The Magic Bottom

What's the Best Way to Start Learning Magic?

2012-02-26T15:29:00.000-08:00

Okay, what is the best way to start learning magic tricks?

Well, when I first started learning magic - and we're going back over twenty years now - I didn't have a computer, DVDs hadn't been invented yet and there was certainly no such thing as an ebook! Back then, I think I would have suggested that the best way to start learning magic would be to borrow some magic books from your local library (still an option for many) and then settle down to deciphering the often cryptic instructions held within those probably very out of date pages. Not ideal. Otherwise, I'd have recommended trying to get in touch with your local magic circle if you were lucky enough to have one. However, apart from the fact that most towns are not lucky enough to have one, you pretty much have to have learned at least some magic first before you can apply for membership, so a bit of a Catch 22. As you can appreciate, it wasn't easy. But...

...That has all changed! With the advent of digital technology - pow! Anyone can learn magic quickly and easily and make the most fun of it ever. Digital media gives us three main ways of learning: the DVD, the instructional website, the ebook and the instant download tutorial.

The instant download tutorial! How easy is that? When I was younger, pawing over those musty tomes trying to make sense of the archaic language and obfusticating line drawings, I would have given my right arm for access to an instant, video tutorial download. My jaw would have dropped and if you told me that the price range of a download these days was between $0.99 and $25 max, I reckon my jaw would have plain dropped off.

But those are the facts today. It's amazing. Within seconds you can have a magician in your own computer who will patiently show you, in every detail, how to perform some mind-blowing magic trick that has baffled your brain for hours. Not only that, he'll take you through it step-by-step and you can rewind him and have him do it all over again for you as many times as you like until you have fully understood and perfected the routine. You can actually see him do the trick and then see him show you how it is done. Okay, so I'm a bit long in the tooth, but it seems still like the most magical thing.

But don't just ask me or rely on my opinion. Think it through and check it out for yourself. It stands to reason. Why buy a magic DVD (they can cost hundreds of dollars) with more material than you need in it or struggle with interpreting an old conjuring book when you can pick just one trick at a time as you please and download it instantly? There's just no competition.

So there's my answer to the question of what is the best way to start learning magic: with instant, affordable video tutorial downloads. But don't take my word for it. See for yourself.

The website, The Magic Tricks Homepage is a great free resource for magic tutorials, articles, visual guides, eBooks and more. If you want to learn magic well, not just a huge number of tricks but solid performance skills, the site is well worth a visit. You can download magic tutorials here which is a great way of learning and building a repertoire and by far the easiest way to get started. What are you waiting for? Get to it and have fun!

How to Saw a Woman in Half

2011-06-04T00:23:00.000-07:00

The sawing a woman in half trick was probably first performed by a UK magician named P. T. Selbit in 1921. His original performance would probably not be very satisfying to a contemporary audience as the woman was entirely enclosed in a wooden box so that she was out of sight when the sawing took place. Before entering the box her hands and feet were tied with ropes. Selbit's female assistant was called Betty Barker and as far as we know was the first woman ever to be publicly sawn in half!

Horace Goldin performed the version of how to saw a woman in half that we are more familiar with today: in which the woman's head and feet stick of the ends of the box and the box halves are separated briefly once she has been sawn through. Once the halves are replaced together, the assistant gets out unscathed.

Since then we have seen and continue to see all kinds of variations of how to saw a woman in half, ever more spectacular, including use of a transparent box (first performed by 'The Pendragons') and an especially gruesome version by Penn and Teller involving a lot of latex innards and fake blood!

Despite all these variations, all these sawing in half illusions employ one of two basic principles. The illusion is fundamentally a mechanical one.

In one method, the box is constructed in such a way as to give the illusion of being much thinner and narrower than it really is. In reality, there is plenty of room for the assistant to simply curl up in one side of the box. Frequently, in this case, false feet are put in place under cover of various forms of misdirection.

In another method the box has a false bottom in the middle section, which slides away allowing the assistant to lower her midriff out of harm's way whilst the sawing takes place. Frequently, from the outset the assistant has been wearing a false midsection made of fibre glass, so that even in exposed situations such as the transparent box version mentioned earlier, there is the illusion that the woman is still in exactly the same position. In fact she has slipped out of her false middle.

So the famous sawing a woman in half magic trick is achieved through a combination of mechanics, optical illusion and misdirection.

Interestingly, despite its long heritage, modern magicians are constantly trying to find new expressions of this old theme. A most shocking and famous example was performed on television by Criss Angel as part of his show in which instead of sawing a woman in half he had members of the public pull a woman in half on a park bench! This was achieved by the use of two stooges, one of whom was a woman born with a deformity known as 'sacral agenesis' in which the person effectively has a normal head, shoulders and arms but seems to lack the lower sections of the body, all the vital organs existing in the growth-inhibited body and the other a professional circus performer. Needless to say the effect caused a deal of controversy.

So, now you know how to saw a woman in half. However, popular as this magic trick remains with the general public and even armed with the knowledge of how it is done, I would caution you to think and plan very carefully before attempting to do it as it can still be very dangerous if it is not set-up exactly right.

Austin is a performing magician, entertainer, theatre practioner and writer of many years standing, always keen to share his experience and encourage the novice. His website, The Magic Tricks Homepage is a great free resource for magic tutorials, articles, visual guides, eBooks and more.

Austin specialises in coin tricks and manipulation. Having worked in 'the real world' all his life, he is gaining a reputation on the web. His passion for the art and science of magical illusion shows in all his work.

The Magic Tricks Homepage is proving an excellent medium for reaching out to aspiring magicians across the globe, offering them the best teaching not only in learning magic tricks but, importantly, learning how to perform them well. If you want to learn magic tricks well, go there now: The Magic Tricks Homepage

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6255987

A Great Time to Begin Learning Magic Tricks

2011-04-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

A Great Time to Begin Learning Magic Tricks
By Austin Hackney

Magic tricks are more popular today than ever before and many magicians have achieved a great deal of respect and admiration in the public eye. There is a real revival of interest in the fascinating arts of magic and illusion. For the first time in a decade or more, magic shows dominate prime time television slots and many magicians are once again household names. It is of little wonder, then, that many people are wanting to learn magic - not only for their own pleasure and the entertainment of others but also as a possible career path. There really has never been a better time to learn magic tricks. In former times, all magic secrets were jealousy guarded and to learn the art it was necessary to find a personal mentor. The process could take years even if you were lucky enough to find someone to teach you.

But now, things have changed and changed for the better in my view. There is much more openness and availability in the magic world these days. There are two powerful reasons for this. One is the growth of communications and information technology: video, the internet and other media have revolutionised the way that magic is taught and to whom. The other reason is the evolution and deepening of our understanding of how magic works.
This has led to the realisation that exposure of former magical secrets does not actually harm the profession. On the contrary, it leads to a growth in interest and appreciation. In the last decade we have seen the democratisation of magic. Knowing how a trick is done, or at least the broad theory, seems not to spoil the effect on the audience as it is now understood that it is not the raw mechanics of an effect that creates the 'magical experience' for the audience but the skill and psychology of the presentation.
Today, it is no longer necessary to seek out a personal mentor to learn magic tricks and indeed, to learn them well. Nor is it necessary to spend a great deal of money on gimmicks and other expensive items from the magic store. There are a number of free websites and blogs that can prove excellent resources for the budding magician. There are instantly available video downloads of magic tricks tutorials and endless free articles and ebooks explaining the theory and practical details of many hundreds of tricks. So, it is now perfectly possible to teach yourself the art of magic to a high degree from the comfort of your own home.

Coin tricks and card tricks remain as popular as ever, as do the various effects such as levitation which are now styled 'street magic'. There is also a revival of interest in the branch of magic tricks known as 'mentalism'. Whether you are interested only in picking up a few amazing magic tricks to astound your friends or embarking on the path towards professionalism, there never was a better time to begin.

The first step would be to find a good quality tutorial site such as The Magic Tricks Homepage and sign up to the free newsletter to get all the latest updates and special offers, inside information, hints and tips as well as the chance to put your questions directly to a professional magic for advice.

Austin is a performing magician, entertainer, theatre practioner and writer of many years standing, always keen to share his experience and encourage the novice. His website, The Magic Tricks Homepage is a great free resource for magic tutorials, articles, visual guides, eBooks, free tricks and more.

Austin specialises in coin tricks and manipulation. Having worked in 'the real world' all his life, he is gaining a reputation on the web. Austin has a passion for magic and has always been keen to teach and support anyone wanting to learn magic tricks.

The Magic Tricks Homepage is proving an excellent medium for reaching out to aspiring magicians across the globe and offer them the best teaching not only in learning magic tricks but, importantly, learning how to perform them well. If you want to learn magic tricks well, go there now: The Magic Tricks Homepage

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Austin_Hackney

http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Great-Time-to-Begin-Learning-Magic-Tricks&id=6148156

The Magicians vs. Fool Us

2011-01-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've watched them both - the BBC's 'The Magicians' hosted by Lenny Henry and ITV's 'Fool Us' hosted by Jonathon Ross and with Penn & Teller.

The judgement is this:

A MASSIVE thumbs down for the stupidity of 'The Magicians'.

A thumbs up for 'Fool Us'.

The reasons are simple.

The Magicians is yet another 'celebrity' driven fiasco completely lacking in imagination and hosted by a man who clearly doesn't care about magic at all.

'Fool Us' is a fascinating format, with real working magicians doing real working magic, Jonathon Ross seems genuinely interested in the show and of course, the contribution of Penn & Teller just tips the scales way over in favour of this show.

For anyone unfortunate enough to have seen the first episode of The Magicians, I have only this further comment to make: if they gave me a cardboard box and a celebrity and asked me to perform a trick, it would be a simple vanish; celebrity in box. vanish. forever. ;)

Visited by three spirits in the night...

2010-12-27T07:58:00.000-08:00

...I had an insane idea. This video explains it:

Sorry, no video now! The offer is closed.

So don't waste any time - get on and get magic!

In any case I hope that you are all having a wonderful Christmas time.

The Magician's New Clothes...why it matters what you wear!

2010-10-13T05:20:00.000-07:00

The most common image in most people's minds of a magician must still be the classic get up of black tuxedo and bow-tie. At the same time most of us must be familiar by now with the polar opposite of that formal attire with the likes of the goth-punk look of Criss Angel and the denims and hoodie street style of David Blaine. But did you know, that all of these pros have chosen their clothes very carefully and actually rely on them for a lot of their magic effects? If you thought it was just about differences in personality, you need to think again.

Of course it is partly about personality: every magician should try and build up his own distinct stage persona and clothing will certainly be a part of that. Clothing is one of the imortant non-verbal messages that you give out to your audience and it should be congruous with the kind of personality you're trying to project, which in turn should fit with the kind of magic you do.

For example, if you do classic dove magic in cabaret, the old tuxedo might still be just the thing. If you do mainly comic magic for children's parties then you might want to be looking at something more relaxed and coulourful. If you do walk-about in bars and restaurants then something smart but casual that mirrors your clients' style will help you fit in and build rapport. Your performance persona should be reflected in your clothing and fit with your magic. That way your clothes actually become part of your arsenal of mis-direction techniques, part of the way that you control the way your audience thinks and feels, which is the main technique of any magic effect.

But the clothing itself can hide many secrets.

If you do coin magic, you might well want to think about your sleeves. because there's no point going into a routine that relies on sleeving if your cuffs are too tight or you're in a T-shirt! Many magicians also prepare their clothes very carefully, sewing in secret pockets for example, or concealed opening along seams (known as savants) which can be astonishingly effective in vanishes and productions of various kinds.

Criss Angel does a routine in which he swallows a coin and makes it slide visibly down his arm under the skin, and he cuts it out just before the wrist. I won't tell you how that is done but I will tell you that he couldn't do it if he didn't wear those thick leather bands on his wrists - and he couldn't wear those if they didn't fit in with his persona as a goth-punk guy.

Do you see how important this can be? I hope you are beginning to realise the opportunities that can open up for you when you think about your clothes!

So, think about what you wear. Ask yourself:

•what persona do I want to convey? And make sure that it fits your magic style and your outfit supports that.

•how can I use my clothes to misdirect and guide my audience?
•how can I maximise my clothes as a portable stage (think of pockets, cuffs, turn-ups, savants, buttons etc)

Once you start thinking about this you'll find endless ways to use your clothing to aid you in your magic. It really can be powerful stuff. Think about all the famous magicians you know and admire, the personality they project and clothing they wear and next time watch how they use their attire to make their magic work.

Learn from that and use these secrets to add more power to your own performance. I wish you every success!
http://www.magic-tricks.ws/

The Modern Mind Magic

2010-09-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

Hi. There is a big revival of interest at the moment in the fascinating and sometimes very powerful business of 'Mentalism' (and it is BIG business - one magician I know has recently undergone an extraordinary transformation from small time trickster doing, as he puts it, 'little Johnny's birthday' for $200 (yes, he's in America) to performing in Las Vegas for $2000 a night - by switching from cards and coins to a serious mind-magic act).

Derren Brown's hugely successful TV show has done nothing to slow the pace of mentalism's almost imperial rates of expansion throughout the field of performance magic.

The old days of spoon benders and mind-readers with index fingers pressed to their temples are pretty much gone. Modern Mind Magic is a slick affair and very much at the cutting edge.

One of the very positive aspects of the new movement is that fraudulent conmen claiming 'real psychic powers' are not making it. This is partly due to the admirable and effective efforts of performers like Brown and Penn & Teller - not to mention the indomitble James Randi - in effectively and rigorously exposing such fakery.

The Modern Mind Magic is so good that you don't need to pretend it isn't a trick: it works anyway!

I've just posted up a new article on this subject on my website:here

The Art of Misdirection

2010-09-09T04:02:00.000-07:00

I was blogging a while ago about what is arguably the most important thing any magician has to learn: misdirection. I also posted up an interesting image from a painting by Bosch over on the magical history page which is worth a read for its insights not only into the art of misdirection but also the long history of its use.

You often hear misdirection referred to and everyone bangs on about how important it is for the beginner to learn but hardly anywhere do you get a full and detailed explanation of the practical techniques; psychological, physical, verbal, suggestive and so on that you need to apply the principles to your work. So...

I have started to make a small contribution towards changing that situation. I have started to publish a series of articles that go into some depth about this subject but delivered in easily digestible chunks, with an eye to making them of practical use to the beginner.

You can read the first of these articles here: the art of misdirection

Share the Magic!

My Magic 7

2010-09-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I've just published a new article on my website giving details of my seven all time favourite magicians. On the various magic forums there is always a topic about who your fave magician is/was and it set me thinking what I would choose to be my favourite magicians and their best routines.

It was not easy!!! There have been many, many excellent magicians and choosing just 7 was hard. Some of my favourites I know personally but they are not famous! So this is what I did:

First I narrowed it down to relatively contemporary performers. Then I narrowed it down to magicians who have been in the public eye. Then I thought, okay, what are the most memorable performances for me? The one's that have stuck with me even from childhood, the one's that have inspired me? So I picked them out from that - plus some much more recent. I chose the number 7 because of it's traditional associations with magic.

And hey presto! I have my list. It might change from time to time but I'm still happy with it for now. I've published it on my site with videos of the best routines my Magic 7 have done. Just click on the Magic Articles button at the top of the homepage (it's free!) Let me know what you think or if you have different ideas I'd be interested to know.

The Magic Man

http://www.magic-tricks.ws

Fantastic cigarette vanish!

2010-08-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

I've just added some thoughts about personality and performance when doing magic tricks along with a great video of Pete Firman's now banned cigarette routine - which is a must see! - over on the Magic Videos page.

I've also come up with this for you. I think it's one of the cleanest, neatest, perform anywhere vanishes you'll ever find:

Pretty neat, no? As ever you can download a tutorial for this trick and many others from my website. Just go to http://www.magic-tricks.ws/ and look through the menu for it.

Don't forget to practice well before you perform it - and don't ever repeat the same trick to the same audience on the same occassion!

Share the Magic!

More Bottom!

2010-08-18T03:08:00.000-07:00

You now have even more Magic Bottom!

I just added a new page with a menu of magic tutorials. These are all great tricks, hand picked for their effect and impact.

Obviously, practice is required but you don't need to buy any props, gimmicks or gizmos from anywhere and you can do most of them practically anywhere, anytime with no or little set-up.

And if you're serious about your magic you need to be able, when someone says "Hey, show us some magic, then!" to say "Yeah, okay!" and do something that blows their minds out!

You don't want to be saying "Um..er..well I haven't got anything ready, erm..." No, you do not want to do that. You want to be ready to go whenever the occassion arises. A good magician is never caught out in the cold!

I recommend that you have an arsenal of at the very least four or five tricks that you can do impromptu, at the drop of a hat, with any items that come to hand. The impromtu element will add impact to your performance and really impress your audience.

I'll be updated and adding to the tutorials regularly so make sure you visit so as not to miss out. Better still, subscribe, follow and be informed!

Share the Magic - and show some bottom!

Welcome to The Magic Bottom!

2010-08-16T23:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Magic Bottom - it's all up from here!

Yes, it's a new blog so there's not much here yet but come back soon or follow me to get all the great content that's on it's way!

The homepage here won't change much but check out my other pages (eyes up!) for all the latest posts...

You can expect loads of info and tips on how to perform magic tricks either to impress your friends or build a professional repertoire, reviews of latest magic events, magic book reviews, history of magic, famous magicians and much more...

Oh, why the Magic Bottom?

Well, for one thing it's quite a funny name and it's good to make folk smile. Afterall, one of the reasons we do magic tricks is to cause pleasure, wonder and yes - laughter. We hope not because you messed up the effect but because it was funny or evoked astonished, amazed, how-the-hell-did-he-do-that???? laughter - our favourite kind!

Another reason is that in 18th Century English the word bottom meant courage (true!). An Englishman of those times might be heard to say, for example: "'Tis true the road is beset with highwaymen but I have my pistol, sir. Should any rogue try to steal my purse I shall show him my bottom!" And bottom is what you need to be a good magician - for me it's the dedication to learn, practice, constantly improve and then with seeming complete confidence do the trick in front of others -yes, that takes bottom!

Shameless Promotion of my Magic Website

Whilst waiting eagerly for the next post, you could visit my website where you can watch hundreds of magic trick videos. If you can't figure out how they're done (the challenge is set!) then you can instantly download a tutorial in which it's all clearly explained.

I've also got a little Magic Bookshop you'll probably enjoy. There are very few books because I have cherry picked the very best available - books that are genuine, rich in usefulness and credibility and user-friendly. All magic requires practice but if you're serious about your magic, a trip to the bookshop won't hurt. These are books that magicians recommend to each other!