How to Learn Magic Tricks

Co-authored by Zach Waldman

Last Updated: September 5, 2024 References

For centuries, magic tricks have mystified and entertained people around the world. Magic tricks are a great way to socialize and make new friends, but you can also use these tricks to impress friends, family, and passersby. Performing magic tricks can improve your public speaking skills, and can even lead to a rewarding hobby or job.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Preparing to Learn Magic

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1
Train your manual dexterity. A major component of much magic, especially slight of hand magic, relies on the dexterity of your hands and distraction of your audience.^{[1]
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Research source} Some activities you can do to improve your manually dexterity and make sleight of hand magic tricks easier on yourself are:^{[2]
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- Sewing and needlepoint
- Learning and playing an instrument
- Painting
- Model making
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Improve your strength and reflexes. You will likely have to practice a trick many times before you master it and can perform it in front of others. Strength will help you persevere, even when your muscles grow tired, and reflex will help you correct errors while practicing and performing. So ways you can train strength and reflex are:^{[4]
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- Cross country running
- Dodgeball
- Video games (reaction/precision based games, especially)
- Racquetball
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Refine your focus and concentration. Your mental strength emulates your physical body in that it can be strengthened through training. When you're onstage, you don't want your focus or concentration to slip, resulting in a botched trick. You may want to:^{[5]
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- Meditate
- Regularly exercise
- Practice memorization
- Use concentration exercises
In addition to physically mastering your magic trick, understanding a little psychology can help you to have the greatest success when performing. Your tricks will be more effective if you understand the psychology behind group dynamics, perception, and illusions.^{[8]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Studying Magic Tricks

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1
Locate your study materials. This might be a book, video, or website that gives you insights to the mechanics behind the magic. You can locate the magic section of your local public library in section 793.8 (Dewey Decimal system) or section GV 1541-1561 (Library of Congress system).
- Most bookstores stock magic books in the hobbies or games section.
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Choose a trick that strikes your interest. You can browse the contents of your study material until you find a trick that captivates and intrigues you. This interest will motivate you through the drills and practice you will need to do before mastering the trick.
- It may help if you start with a trick that uses common items, otherwise you may need to invest in the components for a more complicated trick. Some common items used in basic magic tricks include: playing cards, coins, and toothpicks.^{[12]
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  <i>The Stein and Day Handbook of Magic</i>. Marvin Kaye. New York: Stein and Day, 1973.}
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Heed the instructions carefully. Using the objects instructed (also called props), you should try to follow the instructions as closely as possible while practicing any supplied lines or wording (called patter).^{[13]
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<i>Magic and Showmanship</i>. Henning Nelms. New York: Dover Publications, 1969.} Repeat the instructions until you have memorized the movements and patter.
- Even if you don't like the patter provided, speaking while committing the actions of your magic trick will prepare you for interacting with your audience after you have mastered the trick.
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Practice your trick blind. Remove your instructions from view, and pretend there is an audience in front of you. Continue practicing your trick in this fashion until you can do it smoothly and seamlessly.
- Try your trick from a variety of positions, like while standing or sitting.
- Practice in front of a mirror and watch your expressions. Do you seem natural? Can you see any areas where you can tighten up your execution?
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Make adjustments to suit your execution. You may be left-handed and your trick might call for a right-handed pass. Don't be afraid to change up the handedness if it helps you do the trick more easily.
- You should also consider changing the patter to suit your personality and delivery. Experiment with wording that's conversational, formal, humorous, or you could eliminate patter altogether and perform in silence or to a musical selection.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Learning to Levitate a Card

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1
Gather your materials. To perform this simple trick, you will need a few props to give the illusion that you are levitating a spinning card. This will trick will require:
- A playing card
- Clear tape
- Clear elastic/fishing line (a few feet in length)^{[12]
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You will need to attach the line to the back of your playing card with your clear tape for this illusion. For it to work best, try to make it so that the line threads up and away from the center of the back of your card.
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Loop the fishing line. For you to be able to execute this trick quickly and without raising suspicions, you should make a loop, or a simple adjustable knot, at the loose end of the line. This can be slipped over a button on your shirt, attached to your belt buckle, or attached somewhere else on your body, like up your sleeve.
- Take time to work out the best length for this trick. You will need enough line so that you can launch the card from your hand, leaving it hanging beneath and spinning.
Depending on your hand, there might be a better way of hiding your fishing line from view, but you may want to try running the line through your pointer and middle finger, along the back of your hand parallel to the crease between your thumb and pointer finger, and then to your shirt button or belt.^{[13]
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Practice levitating your card. Taking care to make sure you don't get tangled in your invisible line, shuffle a deck of cards until you are ready to make your card float. Then, raising your hand with your fingers splayed, catch your invisible thread between your pointer and middle fingers. Hold your deck of cards loosely as you do this, and as you raise your hand, the card will be raised, as though it is floating, on your invisible thread.^{[14]
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- Alternately, you can shuffle until you are ready, take your trick card in hand, and launch it in a gesture similar to that of throwing a Frisbee. This will cause your card to spin rapidly and hang in the air. Try not to use excessive force! If your card moves too much, your audience might realize the pivot point from which it is hanging.^{[15]
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Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Executing and Perfecting Your Tricks

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If possible, you should try to do your trick it for a stranger or a casual acquaintance, as these people will be more impartial. Whatever the reaction, by gauging your audience, you can better know how to improve your performance.
2
Take notes after your performance. It's easy to forget details, especially after the rush of a performance. Keep a small diary or notebook backstage and jot down the reactions to your performance once you're finished.
- You should also note any personal critique. Areas where you stumbled should be smoothed with more practice, awkward pauses or other difficulties can be improved by refining or thinking up patter.
Make changes according to your notes and rehearse your trick until you are comfortable again. Now you're ready to try your trick in front of another test subject, or maybe even a small test audience.
The atmosphere will always be slightly different when you're on the spot doing your magic. You'll have prepared yourself physically and emotionally for your test audience, but now you need to return to your stage, even if it's only a classroom or the break-room of your office.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do I integrate comedy into my magic performance?

Zach Waldman
Professional Comedy Magician
Zach Waldman is a Professional Comedy Magician based in Los Angeles, CA. He has over 20 years of experience as an entertainer and performer. He is a comedian, magician, and mentalist, and he customizes his show to be distinct for every audience he performs for. His clients include some of the biggest corporations in the world, including Microsoft, Google, BusinessWeek, Absolut, the L.A. Kings, Anheuser-Busch, and more. He has been a member of the Academy of Magical Arts (AMA) since 2001, and performs regularly at the Academy’s clubhouse, The Magic Castle. For the past 20+ years, Zach has been a mainstay at many other reputable Los Angeles theaters and comedy clubs including the El Portal, the Comedy Store, the Improv, Flappers, and the Laugh Factory. Before moving to L.A., he attended the Player's Workshop of the Second City. He received his degree from the University of Central Florida.

Zach Waldman

Professional Comedy Magician

Expert Answer

Start by identifying opportunities within your routine where humor can be naturally incorporated. This could be during moments of misdirection, unexpected reveals, or interactions with audience volunteers. Use comedic timing and delivery to inject lightheartedness into your performance. Another technique is to use visual gags or puns that complement the magic tricks, adding an extra layer of amusement. Practice delivering your comedic lines and gestures with confidence and spontaneity to maximize their impact. Keep refining your material based on audience reactions and feedback to ensure it resonates with your audience.

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Question

What else can I do to improve the execution of my magic tricks?

Zach Waldman
Professional Comedy Magician
Zach Waldman is a Professional Comedy Magician based in Los Angeles, CA. He has over 20 years of experience as an entertainer and performer. He is a comedian, magician, and mentalist, and he customizes his show to be distinct for every audience he performs for. His clients include some of the biggest corporations in the world, including Microsoft, Google, BusinessWeek, Absolut, the L.A. Kings, Anheuser-Busch, and more. He has been a member of the Academy of Magical Arts (AMA) since 2001, and performs regularly at the Academy’s clubhouse, The Magic Castle. For the past 20+ years, Zach has been a mainstay at many other reputable Los Angeles theaters and comedy clubs including the El Portal, the Comedy Store, the Improv, Flappers, and the Laugh Factory. Before moving to L.A., he attended the Player's Workshop of the Second City. He received his degree from the University of Central Florida.

Zach Waldman

Professional Comedy Magician

Expert Answer

To enhance your presentation of magic tricks, consider expanding your skills beyond just magic itself. One tip is to explore other forms of performance, such as acting, improv comedy, juggling, storytelling, or spoken word poetry. By learning these additional disciplines, you'll gain insights into various aspects of performance that can be applied to your magic presentations. For example, acting can help you convey emotion and engage your audience, while improv comedy can sharpen your wit and ability to think on your feet. Additionally, having diverse interests outside of magic provides you with a broader range of experiences to draw upon when crafting your presentations. These experiences can enrich your storytelling and make your magic performances more compelling and relatable to your audience. So, invest time in exploring different forms of performance and nurturing your interests, as they will ultimately contribute to creating more captivating and memorable magic presentations.

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Question

How can I improve my sleight-of-hand maneuvers?

Zach Waldman
Professional Comedy Magician
Zach Waldman is a Professional Comedy Magician based in Los Angeles, CA. He has over 20 years of experience as an entertainer and performer. He is a comedian, magician, and mentalist, and he customizes his show to be distinct for every audience he performs for. His clients include some of the biggest corporations in the world, including Microsoft, Google, BusinessWeek, Absolut, the L.A. Kings, Anheuser-Busch, and more. He has been a member of the Academy of Magical Arts (AMA) since 2001, and performs regularly at the Academy’s clubhouse, The Magic Castle. For the past 20+ years, Zach has been a mainstay at many other reputable Los Angeles theaters and comedy clubs including the El Portal, the Comedy Store, the Improv, Flappers, and the Laugh Factory. Before moving to L.A., he attended the Player's Workshop of the Second City. He received his degree from the University of Central Florida.

Zach Waldman

Professional Comedy Magician

Expert Answer

To improve your sleight of hand maneuvers in magic tricks, attention to detail and varied practice methods are essential. Begin by meticulously focusing on every aspect of the maneuver as you practice. Understand that there are different phases of practice: initially, you're mastering the mechanics, then transitioning to refining your technique. During the learning phase, practicing in front of a mirror can be beneficial as it allows you to visually assess your movements. Once you're comfortable with the mechanics, shift to practicing in front of a video camera. Unlike a mirror, a camera captures your movements from the perspective of an audience, providing valuable feedback on your performance. Additionally, incorporate different types of practice sessions. Some sessions may be more deliberate and focused, where you meticulously pay attention to details, while others may be more repetitive and mindless, akin to putting in reps. Utilize these different practice modes based on your progress and learning needs. By combining attention to detail with varied practice methods, you can refine your sleight of hand maneuvers and elevate the quality of your magic tricks.

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Tips

Remember that the impression of the trick and the fun it creates are more important than the secret. Choose a trick based on the enjoyment you get from performing it, rather than the complexity of its secret.

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Spend your time perfecting a few tricks rather than trying to learn many tricks at once. Professional magicians rehearse, improve, and change their tricks many times until happy with the results. Sometimes this process takes weeks, months, or even years of tinkering.

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Learning magic tricks is similar to learning a part in a play. Each trick is like an acts within a larger scene. If you discover several tricks you like that work well together, put them together into a routine.

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Warnings

Be careful with any tricks that involve sharp objects, fire, or other dangerous materials. Follow all instructions exactly as written. If you're unsure about the safety of a trick, it might be a good idea to skip it.

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