Theory, Articles & Reviews in Magic & Conjuring: page 2

Patrick Page had a monthly column in Pabular. This is a compilation of all those articles. You will hear the stories and anecdotes that make magic such a fascinating pursuit. You will also learn a lot from Patrick's incredible mastery and knowledge of magic. And if you like the more juicy gossip then you can read why Patrick Page was expelled from the IBM...

Martin Breese writes in his foreword:

From the preface:

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. ...

Dr. Bill Nagler is a psychologist and he provides a psychologist's in depth view of the world of magic. The information is radical and instructive.Why do top magicians rarely earn the sums of money that top stars in other entertainment fields earn? Why do some people hate magic so much? What is basically wrong with most people's approach to magic?

Find out for yourself and be prepared to be startled and perhaps end up changed in your attitude to magic. Bill includes his full close up act which helped him to pay his way through medical school. You'll see that he is not just a theorist! ...

The title might be a bit misleading as most of the advice is applicable to any magician who wants to add comedy to their performance.

If you are serious about mixing magic and comedy you need to read this. It will either make you reconsider your choice or give you a head start and pointers in the right direction.

"If you see one magician this decade, Hobson is it." - Herald Sun Melbourne, Australia

"Hobson closed the show with excellent magic and gales of laughter ... his acting and comedic timing are superb!" - Linking Ring Magazine

"... the audience gave him top applause at finish."...

Two hours of practical professional advice from the man who has entertained the Royal Family on several occasions and who for many years was the choice of the world's richest man, Paul Getty, as entertainer. In each volume there is a classic feature trick explained in the fullest detail move by move. Years of performing experience have enabled Harold to perfect each effect to gain maximum effect. Packed with professional advice and including several live show extracts.

Volume 2 opens smartly with the Harold Taylor presentation of the marvelous Stodare Egg effect. Use this and you will be...

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.

At the 5th British Close Up Magic Symposium, John Bannon and Mark Leveridge held an open discussion for nearly an hour on creativity in close up magic. The techniques revealed in the course of this discussion will enable you to set about creating and refining your magic, as it provides you with a clear framework and approach. The combination of interview and questions from the Symposium audience makes for a lively and often humorous session which not only provides you with many concrete suggestions to work on, but which also entertains. Some registrants considered this to be the highlight of...

Robert Houdin once said, "A magician is an actor playing the part of a magician". If this is true, then what character are you playing on stage and how are you playing it? To be an entertainer one must learn to be and think creatively. This 21 page lecture note ebook is about learning how to be creative, think creatively and how to apply direct exercises and techniques to allow your own creativity to grow with the magic that you perform.

Every single person possesses the ability to be creative. These notes teach you techniques and exercises that you can use to unlock the doors to your own...

If you are looking for answers about what we see, but not necessarily observe, you can do no better than to read this ebook, The Magical Mind, brought to you by two masters of perception.

With a new introduction by Ben Robinson, the expert on John Mulholland. From the introduction:

Mulholland had battled the use of propaganda during WWII, the Korean War and the Cold War. He knew that the work of those who sought to "brainwash" masses used the same tactics magicians use for entertainment – to lead the mind on ingeniously, step by step until self-logic is defeated. Gordon had taught thousands of...

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.

Essays and thoughts on the performance of restaurant magic.

"This is real world experience from a top pro who has spent his professional life learning what works, what is important and, most importantly, what is universal." - Richard Osterlind (from the foreword)

The Restaurant Magic Reader collects the many articles and essays that Jim Sisti has written over the last 20 years on the subject of restaurant magic. Between these covers, you will find thoughts and ideas on such important topics as choosing material, selecting a performing character, getting and keeping a restaurant magic...

Detailed explanation of the method to build a creative act and the techniques of impact on the audience used by Boris (including a whole chapter on how to create standing ovations).

For the very first time, a full-time French professional performer unveils all the secrets that will allow you to develop and strengthen the impact of your magic on the audience: thinking and process of creation, techniques of working, presentation, interaction with the audience, body language, psychological subtleties...

Boris even explains the method he developed to build his FISM award winning act. A method...

This is a nice and sweet introduction to the concepts of misdirection and how you can apply them to your own performance.

1st edition 2012, 12 pages.

Table of Contents

4. Introduction
4. What is Misdirection?
6. The 4 Principles of Misdirection
6. Principle 1: The Off-Beat
7. Principle 2: The Eyes
9. Principle 3: Use Your Natural Style
10. Principle 4: Justification of Moves
10. Putting It All Together
11. Final Thoughts
11. Credits & Useful Resources

Tips, Advice, Thoughts, Experience, The Business, Patter, Presentation, Acting, Skills & More

"The book is called The Real Secrets of Card Magic but it should more accurately be titled The Real Secrets of Being a Professional Magical Entertainer. In this new volume, Paul Gordon offers wisdom that could only be gained through years of actually performing magic for real people for his living. If you feel that you have a commercial repertoire of material and can present it in an entertaining fashion, The Real Secrets of Card Magic will surely help you to the next plateau of becoming a professional...

With 1000s of magic routines available, why do many magician's perform the same routines, without any change, modification or effort to make those routines unique?

The Creative Mind is simply Don Bursell's ideas for creating new routines, brainstorming new variations, and keeping track of those ideas.

The 2nd half are tricks that Don has created over the years, and based on advice from Jon Racherbaumer, wrote them down so as not to forget them. One of them, Headmover, has been an odd signature piece of Don's programs for over 20 years. Another routine, The Needles, is Don's solution to the East Indian...

It's witty and it's full of wisdom. These are the ramblings of Mark Lewis on Internet forums. Irreverent and funny at times and full of deep thinking about magic and mentalism at other times.

Many incredible anecdotes of his varied life as a fortune teller, magician and hypnotist. In addition to this are techniques described on how to pitch svengali decks, how to do psychic readings, and most important of all how to do magic with showmanship and verve.

Included is a video clip of his legendary svengali deck routine which he has performed all over the world thousands of times plus tips...

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.

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

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:

This is a comprehensive guide to developing a restaurant magic repertoire, finding a suitable venue, strategies to help you keep your job and other practical information for the working professional.

Jim Sisti is a long time, experienced and professional restaurant magician. He was also the editor of The Magic Menu, a magic journal solely dedicated to bar and restaurant magic. You won't find any effects in this ebook, but you will find heaps of practical advice to build a career with restaurant magic. And most of the information, advice and suggestions you will receive apply in good part to other venues...

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...

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....

Unless you are exclusively performing for friends and family, you should have a contract for each engagement. Of course, the best is to have a lawyer in your home state write up a contract specifically tailored to your needs and circumstances. But before you contact your lawyer you should sit down and read this ebook to learn more about contracts. The better prepared you are and the clearer you can present your needs to your lawyer the less time it will take and the less money it will cost. Your lawyer will also respect you more if you have a better understanding and know what you want and why...