ehrich Weiss” in Budapest, Hungary on March 24, 1874. Weiss became “Houdini” by naming himself after the famous French magician, Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, the greatest conjuror of the nineteenth century. Weiss added an “i” to “Houdin” to imply “like Houdin.” Weiss was probably unaware that the “Houdin” in “Robert-Houdin” was actually the family name of the magician’s wife. Jean Eugène Robert had added his wife’s name, “Houdin,” to his.

Escaping: Houdini was initially unsuccessful as a magician. Early on, he touted himself as the “King of Cards” and “King of Handcuffs.” And along the way, he met Wilhelmina Beatrice Rahner (Bess), who became his wife and a permanent part of the act.

While Houdini featured some escapes in his early act, another entertainer advised him to focus on escapes, which seemed better suited to Houdini’s stage persona. When Houdini followed this advice, his career eventually flourished.

No Stopping : Seemingly nothing could hold Houdini. He escaped from chains, jail cells, ropes, handcuffs, straitjackets, submerged packing boxes and more. He was legendary for accepting challenges, and in the process, gained an enormous amount of publicity. After his mother passed away, he often exposed fraudulent mediums and psychics and their methods. Spiritualism, a movement that encouraged communication with the dead, was popular during the era.

End of a Career: Houdini died on Halloween, October 31, 1926 of peritonitis that resulted from a ruptured appendix. His condition was aggravated, if not caused, by blows to his mid-section from a college student who wanted to test Houdini’s stated ability to withstand heavy hits, but who attacked before Houdini could properly prepare himself.

Reaching Houdini: In death, spiritualists and mediums tried to reach Houdini who had established a secret code with his wife Bess Houdini. (After all, if anyone could communicate after death, it would be Houdini.) Seances were held for years after his death and are still being held today.

History Behind The Hat: The Story Of The Magician by Jim Kapowski


The concept of magician as entertainer has its roots deep in human history, but mostly dates back to the sixteenth century. Prior to this time, those who practiced magic claimed to have supernatural powers. When this idea clashed with Christianity in the Western world, new magicians, who entertained audiences, emerged.

Chevalier Joseph Pinetti impressed audiences in the late 1700s with his tricks as an escapist and mentalist. Illusionists emerged in the nineteenth century, using devices to produce elaborate stage shows. One of the first magicians to use live animals was

"Hermann the Great," who performed disappearing acts and levitation tricks with the animals. Later, famous magicians Siegfried and Roy gained fame in part because of their elaborate show and tigers.

Harry Houdini, perhaps the most well known magician of all time, developed elaborate escape tricks including handcuffs and locked chambers in the early 1900s. His death on Halloween is now also known as "National Magic Day." Houdini also created grand illusions, some of which magician David Copperfield emulated. During Houdini's time, Vaudeville acts included and promoted magic tricks.

Over time, the interest in magic has come and gone, although it enjoyed a revival in the 1970s that continues today. Many magicians, similar to other performers, develop a unique style or focus on a particular type of illusion. David Copperfield makes large objects disappear. Lance Burton employs many birds, and Penn and Teller are known for their unique style. Most recently, David Blaine gained fame for his street magic and outrageous stunts.

Magicians of all sorts keep their secrets very secret. The appeal of magic is trying to figure out how magicians accomplish those amazing feats. For those interested in learning magic, many sources are available for the entry-level magician. Some well-known tricks are "out in the open," and beginning magic kits can help a beginner learn the tricks of the trade. Many books and other resources are available for card tricks as well. Many stores carry magical wares as well.

For those who are serious about the craft, two organizations are devoted entirely to magic, both with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. The Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians have chapters throughout the world, provide information, and hold conferences. For those seeking information, these are good places to begin. Your local library is also a good place to find more information, as is the Internet. However, online sources in particular are varied in quality and information, so beginning with one of the organizations may be a better way to begin.

The allure of magic is very real. Throughout the past few decades, magicians have taken magic to a new level, with elaborate stunts and full-out entertainment spectacles. From amazing card tricks to large disappearing acts, magic will likely continue to enthrall audiences worldwide for years to come. It is a performance art unlike any other, and the mystery associated with magic adds a level of intrigue that does not exist with other performance arts.

Magic has been much a part of childhood. Remember how you used to be amazed of David Copperfield's magic on TV or even on a local magic show in a carnival or a children's party. No matter how old you get, magic will continue to amaze you. It is an unknown mystery that people are completely drawn to.

But if you are thinking of starting a career in magic, the best way is to start early. In case your not, its never to late to start but will take you a little harder. You can make your first step by buying your first magic trick box and learn the basic magic tricks from cards, coins to threads and other a little complicated magic tricks. Though this may sound so elementary for you, this is still the best introduction to magic you can find. The box, however, will not tell you how to act in front of an audience. You have to make your own efforts and initiatives. A good way to learn this is by watching magic shows and observe how the masters do their tricks in front of an audience.

If you have been doing your homework, then you will observe that the masters do the top 3 things while performing magic in front of an audience:

1. Do a nice patter - this means that you should put your act well by pulling some appropriate dialogue to perform your magic trick. Learn some jokes, ask your audience some questions and use a lot of hand movements. This will make them distracted but focused on you instead of finding out how you did the magic. A magic show can turn into a theatrical event if you want it to become one. This is not as easy as you think and you will not get by just a few practices and watching the masters do it.

You need a lot of effort, discipline and ability on your part and of course countless practice. To guide you in this trick you should remember and follow religiously two things: a) maintain eye contact with your spectator. Be sure that you have your spectators' attention only to you and listening to whatever you say; b) it pays if you have a sense of humor because it makes your audience feel relaxed and conditions them only to be caught off guard of what you have to perform.

2. The after effect - after wowing your audience with your act, let them continue their amazement with your trick, let them continuously react to your next tricks. Do not make them lose their attention to you and most importantly, do not say anything. If they asked you how you did that just remain quiet. Never pull the plug and give away your act or else all the mystery will fade away.

3. Be confident - Never perform in an audience if you know that you are not yet ready. Nervousness can easily give your trick away. A lot of practice breeds confidence. You need to convince your audience that not only your trick is magical but you as well.

If you master all these techniques, it will be much easier for you to win your audience - kids or adults. You can even go from up close magic to platform magic and stage magic like what Copperfield does but of course that requires a lot of experience and expertise plus a lot of help from cameras.

The key to being a master magician is to learn how to perform magic in an instant using a lot of borrowed objects. Magic is just a quarter of your trick but how you do your trick is the most important. Your presentation in front of an audience is the key not some spectacular, complicated magic. More help is on your way if you know where to find it Check out some magic shops nearby your area. Make a list of the tricks you wanted to learn and bring them to the shop. Ask the owner to perform some on your list, teach you how and try it in front of him. Practice them in front of mirror as soon as you go home. You will be amazed at how fast you can do all these tricks.

If you think you are ready for an audience, organize and host a party and perform your magic for free. If your confident enough, there is a lot of possibility that some will ask you to perform in an event or another party, be ready to market yourself and hand out business cards.

Now, that is how you get started in the field of magic.