Magic Tricks With Coins

I love the intimacy of close-up magic and especially the challenging work of maintaining a variety of relationships with several people at the same time. This maintenance is achieved in many ways, though ultimately much of it comes down to sigh, sound and touch. Glances, words and physical contact.

Of course, very few routines are constructed in such a way that you touch every member of the audience (without going to jail.) Though you can direct your comments towards a single member of a crowd, your words are usually heard by everyone present. Which is why, to first initiate and then develop different relationships with the individual personalities making up your audience, glances can often be the most effective means.

You glance at a spectator, then shift your glance to a second spectator, and as your glance shifts, the first spectator glances at a third spectator. And so it goes, everyone ceaselessly “checking in” with each other even as you all take part in the group activity of creating the magic effect. A glance takes but a moment to deliver and receive, and in that moment an incredible amount of information and feeling can be conveyed. At the same time, glances can be completely private, even while surrounded by other people. And unlike words said above a whisper, every glance can be sublimely tailored to the moment and recipient.

Even a fleeting glance directly into the eyes of another human being is a multi-layered event analogous to two mirrors suddenly turned to face each other, creating an opportunity for an almost infinite interplay. Looking into the eyes of a member of the audience, I see them just as surely as they see me. And they see that I see them. And I see that they see me. And so on.

During a performance of close-up magic, I am forever shifting my gaze from participant to participant, and as the show unfolds, these glances acquire a history, even a familiarity. As a result, we begin to see each other in a richer, more individual light. When I look into someone’s eyes, it is as if I have just dropped a penny into a well with no idea of how far it may fall. Sometimes I discover the well is frozen and the penny’s descent is stopped dead. More often, the waters are more receptive. And quite regularly, the coin falls deeper than I can gauge.

My job as a performing artist is to follow the coin and make the most of wherever it lands. Words and touch are undoubtedly transcendent tools, but when it comes to nurturing unique, individual relationships in a close-up magic setting, the eyes definitely have it.



By: Jay Sankey

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One of them most important parts of learning beginner magic tricks is to understand the performance aspects behind the tricks. This article explains the importance of performing and what is needed to do it well.

 

Performing a magic show is when you will either make or break yourself as a magician. What the audience doesn’t realise is the amount of preparation involved in planning the show. To them you’ll be performing what appear to be miracles using only your hands and everyday objects that you can find in any household.

 

The famous magician Houdini was a master of the art of obtaining free publicity. No performer ever put on as many free shows for the purpose of breaking into print, and for that matter, few if any, were ever as liberal as he in the matter of entertaining lodges and other groups without charge. Houdini was out in less than a minute. The resulting media blitz established him forever as the world’s greatest escape artist.

 

Performing is about your presentation and how you perform in front of an audience, what counts is your timing and how you add humour into the mix. This is important because you need to distract the audience when performing magic. Get on stage and perform badly, and the worst that can happen is that people will laugh when your trick doesn’t work out the way you feel it should have.

 

Magic tricks are not only great for stage and street performance but are also well suited for entertainment at parties or as ice breakers at small gatherings. Magic tricks are also a fun way to add some light-heartedness and “wow factor” to your presentations. The points you make and the comedy aspect of the magic usually come from the ‘patter’ (what the magician says while doing the trick).

 

Performing magic tricks is exciting and can be profitable. Almost every magician starts performing magic as a hobby, with coin magic tricks and card magic tricks. Performing magic tricks builds self-confidence and self-esteem. It improves hand-eye co-ordination. Performance and style - the best magicians are memorable not only because of their tricks, but because of the way they perform them. Give a thought to your appearance, your voice, your humour, your props and your location when performing a magic show.

 

Practice and reinvention can help a lot in getting near that coveted status of a recognised magician — the famous and most loved one. Practice only makes a particular move perfect, or at least perfectly attainable. Thoughtfulness and planning will make a routine perfect.

 

Acting, or knowing how to mislead your audience with appropriate facial expressions and body language, helps create an air of mystery in any performance. Magic has changed, however some of it’s magician’s haven’t. Acts can be spellbinding or just sheer funny, with elaborate equipment. Magicians might ask for an assistant to add variety.

 

Magic won’t stop until people stop paying attention to it. Magic tricks have been a popular form of entertainment for many years. Originally people who practised illusions and sleight of hand were thought to be powerful wizards and witches.

 



By: David Bowley

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Practising magic tricks can be difficult. I hardly ever enjoy practising magic tricks, but I do practice them, because it makes be a better magician. Practising in front of the mirror will not only show you your flaws, but it will also show you how you are going to perform in front of an audience. It will also give you the confidence to face an audience. Practice is very important in order to perform magic tricks.

 

Thus, without practice, you simply wont get the confidence of performing it in front of the audience. Knowledge about facts about magic tricks will tell you that the magic tricks are not magic but a skill that creates an illusion among the audience. Practice your speech as well as the trick. Figure out before hand what you want to say during the show.

 

Practice doing your tricks along with the patter, until they’re perfect. Now you’re ready to amaze your friends! Practising magic tricks can make a show unforgotten in the audience’s eyes, and while watching the show they will believe that you truly are a master of illusion. Practice really will make perfect when it comes to magic.

 

Card tricks are something that should be practised until you can do them in your sleep and do them well. Nothing ruins a good trick quicker than someone with little practice who fumbles through a trick and gives the secrets away right off the bat. Card tricks are a hobby to make you happy. It is perfect if you spend a lot of time alone to concentrate on practising the trick. Card tricks are a staple part of every magician’s repertoire and these are the first tricks that aspiring magicians learn to do.

 

Magicians make coins appear to vanish through the use of controlled drops or throws. A skilled magician can place an object in one hand and use misdirection to convince the audience a transfer has occurred. Coin tricks are extremely portable. While you may be able to pull a quarter out of your child’s ear, can you bend it in half? Coin magic is a lot of fun to perform since coins are readily available, fit in your pocket, and can be borrowed to perform mysterious and entertaining feats of prestidigitation.

 



By: David Bowley

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Performing magic is great way to meet people or to simply impress your friends. There are some magic tricks that look great to other people but are actually easy to perform. 3 easy magic tricks that you can perform are the Water to Ice trick, the Disappearing Coin trick, and the Magically Burned String trick.

The first trick is very easy to do. It’s called Water to Ice. What you will do is pour water into a cup and then dump out a couple ice cubes and no water. People will wonder how the water turned into ice.

For this trick you need a cup that isn’t see-through. When no one is looking, you will stuff a sponge in the bottom of the cup. Then put a couple ice cubes on top of the sponge inside the cup. While everyone is watching, pour water into the cup. The sponge will absorb the water so when you turn the cup over all that will pour out will be the ice cubes.

The Disappearing Coin is another easy magic trick. For this trick you will sit at a table and place a coin in front of everyone and say something like I wonder if this will work. Then you will take one of your hands and place it over the coin. With three fingers (don’t use your pinky) you will drag the coin across the table making sure you keep your hand and arm parallel to the table. Drag the coin to the edge of the table and let it drop into your lap. Then make it look like you picked it up with your three fingers. As you pick your hand up, rub your fingers together and look surprised like the coin is vanishing. Then turn your hand to the on-lookers and show them your hand is empty.

Magically Burned String is another easy magic trick to perform but it takes a little more time. You have to prepare for this trick by soaking a string in a thick solution of salt water. Make sure there is a lot of salt. Put the string in the salt water and then let it sit for an hour. Take the string out and let it dry. Once the string is dry ask someone to borrow their ring. Tie the string to the ring and then dangle the ring. Take a lighter and burn the string down at the bottom near the ring. The string will burn away but the ring will still be dangling (the salt will stay and it’s strong enough to hold the ring). People will be amazed to see the ring still suspended.

Magic tricks are a lot of fun to watch and they’re even better to perform. Most people believe magic tricks are too hard to learn but this isn’t always true. There are some very easy magic tricks anyone can learn and use. 3 such magic tricks are Water to Ice, Disappearing Coin, and Magically Burned String.



By: Ryan Even

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A lack of understanding does not necessarily create a sense of mystery. A confusing magic effect is a perfect example of this. (Though “a confused magic effect” may be a more accurate phrase because there are far fewer inherently confusing effects than there are confusing ways of presenting effects.) If you share an effect with your audience and unintentionally lose them somewhere along the way, perhaps because you raced through an important part of neglected to clarify an initial condition, at the end of the routine the audience will fail to grasp the overall effect.

This lack of understanding will create confusion and possibly frustration, but not a sense of mystery. Paradoxically, mystery requires clarity, even a certainty as to the events surrounding the mystery.

ORCHESTRATING FOCUS

Here are nine principles regarding the audience’s visual experience of a performance of magic.

During the performance of an effect the audience is always looking somewhere.

Each spectator sees/gathers a series of images during the effect.

Spectators often gather slightly or even starkly different images depending on a wide range of variables including seating position, mental concentration, emotional involvement, etc.

Each spectator’s collection of highly subjective images make-up the raw visual ingredients of their ultimately unique experience of the effect.

There are six primary areas of audience focus: the performer’s face, his right hand, his left hand, the props, the face(s) of any participants and hands of the participants. When the magician is holding a prop (rather than placing it on the table) or when both of his hands are within a few inches of each other, the separateness of the spheres vanishes and a single sphere of focus is shared.

The performer’s focus, though not absolutely controlling the audience’s focus, powerfully guides it.

To aid in this guiding, the experienced performer will employ his eyes, the direction and angle of his head, his hands, words, and props.

The odds of the audience’s focus shifting from a sphere of attention are in direct proportion to the length of time nothing of interest has happened in that area. With this sphere of attention a moment before you desire them to not be looking there. Just prior to executing a Classic Pass, I use my eyes, the angle of my head and the position of my hands to draw the audience’s attention to the deck, usually as I am the audience looking up into my face when, a moment later, I lower my hands, straighten my shoulders and look the spectators in the eyes.

It is far more effective to guide the audience’s focus towards something rather than away from something.



By: Jay Sankey

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Magic tricks are one of the best ways to impress families and friends. After all, who doesn’t love magicians and their wizardry? Magic tricks are illusions conducted as part of a performing art to amuse and entertain audiences. These may seem to be supernatural feats or impossible occurrences although these are achieved by natural means. Magic tricks are one of the best ways to enjoy your leisure period. If you are an expert in performing magic tricks, you can make entertainment for many people at a time.

 

Magic is always fun and with some practice, you will soon learn a number of magic tricks with invisible thread, perfect for entertaining family and friends. Magic can be a lifesaver in these situations. Magic tricks have been a popular form of entertainment for many years. Originally people who practised illusions and slight of hands were thought to be powerful wizards and witches but the many recent exposes have rectified this.

 

Talking while doing magic tricks should not be strained or sounds fake, instead, it should be confident and completely comfortable. Any conversation about card tricks can be scripted in advance, which directly benefits those who may stutter or struggle to get words out in company. Instead of acting like you know the mysterious trick behind all of your math tricks, a fun strategy to start off your tricks is to fumble with the trick and act surprised by the results. A funny act might be to invent a story and inform your audience of a certain outcome, while instead their original cards keep showing up. Instead, the object is to convey the impression that the performer is gifted with an inexplicable power.

 

Card tricks are among some of the most popular and infamous illusions used by magicians. With the illusion magicians use a great deal of showy techniques as so much of the art is in the dramatic presentation; card trick magicians must learn to master the skill using a deck of cards. Card tricks are the most common tricks done by those who do tricks at parties or to entertain friends. Not only are they great fun, they are easier than they look. Card tricks are always very effective. Everyone is familiar with the ‘pick any card from the deck’ kind of trick.

 

Magicians claim that a coin can melt, but can a coin melt that easily? There are no such things as coins that melts when a cigarette is pushed through it – but people still believe what their eyes tell them they’ve seen. Magicians continue to evolve better methods for their effects, utilising the advantages offered by improvements in technology - they have been able to perform things that would have been considered impossible. Magicians today seldom resort to hiding things up their sleeves, which has become a cliche, although this technique can still be used on occasion.

 

Magicians, who sometimes use fancy costumes, music, and other gimmicks, show that they can make solid rings appear to link and unlink many times. Some people will use money to perform a magic trick, such as switching a $1 bill with a $100 bill, and making ripped dollars become whole again. Magicians refer to their “story” as patter. Patter is the words used in the presentation of the magic trick. Magicians have always been for entertainment, whereas witch doctors and medicine men may have used some of the same techniques but for other purposes. The first recorded Magicians date all the way back to Egyptian times.



By: David Bowley

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My advice is, if you don’t already do SOME kind of sponge magic you are NUTS! Almost nothing is stronger than when people open their hand and those extra sponges appear. It always takes them “right back to wonder.”

I worked with classic red balls for years, but I got sick and tired of playing hide and seek with them when they rolled off the table. I also got sick of the clown nose comments. This is why I further developed sponge magic.

I have spent many years developing material (plenty of classic sleights and several different routines) but the handling I do most often is a quick “Miser Dream.” I slip my hands into my back pockets, grab the jumbo earplug in the left hand and one of the small earplugs into my right. Then I quickly pretend to “find” several earplugs on other people’s elbows, ears, etc- and each time I pretend to put in into my left hand, but of course just hold out the same one earplug in my right.

To finish, I produce the earplug from my own ear (or wherever) and jam “everything” that is in my left hand into a spectator’s hand. I just tap the back of their hand with the one small earplug and just stand back and SAY NOTHING - the longer they wait, the more tension builds and when they open their hand - BOOM. Talk about feeling like a REAL magician!

This is also a great trick for serious hecklers. They make some dumb comment and I say something back. And then when they make another dumb comment (which they almost always do) I just say, “I don’t think you’re listening,” and I pretend to spot something in their ear. Finally, I just say “Ohhhh, that explains it!” and pretend to pull the jumbo earplug out of their ear. Without saying a word I’ve been able to make the heckler the butt of a great magic sight gag, with all his friends busting a gut. It’s clear sailing for the rest of the show!

There are other great magicians who have created effects with stuff OTHER than sponges. “Lazarus” is a wonderful bar effect where the classic “do as I” routine is performed with matches.

“Re:Cap” is a very fresh transposition between a borrowed coin and the CAP of a salt shaker standing at the end of a table. Magicians constantly floor folks with this stunning opener for years.

There are a lot of different things magicians can do with sponges. Look around for a sponge magic trick to work into your routine. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the reactions you get from your audience.



By: Jay Sankey

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