Theory, Articles & Reviews in Magic & Mentalism

Titanic Thompson is remembered as one of the greatest proposition bettors, hustlers, and gamblers who ever lived. But this book isn't about gambling. It's about the mindset that made him unbeatable.

Rather than retelling the life of Titanic Thompson, Lessons from the Proposition King extracts the timeless principles behind his success and applies them directly to the worlds of magic, mentalism, business, persuasion, and performance.

Every chapter explores one of Titanic's core ideas—from controlling conditions before the game begins, to creating compelling stories, understanding psychology,...

The secret grammar of magic. Theory and practice of attention control.

Misdirection is not just a trick or gimmick. It is a way of thinking.

For over a century, magicians have discussed how to direct attention. Far less often, they ask why this direction works. Rarer still, they describe it with precision. This ebook does exactly that.

Alexander de Cova does not view misdirection as a collection of tricks, but as the secret grammar of magic - a system of rules, interactions, and psychological mechanisms that shape perception, memory, and meaning. Those who understand this grammar have...

Stop practicing moves. Start entertaining people.

You've practiced that pass for six months. You've never spent six minutes on what your face and body are doing while you execute it. Here's the uncomfortable truth most magicians never face: your moves are not what fool people. Your acting is. This eBook fixes that. No fluff, no images, no charts, just practical advice that will make your magic better.

What You'll Learn

The Two Hands Problem - the single most useful concept in close-up magic, and most magicians get it backwards. Learn why the hand doing the dirty work should be the boring...

or, how to face an audience.

Excerpt from the introduction:

• Introduction
• Stage Elocution
• Manner
• Showmanship
• The Choice and Arrangement of a Programme

1st edition 1908, 9 pages; PDF 7 pages.

This is a book on how to create original effects and routines, for your show or act, for lectures, for books and magazines, for marketing yourself or through dealers. Ian Adair was a prolific and successful trick creator. He shares in this publication his approach and lessons learned.

Be original, stand out from the others, create new ideas!

Table of Contents

• About the author
• Testimonials
• Introduction
• Preface
• Thinking tricks... What this book offers you!
• 1 Researching what's been previously originated
  • Studying the classics
  • Studying magic inventors past and present
  • Studying all...

A psychological study.

This book was praised by both Freud and Wundt, and it was recommended by Henry Hay, aka Barrows Mussey, as recommended reading to understand the psychological aspects of magic. Deception, misdirection, and other aspects of conjuring are based on psychology. A better understanding helps magicians create deeper mysteries.

• Preface
• Preface To Fourth Edition
• Chapter I. The Study Of Illusion
• Chapter II. The Classification Of Illusions
• Chapter III. Illusions Of Perception: General
• Chapter IV. Illusions Of Perception—Continued
• Chapter V. Illusions...

"I found myself underlining so many passages - especially around how perception becomes reality, and how spectators' confidence in a false memory can actually strengthen the magic." - Gaia Elisa Rossi

This eBook, written in layman's terms does a deep dive into two of the most powerful psychological weapons available to magicians: Attention Misdirection and the creation of False Memories. These principles form the foundation of truly mysterious magical experiences that leave audiences genuinely astonished.

The success of a magician lies in a deep understanding of these two psychological...

Dennis Barlotta, aka D. Angelo Ferri, studied with Slydini for 8 years. In this video, he is not teaching any tricks but explains the psychology and thinking behind Slydini's method of deception. How did Sldyini use his eyes? How did he involve spectators in a non-threatening way? Why did Slydini do the things he did? This video is intended to give magicians who are curious about Slydini a closer look at how he thought. Dennis will break it down and explain the thinking behind Slydini's system of misdirection and deception.

This video is a good introduction to the other instructional...

An introduction to some basic tools to make a magic performance outstanding and memorable.

In this book, the author gives an overview of various elements that influence the impact of a magic performance. There are short essays on a number of important topics such as meaning and clarity, the timing and interaction of action and patter, mimics and gestures, the performer's emotions, etc. Paying attention to these aspects will help to increase the impact of any performance.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Setting the Stage
• Technique vs. Presentation
• Tricks vs. "Magic"
• Originality
• Puzzles...

A classified list of United States patents relating to magic, illusions and allied subjects.

Finding patents related to magic is not so easy. Wobensmith wrote in the preface in 1928: "The Patent Office classification, while to some extent helpful, is by no means a satisfactory guide for the use of the magician in searching for available material, or for knowledge as to what has or has not been patented. Many of the patents comprised in the present list were discovered in sub-classes which in their designations contain no suggestion of pertinent material." Today the search is made easier through...

Al Leech wrote this classic text on the presentation of magic in 1948, and it has been essential reading ever since. The ebook goes into depth on the application of psychology to magic, misdirection, how best to fool people, how to make them like you, and similar topics.

"The many classics on the subject that predated it were ambitious and well intended but full of air and nonsense. But this modest thing pointed the way. Its historical importance would be reason enough to put it out. But in its modest little way, it has never been bettered. It remains fresh and valuable today." - [la=91861...

An entertaining look at the annual enchanting Tenyo bonus program from 1996 to 2023.

The T-series of Tenyo magic tricks is world-famous. Less well-known is the "Plus 1" series, which is only available in Japan and only for points that can be collected with purchased T-series tricks. For almost 30 years, a new trick has been released every year in this Plus 1 series. Solano presents these 28 tricks here.

It is a wonderful collector's theme that contains many a trick-technical gem.

Table of Contents

• 1996: Psychic Battle ESP
• 1997: Four Chance Game
• 1998: Fortune Telling Card
• 1999: Dream...

An informative handbook that tells the secret of how to properly routine a magic act or show. Especially valuable to semi-pro and amateur performers, it tells how to put your tricks to work and will help put your magic hobby on a self-supporting basis.

You may be capable of performing a hundred tricks, but if you lack the knowledge of how to put together an entertaining routine, you won't get the big fees. This manuscript tells you how. Best of all, it tells you how to do it with those tricks you already own and which you can perform.

This ebook not only gives the simple fundamental...

This volume, Volume 10, will be the last issue of Triplets. It will include Magic News including some new contacts and various pieces of magic news. Following this will be many "Thank you's" to all the people who helped me over the years.

The next essay will be a retrospective of the theories that have guided my movements of minimalism and streamlining. These go back to the 60's and 70's when every trick in every magazine ended with "lap the extra item", to end. Many other trends began with ideas that were ahead of their time. While there have been great thinkers along the way, my magic...

This issue will begin with an essay called "What a Place for a Mission Statement!" by Gregg Webb. Indeed, 9 issues in and a Mission Statement? Anyway, it should make Gregg's position on magic even more clear for any newcomers.

The next section is about ideas for mentalists. Here is how to revamp your entire lifestyle to make it easier to convince others that you are a mentalist ... before you even begin. You don't even have to change your name (although in some cases it may help). Other ideas include having your business card re-printed differently. And, looking through your wardrobe....

This is an all-mentalism issue, and the first essay is about the various kinds of mentalism, to help you describe your "powers" to your audience. These include Thought Reading, Remote Viewing, Precognition, Drawing Duplication, Clairvoyance, Psychometry, Living and Dead Tests, and also Metal Bending, and Psychic Healing (Faith Healing) and unusual "powers" such as Handwriting Analysis. Calling your feats by the correct type of power will go a long way in establishing yourself as an expert.

The next essay is about presentations that may be new to you so that your act will have more thought...

A dictionary for the language of horse racing, dice and cards, bookmakers and runners, touts and tote boards, a colorful but expensive language to learn first-hand from the natives.

Excerpt from the preface:

If you think you have no creativity in you, you should read this article. Gregg describes concrete examples of his own creative process and development and how you can start with baby steps to ease yourself into becoming more creative. Progressively you take bigger and bigger challenges to ultimately create your own tricks.

Gregg Webb encourages magicians to create some original magic tricks, even though there is plenty of good material out there, for several reasons. It is a good exercise for the part of the brain that thinks creatively, and that part gets stronger by use. Also, even though...

In March 2022 there was a unique gathering of professional magicians in Sydney Australia. Joel Howlett was one of the lecturers on the bill and he discussed performing exciting visual magic that caters to modern audiences who have shortening attention spans.

Participants were invited to take an honest look at the effects they were using before the COVID pandemic and reassess if they might be a little slow-moving for today's audiences. This PDF is a brief outline of the points discussed.

1st edition 2022, PDF 7 pages.

Overture - Prelude - Scaffold as alternative presentation modes for crafting a magic routine (conjuring or mentalism).

What to do with a mixed or new live audience where little is known about their experience with live magic, conjuring or mentalism? (might apply to Zoom type presentations as well)

How can you discover their interest and expectations for what you can offer without wasting your best routines or risking interruptions?

This ebook will guide you through an exploration of three alternative presentation modes with a 'mixed audience' where little is known of their expectations,...

A practical guide to creating a basic professional virtual studio.

Times have changed and virtual magic shows have become commonplace all around the world. Do you have a virtual studio in your home and do your Internet broadcasts come across as professional? Or do you shy away from the technology and not sure where to start? Here is a great booklet aimed at the beginner in the virtual space who has a limited budget. A few options are shared, from basic to advanced, including how to make the best of what you currently have, and how to add to your studio with various simple, professional, yet...

A collection of stories, poems, and reflections about magic - inexplicable phenomena in life that impact our audience, or you as the performer. This can be inspirational or focusing for novices, amateurs, collectors, or professionals. I wrote this a decade ago as a Christmas gift for magic friends around the world, but it could be an ideal gift to others or self at any time.

"This book is written for those who have chosen to make of performance magic something more than an onlooker or student - those called magicians, conjurors, mentalists, illusionists, and magical entertainers (and their...

Tips and tricks from a Vaudeville professional including openers, audience appeal, costume, make-up, and a lot more. The ideal is to have a director who pays attention to these areas, but most magicians are performers and directors rolled up into one person. It is therefore important to read and study showmanship and presentation.

From the introduction by Park Shackleton:

Do not stall and draw out your magic waiting for the end of your music. Do not rush your magic cutting corners and hurrying to fit the music. This text introduces you to the basic functions of music editing. Using music as background, or choreographing a routine to music is possible through editing. Take your show up to the next level using music you edit, to fit your manipulations and performance.

• Types of music
• Create your own music
• Advantages of editing
• Music editing software
• Basic overview
• Cuts, copies, and other editing
• Wrapping it up

1st edition 2021, PDF

Let's face it, once you step in front of an audience you not only have to be seen, but you have to be heard. And just like the sleight of hand in your show has to be the best it can be, the sound has to be the best it can be as well. Your audiences deserve better than 'it's good enough'.

Sound Advice For Magicians was written out of a lecture I do for magic clubs and clown alleys because I saw too many talented performers bomb in front of audiences because their sound system failed or the people running them were incompetent. In addition to performing full-time for over 40 years (with many...

Is she part of the show? Or is she eye candy for the audience? There is a difference between a cosmetic and functional assistant. This text identifies the difference and helps you get started searching for, and working with an assistant.

• Assistant Profile
• Business Considerations
• Assistant Functionality
• Team Profile
• Finding an Assistant
• Assistant/Magician Relationship
• Production with Assistant
• Wrapping it Up

1st edition 2021, PDF 25 pages.

Out with your friends just to enjoy the evening. The manager comes up to you and says one of the acts did not show up. He asks you to do a 20-minute set. You didn't bring anything with you. All you can work with is what you can find on hand. Could you do it? This ebook offers some ideas you could use.

• Real events
• Don't panic
• Relax, take your time
• Audience must believe this is natural
• Look around
• Wrapping it up

1st edition 2021, PDF 16 pages.

Learn some "real secrets of magic" - not the stuff that comes in the box. Gleaned from 60+ years of performing under various conditions. Dozens of quotes, ideas, ponderings and quips about performing magic that will change the way you perform, deal with audiences, create routines, select volunteers, practice and more.

No magic effects are taught here, just exciting ways to be better at what you do - and to appreciate being a magician.

1st edition 2018, 16 pages.

The difference between an average and great magician is the audience connection. Audience members text, talk with their neighbors and do other things because they are not tuned in, connected, with the performance. This ebook identifies the connection, points out the importance, and covers a few tools magicians can use to capture and strengthen that connection.

• The Audience Connection
• Capturing the Audience
• Different Connection Tools
• Working the Connection
• Wrapping it Up

1st edition 2021; PDF 17 pages.

If you suffer from any kind of performance anxiety (and Kellar, Thurston, Houdini, and many prominent present-day performers have had to deal with it, too), this could be the best purchase you'll ever make.

There's nothing like the healthy satisfaction or "natural high" that comes from giving a great performance. Yet if you suffer from performance anxiety (commonly known as stage fright), then you're missing out on one of the best feelings that entertainers can experience. When you're ready to rid yourself of these demons, this manuscript contains 40 proven ideas that have helped others like you to put aside...

Everyone has creativity. When you select the color to paint a room, pick out an outfit to wear or the wrapping on a present you are exercising a form of creativity. One only has to recognize that, and learn to develop it. New magic is the result of someone coming up with an idea and developing it into a trick/routine. This ebook identifies creativity and the creative process. I have included a step by step narration of one of my signature tricks "the magical egg tray". The process begins with an initial idea and works through sequential steps to bring the routine to the finish. Creativity, like...