Ten Important Points to Consider

We’re going to talk about magic, not simply about how magic tricks work but rather about a question that is, I think, much more important: “What is the process by which we learn to perform magic effects?” A process hopefully that ends with a magical performance that is both deceptive and entertaining.” I suppose that there are almost as many views of this process of how...

Who Do I Go To For Advice?

Many times in a magician’s career, whether a seasoned professional or beginner, one asks “Who do I listen to for advice on my magic?” The question seems easy at first, because advice is always plentiful, and usually free. But then, is at always the right advice, or the advice that is right for YOU? Throughout history, the magical arts have been taught by apprenticeship; closely...

The Theory and Art of Magic

Last month in these pages I presented an overview of “The Theory and Art of Magic” program that was held at Muhlenberg College during September and October of 1999. This month we begin running a series of talks drawn from the program with the first of two pieces by Eugene Burger. As most readers know, Eugene Burger is one of the brightest stars in contemporary magic. He is two- time...

Fear

NIL TERRIBLE NISI IPSE TIMOR. (Nothing is terrible except fear itself.) Francis Bacon, 1623 In the minutes before my show I could feel it creeping up: snakebite, poison in my veins. Stomach churning, palms sweating, heart racing, hands trembling — Stage fright. Virtually every performer who has ever faced an audience has experienced stage fright. Strangely, given its universality, the...

Who Cares?

“After all, when was the last time a layperson said to you, ‘So, you’re a magician! Can you put a cigarette through a quarter?'” –Darwin Ortiz, Strong Magic “There are many rooms in the house of magic,” says Eugene Burger. Over the past decade Eugene and others have opened yet another door with “Meaningful Magic” etched prominently into the...