Magic Tricks

Liability Insurance In Magic Shows Is An Asset
The good old United States of America, whether you admit it or not, is a severely litigation-obsessed society. Basically anyone in this country stands a chance to be sued for any or whatsoever act that is proven to be his or her fault. Arm chair sociologists call it simply as the deep pocket syndrome.

When one is doing public shows, especially the ones that deal with magic, the very best thing anyone could do to stay in the safe side is to buy an insurance for your act. It is not an option. It is a need for goodness sake.

One of the good insurance that some entertainers have has a one million dollar liability. It came from an agent from the Farmers Insurance Group.

Having an insurance is like having a fire extinguisher. It is so much better to have one than not have it at all. You feel safe, protected and covered. One million dollar tops and is quite enough to give you a sleep-heavy night and a wake-up-fresh morning.

It has been said that the Society of American Magicians has the kind of insurance of this type. It is very important that you get an insurance. If you have one or if you are planning to purchase one, make sure that the insurance policy you have a product clause.

This works well just in case you use balloons for your act, or birds for that matter. If one of the audience members happen to take it home with them and they accidentally choke on the balloon or get bitten by the bird, you have nothing to worry about because you are definitely covered.

For your information also, if you have performer?s insurance and you happen to perform a magic act while you were not in your costume, most likely you are not covered.

If you have liability insurance and while you are performing, a child insists that he or she wants to touch or to have one of your props, make sure that you make it clear and known to everyone concerned ? as they may be potential witnesses ? that you are giving the prop or props to the parent. Hand it over to the parent. Doing so transfers the liability on the hands of the child?s parents.

There are also magic tricks performed by clowns. Currently, it is highly unadvisable ? fortunately or unfortunately ? for clowns or any performer to hug children or to get close enough unless it is to shake hands.

These days you really cannot be too careful. And being too careful is still the best way to go.

It is best that prior to doing a magic act or any public show for that matter, that you - as a performer - tell all the adults and children in the audience about some specific props that you might be distributing to them during the course of the show. If for example you will be using balloons, announce beforehand that children?s mouths and balloons do not mix.
Doing so keeps you from any liability and your audience safe from choking unnecessarily.

One performer has an existing one million dollar liability, it also includes five hundred thousand dollars worth of product liability. The insurance also covers any event wherein the performer and his or her employee is entertaining. However, it does not cover any contractors that are independent from the performer which the performer has hired. If the performer needed to hire someone outside, the performer always requested for an ?additional insured? from the insurance company.

Make sure though that once you get an insurance, that insurance company should be able and willing to give you a rider that will be able to cover you if in case you are working or need to work off premises and on a particular client?s house, business office, facility, or any other area that is different from where you regularly and usually work in. It is a standard item and there should not be that much fuss over it. Any good insurance company should be able to do it.

All you need to do is be persistent. It is an item that is almost always considered a standard on many insurance policies.

Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and sleight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today! <a href="http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com" title="http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com" target="_blank">http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com</a>

A Simple Magic Card Trick To Amaze Your Friends
Over recent years there has been a lot of interest in magic tricks, with the popularity of shows by David Copperfield and David Blaine an obvious indicator. But magic tricks don?t have to be confined to the professionals - anyone can perform magic tricks. You just need to learn how the trick is done!

Some tricks require you to master a number of special skills like the force (getting someone to take the card you want them to without them realising it) and the pass (swapping the top and bottom of a deck of cards without being seen). But the trick here doesn?t require any special skills to learn. It just requires a little bit of preparation. This trick is known as The Lost Ace.

After introducing a pack of unprepared cards, the performer removes the four Aces from it and lays them on the table in plain sight. The remaining cards are then handed to a spectator with the request to ensure there are no duplicate Aces in the pack. After this has been done, the conjurer picks up the four Aces and requests the spectator to shuffle them into the pack.

The performer then asks the spectator if they are sure they have all the Aces in their possession. After receiving and affirmative answer, the performer reaches into a pocket and produces the Ace of Diamonds. Upon inspection of the pack, this card is found to be missing!

Like all magic tricks, once you know how it?s done you?ll wonder how you could have ever fallen for it.

Previous to the trick, the performer removes the Ace of Diamonds from the pack, and places in a pocket. The cards laid on the table consist of the three Aces and the Nine of Diamonds, which is used as a substitute for the missing Ace of the same suit. To conceal the side pipe of this card, the Ace of Clubs and Ace-of Spades are made to cover it. With a little practice this can be done in an apparently careless manner of arranging the cards on the table, and finally placing the Ace of Hearts over them.

The trick then proceeds as described, the four cards (supposed to be four Aces) being shuffled into the pack. Then after the Ace of Diamonds is found to have vanished from the pack, the missing card is produced from the performer's pocket.

This trick is simple to do, but it is sure to entertain your friends and family as they wonder how on earth you did it!

Jason Anderson has many more card tricks like this one at <a href="http://www.howtodocardtricks.com/card-tricks.shtml" title="http://www.howtodocardtricks.com/card-tricks.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.howtodocardtricks.com/card-tricks.shtml</a> . Learn over 40 classic card tricks, and even learn the skills to create your own, unique tricks!

Different Paraphernalia Used In Performing Magic
David Blaine and David Copperfield's popularity have inspired a lot of people to learn magic. And with that, there are also a number of stores that sell magic paraphernalia for those who would like to learn the art of magic. Below are some of the popular equipment used for magic:

Visible Sawing - the participant lays flat on a bench or table. Then, the magician places a wooden stock over the participants mid-section. The saw is turned on and is used to cut the individual in half. After the saw has been turned off and the stock is removed, the participant stands in front of the audience unharmed.

Victory Cubes - is a new stage inclusion that can be used to make tricks more well-executed. Perfect for blocking those angles that might reveal the trick's secret, or as a prop container. These instantly make a magic show show bigger and more valuable.

Magic Rose - the magician is holding a full sized white rose and sprinkles it with glitter dust. Then he approaches one of the female specatators and gives it to her. Suddenly, the white rose turns to red.

Vanishing milk pitcher - it looks like an ordinary pitcher. The magician present the pitcher to the audience to show that it does not have any holes. He places liquid (usually milk because it is more visible than water) on the pitcher and covers it with silk cloth. A few magics later and the liquid disappears from the pitcher. The magician even turns it upside down to prove that there is no liquid on the pitcher.

Giant Deck of Cards- there's a deck of cards available which falls perfectly in between the standard poker-size cards and the typical jumbo decks. The Anglo Giant cards measure 3.5" by 5" and their large indices make it easy for audiences to see the cards even from a distance.

Magnetic finger Tips - is used to perform routines with Coins, Silverware, Cling Rings other metallic objects. It can also be used in a trick to move objects.

Wand - it is a slim stick used by magicians to execute some magic tricks.

Collapsible top hat - a black satin lined hat that folds flat when tapped by a wand and springs back to normal when touched again.

Chinese coins - can be used for enthralling type tricks and other magic coin techniques.

Coin bender - a specially made tool for magicians that bends coins during an act.

Feather Flower - this item can be compressed into a thin bundle than can fit on either your coat sleeve or into your hat. Then, they pop open when reached.

Threads - This is almost invisible to the naked eye. It allows you to perform tricks that make objects float.

Fire Wallet - this wallet fires up when opened.

Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and sleight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today! <a href="http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com" title="http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com" target="_blank">http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com</a>

Magic and Illusions - Why the Fascination?
Magic Tricks have fascinated people since early times. The Professional Magician has been with us since man learned to speak. If you can talk, you can make things seem other than they really are â€" and that is the essence of illusion.

Why the fascination? Why do we enjoy being fooled? We KNOW that the card didn’t really vanish into thin air â€" and yet … Have you ever witnessed unexplainable events or seen illusions so convincing that they leave you spellbound? Have you ever seen what happens to a group of people who experience magic tricks up close? A high energy excitement develops that’s contagious. There’s amazement, laughter, a great buzz enjoyed by all those who witnessed the seemingly ‘unexplainable’.

We actually WANT there to be magic! We want to believe that someone can make things appear or disappear just by power of thought or by saying a magic word.

Nowadays we rarely see the ‘smoke and mirrors’ that the ancient magicians were reputed to use. Illusions are much more sophisticated; they use few gadgets to work their deceit, most is effected by misdirection â€" making the audience look at one thing while something else is going on somewhere else. The Magician or Illusionist makes a big flourish with one hand while the other secretly picks an object out of â€" or drops an object into â€" his pocket. Whenever a performer asks you to concentrate on something you may be sure that the trick is actually being done where you are not concentrating. The magician’s ‘patter’ is designed partly to entertain and partly to distract.

Magic as a hobby is very satisfying. You don’t have to be a David Blaine. You can delight and amaze people if you perform reasonably well, and this could soon lead to your hobby paying for itself and perhaps providing a part time or even full time income. Whilst a Stage Magician needs expensive props, the hobby or amateur Magician can perform tricks with his audience up close â€" even surrounding him or her, for some tricks â€" and often uses borrowed objects. These can be the most amazing magic tricks â€" very satisfying to perform â€" and will build the performer a magical reputation quickly.

About the author: Andy Canning is an amateur magician; an enthusiast. He has created a Website for fellow enthusiasts – amateur or professional – at <A href="www.magic.4funandprofit.co.uk">www.magic.4funandprofit.co.uk</A> where he offers free magic tricks for you to learn.

10 Steps to become a magician
Have you ever thought about becoming a magician? I did, some ten years ago. I had seen this amazing magician on TV which really caught my attention! I just didn’t know anything about where to start. Back then, there was no such thing as internet â€" at least not in any form that I had access to. So I went to the local library, and got “Houdini’s book of magicâ€�. I went back home, thrilled to get started learning magic. I sat down at the kitchen table with my black hat, playing cards, coins, rubber bands and my magic wand. I was ready. I opened the book and skipped pages until I got to the first explanation. To my surprise I realized that the illustrations in the book were pictures of a guy also sitting by a kitchen table! This was not identical to my imaginary picture. I was pretty sure these guys were up on huge stages, putting females into boxes with the intention of sawing them in half. Not sitting in the kitchen, wrapping yesterday’s newspaper around a yellow ball, trying to make it look like he could push it through the table (which he, in my mind, didn’t succeed with). To tell the truth, I was disappointed. The same went for all the other tricks in the entire book. Furthermore, I had the same feeling with every magic book I looked up at the local library or any other library for that sake. Theses book just didn’t do it! I had heard rumors about this guy Houdini and I was sure that he was a fairly cool magician. A least I was sure he was doing more impressive stuff than what I could ever learn from this book! So once again, I was stuck. Then one day I went with my parents to this amusement park where there was a magic shop. They actually sold the tricks I had seen on TV, such as the linking rings etc. I spent all my savings on magic props. I had a thousand questions for the owner of the store, and probably because I was his best customer, he gave me some useful tips. I told him I was going to spend my holiday in London, and I asked if he could recommend any specific places to visit. He told me about this magic store called “International Magicâ€�, which had the exact things I was looking for. About one month later, my family and I went to London. A short while after checking in to our hotel, we were on our way to “International Magicâ€�. This was an amazing experience and I was hooked! A lady working there told me about a magic store in Denmark called “Peganiâ€�. When I got back home, I quickly became a loyal costumer at Pegani. The owner of this store, Steen Pegani, had all the information I needed. I became a member of a magic circle close to my home city Billund. I went to the world congress of magic, FISM, in Dresden. And here I am ten years later, still hooked! However, I found this process convoluted and slow. The Internet sure has made this a lot easier, for everyone seeking to learn magic. Still, if you are new in this area, I have a few tips you might find useful. 1: Read: What is the first thing you do, every time you want to know something about a new topic? The same thing you are doing right now. Read! Read as much about magic as you possible can get your hands on. Not just effects and the following explanation. Read about the history, about different magicians, the different styles of magic, anything. This will make everything afterwards easier and more exciting. 2: Choose your style: Decide if you are more into close-up magic, stage magic, illusions, Mentalism, etc. Why is this important? Well if you care about your money, this is probably the best tip I can give you! See when you get into magic, you will find a dozen of magic tricks, you just feel you really need to know how works. Just like when you see David Copperfield doing a show. How much would you be willing to pay to know the secret? Too much! I have spent too much money on different effects that are actually pretty cool, still I have never used them. Why? Because they just don’t fit my style. Pulling rabbits out of a black hat just doesn’t go along with card tricks. That’s it. 3: Get to know other magicians: This is the best way to keep yourself motivated. Seeing other magicians do magic, showing them your own tricks, getting feedback, learning new tricks, and so on. Socializing with magicians is the best. Besides, they are pretty much the only guys you can practice with! You cannot ask your friends to watch you perform a magic trick and give you feedback the same way you can ask a magician. Unless you are giving a very poor performance, your friends will not and should not have any clue what you really doing. 4: Get a mirror: If you don’t have any magic friends in the house, you’d better get hold of a mirror. This is the only way you can tell if you are doing well or not. This is your silent audience, which can always be trusted. If you are doing stage magic, you’d better get a big one. 5: Watch out when buying magic effects: You are on your way into a world of magic and expensive props! Sooner or later you are going to start shopping magical props. You will see the most amazing ads for different effects, and this stuff is not cheap. But watch out and don’t let yourself get caught by the promising ads. This is the only business I can think of, where the customer can’t be told what he’s buying before he has paid for it. Too often have I tried opening the package only to realize that this isn’t close to what I was hoping for. You will get a disappointing feeling, since you cannot argue that the effect description is incorrect, it just might not work very well in real life. 6: Buy books/DVD’s rather than pre-made effects: One way to learn new effects is to buy a pre-made trick where you typically get some plastic gadget and an explanation. One company known for these kinds of tricks is Tenyo. Most of these effects are somewhat automatic, so the magician can focus on the performance. However these tricks are about as un-magical as they possibly can be. The plastic makes them look and sound cheap. No matter how good a performance you give, it will be difficult to impress people with such a toy-looking peace of magic. However, it is still possible to buy cool packet effects. Recently I bought a trick called hopping half which I have been really pleased with. This is an amazing effect using quality precision made prop. It is expensive though. So my advice is to buy magic books and DVDs instead of these pre-made tricks. Here you will get a lot of cool effects, and often something you can do without spending a fortune on extra props. I plan to start writing reviews of magic books and DVDs which I recommend on my other blog, JakobRecommends. 7: Leans slights and make your own combinations: This advice is for people who are into close-up magic. After some time when you have spent all your money on magic stuff, you are going to wish you knew how to make up your own tricks. Making magical inventions is an interesting subject which I will write more about later. But basically it should not be that difficult. I find it specially easy with card tricks. So where do you start? Get to know as many different slights as possible. Double lift, pinky break, Elmsley count, faro shuffle, passes â€" there are many, so go ahead. If you are a beginner at magic with cards, I would recommend the books Card College written by Roberto Giobbi. These five books will take you through more than you can imagine! You will learn several different slights and tricks. If you are a bit more experienced, I would recommend books and DVDs by Allan Ackerman. This guy is one of my favorite magicians. Anyway, when you have learned a lot of different slights, it should not be too complicated to set up your own trick. 8: Join The Magic Café Forum: This is a must! Go to The Magic Cafe and sign up. This is probably the largest forum for magicians. It contains enough useful information to keep you busy for days! It is also a great place to get different opinions about the books or tricks you are about to buy, and you can get feedback on your own ideas. Get to know other magicians. Often they invite famous magicians in for some hours, and everyone can ask questions. This is a great place! 9: Give a regular visit to All Magic: Go to here and take a look for yourself. There is a lot of information. Among other things, they have a list of magic dealers from all over the world, trick explanations, reviews etc. Go check it out! 10: Go out and perform, to improve your self: So now what? You have learned a few tricks, and you just can’t wait to see people’s reaction! Well then go out and perform your trick! I always start out by showing the tricks to friends or relatives first. Just in case you are going to make a mistake, you won’t feel as bad, as if you showed it for someone you don’t know. Showing your tricks is absolutely the best way to improve yourself! Just thinking about failing makes you sweat - this is why an upcoming performance will make you practice your hands off! So there you have it. It is not the complete guide to becoming a true magician, but you will definitely be on the right way!

<p>My name is Jakob. I am a guy in the mid twenties, from Copenhagen, Denmark. This is my first attempt making <a href="http://www.jakobdk.com" target="_blank">a blog</a>. Besides from this Blog, Im currently working on two other projects, which you can find ,<a href="http://www.jakobrecommends.com" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.travellingexpandsthemind.com" target="_blank">here</a></p>

2 Card Miracle
Looks like a card trick but you would be wrong! Keep watching a see what happens! I am not going to say any more as you will not expect to see what actually happens! The tutorial video explains the gimmick needed to perform this trick and it can be made at home for very little cost. As with all of Lees tutorials the standard is very high. If you buy 3 of Lees tricks then you can get the 4th free. This is a great way to build a collection of top magic tricks. Enjoy!

Learning Paper Tricks
Performing magic tricks has always been one of the most popular past times enjoyed by a lot of people from all walks of life. There are various kinds of magic tricks. One of many kinds of the usual scene-stealing tricks is a paper trick. There could be innumerable ways to deliver a paper trick. Here are a few of those paper tricks that can be easily learned by a new magic aficionado:

1. A paper-tearing trick is a clever method of tearing and bringing back the form of a sheet of paper. You can do this trick mostly on tissue papers. This could be a little different compared to other paper tricks.

You will hand out two kinds of tissue papers; it can be color white or black. You will tear both the papers and fold them into tiny squares. When he opens the paper, the two are still there, but surprisingly it is formed into a large white square and in the center, there is a black square.

You wonder why there are no torn traces on the paper. The have an idea on the trick, the restored paper is already formed by sticking a black square on each side of the large white paper. On a particular side, the black part is paste all three edges and one edge is left open.

The paper formed is then folded into a tiny square, and the outside have an opening. It is then laid on the table for about 5 seconds. You will get the restored form and place it behind his back.

The paper is divided into four pieces of squares, and the whole is bundle is again shown in the front, the tricky part on this is that you will make a little wave in his hands, making the two torn pieces together, and then slowly opening the restored torn paper. This takes a narrow chance to poke the torn pieces into the secret pocket. Ending the trick with showing both hands and they will find nothing.

2. Another trick is called the generous offer. You will need a piece of paper and hand it out to a person. Ask him to tear it into quarters. It must be torn equally, you will then get the papers and give him back a quarter of it. He then thinks that the task is easy enough, and then he may ask for a prize for doing it.

You will then applaud him and give his prize of another quarter of the paper. From there you gave the person one of the four pieces of the paper, which was supposed to be a quarter also of the sheet of paper. You can use a different way to approach this trick in using slang expressions of offering or donate ?two bits?. In this approach two pieces of paper is given to him, as it presents the two bits you said.

3. The next trick you may learn is the look easy trick. Find a sheet of paper and tear it in two thirds. It is required not totally tear the end sections. It should be a little loose, and the outcome will be a slit parallel sheet of paper with three flaps.

Give it to the person and tell him to have a hold on the edge of the flaps and hide one in each hand. From the center of the paper, you will make him tear the end flaps. It seems to be a piece of cake, but it is not. When he tries to work on it, only one edge of the flap is torn. The pull is purposely even distributed.

4. The floating paper ball needs to be performed under proper situations because it requires a little experiment. You need to crumple one piece of paper into a ball and you will have to hold it using your left hand with your right hand on top of it. You will remove your left hand, and have the paper just floated in the air moving upward to your right hand.

The trick is done because of the black silk thread. The thread is placed over your right ear forming a loop in one of the ends. The other end is tied loosely to your black coat button. They do not have the idea that you squeezed it around on the loose end, before the paper ball is formed.

When you move your right hand upward, you will use your right thumb to catch the thread. You will then draw the thread tightly so that when you take off your hand, the ball automatically floats. Move your hand forward, then raise the ball. Bringing it back lowers it. On the last part, you will have to get the ball on your left hand and untying it from the thread. The right hand brushing your hair will lift the loop from your ear, and the thread just falls down on the floor, without one noticing it.

Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and sleight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today! <a href="http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com" title="http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com" target="_blank">http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com</a>

A Bit Of The History Of Magic
One could enjoy watching magicians perform their amazing tricks. Whether they are in a circus, in a school program, a friend?s birthday celebration, or in a favorite television show, magicians are among today?s top entertainers.

Here are a few of the top magicians in their times:

The history of using magic as a form of entertainment may have begun with magician Chevalier Joseph Pinetti. More than three centuries ago, Chevalier Joseph Pinetti, wowed his audiences worldwide with his bag of magic tricks. And that was in 1782!

Among his tricks was the ability to produce an orange tree blossoming on stage that bore fruit. Pinetti?s wife even acted as an assistant, helping the magician to do his mentalist and escape tricks. Known as the ?Professor of Natural Magic,? he was known for his great magic tricks, tricks that belonged clearly to the modern era of magic.

Come the nineteenth century. The said century welcomed the use of technical-assisted magic, with some of the magicians developing various devices that would aid or help in their illusions. Using optical aids or devices, electromagnets, as well as various stage lighting forms, these magicians were able to amaze audiences from time to time with their very elaborate and dazzling tricks.

One known magician in the nineteenth century was the magician Hermann the Great. Alexander Herrmann was his real name, and this German magician did his tricks with all of the kinds of stage magic he had known, even from super close-up productions to fill-stage events. An American rival, Harry Kellar, took over Herrmann?s popularity for some time and became the most prominent magician for more than 10 years.

Other magicians in the nineteenth century included T. Nelson Downs and Howard Thurston. Downs is originally a vaudevillian by trade, but had become great and famous in his magic tricks that he became known as ?King of Koins.?

Thurston, on the other hand, invested much of his money in building an extravaganza, which is a show on magic. It reigned over the American entertainment magic scene for over twenty-five years.

Probably one of the more known magicians in recent times was Harry Houdini. Known as one of the best American magicians, he was known for his great escape acts, including his own famous creation, the ?Chinese Water Torture Cell.?

Another famous American magician is David Copperfield, who until recently performed numerous magic acts in shows and TV programs.

Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and slight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today! <a href="http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com" title="http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com" target="_blank">http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com</a>

Learn Magic Tricks and Impress Your Friends
Few things can impress people as much as seeing a well performed Magic Trick â€" especially when it is done without apparatus or preparation. Mentalism is one of the more impressive types of Magic Trick and the one I’m about to reveal is so easy to learn that you’ll be performing it tomorrow! Or even tonight!

There are two important rules for learning Magic Tricks â€"
1. Practice before you perform. Get it right. Work out your patter and learn it off by heart.
2. NEVER tell your audience how it was done!

To learn this Magic Trick you only need to remember a few things and develop a ‘patter’; a way to perform it.

You have an audience of at least six, preferably a dozen â€" ‘though it could be performed for as many as you like â€" provided you can give them all paper and pencils. You tell them that you are going to project your thoughts into their minds.

They must write down the thought as soon as you tell them to â€" write down the first thing that comes into their head, without trying to think about it (transmitted thought is fragile and too much of their own brain activity will wipe it out).

“We’ll start,â€� you tell them, “with an easy one. Get ready to write it down … a single digit number; a number between 1 and 9 â€" NOW!â€�
You write on your piece of paper; the number 7.
“Now we’ll try a word. What I want you to write this time, is the name of … a vegetable â€" NOW!â€�
You write on your piece of paper; the word CARROT.
“Another word. This time I want you to write down the name of … an animal that lives in the jungle â€" NOW!â€�
You write on your piece of paper; the word LION. (Trust me; I know they don’t live in the jungle, but this works!)
“Let’s go back to numbers. This time it is a 2 digit number with two different digits (i.e. not 11 or 22). I want you to write down an odd number between … 10 and 50 â€" NOW!â€�
You write on your piece of paper; the number 37
“OK. One more number. Again a 2 digit number, an even number with 2 different digits. I want you to write down an even number between … 50 and 99 â€" NOW!â€�
You write on your piece of paper; the number 68.

When everyone has written their last number, you display your paper and get them to compare their answers. More than half the answers will match your ‘prediction’.

Well, not everyone is receptive to thought transference, and for those that are, it is an intermittent thing and they will not receive every thought accurately. Those that thought too much before writing it down may have scrambled the transmitted thought.

Do not repeat this trick for the same audience â€" when they find you are using exactly the same numbers and words each time, they will smell a rat!

In fact most people under the given conditions will come up with those numbers and words. Why? Dunno. Must be the way the human mind is wired.

Note. When doing the 2 digit numbers, always pause where I put in the 3 dots … as this helps to clear their minds of any number they were thinking of up to that point; they don’t know what you are going to say next, so it blanks the mind.
If you decide only to use the numbers, I would do the single digit last. When you’ve just written down ‘7’, being told to write a 2 digit number, you are going to avoid using 7 again. Moving the 7 to the last slot means there is 68 between it and 37.
To learn this Magic trick all you have to remember is 3 numbers and 2 words. Easy isn’t it? Your victims â€" sorry, audience â€" will be spell-bound with amazement.

There are many Magic Tricks you can learn that are just as easy as this to perform â€" and just as impressive. My own preference is for Magic tricks that can be performed with borrowed objects so that the audience doesn’t suspect that you are using special gimmicks â€" even though, often, you are.

Andy Canning is an amateur magician; an enthusiast. He has created a Website for fellow enthusiasts – amateur or professional – at http://www.magic.4funandprofit.co.uk where he offers free magic tricks for you to learn.

Learning The Tricks: Hankerchief Tricks
Magic tricks have been around for centuries and are practiced in every society. They are among the most popular past times both for children and adult.

Tricks may make use of materials or objects such as coins, cards, tables, game cards, and number tricks but the one that remains to be the most popular among children and the one that is first learned by a beginner is the handkerchief.

Linen or Silk?

Tricks using a handkerchief can be either performed in whatever material it was made of. However, the type of tricks to be performed determines the type of handkerchief you are to use.

For knots and similar activities, a silk handkerchief is chiefly used because they slide quickly in the process of tying up. Other magic tricks using a handkerchief requires a hard material like linen as in the case of bringing about a hypnotized effect on a handkerchief.

Below are just some of the most common magic tricks that involve the use of handkerchief together with explanations on how magic works.

- Standing Handkerchief ? This type of magic trick makes use of a hemmed linen handkerchief which is ironed to make it even more stiff. This very same stiffness determines the success for this performance.

The handkerchief is taken folded from somewhere and spread on the table. The magician picks it up on the centerfold and raises it up in the air until it takes the shape of a small tent.

He will do the usual mystic hand pass while putting the handkerchief in an upright position. The hanky will stay upright as predicted as if it was put on a spell.

- Detachable Thumb ? In this trick, you will need both a hanky and a piece of carrot. The carrot should be cut in a way that resembles your thumb. It should be as small and has the same thickness as your finger.

Partly cover your hand and parts of your thumb finger with the hanky. You will need both sleight of hand and dexterity in this kind of activity. Quickness is the rule of the game in order not to spoil the trick.

Place the carrot in the same position as your thumb showing only that portion while covered with handkerchief. Patter a little bit with your audience describing how you have been feeling about your finger since you accidentally hurt it.

Ask one to participate to do the inspection and possible massaging for them. The moment they hold the carrot, release it and act like you were surprised.

- Handkerchief That Changes Color ? Apparently, this is one of the simplest magic trick usually done by magicians in terms of minimal effect on the audience but one of the most difficult when it comes to preparation and production.

The magician will show the audience a hanky and toss it around, up and down, right and left, and changes color along the way. The hanky does not actually changes its color since the magician is holding not one, but two hankie!

As the hankie is tossed up and down, he makes it a point to reverse the position of the topmost hankie so that the one in the bottom with a different color is showed up and the hankie apparently changes color.

This quite a difficult thing to do for many suspecting audience are trying to find out if you got several hankie at hand. This requires swiftness in the movement of your hand and making sure that the hankies you are holding do not move independently of one another.

Tips on Performing Handkerchief Tricks

- Be swift ? Try to be mindful of astute members of the audience at all times. Even the most seemingly attentive spectator are keen enough even the most slightest mistake made along the process of performing your tricks thereby spoiling it.

- Mouth Shut ? Secrecy is the basic rule that magicians should keep in mind. Blabbing about the secret of your tricks makes it even less appealing to onlookers. Allow the audience to make their own guesses and find it out in their own way. In short, keep them mystified.

- Practice! Although practice may not help you master all the skills needed for a certain trick, constant and intense practice helps and keep you on the right track.

Additionally, convey a feeling of excitement and enthusiasm in what you are doing for it helps you connect with the audience and infect them with your attitude along the way.

Preston Houer has been involved with the art of illusion and sleight of hand for over 30 years. Let Preston show you how to Have Fun With Magic. Visit His Site Today! <a href="http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com" title="http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com" target="_blank">http://www.have-fun-with-magic.com</a>