Archive for the ‘Magic Tricks’ Category

Mind Reading Magic Tricks

Friday, January 18th, 2008

Can we really read the person’s mind? No but when you perform magic tricks, anything is possible so lets discuss some of them.

The first magic mind reading trick is called name of the dead. For this you will need a sheet of paper and three volunteers. You tear the paper into three pieces and tell two of the participants to write on each sheet the name of a person who is still alive. The third person will be instructed to write the name of someone who has already passed on.

Take note that when you cut the paper into three pieces, the top and bottom will have only one rough edge while the one in the center will have rough edges on both sides. To make people believe you can read their minds, all you have to do is give the center piece to the one who will write the name of the person who is already dead.

To make people believe that you can do this, you tell them to drop the three pieces of paper into a hat which is resting on the table or raised above your head. You then put your hand in the hat and simply feel the paper which has the rough edge and then take it out.

To build the suspense, put that piece of paper on your forehead to make them think you are sure about the sheet of paper you picked. You then give this paper to the one who wrote on the paper that has the rough edges.

The next mind reading trick is called famous names. For this, you will need to get 10 famous names from the audience and then write these down on a separate card. They are mixed and then you make a prediction of the name written on the card which will be checked by someone from the audience.

For this trick to work, you will need ten small cards or ten small sheets of paper. The 10 famous names should come from the audience so once they give out a name, write it down and then do the same for the rest.

What the audience does not know is that the first famous name written will also be written on the rest. You then put these into the hat and shake it. You now ask a volunteer from the audience to reach into the hat and give you the paper.

You put this on your head to create a dramatic effect and then say the name of the famous person aloud which will be confirmed by the volunteer. So no one will discover what you did, make sure to get rid of the slips.

The two minding reading tricks mentioned are really simple to do and anyone can do them. This just proves that magicians who perform this trick don’t really have the talent but rather pull a fast one to make people believe that they have this gift.

If you want to learn other mind reading tricks, do some research and then practice this a little then do it with a few friends. At the end of the trick, some people might really believe you have this gift which is funny especially if they knew how you were able to do it.

Performing a Vanishing Magic Trick with a Coin

Wednesday, January 9th, 2008

The hand is faster than the eye and this is so true once you have mastered performing the vanishing magic trick with a coin. The key to this trick is the position of the coin and for this to work; you will need two of them.

The first you have to do is lay one coin in the palm of each hand. The coin on the left should be placed in the middle of the palm. The coin on the right should be near the thumb.

In one quick motion, you should flip both hands and then let it face down on the table. You must quickly move the coin on the right hand to the left without anyone noticing then twitch the right thumb a bit to deceive people into thinking that both coins are there.

You then ask the audience where the coins are. The deception you caused earlier will make many believe that the coins are on the right but when you open it, they are wrong because the two coins are both under your left hand which they will see when you open up your hand.

This trick can also be done with the opposite hand. You should just put one coin in the middle or your right palm and the other coin near your left thumb then repeat the instructions as mentioned before.

Again, the key to this trick is the position of the coins. When you rotate your hands from palm up to down, the coin in the center stays put while the other shifts the coin to the other hand. You have to do this very quickly so the audience does not suspect what happens. If you don’t follow the proper positioning of both hands, one coin will flick away and your trick will fail.

One way to practice this trick is to imagine your hand is a table tennis paddle. If the coin is in the center of your palm, this will make sure that the coin will stay in the same place when it lands. As for the other, something different happens.

This helps you move the coin from one hand to the other so when you lift the hand containing the coin, people will see two and not one.

The speed at which the coin travels from one hand to the other varies. The more time you have to practice, the better so even when people ask how you do it, you simply say “a magician never tells how he does his tricks.”

The vanishing magic trick using a coin is just one of many tricks you can do. There are also variations which you can learn and try out so those who watch you won’t feel bad always seeing the same thing. A lot of these can be found online while there are a few that are written down in books with pictures to guide you along the way.

When you are ready, try to do this with a friend first and see if you are successful. If it works, then perhaps it is time to try this out in the presence of strangers. In any magic trick, just remember that positioning is everything and this can only be achieved with patience and practice.

Types of Magic Tricks

Sunday, January 6th, 2008

Magic tricks aim to astonish and bewilder people. They are illusions that aim to entertain a large number of people or just a single person. They can be done in close proximity or with the aid of a large stage at a certain distance from its audience. However the trick is done, successful magic is one that can keep audiences wonder in awe at what has just happened.

There are many different types of magic tricks that performers practice and use to entertain and to astonish. Different magicians try to specialize in one or a couple of the different methods in order to master. Different types of magic usually take years to learn and to master. Here are some of the different types if magic tricks that magicians try to perform and master.

Stage Magic

Stage magic is probably the most popular of all types of magic. Also known as platform magic or stand-up magic, stage magic generally refers to magic being performed for a medium to a large number of spectators. It can either be indoors or out of doors. But what makes stage magic different is that it usually makes use of a number of props to help the magician perform his illusions.

Street Magic

Street magic is a form of magic that usually is performed quite randomly while walking down the street. Street performances are characterized by a lack of big props usually being used in stage magic. What props may be used by a street magician might be something that one can bring in his pockets. What makes street magic so appealing to most people is that it requires a closer interaction with the audience who may happen to be passing by the street. It may also take the magician some considerable skill to master since it may be quite difficult to perform most magic tricks with the audience being so close to see each trick or illusion.

Escape Magic

Escape magic is another form or technique used in performing that deals with a variety of tricks that involves confinement or restraints. This type of magic is also known as escapology with the performer usually allows himself to be tied up or confined into a cramped space and locked from the outside. The magic trick stems from the ability of the magician to escape from such restraints without the obvious use of tools despite seemingly insurmountable odds that he finds himself in.

Mentalism

Mentalism is another form of magic where the magician tries to create the impression in the minds of the audience that he possesses special abilities to read thoughts, predict events or control the minds of others. Mentalist feats can either be done with a large or solitary audience, on a stage or close-up.

Theatrical Seances

A theatrical seance is that branch of magic that makes use of spiritualistic or mediumistic methods for effect. It is not usually “spiritual” in nature but is merely meant purely fore theatrical purposes. Magicians who follow this method usually lead the audience to believe that they are conjuring up spirits.

Unfortunately, this is a form of stage magic that is often misused by many con artists pretending to actually be in contact with spirits and mislead people for profit.