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A little summary of modern magic
While the older arts of magic often led audiences to believe in a "true paranormal gift" of the magician, today's audiences are generally more cynical (or more skeptical, and more exposed to 'common trickery'). Because of this, today's magician has his/her work cut out for him/her. Luckily, there is also a vast wealth of props, equipment and resources for modern magicians, which has paved the way for a wide variety of innovative and compelling magic performances. The modern magician's toolbox contains a practical set of skills and techniques that have alsobeen borrowed for innumerable "real life" applications.
 Common Types of Magic
- Illusionism
The most common type of modern magic is illusionism — the art of making something appear in a way that the audience knows not to be possible. Simple examples of illusionism include vanishing acts, the apparent creation of objects out of 'thin air', the restoration of objects that the audience believes to be destroyed, teleportation or transposition of objects, and of course, levitation.
- Mentalism
Magic in which the magician appears to 'read the minds' of audience members and perform seemingly impossible mental tasks.
- Escapology
Or, the "art of escape", during which the magician 'magically' escapes from a seemingly impossible situation — from handcuffs to coffins. Escapology brings unique challenges to the art of performance magic.
Styles of Performance
- Close-Up Magic
The Close-up performer is usually mobile and relies on a set of localised props. This style of performance is ideal for social functions such as coctail parties in which guests remain are standing for drinks of finger food. The magician freely roams about the environment performing in close contact with small numbers of guests with acts that may involve coins, cards, found objects or objects belonging to guests themselves.
- Platform Magic
The magician is positioned at a platform so that a broader audience may spectate the performance than that of an up-close performance. The show is usually structured but may employ audience interaction and improvisational techniques.
- Stage Magic
The stage magician performs for large audiences in theatres of auditoriums. The performance usually involves large props, is well structured and may be accompanied by a soundtrack for dramatic effect.
Learning the Art of Magic
For quick gratification, the budding magician may be attracted to "trick in a box" type gimmicks. There are many, many novelties that will fulfil this desire. However, this style of magic will not sustain a cynical audience, and the professional magician will rely on more sophisticated talents, including sleight of hand, patter (or chatter), and misdirection techniques in order to engage his or her audience. A strong performance presence is also integral to a successful and engaging show. These techniques often take much practice to perfect, but are what will separate an average from a memorable performance.
Where to find Magic Props & Equipment
Pro-Magic.net hosts a growing list of magic prop & equipment suppliers from around the world. Many of these outlets have online shops that will sell to you anywhere in the world. There are currently listings for magic shops in:
ARGENTINA, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Guam, USA, India, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States.
(See all shops / List your shop)
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