12 Essential Tools To Transform You Into A Magician
Updated: Dec 26, 2023
Discover the secrets behind a magician's craft with our guide to essential tools. Unveil the mystery items that transform the ordinary into the extraordinary in magic
Essential Tools for Magicians
Do you want to learn magic?
Do you want to impress your friends, family, and coworkers? That's awesome. Magic is such a fantastic hobby with so many benefits!
Learning magic is like stepping into a new world. You can become the center of attention at parties and social gatherings.
There are all kinds of magic out there that you could learn from. From the massive number of videos on YouTube to books, podcasts, and total strangers at your local Magic Shop, here are some of my personal favorites.
Here Are 12 Resources For Learning The Art Of Magic
Plus:
Magic is one of the oldest professions in the world, going back thousands of years.
That doesn't mean it's boring!
I've put years into my craft - learning from books, mentors and lots of practice at home. Magic is such a terrific hobby!
There is no slowing down once you start down the "learning magic" path.
If you're looking for a fun hobby, look no further than magic!
Magic is one of the most impressive skills you can learn. It can open up your career to being a professional magician, increase your confidence, and impress your friends.
In fact, learning magic has helped me in my professional life, and I've found it to be a great hobby.
So, what are the essential tools for becoming a magician?
Well, let's take a look!
YouTube
This one is a no-brainer.
There are tons of magic tutorials on Youtube! If it's something you want to learn, chances are someone has posted a video about it.
It's also a great place to find inspiration for your own magical journey.
You can watch hours of free magic on YouTube. Be warned, though, not all tutorials are created equal.
You'll find tons of videos on this platform great for beginners who want to learn magic. The best part is, they're completely free!
Popular Channels To Learn Magic
Magic Secrets Revealed https://www.youtube.com/c/magicsecretsrevealed
Jay Sankey https://www.youtube.com/user/SankeyMagic
Scam Nation - https://www.youtube.com/user/scamschool
Rich Ferguson - https://www.youtube.com/Icebreaker
EvanEraTV - https://www.youtube.com/user/EvanEraTV/videos
Oscar Owen - https://www.youtube.com/c/OscarOwen
Spidey Hypnosis - https://www.youtube.com/c/SpideyHypnosis
nadjib haffaf - https://www.youtube.com/c/haffafnadjibmagictrick
52Kards - https://www.youtube.com/c/52kards
MLT Magic Tricks - https://www.youtube.com/c/MLTMagicTricks
Alex Pandrea - https://www.youtube.com/c/AlexPandrea
Mismag822 - https://www.youtube.com/user/mismag822
Hester23BearsCH - https://www.youtube.com/c/Hester23BearsCHx
Free Magic Live - https://www.youtube.com/JayJay
A Million Card Tricks - https://www.youtube.com/c/AMillionCardTricks
Popular Magicians on YouTube
Chris Ramsay - https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisRamsay52
Rich Ferguson - https://www.youtube.com/Icebreaker
Julien Magic - https://www.youtube.com/user/julienmagic
Julius Dein - https://www.youtube.com/c/juliusdein
Magic Murray - https://www.youtube.com/c/magicmurray
Wes Barker - https://www.youtube.com/c/WesBarker
Justin Willman - https://www.youtube.com/c/JustinWillman
Daniel Fernandez - https://www.youtube.com/user/ChangeInTheMaking
Joshua Jay - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoeWzRXcz_JvG1thNPg9VNA
Rick Smith, Jr. - https://www.youtube.com/user/RickSmithJr
Lucy Darling, aka Carisa Hendrix - https://www.youtube.com/c/carisahendrix
Magic Books
Magic books are one of the most effective ways to learn magic theory and specific tricks.
There's no substitute for reading up on the subject.
It can give you fresh ideas or help you refine an existing trick that isn't quite working yet.
There are so many out there, and they cover everything from a brief history of magicians to advanced sleight of hand techniques.
I highly recommend Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic for beginners if you are just getting started.
It's an excellent book for beginner magicians.
In addition to books specifically about magic, I recommend reading up on psychology, acting, public speaking and writing as well—all these skills will help make your magic even better!
Here are some magic books I highly recommend for beginners:
Mark Wilson Complete Course in Magic by Mark Wilson
Tarbell Course in Magic by Dr. Harlan Tarbell
Self-Working Card Tricks by Karl Fulves
Royal Road to Card Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braué
Expert Card Technique by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braué
Modern Coin Magic Paperback – Illustrated by J. B. Bobo
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Magic Tricks by Tom Ogden
Magic for Dummies by David Pogue
Tarbell Course in Magic: The Complete 8 Volume Set by Harlan Tarbell is considered the magic Bible. It's a comprehensive course on learning magic and is very well organized.
The author breaks down each trick into easy-to-follow steps and adds plenty of tips for making your tricks really pop.
Of course, it's also super expensive to buy all eight volumes at once, so you might want to find one or two that interest you and start there.
Royal Road to Card Magic by Jean Hugard is another classic book about card tricks.
It teaches beginners how to perform over 250 tricks using regular playing cards.
This book teaches basic sleight of hand techniques like shuffling and dealing cards to advanced card sleights and techniques.
You'll also learn how to control certain cards while making it look like pure magic.
Mentors
If possible, find someone who has been practicing magic longer than you have and ask them questions whenever possible.
This is especially important in areas where YouTube might not have enough detail (like when it comes to sleight-of-hand work).
Having a mentor is one of the best ways to learn magic, as they can easily show you what works and what doesn't.
It's always nice to have another set of eyes when learning something new!
In a perfect world, every magician would be born with an old man in a top hat by their side. But finding a mentor in the real world isn't as easy as in Harry Potter.
So, where do you start?
First, figure out what kind of magician you want to be. Do you want to perform close-up magic or stage magic? Do you want to specialize in card tricks or maybe grand illusions? Perhaps you don't even know yet—that's okay.
Are you passionate about learning the art of magic?
You're not alone.
But once you have picked up a few tricks through books, videos, and classes, it can be challenging to know where to go next. Finding a mentor is probably your best move if you want to take your skill to the next level.
So how do you find a mentor? Where is the best place to look? This list gives you eleven essential tools for finding a mentor in magic.
Tips for finding a mentor
Ask friends who share your interest in magic. They might know someone willing to mentor you, or they may know someone who knows someone.
Follow people on social media who are experts in magic. If they don't offer mentoring services, consider asking them if they would be interested in taking an apprentice as a side project.
Join magic clubs or organizations near you. See if they offer mentoring services or know anyone who provides such services.
You could read every single book out there on magic tricks.
You could watch every single magician's performance you can find on the internet.
But nothing will ever compare to having a real-life mentor—a person who can answer your questions and guide you as you learn.
Start reaching out to other magicians in your area of interest.
Internet forums
Internet forums are the best place to find out about all the latest tricks and techniques of magic.
They're also a great place to connect with other magicians, learn from their experience, and get answers from other magicians.
The Genii Forum - https://forums.geniimagazine.com/
The Magic Cafe - https://themagiccafe.com/
The Magician's Forum - https://www.themagiciansforum.com/
Theory11 Forum - https://www.theory11.com/forums/
Talk Magic Forum - https://www.talkmagic.co.uk/
Facebook Groups
Facebook is another resource for magicians. Several private groups are devoted to sharing information, tips, and tricks with magicians worldwide.
These groups will allow you to ask questions, share knowledge, and chat with other people who are eager to learn just like you!
Magicians Only - https://www.facebook.com/groups/198824316918462/
SME Talk Magic - https://m.facebook.com/groups/smetalkmagic/
There are subreddits dedicated entirely to magic, and they're great places to have your questions answered by experts who might have answers to your specific questions.
Magician Podcast
If you're looking for inspiration, there are tons of great magician podcasts with plenty of great resources and interviews you can learn from.
Listen to a few episodes of each one and find your favorite.
Here are a few popular magician podcasts.
The Magic Word
Magicians Talking Magic
Conversations with Close Michael Close
Discourse in Magic Jonah Babins
Magicians Advice Phil Taylor & Ian Brennan
Magician Business Ken Kelly & Julian Mather
Magicians Talking Magic Podcast Ryan Joyce & Graeme Reed
Magic Talk James Lantiegne
Penguin Magic Podcast Penguin Magic
Shezam Podcast Kayla Drescher
Successful Performercast Podcast Kris Sheppard
The Insider Vanishing Inc
The Magic Detective Podcast Dean Carnegie
The Magic Word Podcast Scott Wells
The Variety Artist Podcast John Abrams
Two Magicians One Mic Nick Paul
Check out our full post and links to magician podcasts here.
Magician Magazines
Subscribing to a magic magazine is a great way to stay up-to-date on what's happening in magic.
You'll get information about new products, events and shows in your area, and even tips on becoming more successful as a magician.
These magazines are also an excellent way for new magicians to connect with other magicians.
They often include articles written by professional magicians who share their experiences and tips for getting started in this exciting field.
Some magic magazines are exclusive to official magic society members.
VANISH Magic Magazine - An interactive and independent magic magazine loved by magicians around the world http://www.vanishmagic.com
Genii, The Conjuror's Magazine - is the longest-running independent magazine devoted to magic and magicians. Founded in 1938 https://geniimagazine.com
M-U-M Magazine - Official publication for the Society of American Magicians https://www.magicsam.com/page/MUM_Magazine
The Linking Ring - Official publication of the International Brotherhood of Magicians https://www.magician.org/the-linking-ring
Magicseen -The magazine for magicians and mentalists https://www.magicseen.com
Reel Magic Magazine - Television for Magicians https://www.reelmagicmagazine.com
The Hermit Magic Magazine is an independent magic magazine that focuses on creativity, engagement, and inspiration. https://www.hermitmagic.com
Check out this feature on Magician Magazines by Magician Masterclass.
Other Magicians
Who better to learn from than other magicians?
They've already been through what you're going through now, so they can give you great tips on how to improve your magic act and get more people to pay attention to you.
Here are some of our favorite magicians to follow on social media
Famous magicians to follow on social media
Justin Willman https://justinwillman.com
David Copperfield https://www.davidcopperfield.com
Penn & Teller https://pennandteller.com
David Blaine https://davidblaine.com
Derren Brown https://derrenbrown.co.uk
Criss Angel https://crissangel.com
Jeff McBride https://mcbridemagic.com
Mat Franco https://matfranco.com
Michael Carbonaro https://www.michaelcarbonaro.com
Online courses
There are plenty of free and paid online courses available for people interested in learning the art of magic.
Here are some of our favorites:
Skillshare https://www.skillshare.com/browse/magic
Penn & Teller Masterclass https://masterclass.com
Magic Shops
These are one of the best places to get started in magic because they'll have all the gear and supplies you need and classes where you can learn from experts in person.
Magic Stores in North America
Browser's Den of Magic (Toronto, ON, Canada) - https://www.browsersden.com
Tannen's Magic (New York, NY, USA) - https://www.tannens.com
Fantasma Magic (New York, NY, USA) - https://fantasmamagic.com
The Magic Warehouse (Hunt Valley, MD, USA) - https://themagicwarehouse.com
Abbot Magic Co (Colon, MI, USA) - https://www.abbottmagic.com
Magic Inc (Chicago, IL, USA) - https://www.magicinc.net
Hocus Pocus Magic Shop (Fresno, CA, USA) - https://www.hocus-pocus.com
Distributors of Magic Tricks and Products
Murphy's Magic https://www.murphysmagic.com
Vanishing Magic Inc https://www.vanishingincmagic.com
Online Magic Stores
Penguin Magic - https://www.penguinmagic.com
Ellusionist - https://ellusionist.com
Theory11 - https://www.theory11.com
Vanishing Inc Magic - https://www.vanishingincmagic.com
Hocus Pocus - https://www.hocus-pocus.com
Merchants of Magic (UK) - https://magicshop.co.uk/
Join a Magic Club
Yes, these magic clubs actually exist! We promise!
These clubs are usually made up of people at all different stages of their magical journey—and many are willing to share their knowledge with other magicians.
Everyone has something to teach! You can learn from other magicians, ask for advice, and get tips on how to improve your craft.
Here are some of the most famous magic clubs and associations.
North American FISM Member Magician Associations
Academy of Magical Arts - http://www.magiccastle.com
Canadian Association of Magicians - https://cammagic.org
Club de Magie du Québec - https://en.festivaldemagie.ca
International Brotherhood of Magicians - https://www.magician.org
Society of American Magicians - https://www.magicsam.com
Texas Association of Magicians - https://www.taom.org
To learn more about each magician organization, visit this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Teach Myself Magic?
Looking for ways to impress people with magic?
Whether you want to learn magic tricks as a hobby or become a professional magician, there is no shortage of resources online to help you.
The best part about learning magic is that it's not as difficult as you think. Like any other skill, you can teach yourself how to perform magic tricks with the right resources.
Learning magic is a fun way to expand your mind and show off to friends and family.
This guide will answer all those questions and more.
Where Should I Start Learning Magic Tricks
If you are interested in learning some magic tricks but don't know where to start, we've compiled a list of resources to get you on the right path.
The first thing you should do is browse our blog and read our articles on how to start learning magic tricks. I recommend getting a magic book for beginners. By starting off with a good book on magic, you'll quickly master some fundamentals.
This will make learning more advanced magic tricks easier later in your journey.
What is the Easiest Magic Trick to Learn?
Do you want to learn a magic trick? If you do, that's great! Learning new tricks can be fun.
If you're learning how to do the trick for the first time, one of the most important things you need to understand is that doing magic takes practice.
The more you practice, the better you'll get at it.
That being said, some tricks are easier to learn than others.
Where can I learn magic for free?
What could possibly be better than learning magic for free?
I've got some good news for you: there are many resources where you can learn magic for free!
Magic is a lifelong pursuit, and it's best to start with the basics. It's always a good idea to make sure that you're starting out on the right foot and sustainably developing your skills.
YouTube - There are tons of videos on YouTube that teach you how to do cool tricks. Just make sure to search for "magic trick" and not "magic trick tutorial," since the latter searches are usually very poorly done and reveal a lot more than they intend to.
Reddit - There's a subreddit called /r/magic that's always got new tricks and discussions posted by people who want to show off their skills. It's a great place to join the conversation and learn from others before moving on to more complex stuff.
Facebook groups - There are several Facebook groups dedicated just to magic, though many may be closed, so in most cases, you'll need approval from an admin before joining them.
Can I Learn Magic Online?
The answer is a resounding YES!
The internet is full of tools made to help you learn magic.