Magic Lessons

Ken and Julian love magic and they love teaching magic so they have put together this list of magic lessons for kids and beginners. On magictricksforkids.org you can learn magic tricks, how to perform and present your magic tricks and you can even learn about the history of magic.

Have fun!

And remember… Practise, practise PRACTISE!

Magic Lessons #1 – Paper Bag Magic Trick

The Paper Bag Magic Trick teaches this easy to do trick with instructions that are easy to follow. These magic lessons teaches easy magic tricks. This lesson shows the paper bag magic trick – a great easy to do trick that you can use to change a variety of things like shoe laces – put them in and they came out tied together.

Magic Lessons #2 – Change Bag Magic Prop

Utility props fill the magic cases of most professional magicians. Want to learn more about them and what they are? Then you are in the right place.

First we should review what we learnt last week in Magic Lesson #1 as we use it to strong effect again today in this new magic lesson:

Magic Lessons #3 – Audience Magic Tricks

This magic trick is what I have called the Dream Card trick. I chose this name for 2 reasons.

Firstly, the storyline is that of having a dream where you see the name of a spectator’s chosen card. Second, this magic trick really is a dream to perform for people. Why?

Magic Lessons #4 – Halloween Magic Trick

Halloween is Oct 31st and the perfect time for a Halloween magic trick.

Magicians have a name for tricks that are done with everyday objects that just happen to be around at the time.

The name for this is an impromptu magic trick.

Magic Lessons #5 – Magic Paddle Move

Ken and I love teaching utility magic sleights. Magic sleights is just a term used for describing sleight of hand moves used by magicians.

It is really worth you taking the time and investing yourself in learning some good utility sleights. Learn Why.

Magic Lessons #6 – Knife Magic Trick

This knife trick is super safe and super tricky. It uses a regular old dining knife plus we use the paddle move we learnt back at in Lesson 5 – Paddle Move.

More importantly it teaches us a great magic rule, in fact probably the greatest magic rule of all.

Magic Lessons #7 – Vanishing Coin Magic Trick

This simple trick where you learn how to make a coin disappear is a perfect trick got you to teach.

By teaching magic it makes you stop and really think about what you are doing.

What is the exact sequence of moves I am doing? How do I break that down into steps to explain it to someone else.

Magic Lessons #8 – Stage Magic Trick

When you are searching for magic tricks, do you click your way through the online magic store catalogues? Are you on magic shop mailing lists and when you get an email in your inbox saying new magic tricks have been released you get really excited?

I hope you are.

Ken and I were just the same. But then something happened to us…

Magic Lessons #9 – Magic Seeds Wand

I can tell you right now this is a popular magic trick.

Here’s why:

The first time I ever did the magic seeds wand was when I was on the run and I needed to find an almost impromptu magic trick. I was very used to doing the Giant Magic Tree that we learned in the last magic lesson. That was going to be too big for the close up situation I found myself in.

Magic Lessons #10 – Rubber Band Magic Trick

An easy to do rubber band trick that has a lot of audience appeal. This can be an impromptu magic trick that I am so fond of as you can find a rubber band almost anywhere.

Senor Valdez came from an idea I has after one of Jay Sankey’s videos where he makes reference to a great ventriloquist named Senor Wences. I started saying his name over and over again and I simply changed it to Senor Valdez. It seemed the perfect name for a little bed bug who could do feats of super human strength.

Magic Lessons #11 – Water Magic Trick

Sometimes the simplest of things can make the best tricks. This magic trick with water is so ridiculously easy to do that you would be hard pressed to give it the official title of a ‘magic trick’.

Don’t under estimate though the impact it has on audiences.

Magic Lessons #12 – Food Magic Trick

What’s one of the best reasons to do a magic trick with food?

You can eat the trick when you are finished!

Another reason is; it makes for good impromptu magic like we used in Magic Lesson #4 Halloween Magic Trick.

The secret you will learn in this magic lesson is not as important as the performance tip you will learn.

Magic Lessons #13 – Jumping Carrot Trick

Easy sleight of hand magic. Does that exist? Just the mere mention of sleight of hand is enough to turn many would be magicians away from a particular trick that advertises you need sleight of hand skills.

Today’s magic lesson is going show you that sleight of hand need not be hard or off putting. You will need to do practice for sure. It has been my experience that anything in life worth while takes some effort on your part.

Magic Lessons #14 – Match Box Magic Trick

What I really like about this trick is that the moves are very simple and clean. This is visual magic at it’s best.

What I also like is that this trick is super cheap to make. Magic Tricks For Kids even provides you with a download so you can make one of the props.

Click here for the download.

Magic Lessons #15 – Newspaper Magic Trick

Get in now and do this newspaper magic trick before newspapers disappear. Only joking… They will be a round for a long time yet. This whole secret relies on very simple maths. (It has to be simple otherwise I would never go near the trick … so when I say I can do it, you can do it, I really mean it).

This secret is not written up very often, which is a shame, as it makes for a quite mystifying fast impromptu magic trick.

Magic Lessons #16 – Win A Coin Toss

Magic Lessons #16 – Win a Coin Toss

Winning a coin toss every time is pretty easy when you know how.

You flip the coin – the higher and faster and with more spins to make it look even fairer to your friend who you are challenging.

This is a great little magic trick to ease yourself into your magic and possibly win you some bets.

Magic Lessons #17 – Money Magic Trick

When it comes to visual money tricks, this fits the bill – so to speak – perfectly. What’s more it is super easy to do and you don’t need any money to do it. We have provided you with an endless supply of props to do this eye popping money trick with.

Magic Lessons #18 – Penetrating Matches Trick

This magic lesson focuses on the important subject of convincers.

A convincer is a subtle thing you say or an action you take that gently helps convince the audience that what you say and do is actually what is happening when, in fact, you are lying through your teeth. As long as it is in the name of fun, I enjoy lying through my teeth.

Magic Lessons #19 – Finger Illusion Trick

Lesson: Once is enough

The bending finger illusion is a great example of the saying ‘less is more’. Sometimes just a glimpse of something is stronger than a longer look. There can be many reasons for this but the one that is critical today is that you will likely be caught out on the method to this if you do it longer than is required.

Magic Lessons #20 – Instant Star Magic Trick

Many magicians find they get sucked into the false belief that complicated and harder equals better magic. This is often far from the truth. The problem in seeking harder and harder magic tricks is that you often overlook the easy because we, as experienced magicians, think that no one would be impressed by simple things.

This magic lesson covers a category of tricks called self working tricks.

Magic Lessons #21 – Torn and Restored Napkin

If you are looking for a fast and simple sleight of hand trick, look no further than the “torn and restored napkin” trick.

Sometimes magic tricks can be negatively affected by over complication. You know the type I mean: Here I have four Queens that I have removed from a deck of playing cards. If we put those Queens in between the two Kings, then give the deck two riffle shuffles and two cuts then I turn the deck upside down and….

Magic Lessons #22 – Jumping Rubberband Trick

The Jumping Rubberband Magic Trick teaches you how to turn a simple concept into a more elaborate performance

On the surface, the Jumping Rubber Band Trick may seem basic at first but just by simply using the phrase “but it gets better” the simplest of concepts into a seemingly more technical performance that can captivate an audience. Having a catchphrase or repeating words between each trick can work as a linking mechanism that can captivate and intrigue.

Magic Lessons #23 – Cut and Restored Balloon Trick

The Cut and Restored Balloon trick is as simple to learn, simple to execute trick that is perfect for all occasion where balloons are available. Be on the lookout to perform this trick at Christmas functions, birthday parties or anywhere you can get your hands on a balloon.

Magic Lessons #24 – Balloon Penetration Trick

This balloon penetration trick has been named Watch it Buster! The trick involves skewering a balloon without the balloon bursting, unless you want it to.

This trick is based on the classic Needle Through The Balloon Trick where a needle around 30cm in length is inserted in one side of the balloon and exits through the other side without the balloon popping.

Magic Lessons #25 – Disappearing Sugar Trick

Jean-Eugene Houdin, a famous French Magician from the 19th Century, once said “A magician is an actor playing the part of a magician”. This quote perfectly sums up the sugar trick.

There have been multiple papers and articles that hypothesize on what Houdin meant. Simply, from the audience’s point of view, it doesn’t matter how great your magic skills are, it only matters that you appear to have great magic skills.

Magic Lessons #26 – Cups and Balls Trick

If you are looking for a classic magic trick, you can’t go past the “Cups and Balls Trick”. There have been many, many versions over the years that have been performed over the years. The effect is known as “acetabula et calculi” and it is known to have been performed by Roman conjurers as far back as two thousand years ago.

Magic Lessons #27 – Linking Shoelace Trick

The linking laces trick is an easy rope trick that can be done with your shoelaces if you lack any other useable rope, cord or string on hand. These type of tricks are great for the simple fact that they are impromptu and are always available if you are wanting to perform a small miracle at anytime unless of course you are wearing sandals.

Magic Lessons #28 – Age Prediction Trick

Magics Lessons #28 – Age Prediction Trick

The age prediction trick is simple and great to have hanging around in your wallet. Just print out the A4 download and the trick will be ready to use at a moments notice. The trick is baffling and once you learn the secret it is as easy as adding one, two three. You put six cards on a table. Each card has different numbers printed on the surface.

Magic Lessons #29 – Clipped Card Trick

The Clipped Card Trick is neat little magic trick that can be downloaded and used at a moments notice. This magic trick has been around for a while and can usually be found in places such as Christmas Crackers or in Cereal packets, although it is astounding how many people have never accounted this magic trick before.

Magic Lessons #30 – Paper Rose Napkin Trick

There are many reasons why you should learn how to do the paper rose napkin, both when doing magic tricks and non magical. People enjoy getting given paper rose napkins. People enjoy watching a paper rose napkin being created. Many people would put the paper rose napkin into the same category as balloon dogs. The process is simple and you are attributed with better skills than you have in reality.

Magic Lessons #31 – Comedy Card Trick

I’m a fan of a well done comedy card trick. Around 80% of the magic tricks I perform include an element of comedy within them. Some people may argue I should reduce this percentage to increase the light and shade within my routines and this may have some merit. Don’t listen everything that comes from “magic experts”. What I mean is, be selective in what you take from them. The majority of the advice out there is pretty good, but if it makes sense to you and works for you, then makes it your own.

Magic Lessons #32 – Jumping Flea Magic Trick

I’m a fan of this Jumping Flea magic trick. I have my own favourites that I perform regularly. Too many of these style magic tricks end up like rubber band gymnastics: lots of twanging moves that are essentially just slightly changed from the ones previous. I’d suggest the best way to incorporate rubber bands into your routine is to bring one out and just do one magic trick with a few eye catching moves and use it to locate a card selected by the audience.

Magic Lessons #33 – Jingle Bell Monte

The Jingle Bell Monte magic trick encompasses a lot of what Julian’s Magician School sets out to accomplish: It’s simple to learn and perform, the props can be found in most households or for a cheap price at the local shops and it’s a great trick to share in the spirit of Christmas. This little magic secret is the perfect gift for someone who has everything.

Magic Lessons #34 – Sneaky Card Sleight

I talk a lot about the nerves that ruin so many magic tricks. These same nerves are the reason some magic tricks never make it past the practice stage. These nerves are usually born from a lack of confidence and this can only be overcome by getting out there and performing in front of people… but how can you do that when you are too scared because your nerves have overcome you. It can be a vicious cycle.

Magic Lessons #35 – Frog Prince Magic Trick

Many magic critics consider the Frog Prince Magic Trick to be a modern day classic. Mike Close first premiered the trick on ‘Workers 2’ in the ‘Workers’ DVD and book series. He was the first person to fold a card into an Origami frog and then use that folded card in a routine.

The series was named ‘Workers’ is because a ‘worker’ is trick that plays well for audiences.

Magic Lessons #36 – Hindu Force

The Hindu Force is an extremely versatile card force. It can be used as a force – remember a card force is where you seemingly allow your audience to have any choice of card in a deck when, really, you are dictating a pre determined card that they will choose – or it can be used to create effects such as colour changing decks.

Magic Lessons #37 – Bigger Smaller Magic Trick

Magic Lessons #37 – Bigger Small Magic Trick

This is called the “Bigger Smaller Magic Trick”. The reason for this will be explained later. This magic trick is certain to play well to larger audiences. I used it one of my routines and it continually got big reactions from audiences of all ages; except young kids. Kids under the age of 10 don’t usually see that the “joke” is a bigger part than the magic trick itself of locating their chosen card.

Magic Lessons #38 – False Shuffle

Learning the false shuffle is arguably one of the most important techniques you can have in your magician’s tool bag. This is Dan Garrett’s “The Underhanded Overhand Shuffle” (published by Dan Garrett) and it’s a variation of the “Hunter” false overhand shuffle. Many times you will a find an audience member who will not be satisfied with how you handle the deck. They usually insist you mix up the cards again.

Magic Lessons #39 – Fantastic Mr Plastic Magic Trick

If you are looking for a really simple magic trick, you can’t go past the Fantastic Mr Plastic Magic Trick. This is one of my most popular magic tricks as it is so simple and so fun. The Fantastic Mr Plastic magic trick is great for giveaways after a show as the materials are so easy to find and make. That’s ok until there are 500+ kids in an audience and I have to stay up over night, put on a DVD and cut away.

Magic Lessons #40 – Magic Force Bag

The magic force bag is a great utility to have on hand for your routines. Once you have learned the basic principles behind it, there are so many possibilities for you to explore. The clear magic force bag works well as an impromptu trick that you can use and perform anytime you are at someone’s house. This magic force bag trick relies on you being comfortable with the way you handle the bag.

Magic Lessons #41 – Quiz Show Magic Trick

This quiz show magic trick differs from many other magic tricks as it is presented in the form of a quiz show game. By not uttering the word magic during the ‘trick’ you will throw the audience off and they will no be suspecting the sneaky maneuvers you are pulling. This misdirection allows you to use your magic utility prop right underneath your audience’s noses.

Magic Lessons #42 – That Magician is Me

“That Magician Is Me” is a simple, fun magic lesson you can use that allows you to talk to your audience about the world of magic and magicians.

Non-magicians often find our world of magic very intriguing. To them it seems to be very mystical and some will wonder how they themselves can get involved with magic. It comes across as a very special club, and in a sense it is.

Magic Lessons #43 – Appearing Wand Magic Trick

The appearing wand magic trick is a great magic trick for a younger child or anyone starting out with magic. If you are able to count to seven you will be able to present this trick. You will still be able to do the magic trick without being able to count that far, but the thrill won’t be as big.

This version is self designed using magic wands.

Magic Lessons #44 – Can I Call You?

This “Can I Call You?” surprise card trick requires you to gather some information about your participant before the trick happens and it’s a great magic trick to use in social settings. You will get bigger reactions from the people strangers or people who aren’t close to you.