Theory, Articles & Reviews in Magic & Conjuring: page 3

Two volumes and amongst the most valuable to the young performer who wants really practical professional advice right from the start. Alan Alan is one of the world's most highly paid escapologists and without revealing his very closest secrets he explains how the simplest stunt or effect can be built up into a great money-making act.

An extract from Alan Alan's death defying escape from a burning rope hanging over a cage of fierce lions is also included and completely analysed detail by detail by Alan Alan. Slightly muffled sound quality but the content is worth its weight in gold for anyone...

Whether you spend an hour a day, or a few hours before your performance this ebook helps you get the most out of the time spent.

The materials in this ebook help you identify dead spots, problems with angles, poor manipulation and other elements that directly impact your performance. Materials are included that help you prepare for the unexpected. The performance factor rests entirely on the audience. This ebook helps sharpen your performance skills.

• What is rehearsal
• Tools
• Evaluation
• Documentation
• Sample documentation forms
• Trick/Routine form
• Train wreck rehearsal
• Wrapping it...

Another great book from Arthur Buckley. He discusses some theoretical aspects of magic and then goes into detailed instructions of moves and routines with coins, cards, and billiard balls. I can highly recommend this book.

1st edition, 1948, Arthur Buckley; original 222 pages; PDF 185 pages.

• CHAPTER ONE
  3. Photograph of the Author
  9. Dedication
  10. Introduction by Theo Bamberg (Okito)
  11. Foreword by the Author
  22. The Principles of Magic
  25. Manipulation
  25. Substitution
  25. Duplication
  26. Camouflage
  26. Imitation
  26. False Partition
  26. Concealed Mechanism
  26. Falsification
  27. Arrangement
  27. Preparation
  27. Misdirection
  28. Concealment ...

Jarle Leirpoll is one of Norway's leading Stand-Up and Close-Up performers. He received the Norwegian magician of the year award in 1998. You will find effective and deceptive ways to switch, ditch and steal - using only the normal pockets and occasionally a Topit. Several original routines and lots of techniques and ideas are explained in detail, including more than one hundred illustrations. On top of that four video clips are embedded in the ebook which show 5 effects. The chapter about Choreographic Misdirection has been significantly increased over the paper version of this book from 1995. ...

When watching a magician the question that is most pressing on people's minds is how did he do it?

This is not the only question that can be asked of a magic performance. A psychologists might ask why it is possible that the mind can be deceived, occupational therapists are interested in how performing magic tricks can help people with physical disabilities and sociologists research the subculture of magicians.

This ebook explores some answers to the questions that scholars from different fields of science have asked about the performances of magicians. For magicians this ebook provides...

The two most important elements of a performance are the opening and close. The opening sets the environment for the audience to be entertained. The close is the magician's last chance to leave a lasting impression on the audience. To be effective, the opening must meet specific goals. This text identifies them and provides ideas, samples and recommendations to help the magician attain them.

• Show Structure
• Primary Opening Goals
• Types of Opening
• Opener Planning
• Sample Openings
• Document
• Wrapping It Up

The close of your performance is your last chance to make a lasting impression on your audience. It should bring the audience to the peak of excitement, energize them and leave them talking about your magic. This text identifies the goals of the close. It provides examples and suggestions to help you develop a strong, effective close. Future performances often depend on the posture you leave your audience. Pull out all the stops, use all your tools to make your close one to be remembered.

• Basic Show Composition
• The Build Up
• Close Goals
• Tools for The Close
• Sample Closes
• Document
• Wrapping...

Paul Fleming wrote what some consider the best book reviews in magic ever. This is the collection of all three volumes, in total 167 book reviews. Many reviewers then and now chose to write largely very positive reviews, more like an ad rather than a critical review. Paul Fleming on the contrary wrote his true opinion and slammed a book if he thought it was garbage. That makes the reviews so valuable, because you get an honest and informed opinion.

The only danger in reading these reviews is that you will find many more books you will want to read.

1st edition 1942; PDF 273 pages.

The paperwork associated with being a magician.

We may think the world is going paperless and in a few industries it is. But we still have a document close by to print as needed. Many times, receipts have been printed out to correct charges on statements. People do not hire maintenance work to be done without some form of contract. The magic industry is the same.

This text covers the basic documents used. These documents range from a simple query letter to proposals/quotes and contracts. Nestled within this ebook are the basics used to form the paper trail of our performances. Though...

Two things are noteworthy. One, it is a must read book for magic theory interested. Two, it has a 20 page bibliographical index of card tricks. This includes sleights as well. Anybody doing research on card moves or routines should have this index. It makes searching a lot easier. And this index might point you to interesting books you have not heard about or which are not in your possession.

Paul Fleming wrote:

I remember reading an article about a magic trick. Not sure which magazine or issue it was in. But I want to read it again. I have two choices:

1. I can start the magazine shuffle. Issue by issue looking for the article.
2. Open a file folder on my computer. Then open the category folder and find the article.

An article written two months ago, or one that was published a few years ago can be found within...

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,...

Audience is on the edge of their seats. Every trick is working fantastic. Getting more applause then ever before on your routines. Then BOOM!!! Music cuts out, microphone starts to feedback and the mechanism on the change bag broke while you were trying to use it. Now you are front stage holding a bag you cannot manipulate with no music or microphone ... Now what?

This ebook helps you identify potential problems. A different form of rehearsal is introduced to help you work through these situations. Good magicians smooth over problems, work through situations and still leave their audience...

Rumors have long persisted of an "other" IBM Ring in the city of Toronto. This motley crew of magicians, mentalists, gamblers, jugglers, psychics, university students and general dilettantes met regularly at a secret place known only as "the usual place and time" and adhered vigorously to its vague objectives of advancing the art of magic, trading gossip and exploring techniques for the vanishment and disappearance of pub foods in a collegial environment.

This is Ring 99 and these are their stories.

Includes the official Ring 99 membership oath, the Ring 99 induction lecture, "Hail to...

The art of the conjurer.

Neo-Magic is the foundation for all of Sharpe's writing. Sharpe offers great insight into what makes magic magical. Starting with an analysis of art and its relationship to magic, Sharpe explores what he feels is needed for magic to become a fine art. He provides his insight into topics as originality, patter, styles of presentation, program construction, stage fright and others.

From the preface to the second edition:

Mysterious Mr. Yu or Haldane of the Secret Service is a story (film script) to one of Houdini's own movie creations. It features Houdini as Haldane, a secret service agent who fights an evil ring of counterfeiters, interwoven with a love story.

1st edition, 1921, Harry Houdini; 6 pages.

So, you want to be a good magician? Get these performance, routining, and creativity notes, which detail step-by-step instructions to make your magic better. Packed with time saving tips and techniques that you can use to quickly elevate your routines to a professional level. Learn how to use the Triple-Trilogy Structure and the powerful Series of Three Principle to plan your entire show. Then, you'll learn how to fully script your routines (forget about "patter"), organize your props, practice and rehearse (yes, they are different!), and conduct your business professionally.

Plus, you'll...

This is an early version of what would eventually become Magic by Misdirection.

A detailed analytical treatment of the principles and methods. Explores the psychological basis and its adaptation to the performance of magic. Many detailed ruses included covering the entire field. How to develop misdirection to fit all situations. What it is and how it works. The first concrete work on a subject that is common to all effects and all performers.

Paul Fleming wrote:

Read and search all the reviews from Magic Magazine from 1995-2005. It contains almost 1400 pages of text, over 1500 books, videotapes, DVDs and tricks from the last 10 years.

Find out if that product on eBay is worth purchasing. Search for products from your favorite creators. Search on the term "highly recommended" to find out what should be in your magic library. You can search on products you already own to find the hidden gems.

This ebook is particularly useful in combination with Jamy Ian Swiss Book Reviews. It allows you to get a second opinion on many books both reviewers covered.

2nd edition 2005; 1379 pages....

This audio MP3 is Michael speaking on his theories of how to make your magic more memorable. It contains stories and ideas from his performance experience.

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

From Wesley James' 1st new lecture in more than 10 Years

Not everyone will immediately recognize the name Wesley James. However, those in the know will. For many years Dr. James has been an underground secret. During his many years as a professional he refused to lecture for magicians or publish the effects he used in his professional performances. Now, Mr. James has largely retired from performing and has begun to lecture for magicians. Make Me Care are the lecture notes from his 2nd lecture series, focused purely on presentation.

Larry Jennings, Ken Krenzel, Jim Patton and Gordon Bruce would agree....

A primer on when, what, where and why a magician would keep a series of personal journals.

• Journals
• Magicians Journal
• Daily Planners
• Daily Journal
• Creative Journal
• Magic Files
• Dreams
• Inspiration
• Wrapping it Up

1st edition 2016, 25 pages.

Magical Creation or "How to invent a new trick"

The work consists of three distinctive parts

• Part ONE renders a brief outline of magical theory. The review details most of the basic effects, major principles and means, complemented by a summary, of elementary props.
• Part TWO relates to generalities of the history of magical creation, including a survey of some of the most distinguished inventors and outstanding magical feats of the last century.
• Part THREE deals with the author's approach to magical creation, illustrating practical examples of effects and their solutions.