Magic Tricks

Magic is an art of entertaining an audience by tricking, and performing illusions that amaze them often by giving the impression that something impossible has been achieved. The people who perform these illusions are called magicians, illusionists or prestidigitators.

Early performances of magic start back in ancient Egypt. But the same plans such as the Trojan horse have been used in plays and public performances. Other than these tricks and deceptions of ancient times, the profession of illusionists mostly rose during the 18th century. Much of modern magic owes a lot to Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin. His specialty was making machines that acted and appeared to be real. But the greatest magician of the 19th century (or possibly of all time,) was Harry Houdini (1874-1926). His real name was Ehrich Weiss and he was the son of a Hungarian rabbi. He was developed and mastered the magic skill of escapology. He was highly skilled in lockpicking and escaping straitjackets, but also made use of the whole range of conjuring techniques, like fake equipment and illusion with individuals in the audience. Houdini is probably the most famous celebrity of his profession.

There are many catagories of magic tricks that magicians do perform. Because it has been called a magic number, it's been said that there are only 7 categories of magic tricks. These include:

1. Production - the magician produces "something from nothing."

2. Vanish - the reverse of a production.

3. Transformation - transforming or skewing an object.

4. Restoration - restoring something to the state it once was.

5. Teleportation - fast movement from one place to another that can't be seen.

6. Levitation - illusions where the magician magically raises something into the air.

7. Penetration - where one solid object passes through another.

Other magic tricks like card tricks, close-up cups, coins, and balls tricks, and slight of hand tricks.

When a person wants to become a magician they go to school and join professional magicians' organizations. But every magician has to take "The Magician Oath." The actual oath may vary but is similar to this one: "As a magician I promise to never reveal the secret of any illusion to a non-magician, without first swearing them to the Magician's Oath. I promise never to perform any illusion for any non-magician, without first practicing the effect until I can perform it well enough to maintain the illusion of magic." All this is to keep the secrecy of the profession alive. If a person is exposed to a trick it pretty much "kills" magic as an art form and turns it into intellectual puzzles and riddles. They can't enjoy the amazement or performance of the trick.

In a nutshell magic is another art form to provide people with entertainment. It is not easy to become a magician; it takes a lot of time, effort, and practice. But if you are interested in learning magic you can buy a simple magic kit at many magic stores.