David Blaine: Coin Tricks

Coin Bite

Effect
The magician borrows a coin from the spectator and is seen to take a bite out of the coin.

Preparation
Take a quarter and file one side of it down so it looks like someone has bitten a chunk out of it.

Method
Approach a spectator and ask them to borrow a quarter. You have already the gimmicked quarter between your thumb and forefinger of your right hand. Take the quarter from the spectator and quietly move your finger and thumb and switch the coins. Their coin is now slid to the back of your finger. Pretend to be biting and tearing of a section of what is now your gimmicked coin and eventually tug it free from your mouth to show the spectator who should look amazed.

Vanishing Quarter
Appear to vanish a quarter through a table

Effect
A glass is covered with a paper tube. The glass and tube is then placed over a coin on the table. When the paper tube is removed, the coin has vanished and has actually travelled through the table.

Preparation
You will need an ordinary glass.
Three sheets of white paper approx S inches by 12 inches.
Glue, scissors and a coin.
Place some glue round the rim of the glass and place the glass upside on a sheet of white paper and allow the glue to dry.
When the glue is dry, cut round the rim of the glass with the scissors so a paper circle covers the mouth of the glass.
Turn the glass upside down and wrap a second sheet of paper round it to from a loose fitting tube and glue this and allow to dry.
Place a coin on a third sheet of paper laid on the table and a second coin of the same value should be attached by tape or wax under the table.

Method
Announce to a spectator that you are going to make a coin travel through a solid table. Take the paper tube and place it over the glass, which is already on the table upside down on top of the sheet of paper. Lift the tube-covered glass and place it over the coin with the glass still being upside down. Remove the tube from the glass and the coin appears to have disappeared. Give the tube to the spectator for inspection. The coin is actually under the paper rim of the glass, which is invisible as it is the same colour as the paper sheet on the table. If you wish to increase the effect you can reach under the table and remove the other coin and tell the spectator that the coin has actually travelled through the table.

Easy Coin Vanish

Effect
A coin is placed onto the table and it vanishes

Method
Put the coin onto the table with your left hand. Say something like "check this out" and reach over with your right hand. Then press down on the coin with your middle, index and third finger with your hand and arm parallel with the table. Slide the coin towards you remembering that it should be completely covered up. Slide the coin off the table so it falls on your lap without the spectator seeing. Touch your thumb to your middle finger as if you are picking up the coin as it reaches the edge of the table. Keeping your fingers still closed, stare at where the coin should be as you slowly move your hand away from you back to about 6 inches from where the coin originally was. Start moving your thumb in a circular motion as if the coin is disappearing. Slowly turn your hand around and spread your fingers apart. Now the rest is up to you. The more surprised you act the more people will believe that they have seen a real coin vanish.

Minus Your Money

Effect
The magician clearly has three one-dollar bills and magically, one disappears leaving the two left untouched, right before the audience's baffled eyes!

Preparation
Secretly take out of your pocket/purse a dollar bill and fold it over about two thirds across. Take another bill and place it over the crease of the fold hiding the fold from view. The two bills should now look somewhat like three-dollar bills.

Method
Take the already set dollar bills in your hand and announce that you are about to do what most people dread, make your money disappear. Take the top of the two bottom edges of the dollar bill. When they are in between your thumb and pointer finger, shake the bill wildly so the top edge of the bill flops backwards making the folded bill unfold. Then, take your bills and show that three one-dollar bills have magically changed into two genuine dollar bills.

Swindled Coin

Effect
The performer removes a hand full of change from his left hand trouser pocket. He holds out the handful of change, along with a black maker, and tells the spectator to choose a coin, mark it with an X, and return it to the magicians left palm. The magician then takes the coin with his right hand, and returns the rest of the change to his left trouser pocket. The coin is then placed against the leg directly below the pocket. The coin is then rubbed into the cloth, whereupon the coin vanishes. It is found back inside the left pocket with the rest of the change.

Method
After the spectator marks the coin, the right hand pretends to take it. In reality the coin is in your right hand covered up with another coin on top. Hold your hand in the air as if you have the coin. Hesitate for a second with your left hand so that the spectator can see that the marked coin in not in your left hand anymore (this way the spectator mentally concludes that the marked coin must be in your right hand). Place the rest of the change back into your pocket. Take the right hand and its supposed coin and place it against your leg, in the area of the left pocket. Now rub the imaginary coin into your leg. Then slowly part your right fingers to show that the coin has vanished. Reach into your left pocket and pull out the change. Ask the person what kind of coin they chose. They might say a quarter. Then go through the change and find the marked coin and put it on top and show the spectators.

Handkerchief And Coin Trick

Effect
The magician sticks the coin into the hanky, flips the handkerchief over and the coin disappears.

Method
You secretly wrap a rubber band around your finger and thumb. Then you place the hanky in that hand. With your other hand place the coin in the hanky. Then let the rubber band slide off your fingers and onto the hanky so it surrounds the coin and it is under the hanky. Then you slide your hand up to the end of the hanky and give it a good shake. That makes it look like the coin disappeared. The coin is really held in the hanky by the rubber band, invisible to everyone as the hanky material surrounds it.

Palm Penetration

Effect
You ask the spectator to hold out his or her hand palm up. You in turn place your hand on top of theirs, palm down. With your other hand you place a quarter or other coin on top of your hand and explain to the spectator that with one quick slap of the coin you will make it pass through your hand and into theirs!

Materials Needed
2 identical coins, small piece of transparent adhesive tape or magician's wax, (for advanced magicians super fast sleight of hand will do)

Method
When you place your hand on top of the spectators open hand, you will already have the coin in your palm. If you place your hand on theirs quickly enough, the coin will not fall nor will the spectator already feel it in their hand! You then place the other coin on top, on the back of your hand. On the palm of your hand, which is not touching the spectator, is where the tape or wax will be. Then with a quick motion, you smack the top of the coin, which actually gets stuck to the tape/wax. Slowly remove your other hand to let the surprised spectator see how it "magically" passed through your hand! For those advanced magicians out there (you know who you are) you can grab the quarter instead of using the tape/wax. If you do not wish to use the spectators hand you can do the same trick on your lap, but in their hand sells the trick much better.

French Drop!

Put your coin in your left hand. Not too hard. You can do it with your right hand. As your right covers your left, drop the coin, so it rests in your left palm. Keep the coin stuck in your palm, and make it look like the coin is in your right hand, but your lying. Its okay, this one won’t hurt you. Then, throw your "coin" at someone, and they will be stunned. Now, quickly make the coin really disappear! HEY! Okay everyone! Here's a cool, and very useful COIN TRICK: Sit at a table, without a weird edge, preferably, and take your coin (I suggest a quarter for most coin tricks) and place it on the table. Put your hand over the quarter and slowly slide towards you. When you reach the edge, with your hand still covering it, pretend to pick it up, but actually let it drop to your lap. Pretend to hold the coin, and then look like you will throw it in the air, or at someone, but it has disappeared! Suggestions, don't let anyone stand behind you, just let everyone sot down, somewhere, as long as they can’t look into your lap.

Coin to Biscuit

Effect
A borrowed, marked coin vanishes. Volunteer hands you a biscuit, and you eat up to halfway. The coin is seen in the middle of the biscuit. As the dealer ads. Would say - no duplicates, no fakes, no stooges, no specially prepared biscuits - NO PROBLEMS!

Method
Borrow a coin from a member of the audience and get it marked. Vanish the coin in anyway you like. I personally like the bobo vanish. Retain the coin in your right hand as you show the left empty. If you have skills, show both hands empty. (I have customized a changeover palm to work with nearly any object, so try one for you!) With the coin in your right hand, ask the volunteer to give you a biscuit. Take this with your left hand. Whilst doing this, get the coin in the upper front finger clip. Pass the biscuit over into your right hand resting the biscuit on the coin.
Take the biscuit again with your left hand and press the coin flat against the back of the biscuit. Take a bite out of the biscuit, and push the coin up the back until it just sticks out the top. The owner will notice it, and you pull it out and hand it back, then eat the rest of the biscuit, and remove the coin, saying that a filling has come out, and show the coin!

Silk Handkerchief from Money

Effect
A bill is taken from your wallet, the bill is rolled into a tube shape, you reach into the rolled tube with fore finger and thumb and produce a small silk handkerchief, the bill is unrolled to show empty, then again rolled into a tube, the silk is pushed into the bill tube, once again the bill is unrolled to show empty, the hanky has vanished.

Props
A Thumb Tip. A small silk Handkerchief that will fit into the thumb tip easily, and a dollar bill.

Method
Load silk handkerchief in the thumb tip, when ready to perform push thumb into the thumb tip, take out wallet and remove the bill, show the bill, keeping thumb with tip behind the bill, roll the bill into a tube and around thumb tip, leaving the thumb tip in the rolled bill, reach in, slowly pull handkerchief from tube, display, push handkerchief back into the tube and into tip, push thumb into tip, steal tip from bill, unroll the bill revealing the handkerchief has vanished, return the bill to the wallet and put into pocket ditching thumb tip.

Hopping Quarter

Effect
Place a quarter in the palm of your hand, then quickly close your hands and ask the spectator which hand contains the quarter. They will always choose the wrong hand.

Method
Turn your hands over quickly and secretly toss the quarter in the opposite
hand.
Once you perfect this it is unnoticeable and a great trick.

Coin in Wool

Effect
The performer makes a coin disappear and then reappear from centre of a ball of wool.

Method
Vanish a coin in anyway you like (French drop, ect,). Then a coin tube is used to slide the coin into a ball of wool or yam (this is prepared ahead of time, and placed in the magician’s jacket). A spectator is asked to unravel the wool (after the magician places the coin in the slide, he secretly removes the slide and presents the wool). The coin is then presented.

Double Sided Coin

Effect
You make the spectator believe that you have a double-sided coin but it's really a regular coin!

Method
In this trick you have a half dollar preferable or something that size. First you take the coin in your dominant had. Next you flip your hand over onto the other hand but as you do this you turn the coin over with your thumb so that the same side is up.

The DeManche Change

Effect
One coin turns into a completely different one!

Secret
You start with one finger palmed and held between your thumb and forefinger of the same hand. Move the coin in your forefinger into a thumb palm (as if closing a fist) and push the finger-palmed coin out with your thumb.

Note
Angles are a killer so practice in front of a mirror! Also, this moue is great for switching a marked coin!

Falling Quarter
Take a quarter or other coin in your right hand. Turn to a member of the audience and ask them to stand. Hold the coin in your thumb and index finger, and say if when you count to three they can grab the coin, they can keep it. Raise the coin above your head and bring it down to the volunteer's open hand twice, counting each time aloud. On the third time lift the coin above your head and place it gently and subtly on top of your head. Bring your hand down as you did before to the level of your volunteer's open hand. They will make a swipe at the coin, but it will have vanished. Open both hands to show them its truly gone. Then tell them you'll bring back the coin. Hold their hand open and while their attention is directed to their own hand, tilt your head forward ever so slightly. The coin will drop into their hand, seemingly out of the sky.

David Blaine: Levitation

Effect
The magician raises his arms up by his sides and slowly appears to rise a few inches off the ground for a little while before returning to earth quickly.

Balducci Method
The Balducci method involves positioning your audience about 8 to 10 feet away at a 45-degree angle from you. You need to keep your audience small so they are within this field of sight. This is a very restrictive angle trick and it is essential that the angles be practised, preferably with a friend or in front of a mirror. The Balducci levitation involves pretending to float off the ground by going on to your tiptoes on just one foot (the one furthest from their view) while the nearest foot is raised a little off the ground. This looks fantastic as your trousers, the nearest foot and the angle they are watching at hide the foot on your tiptoe. You only rise a few inches off the ground but the impression is fantastic. This trick is all in the presentation with you appearing to rise slowly, wait for a second or two and then return to the ground quickly so as the audience do not have time to figure the trick out.

David Blaine Method
David Blaine used various camera shots in his TV special with the audience reaction being filmed close up and linked to other clips of him in mid air with some of the angles showing the Balducci Method. The special did not show the number of times he mucked up the illusion, which is very easy to do. The view that shows him rise a good few inches in the air and does not show the audience and would have been done with a bar attached to a pivot like a seesaw. The end of the pivot would have had a hook which clipped onto a harness attached to his belt and a member of the crew would have pushed down on the other side of the bar lifting David up in the air. The camera angle would have hidden the props. This film would have been mixed in with the audience clips in the studios later.

10 Tips to perform the perfect Balducci Levitation
1. Wear wide leg pants or slacks that come down just past your ankles. This dramatically helps cover the other foot.
2. Face the right angle - if your audience is at 6 o'clock and you are in the middle of the clock - face to 10:30 Or 11:00 away from them...
3. Only do the trick for 2 Or 3 people at a time - more than that create a bigger angle for you to deal with. Even better is only one person. You have to control which tricks you do and when. Do a trick when the deck is stacked in your faYour. Then let those few people talk and build rumours. Your reputation will be greater.
4. Don't stand too far away from your audience on the levitation... about 6 feet is good, up to about 10 feet.
5. Never, ever tell them that you are about to levitate. If you do that is will make them watch harder. You want a surprise element to it.... Almost as if they don't quite know what they saw.
6. Tell them you are going to TRY something.... It doesn't always work and you've only been able to do it twice before. Then move away to the approximate correct distance and somewhat turn your back to the 10:30 angle in order to concentrate. Then put your hands down by your sides and after a few moments slowly start to rise. Going up, hovering for a moment, and coming down should only take about 4 seconds total. Come down, look surprised yourself and say, "wow... it worked. Did you see that?"
7. If you are turned slightly to the left from them make sure your left foot remains parallel to the floor on LIFT OFF. (That's what gives a big part of the illusion is that foot's toes being up in the air,)
8. Practice rising up and down over and over.... Do it a million times – get it smooth and effortless.
9. Do a few smaller trick for them first... get them used to being affected by street magic and the fact that you can do it. Don't ever just jump into the Balducci Levitation as your first trick. Get them impacted first, and then say, "there was something I've done a couple of times, maybe I could do it now." It's especially good if you have done a couple of mind reading tricks right before it and they are thinking about the paranormal.
10. Practicing the levitation in a mirror is good, but if you have a video camera and can set it up on a tripod at eye level - exactly where your audience's eyes would be - is literally ten times better. It will improve your levitation dramatically. These tips if practiced should make your levitation skills much, much better.

Group Human Levitation

Effect
A person becomes seemingly weightless and may be lifted from a chair on the index fingers of four smaller people. Although various explanations have been proposed, this classic continues to mystify and amuse.

Stage 1
The person to be lifted (choose a fairly heavy person) should be relaxed but upright on a firm chair. Feet should be on the floor and hands on lap. The four assistants should stand two on each side, one by each shoulder and one by each knee. Each assistant should make fists with both hands, then extend the two forefingers and touch them together, gently but firmly the two assistants standing by the shoulders, place their extended forefingers under the seated persons right or left armpit. The other two assistants place their forefinger under the seated persons left or right knee.
Each assistant should make fists with both hands, then extend the two forefingers and touch them together, gently but firmly the two assistants standing by the shoulders, place their extended forefingers under the seated persons right or left armpit. The other two assistants place their forefinger under the seated persons left or right knee.
The person to be lifted thinks "down" and imagines him or herself to be sinking into the chair. In this position, the four assistants should try to lift the person.

Stage 2
The assistants should now place their palms on top of the seated persons knee or shoulders and together, exert a steady downwards force. While they are doing this someone counts out loud from one to ten. On the count of nine, the four assistants quickly take their former positions with extended forefingers under the armpit and knee. On the count often, they try again to lift the person. The seated person should think "up" and imagine him or herself rising into the air. If these instructions are followed carefully, the person will soar straight up into the air on the forefingers of the assistants. This trick is very visual and can really entertain a crowd.

Floating Bill And Small Objects Levitation

David Blaine demonstrated a classic object levitation on his TV special where he asks a spectator to watch while he picks up a leaf and causes it to levitate above his hand. This appeared to be totally impromptu which made it even more impressive. This type of levitation is performed by using "invisible Thread" which can either be purchased as a proprietary brand from good magic suppliers or by separating some fine polyester thread into individual strands and using a single strand. One end of this strand should be attached to some stick tape and placed in the mouth between the gum and cheek or a high shirt button while the other end can be placed at the right moment to a solid object (In David Blaine's case, the tree.) The magician then stands at the correct distance so that the string is tight and the object (a bill or a leaf) wrapped around the thread , which is above the magicians hand. This should look like the magician is just scrunching up the note in the palm of his hand. By using very small movements of the head or body, the magician can then tighten the thread causing the note to rise and is also able to move his hands around the object to show that it really is levitating. The object can then be made to return to the palm and be examined by the spectator. The magician can then casually walk away. The thread breaking which is not a problem as it is cheap. This trick is also performed more smoothly and discretely by use of an invisible Thread Reel, which is used by professional magicians.

Kundalini Rising Card Trick

This trick is of medium skill Effect
Using a borrowed deck, a card is selected, signed, and placed back into its pack. The pack is put inside its box for the spectator to hold. The magic happens in his hands, and slowly.... Miraculously ... the card starts to rise from the pack. The spectator immediately takes the signed card, and all can be examined after this David Blaine style trick has been performed.

Preparation
Buy a spool of invisible elastic from the local magic shop. It won’t cost a lot but the effect it provides is well worth it. With the elastic, cut off just a short enough thread to make a loop around your wrist. Tie the loop, and as long as you wear it everywhere you go, you're always ready for this effect.

Method
You can borrow a pack of cards or open a new deck in front of your spectator. Shuffle the pack to prove that they are in no particular order and give to the spectator to cut in two piles and to choose any pile that they want. Take the other pile and tell them they chose the pile they have for a reason and that a certain card is probably attracting them to it and with your back turned ask them to choose any card from the pile and to sign it. When your back is turned, you secretly vertically wrap the loop of invisible thread around your half of the pack. You can tell them that you're turning the other way and that the selection is pure honesty and that there's no way of knowing which card they would choose. Take the rest of the cards and put them with your half of the pack. Tell the spectator that their card is unique and that there is no other card in the world that looks like that one. You then take the card and plunge it into your half of the deck. Take all the cards and place them in the card box leaving it open. You then hand the box to the spectator and ask them to hold it and concentrate on the signed card. The signed card should slowly rise from the box to the amazement of the spectator. Take the card and show it to them before it has fully risen and while they are inspecting it, take the rest of the cards out of the box and remove the invisible thread where you can again slip it on your wrist. Everything is now ready for inspection and you can walk away.


Andruzzi Ascending
This trick is of medium skill

Effect
To perform the andruzzi levitation, the magician floats 6 inches off the ground with spectators in front and behind him.

Preparation
What you need to do is find a pair of hard rubber shoes. I use a new pair of casual adidas superstars, don't use leather shoes, or the prepared shoe will bend during the levitation. To prepare the shoe, you need to cut a hole on the bottom of your Lifting Foot. Make sure there's about 5mm in front and back of the shoe. I also recommended wearing black socks during the presentation.

Method
Go out and find up to four spectators. Place two of them behind you for the proper angles of the Balducci levitation. Say your lifting foot (the foot inside the prepared shoe) is your right. Have the other two spectators stand in front of you, but have them stand more to your left, and make sure they can still see both of your feet. Its then a simple matter, to slip your toes out of the uncut segment in the front of your shoe to do the normal Balducci levitation, come back down to the ground, slip your toes back into the segment, and walk away.

David Blaine: Street Magic

Twisting Arm Illusion

Effect
After asking a spectator to copy the action of you putting your hand on the table, you are able to twist your arm a full 360 degrees while others look at you in disbelief.

Preparation
A long sleeve shirt, everything else is impromptu.

Secret Move
On the table, have your fingers pointing towards your body. This may seem a bit uncomfortable, but the effect is well worth it, now, you should have your fingers pointing to the left, now turn your palm up (still having the fingers pointing left) but keep turning the hand over the same way until it is face down again. With a long sleeve shirt, it looks as if your hand is just turned sideway to the left but in reality, it's just twisted 270 degrees to the right.

Method
Hand on the table (or sidewalk.... Wherever you want to perform). Tell him to do exactly what you're doing and start slowly twisting your arm Counter Clockwise. When your fingers start to point to the left, distract him from what your doing and say something like "You're doing it wrong; do exactly what I'm doing!" Or "maybe you should back up a bit to get a better view of my directions”. With that, point to his hand or push him away a bit with your other hand, and do the secret move while his eyes are concentrated on himself. When you have the secret move done, it's a simple matter of him trying to do what you're doing again. But little does he know you're simply un-twisting your arm instead of twisting it like himself. By putting a plastic cup or hard cellophane tucked under your armpit, you can make a bone crunching noise by pressing gently as you twist your arm to add to the effect.

Fly Resurrection

Effect
You are walking down the street and casually pick any spectator. You ask them to come with you to a nearby car and pick a dead fly off the windscreen. You hold it in your hand do a few passes with the other hand and appear to be really concentrating, while the fly slowly comes back to life, to the surprise of the spectator.

Preparation
Freeze the fly.

Method
You need to catch a fly and freeze it, which puts it in a temporary coma, swatting the fly hard enough to immobilize it then placing it in a small container in the freezer can do this. The fly then needs to be quickly taken to a suitable windscreen IN THE SHADE and placed there. It is important that the car is in the shade to prevent the fly from defrosting too quickly. Then go and find a spectator and take them back to the car, which should appear to be randomly picked. The heat of your hand will revive the fly, which should soon start to move. A lot of this trick is in the actions of you reviving the fly. It may be necessary to practice how long it takes for the fly to revive itself. Freezing the fly with dry ice or even one of these aerosol canned air products for cleaning computers is a better way of freezing the fly as it is quicker and causes less damage to the fly.

Coin Bite And Restored Coin

David Blaine performed this extremely effective trick where a coin was bitten and a piece of it removed. The coin was restored when the missing piece was seemingly spat out at it. This trick was used using a very cleverly engineered coin, which is available from a lot of good magic suppliers.

Cough,Cough

This trick requires a lot of practise and is for advanced magicians.

Effect
The magician has a card selected and signed. The spectator then shuffles the card into the pack and it is the magician’s job to locate it. Unfortunately, the magician cannot seem to get it right, but after a few attempts, the magician seems to actually regurgitate a tightly folded card. It is the spectator’s card, with their signature.

Preparation
You need a pen and a deck of cards.

Method
Have the spectator selected a card from the deck and show it to the audience. After the card is signed, control it to the top of the deck by means of Hindu shuffle control or a revolving pass. The deck is now held in the standard dealing position in the left hand (with the chosen card at the top) get a finger break under the top card and palm it with your right hand immediately. Flourish the rest of the deck with a one hand cut, or one hand shuffle with your left hand offer it to a spectator to simply mix up the cards.
Make sure the spectator starts to shuffle because some stubborn people start to shuffle through the deck looking for their card. Then turn your back making this moue seem natural to show that there is no possible way that you could know where the card is. At this time you are folding the palmed card into eighths (The smaller the better).
This is easy as your back is turned you can use both hands to do this and slip the tiny package in your mouth between your cheek and gum. Turn around to face the audience as the card is folded so tightly in your mouth, you can talk normally. Take the cards and act as if you messed up. Turn over a couple of cards to reveal what was supposed to be their selection.
Do whatever you want to, just make yourself look bad. As soon as they reach their peak, work the card out of your lips and slowly spit the card out onto the palm of your hand. Unfold it, and watch the audience scream at the chosen signed card. It looks as if you somehow swallowed the card beforehand and regurgitated it back up again.

Coin Vanish

David Blaine was seen in this TV special to visibly vanish a coin that was on a spectator’s outstretched palm, without touching the spectators palm and by waving his hands above the spectator’s palm. This looks very impressive and is performed by using a gimmick called "The Raven" which is available from good magic suppliers and is a worthwhile purchase for those of you interested in street magic.

Card In Bottle

Effect
The spectator is asked to sign a card and the card is placed in the deck and cards are shuffled. The magician throws the cards at a bottle behind the spectators. The signed card appears in the bottle.

Method
David Blaine showed the spectators a different trick before this one involving the same spectator signing a card of the same number and suit that is forced when showing the card in a bottle trick following after the card trick. He then keeps the card and does another trick not involving cards and slips the card to one of the cameramen or lights crew. The guy then puts the card in the bottle while David distracts the audience with a trick. Then he goes on to perform the card in the bottle trick and the card is forced, signed, and the trick is done. He then throws the cards at the bottle and the card that was recently signed is held on to. He then tells everyone to look at the bottle and the card is slipped in his pocket.

Cigarette Through The Coin Trick

David Blaine again used this impressive trick where he pushed a cigarette through a quarter. This trick uses a very clever gimmicked coin where the middle temporarily opens to let the cigarette through and later closes so the hole is virtually invisible to the spectator. This coin is available through good magic suppliers, and is often on eBay.

Ace Shake

This trick was performed in David Blaine's second special where he made the spectator sign a card, the card was put in the pack and was made to appear from between two aces.

Secret
Give the spectator, the red aces and tell them to hold them. Fan out the deck and tell the spectator to touch a card. Square the deck up leaving their card stuck out to be signed and shown. This is because you secretly put the card into "palm position" when you square up the deck so you can easily palm the card when you want to. It must stick out of the lower comer of the pack meeting your inner thumb. Let them sign the card and then hand them the deck, secretly paling their card. After they are convinced that the card between the aces, showing only the aces face up. Tell them to hold the deck openly and start to shake the aces over the pack, tell them to watch their card rise from the deck into the two aces, shake a little more loosely and the card will appear to their amazement.

Voodoo Ash

Effect
A name is written on a piece of paper on a notepad by the spectator, the paper is torn off unseen by the magician, crumpled up and placed in an ashtray. It is then set alight. The ashes are then rubbed on the magicians arm and the name of the person written on the paper mysteriously appears.

Preparation
You will need a small notepad, pen, ashtray, lighter and a small piece of soap or wax.

Method
The spectator is asked to write the name of a person or favourite anything of theirs on a notepad. Then to tear of the sheet of notepaper, crumple it up and place it in the ashtray, where the magician then sets the paper alight. The magician takes the notepad of the spectator and should be able to see the imprint of the name written on the paper above in the next sheet of the notepad. Looking at the pad should not be made obvious and some misdirection carried out while he carefully takes the small piece of wax or soap and writes the name on the imprint on his arm or hand (this will not be visible to anyone). The magician can then take some ash from the ashtray and rub it over the wax where it will stick and create an impression of the spectators word to there amazement. This is a great trick but depends on the magician creating an atmosphere with an entertaining routine and patter about black magic to enhance the effect and create misdirection to allow him time to pull off the trick.

Two Card Monte

This trick requires a lot of practice and is for advanced magicians.

Effect
(This is the trick that was performed on the David Blaine special and requires a complete mastery of the double lift). The magician shows the spectator, the queen of diamonds on the top of the deck. He then tells the spectator to hold the queen face down between his fingers. The performer then shows the next top card, the other red queen. After several fast sneaky switches of the cards, the spectator is told to guess which card is where? When he turns over his hand, he realizes he is holding no aces at all.

Preparation
This trick is done with a regular set of cards. Before performing the trick, put the black ace on the bottom, preferably the ace of clubs, it is less conspicuous. On the top of the deck, place the queen of diamonds, then the ace of spades, then the queen of hearts.

Method
With the deck set up as above, first show the spectators the (actual) top card. Tell them to hold it between their fingers, face down. Then tell them to look at the card they have, so they are sure that there was no fancy moves in play. Using this as misdirection, prepare to double lift the next two cards once they have looked at their card. Perform the double lift and show them the queen of hearts with the ace concealed. Put the cards back on top of the deck, and then remove the ace without showing them the face of the ace. Then pretend to switch the cards, once or twice. After this say "OK I'm going to teach you how to do this" This time, perform the "switch" very slowly, actually switching the cards. (Make sure that they do not look at the ace in there hands). Then, very quickly, making sure that they do not notice what you are doing, take the queen of diamonds you are holding and put it on top of the deck. Then steal the card off the bottom of the deck (ace of clubs) and give it to them. Then ask them to tell you what the card is. After you hear their guess, have them turn over their hand and be amazed.

Psycho Kinetic Time

Effect
David Blaine did this trick on his second national TV special. A watch is borrowed; the magician does not carry anything! After showing the watch to those nearby who notice the current time, you place the watch face down in the spectator's hand. His hand is closed over the watch. The magician does not touch the watch again. The magician then asks the spectator to name a number and then to concentrate on that number and the watch. He opens his hand, turns over the watch and sees that the hands of the watch have moved that many minutes! This trick does not require any gimmicks.

Props
Someone wearing an analogue watch (a watch with a long stem that's easy to manipulate quickly. I.e. SEIKO watches)

Preparation
You need to wear a watch of your own with the wrong time.

Method
Ask your victim for his watch with an excuse like, "I think my time is wrong can I see yours for a second?". Borrow the watch for a minute and examine it look at it, state what time it has, and say, "is this the right time, I need to know". Now glance at the time on your watch, and draw attention to it by setting its time. While they are looking at you, set the time on your watch. Your other hand is moving their stem so their time is moved forward 25 minutes. Now have them sandwich their watch between their hands, and ask them to pick a number from 10 to 30. Most people will pick 25 if they pick 20, they won’t notice it’s off by five minutes when you reveal that the hands on their watch have moved forward in time.... If they pick something below that number, tell them to make it harder, and pick a higher number, it gets them every time.... Just remember to give a great patter when doing this trick.

Tips
I recommend trying to do this on nervous or shy people so they don't know what you're doing. The key to this trick is misdirection, but it’s very easy to get caught.

Card Through Window

Effect
The performer asks the spectator to pick a card without him seeing the face and replace it in the pack. The pack is then shuffled and the performer is apparently unsuccessful in locating the card. After a few attempts, the cards are thrown against a window in a fit of rage, on looking at the window, the chosen card is seen to be sticking to it, even more surprising is the fact that the card is on the inside of the window.

Preparation
You will need two identical packs of cards and a willing helper.

Method
This trick should be performed in a area with a large window nearby and with the spectator facing away from the window. The spectator is asked to choose a card from a pack, memorize it without showing you, and replace the card in the pack. The pack is then shuffled and a couple of attempts at "is this your card" tried followed by a look of disbelief when the spectator tells you that it is not their card. (This is all part of the act, as you don't even need to know the card). After a few attempts you fake an angry outburst and making sure the cards are squared up, throw the pack broadside at the window, where they will hit the window and fall to the ground except the chosen card, which is sticking on the window. Your helper was already positioned behind the window and spectator and had an identical pack of cards. He was able to see the chosen card and took the duplicate card and it was stuck to the inside of the window. The helper should then have walked away from the window. This trick creates a real surprise but it is important to pick up the fallen cards quickly and to pocket the original card.

Paul Xenon Tax Disc Removal Secret

This trick is of medium skill

Effect
The magician invites a spectator to stand near a car, he then asks the spectator to check that the car tax disc inside the windscreen. The spectator agrees, the magician then places his hands over the disc and pulls it out through the solid glass.

Preparation
This trick needs along piece of fishing line, two identical tax discs, a car and a assistant.

Method
Attach a piece of fishing line to the tax disc inside the car and run it out to the trunk and out the back of the car. Have your assistant ducking down behind the back of the car holding the line, where the spectator cannot see him. Palming the duplicate disc, the spectator is asked to check that the disc is inside the car. With the disc in your right hand, cover the tax disc with your hands. This is your cue to the assistant. He pulls the line and keeps pulling until the disc is ripped of the windscreen and pulled right inside the trunk at the back and out of view of the spectators. Meanwhile, you pretend to struggle to pull the disc from inside the car, hand it to the spectator and casually walk off. It is good to really look like your putting a lot of effort into getting the tax disc through the window.

The Card Flick Revelation

Effect
A spectator chooses a card from a deck of cards. The deck is shuffled by the magician and then given to the spectator to shuffle. The magician draws out a card from the deck, not the chosen card and holds it in his fingertips. He gives the card a short sharp flick from behind and instantly the card changes into the spectators.

Preparation
Two decks are required. Choose a card that you want the spectator to choose and glue it back to back of any other card in the deck. Out of the top left hand comer (for right handed people) before gluing leave a small needle or long pin sticking 2cm diagonally out of the card. This should be glued halfway firmly inside the sandwich of cards. You should now have a card with two faces and the little pin protruding about 2cm from the comer.

Method
Force them to choose the necessary card by your favorite force method. Shuffle and loose the card in the pack. When they are shuffling the deck withdraw the prepared card from your pocket with your left hand being careful not to let them see it. As they pass the cards back to you, receive them with both hands, left hand facing you so they don't see the cards and bring your hands together on the deck. Left hand with prepared card on the top of the deck and right hand facing inwards under the deck (almost like a playing position with a deck of cards in-between your hands). Keeping your hands moving and in one continuous motion draw off the card that is in your left hand.
To the audience it looks like they shuffle the pack and you draw off a card when it is returned to you. If the whole action is done with hands slightly faced towards your body the back of your hands hides many of the motions so they might not even know that the card came from the top. Hold the card by the very tip with the pin between your thumb and forefinger of the left hand. The face they can see is not their card, their card's face is facing you.
Ask them if that is their card. "No," they will reply. "Oh", you say, "In that case concentrate very hard on the card." After you say this give the bottom right hand edge of the card a short and sharp flick and let it flip over on the pin in your fingers.
To the audience their card will appear just by flicking it!!! They will think you really are Blaine in disguise.

Tips
Don't let anyone stand behind you for this trick, they will see the double faced card. You will have to figure out yourself how to get rid of the double faced card without them seeing it. Try practising in front of a mirror to refine the flicking action so that the card can make the complete ISO degree flip. It wont look good if it didn't quite make it round.

David Copperfield: Vanishing the Statue of Liberty

EFFECT
David Copperfield makes the statue of liberty disappear.

METHOD
The audience can see the statue of liberty through the pillars. The curtain then comes up to block the audiences view. The live audience is on a secret swiveling platform that rotated slowly to the side of the statue. The statue of liberty lights are turned off, the blip on the radar is part of a video animation. The curtain is then lowered, the audience and the viewers watching on TV see that the statue has disappeared but all they are looking at is a duplicate set of lights that is situated right next to the real statue of liberty. The lights on the two towers are there to night blind the audience for a few minutes to make it hard too see the statue of liberty. The curtain is then raised up the audience is rotated round again to face the statue of liberty the curtain is dropped and the statue has reappeared.

David Copperfield: The Moon Card / Magicmeister

If you have seen David Copperfield's live show, you might have been wondering about how he did that trick with the Moon Card. Each member of his audience received 9 cards before the show. 8 of them are blank, but one of them has a picture of the moon on it. After a lot of carefully instructed shuffling, David manages to pinpoint the Moon Card in everybody's hand.

Like many of David Copperfield's tricks, the Moon Card trick is based on an old standard that many magicians before him have used. It is commonly known as the 21 card trick, because usually it is done with 21 cards, instead of 9.

David's Moon Card is just a simplified version of this trick, because he's only using 9 cards instead of 21, and he doesn't let someone chose a card - right from the start he tells everyone that the chosen card is the Moon Card.

You can do the 21 card trick at home: Tell your audience you can read anyone's mind... But it's only a very weak telepathic link, and you can only receive mental images, not complex ideas. The best way to prove it is with a deck of cards (because there are all those pretty pictures on them.)
Ask for a volunteer. Now tell him you have a bunch of cards (no need to mention it's exactly 21 cards) and you will sort them in 3 card on pile 3, the fourth card on pile 1, etc. When you are done, ask him which pile his card is in now. (The card may have moved to another pile or still be in the same pile.) Pick up all 3 piles again. And again, make sure to put the pile with the card in it between the other two piles. Tell him you are starting to see a blurry picture, and you'll have to make the piles one more time to be sure. Now, for the 3rd and final time... Grab the top card and put it on pile 1, put the second card on pile 2, the third card on pile 3, the fourth card on pile one, etc. etc.

Ask your audience member one final time to tell you which pile his card is in. Then pick up all 3 piles - and again: be sure to place the pile with the chosen card in the middle of the other two piles as you pick them up. Now act all mysterious as if you were trying to visualize the card. Take each card, hold it for a second, then drop it. When you reach the 11th card, hold it up and show it to the audience - it's the chosen card! The trick is based on a mathematical principle. By making 3 piles 3 times and always keeping the pile with the card in the middle, you automatically place it in the exact center of the 21 cards... There will be 10 cards before it and 10 cards after it. The chosen card will always be the 11th card.

In David Copperfield's case it's the 5th card, because he did the trick with only 9 cards. So after shuffling, there are 4 blank cards before the Moon Card, and 4 blank cards after it.

PS: You can baffle them even more... Do the trick again, but when you secretly count the cards at the end, do it while the deck is FACE DOWN in your hand. All you see is the BACK of each card, and you will STILL know which card was picked. (Because all you have to do is count to 11, no matter whether the cards are face up or face down.)

David Copperfield: Walk Through the Great Wall of China

METHOD
When David Copperfield goes inside the first box there was a switch made, Copperfield goes under the box and goes into the hollow stairs he then gets carried away inside the hollow stairs. A looks like in shadow form pretends to walk through the first part of the wall, after he plays his part he gets inside the hollow base platform. By that time the assistance's pull the sheets away to show that he walked through the first part of the wall.

The stairs that Copperfield is in is behind the camera boom as it makes a complete rotation over the wall. The assistants on the other side of the wall take the same stairs and put it next to the other plate form.

The assistants climb the special stairs and hold up a small white sheet of cloth. It looks like David Copperfield is pushing his and face through the cloth. The secret behind this action is that the person on the right is just controlling a pair of fake hands that he controls with his right-hand. The person on the left is just pushing a fake face through the cloth with his left-hand.

The two assistants then drop the small sheet cloth and listen to the wall to see if David is all right. They then slowly roll down the sheets to cover the frame box up and make sure it is tucked in good, they go down the stairs to wait for Copperfield to make his way through the second part of the wall. All he has to do now is get out of the hollow stairs and inside the box and watch his angles with the light. He then comes closer to the light so it looks like he is coming through the second part of the wall. He pulls the sheets away to reveal himself, the white cloth stays on the floor because it contains the props.

David Copperfield: Turning a Fake Goose to Real Goose

During his Dream Portal stage show David Copperfield uses a funny fake-goose slow-motion routine for comedic effect. After the comedy bit, he places the fake goose into an empty old wooden bucket that has two lids on top. A few seconds later he pulls the goose back out - but now the fake goose has turned into a real live goose.

SECRET:
Copperfield uses a special bucket that has a wall in the middle, separating the space under the LEFT lid from the space under the RIGHT lid. When Copperfield asks a volunteer from the audience to check the bucket, he opens the LEFT lid and holds the bucket in a manner that forces the volunteer to run his hand along the inner LEFT wall of the bucket. The volunteer confirms that the bucket appears to be empty... but in reality his hand never touches the inner RIGHT side - or the wall in the middle of the bucket. Copperfield asks the volunteer to hold the "empty" bucket. Then he opens the LEFT lid again and places the fake goose in the LEFT compartment of the bucket. A few seconds later, he opens the RIGHT lid, and pulls out a real goose. The real goose had been hidden in the RIGHT compartment of the bucket all along.

David Copperfield: Floating Rose

EFFECT
You probably seen David Copperfield do dancing paper & floating rose in his TV special. You take a piece of paper, give form to it, and on your command the paper floats in the air, it also moves. You can do it with your hands in your back! After, you take the paper, give it the shape of a rose, and magically the rose float in the air. You set fire to the paper rose and it transform into a real rose!!!

PREPARATION
You need to buy some "invisible thread." Take one single strand of the thread and attach two pieces of tape, one at each end. On one end wad it up into a ball. On the other end, attach to anything. You also need some flash paper with which to make the rose. You will need a real rose, concealed in your left pocket and a lighter.

METHOD
First, Put the balled up tape end of the invisible thread in your mouth. Then make a rose out of the flash paper. Step back until the thread becomes tight (you can tell because the tape in your mouth will start to come out). Now place the paper rose on the thread, engaging it under one of the petals, and viola! You now are floating a paper rose! You can move it by simply moving your body. Now for the switch. Your body should be with the right side to the audience, and the left side hiding the rose. With your right hand, reach for a lighter (preferably a Zippo) and light it. Bring it under the paper rose, but DO NOT ignite it. This is misdirection while your left hand grabs the real rose. With the rose in your hand, light the flash paper, and bring your left hand up to the same position as the paper rose. The appearance will be that the paper rose turned into a real rose! Take a bow, and throw the rose into the audience.

Card through window magic trick revealed

I bet you must have seen the 'card through window' trick before. Believed to have started from John Kennedy, most of the well-known magicians like Chris Angel, David Blaine and Cyril Takayama have performed it.

The trick itself has become complicated and varied. To make the trick more real, magicians have used different ways such as asking the spectator to sign on the card, performing in front of the window and even putting the hand across the window to retrieve the card and etc.

Here's 4 video clips on this trick. Clip 1 shows David Blaine in action. Clip 2 and 3 provides explanation of how its done. And Clip 4 shows what will happen when the trick goes wrong :)

Clip 1:


Clip 2:


Clip 3:


Clip 4:

T.H.E.M - Totally Hidden Extreme Magic (Eps. 2)

Continuing with three more clips of the exciting TV series - T.H.E.M episode 2. Just like Just for Laughs tv program, its fun to see the natural reactions of those in confusion caught on camera :) Enjoy...

Episode 2 (Part 1)


Episode 2 (Part 2)


Episode 2 (Part 3)

T.H.E.M - Totally Hidden Extreme Magic (Eps. 1)

"What if magic was real? Would you believe your eyes?" - This was the opening statement of a short-lived TV series called T.H.E.M or Totally Hidden Extreme Magic, consisting of a gang of street magicians: Rico, Chris, Justin, Cyril, Lisa, Michael, Jason, Dan, Thomas.

As I have blogged about Cyril Takayama here, here and here before, he actually used to be a member of T.H.E.M. Its actually an interesting program that shows magic as 'real' to those unaware before revealing the truth rather than showing magic in the usual way that magicians do.

There are no tricks revealed here but the natural reactions of those caught unaware are fun to watch. Enjoy!

Episode 1 (Part 1)


Episode 1 (Part 2)


Episode 1 (Part 3)

Classic magic trick revealed - body cut-up

This trick by today's standard is classic. Most of you should know by now how a person's head, hand and leg can move even when the human box that contains the person gets separated into 3 boxes.

The first part of the video shows you how the presentation is done and the second part reveals the trick.

Barry and Stuart: Funny Magic Trick

Since we are on a string of comedy magic strips, here's a series of funny magic tricks by Barry and Stuart. Kick back and enjoy some laughs.

Follow up: Daniel Chesterfield's easy to do magic

Back in July, I posted an interesting video on how to learn some COOL magic super duper fast. Here's a few more from the same magician. Check them out!





And before you know it, some are following in his footsteps.

Wanted: instant magician, no skills needed!

Okay, maybe Cyril Takayama is not for you. There's just too much trouble trying to learn the art of magic or simply too lazy to practice 24/7. Here's one way you can be an instant magician without any skills at all.



Easy, isn't it?! :))

Cyril Takayama's cool magic tricks

Following up to the previous post on Cyril Takayama, here is a selection of really cool street magic tricks performed and appeared on Japanese TV recently. Truly exceptional!

Taking out a card from inside an aquarium


Taking out a real hamburger from a poster


Putting a coin through a glass table


Bringing a fish back to life


Cell phone on ice

Wow! That's amazing!!!

Only five cards remain. Do you know your card? Where is it? Violet Fish must have just happened to blow up your card. What an odd coincidence.

Uh-oh!

Whoops!

Violet fish thought that your trying to cheat so she pulled a gun on you and accidentally blew up one of the six cards. Do you still remember your card? Click on Violet Fish pistol when you're ready to continue

Featured article － Cyril Takayama

This is a featured article that appeared in Metropolis issue #648 (Aug 25, 2006) on the Wonder Boy - Cyril Takayama

Wonder boy

From a troubled youth in Los Angeles to sold-out arenas in Japan, Cyril is enjoying a magical ride.


It seems entirely fitting that Japan’s most popular magician shows up for our interview in disguise. Just moments earlier, Cyril’s manager had assured us he was on his way, but as we look up and down the busy Harajuku street corner, the performer is nowhere in sight. And then, suddenly, he’s right there in front of us, wearing a black cap and sunglasses and offering his hand in greeting. Cyril has appeared just as he should—as if by magic.

During the next hour, over coffee and cigarettes in a trendy neighborhood café, the man who single-handedly sparked Japan’s love affair with magic talks about his rise to fame and his upcoming shows in Tokyo. Poised, articulate and almost painfully courteous, Cyril discusses his craft the way a 6-year-old talks about dessert—as if it’s the only important thing in the world. And listening to him describe magic’s ability to inspire people and bring them together, we get the feeling that he may be right.

Cyril has captured the imagination of audiences—and the hearts of female admirers—with TV specials and live shows both here and in the US. Fluent in Japanese and blessed with an idol’s good looks, the magician combines a stylish demeanor with a hint of the exotic. But it’s his jaw-dropping illusions, performed everywhere from street corners to auditoriums to bowling alleys, that have caused audiences around the world to slap their foreheads in amazement. Some of his notable acts include:

The card in the window
Cyril performs his signature piece of magic in a variety of settings, even on glass-bottomed boats: a spectator selects a playing card and signs it, and after Cyril flicks the entire deck at a window, the chosen card is left by itself stuck on the glass—the outside of the glass.

Hamburger-menu grab
Cyril stands before a fast-food menu trying to figure out what to order, and then decides to sample the wares. He does this by reaching into the menu… and pulling out an actual burger. The trick is completed when he restores the sandwich—missing the bite he’s just taken—to its 2-dimensional backdrop.

Samurai bungee jump
Perhaps Cyril’s most dramatic act took place high above the Las Vegas skyline. From a perch 52m above a hotel pool, Cyril bungee jumps with a sword in hand and spears his co-host's chosen card from a full deck floating in the water.

Sero-jisan
As Cyril’s fame grew, he noticed that bashful Japanese were becoming intimidated when he passed them on the street. His solution? To go undercover. Disguised as the character Sero-jisan (or “Old Man Sero,” a pun on the performer’s Japanese name), Cyril blends into the crowd, only to astound them with bizarre physical tricks. In one memorable episode, Sero-jisan sneezes—and, much to the horror of passersby, his head falls off his shoulders.

With a repertoire that includes sleight of hand, acrobatics and disguises, and with his ability to work street corners, arenas—even, as in a recent TV special, rural Nepal—Cyril is one of magic’s more versatile acts. Yet he strives for a common touch. “I like to stimulate people’s minds using the things they’re already knowledgeable about,” he says of his preference for tricks that involve gum, food and money. To emphasize the point, Cyril takes a coin from his pocket and makes it disappear with the nonchalance of someone turning on a light switch.

Recently, though, he’s turned away from the “gotcha” aspect of manipulation tricks in favor of more theatrical work. This is partly due to the fatigue of creating dozens of pieces of street magic to fill nine lengthy TV specials over the past three years. Arena shows mesh well with Cyril’s preference for illusions that have a narrative arc, a recognizable beginning, middle and end. “I no longer want to trick people,” he says. “I want to make them wonder.”

As Cyril’s magic has matured, so, too, has the magician himself. Born in 1973 in Los Angeles to an Okinawan father and a French-Moroccan mother—both of whom were beauticians—Cyril Takayama had an eventful yet troubled upbringing. A recent profile in Magic (“The Magazine for Magicians”) describes him being expelled from school at 15 and then, on a visit to relatives in Okinawa the following year, how he got off the plane during a stopover in Tokyo and never got back on. Cyril wound up busking on the streets of Shinjuku, and at times had so little money that he could afford just one meal a day.

Luckily, he was able to fall back on one constant in his young life: magic. Cyril first became hooked on illusionism at age 6, when friends of his parents brought him to a live performance in Las Vegas. He then largely taught himself, honing his skills through constant practice and by watching famous performers on videotape. At 12, he entered the junior program at the prestigious Magic Castle in Hollywood, and his enthusiasm persisted even after his parents, concerned about behavioral problems, took away his props. “I was shattered and stopped for about six months,” he told Metropolis in a 2004 interview. “But the magic in me was so strong that I came back to it.”

After lean times as a Tokyo street performer, Cyril's dedication began to pay off. In 1991, he was awarded a top prize by magic's international governing body, the International Federation of Magic Societies, and in 2001, he and a partner won the Golden Lion Award at Siegfried and Roy’s World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas.

Cyril’s career has been helped by a surge of interest in magic during the past decade, especially in the US. The boom can be traced, perhaps, to the avant-garde stunts of David Blaine, to whom Cyril is sometimes compared, and the TV show Magic’s Secrets Revealed, in which a hooded performer demonstrates the tricks behind well-known illusions. Though the program was widely derided by magicians, Cyril has a more nuanced take. “It did two things,” he says. “One, it hurt magicians—or I should say, it hurt average magicians. Two, it raised magic’s profile.” Secrets became so popular that other networks scrambled to produce their own versions, and Cyril looked on in dismay as magicians rushed to cash in. “Magic was a well-protected art form for centuries,” he says, “but now it’s all about the money. It pisses me off.”

Overall, though, Cyril is heartened by magic’s newfound openness. “When I was a child, I couldn’t find info about magic, and the info that was out there was boring. There were no sources, and magic wasn’t accessible.” Now, he says, DIY magic kits abound in department stores, there are performances all over TV, and anyone with an internet connection has access to virtually unlimited resources about the topic.

Cyril, for one, has embraced the new media, and has even been dubbed “Magic’s First Cyber-Celebrity.” When asked to provide some clips of his performances, he refers us to YouTube, where a search turns up hundreds of videos of the magician in action. Cyril’s Wikipedia entry provides a link to his MySpace page, and readers can keep up with his comings and goings via his blog. And then there’s his look. Sporting a spiky hairdo and multiple body piercings, Cyril is definitely not your father’s magician.


The same could be said of his friends in Magic X Live, a US-based group of 10 “modern-day Merlins” who practice a guerilla brand of illusionism. “The ‘X’ stands for generation X. We’re a bunch of sorcerers and magicians,” Cyril says of the group, which includes good friend Enrico de la Vega, who helped Cyril develop acts for his Japanese TV shows. “We’re all busy performing around the world, but when we get together, we jam, just like musicians.”

Considering Cyril’s success in Japan, it comes as a surprise to learn that his upcoming shows at the spacious Tokyo International Forum (see sidebar) will be the first in front of a ticket-buying audience here. Following a previous tour that included stops in Aichi and Nagoya, “Magic Revolution: The Xperience” promises to reprise Cyril’s well-loved TV acts while offering considerable new material, including pieces set to music. “There will be a side of me that no one’s seen before,” he says.

One thing that fans may not be able to enjoy is Cyril’s post-performance tradition of accepting gifts from the audience; the ritual is becoming too popular and has created logistical problems for the venues. “There was one woman recently who gave me a hug—and wouldn’t let go. We had to pry her off of me,” he says with a laugh. Yet as he reminisces about presents he’s received from fans, which have included everything from flowers to cup ramen to a single piece of umeboshi candy from a little boy, it’s clear that he relishes close contact with his audiences. The talon-like silver charm he’s wearing around his neck, in fact, is a gift from an admirer.

When asked what causes such an outpouring of affection from his fans, Cyril has a ready answer. “Magic creates an energy, a bond and a relationship between people,” he says. “You don’t even need to speak the same language. Some people approach me and ask, ‘Can I do magic?’ I always tell them, ‘Of course you can—magic is in all of us.’”

Twenty-one card trick revealed

This is yet another simple and interesting card trick for you to learn, practice and master.

All you need is a deck of 21 cards. The magic is to deal your friend's card right out of the deck.

Look at the first image that explains what you need to do and then check out the second image that explains how it works. Click on the images to expand.


Source: California Science Center

Cyril Takayama - the magician

While most of us interested in magic are greatly aware of magicians like the great Houdini, David Copperfield, David Blaine, and etc., most of us do not know who Cyril Takayama is.


I first came to know about him through local programs on Japanese TV. His magics are extremely down to earth and simply awesome, which quickly made me see the difference between his brand of magic and the more conventional ones that we grew up into.

Instead of using special props on stage to entice us, what is called 'stage magic', Cyril does 'street magic'. Hardly the type that bring your own props and head down to the main street to perform, he goes around empty handed, using items that he finds along the streets. It makes the magic more real not only by reducing our suspicions of the props used but the close-up under-our-nose performance that will surely leave anyone mesmerized and gasping away.

Just imagine as you watch him only a few inches apart, he 'takes out' a REAL burger with all the mustard from a poster on a street and eat it right in front of you. Or makes what appears to be only a picture of a pet bottle of water on a poster hanging inside a moving train drops down as real and then drinks the water. Amazing!

Here are some facts about Cyril:

Cyril Takayama (born 1973) is a Japanese American illusionist, born and raised in Hollywood, California. He is perhaps best known for his street magic performances in Japan. His father is of Okinawan descent, while his mother is French-Moroccan.

He was a member of T.H.E.M., which was a short-lived TV series. On the show, they were a gang of street magicians that set up various scenarios to lure unsuspecting targets. After the team bewildered their victims, they would reveal themselves to the target as one of T.H.E.M. The members of were: Cyril Takayama, Danny Cole, Enrico de la Vega, Lisa de la Vega, Chris Gongora, Michael Grasso, Thomas Meier, Jason Neistadt, Justin "Kredible" Willman

With performances in Japan & Korea, Cyril has been very active particularly in Japan. In 2005 and 2006, Cyril appeared in three "Super Street Magic Magazine" episodes, and four "Magic Revolution" episodes, which is broadcast on Fuji TV. The four episodes were broadcast on June 30, 2005, January 10, 2006, June 20, 2006 and January 23, 2007. In October 2006 he appeared in a 90 minute Korean magic special.

His street magics are not only awesome but highly valued and appreciated by his fans. They are of high quality and are way much difficult to perform than the once we get entertained on stage. As far as I know, none of his magics have ever been revealed. Apart from his skills, he has a character appealing to people and coupled with his well disposition makes him a fantastic personality in Japan specifically and in the world of magic generally.

Some external links:
Official site
Cyril Takayama at MySpace
Magic X
Magic Revolution website

Two cool card tricks - jumping gemini & nemesis

This is pretty interesting. With some practice, you should be able to pull it off and awe your friends :) There are two card tricks here. Check Clip 1 to watch the two tricks. If you like it and want to know how its done, view the clips after that. Enjoy!

Clip 1 - jumping gemini & nemesis


Jumping Gemini trick revealed


You can skip this clip if the above clip explanation is clear enough


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Nemesis trick revealed

Rubber band magic tricks revealed - few types

If you are bored with cards and coins, here's something for a change - few different types of rubber band tricks that you can try. Enjoy!

Blank paper to real dollar bill magic revealed

Earlier, I have posted a video clip on two dollar bill magic. Here's a rather interesting clip that reveals how blank paper notes become real dollar bills.

Coin-card matrix trick revealed - an easy one

This is not a sophisticated trick but should be fun to try it on your family and friends. The cards are used to cover the coins and the trick is to gather all 4 coins in one place. Put the coins on a soft platform/cushion to make it easier to pick up the coins.

Mambo #5 card trick revealed

Here's a few cool card tricks explained using 5 playing cards. Very well shown but will need some practice.

Tips on taking care of your deck of cards

Here's an article on some useful tips on how to take care of your playing cards.

Card Care

As magicians, XCMer's, and flourish people, we all know how a new deck of cards feels. We all also know what it's like to invest large amounts of money into new decks of cards. Whether it be normal Bicycles to Tally-Ho Playing Cards to the new Black Tiger and Viper decks. But the cards still need to be taken care of. Hopefully, this will answer all questions about taking care of a deck of cards.

XCM vs. Magic

This is not a battle or anything like that. For XCM, I recommend using the Tally-Ho cards and Bicycles for Magic.

Tally-Ho cards are not typical cards that people see everyday, so the trick card suspicion is in play for the laymen (not by much, but it is). Tally-Ho cards have a different finish on them that allow them to last longer than Bicycles, and all you XCMer's know that you can go through cards pretty quickly, so a higher quality card is well worth it.

Bicycles are common to the layman. There are many trick decks out there for Bicycle. They are inexpensive, and last for long enough for magician.

Breaking in a New Deck

We all love the feeling of a new deck, but they are so stiff. Here is my method of breaking in a deck:

1. Riffle shuffling the cards face up, then face down about four or five times.

2a. Springing the cards on the short side from hand to hand face up, then face down twice.

2b. Springing the cards on the long side from hand to hand face up, then face down twice.

If you can do a one-handed shuffle, then the second half of the routine is really good for breaking in cards. If not able to do the one-handed shuffle, then repeat steps one and two multiple times.

3a. Performing the one-handed shuffle face down in the right hand.

3b. Performing the one-handed shuffle face down after rotating the deck 180 degrees with the right hand.

3c. Repeat 3a and 3b face up in the right hand.

4. Repeat step three with the left hand.

Repeat entire routine a couple of more times. Once you are done, you can put the deck underneath something heavy to flatten it out, but the deck should be flat after this work out.

I highly recommend Steps 3 and 4 for XCMer's, I've broken in a deck of Tally-Ho Fan-Backs this way about 3 or 4 weeks ago, and I'm still using the deck.

How to Conserve a Deck of Cards

When a new deck is received, the deck of cards before it can still be put to use. One way is to use the deck as a practice deck.

Wash your hands before you begin to practice. Wash in cold, soapy water; then fully dry your hands afterwards with a towel. This prevents the cards from absorbing moisture on your hands from sweat.

When practicing, if you feel your hands becoming sweaty; stop and wash your hands again.

When practicing, don't leave the top card and the bottom the card the same. Cut the cards numerous times during practice.

Keep the old deck of cards in a dark, cool corner; leave it there, and forget about it. A couple of weeks later, you will eventually find it again. This deck will be better than it was before, all the moisture is now out of the cards and they are great again.

When to Call it Quits for a Deck of Cards

Eventually there comes a time when you need to call it quits for a deck of cards. There are many phases of calling it quits:

- When a deck has about half of the cards left.
- When there is a line in the middle of the long side going down the entire deck from where you've bent the deck so many times (this does happen, trust me)
- When they don't fan well any more and the clumps are in at least 6 to 10 cards.

There are reasons that once the cards get to this point that they aren't even good for practice, except for tearing up, folding, burning, stuffing in your mouth, etc.

First of all, it doesn't help with new decks. New decks have a slippery feeling to them. If you are used to the cards sticking together, you will have less control over them (fans may jump out of your hand, cards may slide during a one handed cut, etc...)

Secondly, if the deck has less than a full deck, your hands are not using the usual amount of cards, which will mean that a normal deck will feel big for your hands which can effect the magic greatly.

Black Deck Care

This is covered in the black deck book. Here is a little something though for those who don't own the book (I highly recommend buying the book, it has miracle ideas within its pages, and sparks many more ideas to your mind)

Treat the deck with a little more respect than the normal white cards, even though it will last longer, this doesn't mean that it won't last forever.

Don't add fanning power, it becomes a gray deck of cards.

I recommend a Card Clip for it. This can make the case last for a long time, works well.

Practice black deck tricks with a white deck so that the black deck cards don't go through unnecessary wear and tear.

Whenever you get a new deck of cards, if it is from the United States Playing Card Company, it usually (should) come with a seal on the box.

Removing the seal

How do you open the box? You usually have to either rip the seal with your fingers/knife as if opening a letter, or carefully peel the seal off.

It looks a lot better with the seal completely peeled off, but a lot of times the sticky stuff remains on the box. So if you keep the deck in your pocket, a lot of fabric fluff, dirt, etc. will stick on the adhesive from the seal and looks quite unpleasing.

So how do you exactly get all the stick stuff off? Follow these simple steps:

1. Carefully peel off the seal. If it rips or some part still stays on, don't worry. Try to remove as much of the seal as you can.

2. Taking the removed seal, re-attach the seal wherever there's a sticky spot. Quickly take the seal off, and repeat until all of the adhesive is taken off.

3. If the seal loses its stickyness, you can do step 2 with a piece of scotch tape.

I guarantee this will work for you and will leave the deck box looking as though it never had a seal on it in the first place.

Article source: Magic Hat

Street magic secrets revealed - FIVE part compilation

You probably have checked out the Ace to queen switch trick. More from the same person.
This IS really cool! 5 part compilation of various street magic tricks revealed. Lots of tricks to learn here, so take your time and enjoy :)

PART 1


PART 2


PART 3


PART 4


PART 5

Two dollar bill magic trick revealed

Okay, if you have had enough with card and coin tricks, how about a dollar bill trick for a change. You will need two 1 dollar bills and one 2 dollar bill. The trick is to make two 1-dollar bills become one 2-dollar bill. Not bad :)

Coin disappearing trick revealed - various versions

4 video clips to satisfy your appetite for tricks on how to make a coin disappear.

Clip 1 - coin disappearing from a glass of water


Clip 2 - coin disappearing from hand.


Clip 3 - coin disappearing from hand.


The Hole - video powered by Metacafe

Clip 4 - the embedded code has been disabled. So click on the link below to check this out. It shows how to make a clean coin vanish trick using double-sided tape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9H5dnJO20s

David Copperfield's stage magic revealed - 3 tricks

Here are 3 video clips revealing David Copperfield's stage magic tricks. Explanations are in Russian but the visual is enough to reveal to you how it was done. Enjoy!

Trick 1


Trick 2


Trick 3

Two simple card tricks revealed - pretty easy

Here are two simple card tricks easy to learn and use to impress your friends. The first clip shows you how to reveal the card chosen by your spectator but I wouldn't advice doing it for money. The second clip uses double-lift to fool your spectator in a 3-card jumble.

Clip 1


Clip 2

Ace to queen switch - card trick revealed

This is pretty cool. It reveals to you how to switch ace card with queen. You will need a deck of cards with two aces and two queens.