MAGIC TIPS

WARNING: High-priority, very sensitive, extremely confidential material. Proceed with care.

Psst! Hey you. Yeah you. Come here a second. Over here. Don't be shy. I've got some information for you. It's good stuff, so listen up.

I hear you want to be a magician. Well, I'm a magician — been one for most of my life — and I know all the trade secrets. Thought I'd share some with you, seeing how you're a bright, good-looking kid and all. Really sharp. I can tell. So here are some pointers to get you started:

Number 1: Good magicians practice. They've got to make everything look real, be convincing, so they make sure all their moves are confident and graceful. You get me? The more you practice a trick — even the easy ones — the better it's going to look in front of an audience. And it doesn't matter if you're basically a well-coordinated person or a little awkward, you've still got to practice. Work in front of a mirror and watch your hands as you go through your routines. Is that pass too slow? Can you see the hidden object between your fingers? Is it obvious when you transfer the object to your pocket? If you can see the secret, your audience will see it too. If you're lucky enough to have a video camera — we didn't have those newfangled things when I was growing up; believe me, you've already got an advantage! — try filming your practice sessions and review how your hands look at different angles. Keep fine-tuning your actions until your tricks really look like magic!

Number 2: Good magicians are a complete package. They've got a shtick, a gimmick, a persona. They've got personality, and they use it to flavor their act. Good magic is all about the presentation. What I mean is it's not enough to just do a trick. You may fool your audience but you won't be entertaining or amusing them. Made some coins disappear? Guessed my card? Great, big whoop, tell me how you did that, and I'll be on my way, thank you very much. But combine some good tricks with a strong story line, make me laugh, make me feel special, make me feel like you're my cool, smart new friend, and I'm yours. I'll be like putty in your hands. Use your personality to win over your audience. You can be yourself on stage or you can be someone else entirely — you can create a whole new stage image. That's a big part of the fun of performing! Be creative, use your imagination. Don't be afraid to try out dialogue or use funny voices or go a little wild. In the end, what you're selling is yourself and your own unique style.

Number 3: Good magicians believe in quality over quantity. When you're putting a show together, and you've put in lots of hours of practice, and you're feeling confident about your skills and your shtick, you'll probably be tempted to demonstrate everything you've learned all at once. It's only natural. You want to show off. You want to include every single trick. But resist the urge! Ever hear the old show business adage, "Always leave 'em wanting more"? Audiences can only absorb so much. Too many tricks means some of them are going to get wasted. Build a show around five or six solid tricks; develop a 15- or 20-minute routine max. Use different kinds of tricks to keep your audience interested. Six card tricks or coin tricks in a row is boring, but a combination of both will keep people guessing what's next.

That's all I've got time for right now. Got to run. I'll be in touch.

And remember.... Shhhhh!...
An anonymous well-wisher

P.S. Join Fantasma's Secret Society for more great inside tips!