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Magic

The tricky part about the illusion of magic is that it can either be a source of clever entertainment or just simply disillusionment.

There are the David Copperfields, the Siegfried & Roys, and the Lance Burtons of the world. They can be found on the stages of Vegas, or revealing sorcery's greatest secrets for a prime time audience. This is magic at its best. For an extensive list of links on the masters of magic, see SuperMagicWorld.

Conversely, a more popular trend has been the revelations of the masters. Case in point, the Fox Network's damaging Magic's Biggest Secrets, though many magicians find exposing the trade "forces magicians to go to a whole new level of magic." Others emphasize, "magic is about entertaining your audience, and not about how the damn thing's done" (The Magician's Comer). True of the common reality, the biggest disappointment comes when the rabbit inadvertently pops out of the artist's pant leg and piddles on his shoe at Billy's birthday party.

Most magicians concur that well-honed skills and presentation will win out every time, regardless of whether the trick is known or not. The idea is to start small, learn your craft well, and master the art of showmanship.

As a source to begin your foray into the world of the seemingly impossible, the Web has a modest selection of tricks of the trade. Most sites are laden with banners, products, or are simply digital commercial for a magician-for-hire. For those searching for an education in prestidigitation rather than a shopping spree, pickings are slim. However most magicians take their craft fairly seriously, and have little use for those who just want to know how it's done. Secrecy is still paramount in the trade.

A good introduction for the beginner or a forum for the professional is The Magic Pages. The big hit of this site is the Lessons section, offering step-by-step directions to become adept at card tricks and develop skills for other kinds of magic. Explanations of tricks are clear and concise and maneuvers are defined so you won't get lost in the jargon. Links are extensive and very informative. The opinion pages are interesting and reveal a bit about some of the problems and pet peeves magicians have about their craft. If you know a little bit about the profession, you are invited to join the discussion and add your two cents.

The Conjuring Cabaret This site is perfect for the absolute beginner. Simple tricks to get you started are plentiful, along with tips for presentation and developing skills. The approach to the would-be magician is friendly and informative, a pleasant change from some sites that tend to be purposely cryptic or assume familiarity with the genre. For intermediate practitioners, a small test wins you access to tips that can expand your repertoire. Sign up for the newsletter, or visit the product store, which has the typical assortment of tricks, books, and videos. Overall, a pleasant introduction to online magic.

The Magician's Corner The Magician's Corner has an assortment of coin and card tricks for the beginner, along with valuable tips on how to hone presentation. For those thinking of starting their own business for children's parties, there is a section dedicated to helping keep the attention span of easily distracted audiences. You can also have your name added to a list, once you're ready to begin professionally. The Great Debate is an ongoing discussion of the trials and tribulations facing magicians, so join in and complain about your newfound career.

The Magic Secrets Basement This is not the most extensive site in the area of information, but what it has is thorough and useful for beginners. Laid out as a brief introductory course, what is best about this site are the photos that take you step-by-step through the basic moves of magic. While other sites similarly provide a basic education, a visual walk-through is immensely preferable considering this craft is a visual art. The Links section is limited but varied. There is also a questionnaire to be filled out if you wish to become a member, but other than offering a message board, there seems to be little gained by joining the unidentified group.

Astonishment Site An informative site with an extensive essay on understanding magic, the Astonishment Site employs a great deal of text scrolling. Also, several photo files are missing, but a whole lot of good stuff about the genre can be found here. There is a special section explaining techniques to using memory in an act, but like many sites, this requires a password obtained via passing a skill test. A great Understanding Magic section is available to all users. The Links are a resource center for exploring magic further, going beyond simply listing other Web sites. However, many of the sources are not found online. This site represents a thorough coverage of the craft and a good starting point for those on a quest for knowledge.

Conjuror Conjuror is another basic site for the beginner to intermediate looking to entertain as a magician. For a different spin on the profession, learn a few things about comedy to incorporate in your act. There's a computer mind reading trick, that apparently reads the "mind" of PCs only. A particularly good bit is a clickable list of essays and articles on a variety of magical subjects sorted into categories, including downloadable files and graphics. There's also a joke library for those nights when you want people to laugh with you, not at you.

Card Trick Central If your opening line is "Pick a card," this is the place for you, with more tricks than cards in a deck. Tricks are segmented into Easy, Intermediate, and Hard card tricks (a password is required for the Hard section). When you tire of shuffling cards all the day, there are tricks with other objects, as well as math, mentalist, and memory tricks. If you want an extensive list of things to try, this is the site for you. It'll take at least a month to read through them all, let alone practice them all. Should you stumble into your own illusion along the way, you can add it to the pile.

Magic Show Several magic tricks of varying complexities are displayed here, requiring only patience and a few common household items. Links are mostly to apparent sister sites such as the All Magic Guide or The Magic Theatre, which share many articles and information. There are reviews of products, books, forums for magicians, links to product dealers, and a link to the Society of American Magicians. Events are also posted and occasionally reviewed if you want to catch a peek at someone who really knows what they're doing.