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It's time to learn some easy magic tricks with a magic wand. These are great for magic tricks and crafts for kids! Everything uses household items and is easy to perform without much practice! Plus, it's a lot of fun to learn the secrets! We'll cover four fantastic magic tricks with magic wands or other similarly shaped objects, like pens or pencils. Some of these tricks require unique props, and we've provided everything you need, including step-by-step instructions below. Here are the magic wand tricks you'll learn: Table of Contents: Magnetic Wand Telekinetic Wand Floating Wand in Bottle Rising Ring on Wand Constructing the Gimmick What You'll Need Growing Magic Wand Conclusion Easy Magic Wand Tricks To Amaze Your Friends Magicians of all ages can perform magic tricks. Some tricks need no special preparation and others need to make a particular secret item. All of the tricks below have step-by-step instructions and use everyday household items. You can also use other objects like pencils and pens for many of these tricks, and many of these wand tricks can be performed anytime, anywhere! Get your sparkle ready, and let's learn the first trick! These Magic Wand Tricks Have No Preparation When a magician performs magic without preparation, it's called impromptu magic. These spontaneous tricks can be achieved with objects that are present and available. Grab a magic wand, pencil, pen, small branch, or similar-sized object and let's learn the Magnetic Wand. 1. The Magnetic Wand The Effect - The magician shows the audience a magic wand is held firmly in his hands. To be sure nothing is coming up his sleeve, the magician holds his wrist tightly. The magic wand sticks to his hand. The Secret - The magician's other finger secretly holds the magic wand. Here's how you do the Magnetic Wand trick: 2. The Telekinetic Magic Wand The Effect - A magic wand floats suspended in mid-air behind a magician's hands. The wand begins to float around behind his interlocked fingers! The Secret - If you count all the fingers in the image above-- you will notice the magician is missing two fingers! Those two fingers hold pinch and hold the magic wand in place. Magic Wand Tricks With Special Gimmicks We'll need to make a few special secret items the audience won't see for these following tricks. Magicians call them gimmicks. These gimmicks are made with items in most homes, like scissors, glue, thread and paper. You'll also need to print out the magic wand printout. It's free and easy to make. Download the magic wand PDF here. Let's learn how to float an object! 3. Floating Magic Wand in Bottle The Effect - The magician drops a magic wand into an empty soda bottle, and the wand rises to the top of the bottle. You must make a special magic wand to perform the next trick. We've provided complete instructions and everything you need below. When you make this magic wand, you'll also be able to present the next trick, the rising ring! 4. The Rising Ring on Magic Wand The Effect - A ring is borrowed and examined. The magician slides the ring onto a magic wand, and the ring slowly begins to rise to the top of the wand. The Secret - Here are the details explanations for magic tricks #3 and #4. Constructing the Special Magic Wand What You'll Need Here is what you'll need to construct the special magic wand and thread gimmick. Download the Magic Wand Printout Making a magic wand is the perfect way to hide the string. Your audience will never detect it. It's easy to make. It only needs a one-printed piece of paper, scissors, thread and a safety pin. You can download the printout here Magic Wand Template. Rising Wand Secret Here you can see how easy it is to make the magic wand rise. When you pull the bottle holding the wand further away, the string will tighten and pull the magic wand out of the bottle. The same action will make a ring float on the magic wand. Here's the ring rising up the magic wand: Learn the Growing Magic Wand Magic Trick Here's a great trick you can make with the magic wand template. It's easy to perform and included in the one-page magic wand template. Learn how to perform the growing magic wand trick here. Do you want to learn other Magic Crafts and DIY home projects? Check out our other magic crafts here. If you need to make a magic wand, download and print this two-minute magic wand craft. Conclusion Magic is a great skill to learn for people of all ages! In this article, we've shared the secrets to 4 easy magic tricks with wands! A comprehensive guide to performing magic tricks with everyday household items. We've covered four fantastic magic tricks with magic wands or similar-shaped objects like pens or pencils. The tricks range from impromptu magic tricks that require no special preparation to tricks that require special gimmicks made from items found in most homes. The article also includes step-by-step instructions for each trick and free magic wand download, making it easy for magicians of all ages to perform these tricks. Overall, this article is a great resource for anyone looking to learn easy magic tricks with a magic wand. That's It! Hit the ♥️ button and leave your questions or comments below! Here are some other articles from Magician's Masterclass we think you'll love! Check out the links below! What to Read Next Learn this AMAZING Coin Through Balloon Magic Trick How to Learn Your FIRST Magic Trick FLOATING Match on Card Magic Trick

Here's an essential move for magicians with playing cards that's easy to learn and can help you accomplish impossible things! Many incredible tricks with a borrowed deck of cards are possible learning the Hindu Shuffle. This sleight is a vital card move every magician should know. Why you should learn the Hindu Shuffle The Hindu Shuffle is a classic magic utility move that all magicians know. It's beneficial to learn and have in your magic toolkit. You can learn the secrets of the Hindu Shuffle in minutes. The Hindu Shuffle is a magician utility card sleight that's easy to master and useful for many great tricks and applications. The tricks can all be performed with a borrowed deck of cards. With the Hindu Shuffle, you can force a playing card, locate a spectator-selected card, and control the location within the deck. Astonish your audience with all of those incredible tricks with just one move. Let's learn it! RELATED POST: The Hindu Shuffle: Step-by-Step The magician shuffles a borrowed deck of cards end to end by drawing small packets of cards from one hand to the other. What You'll Need: Borrowed deck of cards Practice, practice, practice Step-by-Step Hindu Shuffle: Step 1 - Hold the deck face down near the end between your right thumb and opposing fingers. This grip is called an Overhand grip. Step 2 - Bring the deck towards your left hand. Step 3 - Pull a small packet of cards into your left hand with your left thumb and second finger. Let them fall into your left palm; a grip called Mechanics Grip The first finger of your left-hand helps keep the cards squared up. Step 4 - Repeat the shuffling action - strip away small packets from the right-hand packet of cards into the left-hand packet until only a few remain. Place the remaining stack on the left-hand packet to complete the Hindu Shuffle. Hindu Shuffle Photos Here are pictures of the steps. Watch the full video above. The History of the Hindu Shuffle The first reference of the Hindu Shuffle comes from "Card Manipulations" by Jean Hugard in 1934 because of the way many Asians hold and shuffle cards. "I have dubbed this very useful series of moves "The Hindu Shuffle" because it was first shown to me over thirty years ago by a Hindu magician. Since then I have never seen a Hindu performer use any other kind of shuffle. Passing strange if the despised Indian juggler has given his vastly superior Western confreres another valuable legacy." Magicians and author of many books on magic, Walter Gibson, referred to the move as "End Shuffle." The Hindu Shuffle is a great move for magicians at all skill levels. Interested in magic crafts and DIY projects? Check these out. That's It! We hope you found the insights and techniques shared helpful. If you enjoyed this post and are eager to see more like it, 👉 hit the ♥️ heart button below to let us know you loved it, or better yet, drop a comment sharing your thoughts or experiences. Your engagement not only motivates us but also helps other magic enthusiasts find this content. Stay tuned for more magical content, and keep spreading the wonder! 🎩✨ What to Read Next: 20 Easy Magic Tricks with Everyday Objects Hindu Glimpse Criss Cross Cut Force

Do you need a boost to your magical vocabulary? A quick magic word to help describe magic, something magical like magicians, magic shows, or words magicians use? We've prepared a helpful list of magician words. Here's a complete list of 110 magic words and magician phrases to spice up your writing. These powerful words can help you conjure the imagination in your reader. If you want to learn magician terms, check out the Magician Masterclass Glossary. Let's look at the magic words list and downloadable magician word PDF. RELATED POST: List of Magic & Magician Words Here are powerful magician words and words to describe magic, magic shows and magicians. We have many other free resources to check out if you're a magician. Words to Describe Magic amazing artful astonishing astounding awe-inspiring awesome baffling bamboozling bedazzling befuddling bemusing bewildering bewitching beyond belief bizarre breathtaking brilliant captivating charismatic clever commanding compelling conjuring cool crafty curious dazzling deceptive delight dexterous dynamic electrifying enchanting engaging entertaining enthralling entrancing excellent exceptional excitement exciting extraordinary eye-catching eye-opening fabulous fantastic fascinating funny gifted great grandiose hilarious hypnotic hypnotizing illusionary imaginative impressive incredible ingenious innovative intriguing inventive jaw-dropping magical majestic marvellous masterful mesmerizing mind-blowing mind-boggling miraculous mysterious mystical mystifying notable once-in-a-lifetime original outstanding perplexing persuasive phenomenal polished powerful profound puzzling quick-witted remarkable resourceful sensational shocking side-splitting skillful slick sneaky spellbinding staggering stunning stupendous superb supernatural surprising talented thrilling tremendous tricky unbelievable unreal unusual wonder wonderful Download Magic Word List PDF We've created a quick PDF reference list of 110 magic words that you can download for free and keep handy anytime you need a magically descriptive word or magician phrase. Download the 110 Magic Words List PDF: Here is the one-page free magician word download: Did we miss a magical word? Share your words in the comments below. Related Articles Interested in learning about magic terms? Check out the Magician Masterclass Glossary of Magic Terms. Why do magicians use the word Abracadabra? The fascinating history of the magic word here.

Shin Lim's unbelievable magic has dazzled millions on Penn & Teller Fool Us, America's Got Talent and YouTube. Penn & Teller have featured Shin Lim in more than one of their television shows. Shin Lim appeared on two episodes of the magic competition show Penn & Teller's Fool Us and their pandemic tv show, Penn & Teller: Try This At Home. So, how many times has the magician fooled the Las Vegas magic duo? Let's look at Shin Lim's appearances with Penn and Teller. Shin Lim's appearances on Penn & Teller Shin Lim appeared in seasons 2 and 4 of Penn & Teller Fool Us. He fooled Penn and Teller both times. Shin's first appearance on the show in 2015 went viral on YouTube and reached over 70 million views. Shin Lim also appeared on Penn & Teller's Try This At Home (2020) television special. Penn & Teller Fool Us Episodes Penn & Teller: Try This at Home TV Special Penn & Teller: Try This At Home was a television special filmed entirely at the homes of Penn & Teller and their magician friends worldwide. The show featured Elle, Dakota Fanning, Michael Carbonaro, and Shin Lim. How many times did Shin Lim Fool Penn & Teller Shin Lim has successfully fooled Penn & Teller twice, both of his appearances on the show. Penn remarked on Penn & Teller: Try This At Home about a possible third fooling performance, he said: "If you were on Fool Us right now, you would have fooled us for the third time." Did Shin Lim win AGT? Shin Lim won season 13 of America's Got Talent and claimed the $1,000,000 prize and Las Vegas headlining show contract. He is also the winner of the AGT Champion, and he is the second magician after Mat Franco to win the Grand Prize. Shin Lim's 1st Appearance on Fool Us Shin Lim's 2nd Penn & Teller Fool Us & Try This At Home Appearance Here are two other great videos of Shin Lim's performances on Penn & Teller Fool Us and Penn & Teller Try This At Home. Be sure and check out and subscribe to Shin Lim's YouTube channel. What was your favourite Shin Lim Penn & Teller performance? Let me know in the comments. Are you interested in seeing all the foolers? Here's a complete list of magicians who have fooled Penn & Teller.

In this article, you'll find a massive collection of playing card templates for single card sizes and full US letter-sized sheets. Download now and start customizing your cards in popular file formats, Photoshop PSD, PDF JPG and more. Let's get started! Quick Links Playing Card Dimensions Single Playing Card Templates Blank Playing Card Template Sheets Red & Blue Backed Playing Card Sheet Template Frequently Asked Questions Most Popular Playing Cards & Manufacturers Playing Card Template Download You're in the right place if you need a template to design a custom playing card! Here, you'll find a complete assortment of poker, bridge, mini and tarot card-sized templates that can be customized with your artwork or designs. Need a full 8.5 x 11 sheet with multiple cards per page? We have pre-designed sheets with blank, red and blue backs below. After you've created your playing cards, don't forget to download and make your card box. Create Professional-quality Custom playing cards with these simple and free templates. Here are downloadable templates for the most common playing card sizes and popular file formats. With these templates, you can quickly start making your custom deck. Download the Following Popular Playing Card Sizes Below: Mini Playing Cards Standard Poker Sized Bridge Cards Tarot Cards Mini-playing cards are the smallest of all the designs and half the size of a standard poker playing card. Standard-sized poker playing cards are the most common playing card size and are roughly 10% larger than bridge cards. They are typically printed on .17mm or .24mm thick paper stock. The largest playing card templates are tarot cards, and you can create your 78-card deck for card reading with the blank templates below. What Are The Dimensions of Playing Cards? Here are the dimensions and downloads for the most popular playing card sizes. These template files are designed in multiple formats, including PSD, PDF, JPEG, PNG, and AI (eps) Here are playing card templates for the most popular playing card sizes. Mini Deck Playing Cards Dimensions Mini-playing cards are half the size of a standard poker-sized deck. Mini Card (Metric): 44.45mm x 63.5mm Mini Card (Inches): 1.75" x 2.5" Mini Card (Pixels): 525 x 750 Poker Playing Card Dimensions Poker Size (Metric): 63mm x 88 mm Poker Size (Inches): 2.5" x 3.5" Poker Size (Pixels): 822 x 1122 Bridge Size Playing Card Dimensions Bridge cards are the same height as a standard poker deck but slightly narrower. Bridge (Metric): 57mm x 88 mm Bridge (Inches): 2.25" x 3.5" Bridge (Pixels): 747 x 1122 Tarot Size Dimensions Tarot Card (Metric): 70mm x 121 mm Tarot Card (Inches): 2.75" x 4.75" Tarot Card (Pixels): 897 x 1497 Single Card Template Downloads Here are the single playing card templates. They include both safe text regions and a .125-inch bleed. Download File Types PSD - Adobe Photoshop Document PDF - Adobe Acrobat Reader AI - Adobe Illustrator Document (eps) JPG - Compressed raster graphic file PNG - Raster graphic file with transparency Blank Playing Card Template Sheet You can print out these predesigned sheets and quickly make your DIY deck of cards on the go or edit these sheets in software like Photoshop or Indesign. These templates are the canvas for your creativity—a fresh start to creating your own deck. Blank Playing Card Sheet Design Templates Playing Card Back Design Templates We have prepared these playing card template sheets with red and blue back designs if you need to create a full deck or quickly print a sheet. These card back designs are printer-friendly, so you can print out as many pages as you need without wasting tons of ink. Red Back Playing Card Template 8.5 x 11 Sheet Download and print these red back playing card templates Blue Back Playing Card Template 8.5 x 11 Sheet Here are full sheet playing card templates with a blue back card design. Need perfect corners for your custom cards? Check out this inexpensive corner rounder punch on Amazon. Frequently Asked Playing Card Questions Most Popular Playing Cards & Playing Card Manufacturers Cartamundi is a leading manufacturer of playing cards and board games with a history dating back to 1765. The name Cartamundi in Latin means "Cards for the World" and they produce many iconic games like Monopoly, Pokemon, and many casino products worldwide. In 2019, Cartamundi purchased the United States Playing Card Company, the best-selling playing card brand for almost 135 years. The USPCC was founded in 1867 and distributed many traditional card games, board games, playing cards, and casino gaming products. Popular Playing Card Manufacturers How many do you recognize? List of United States Playing Card Company Brands. Bicycle - USPCC Aviator - USPCC Hoyle - USPCC Kem - UPSCC Fournier - USPCC Phoenix - USPCC Bee - USPCC Tally-Ho - USPCC List of Popular International Cartamundi Playing Card Brands Ace Collection - high quality Ass - Ass Altenburger Collection Königsfurt-Urania Verlag - Spiritual Magic & Tarot card products Royal Flush Playing Cards - Traditional linen finish in blue and red Grimaud Playing Cards - One of the oldest playing card brands in the world, popular in France Eagle - most popular brand in Singapore Ducale - popular playing cards in France Copag Collection - Popular in Brazil Do you have a favorite card brand or playing card-related question? Share below and don't forget to check out our other templates and designs here. We hope these playing card templates help you. If we've missed a card size or template you need, let us know in the comments. Happy card-making! Interested in making a custom box for your new playing cards? Download free card box templates from Magician Masterclass. That's It Hit the ♥️ button below if this blog post helped you out! Share any questions or comments and don't forget to check out these post! What to Read Next Make Your Own Playing Card Box Learn Essential Card Handling Techniques The Mysterious Origins of the Joker Card

Magicians have a lot of stuff. Magic show props, gimmicks & gear, lecture notes and playing cards. Lots of cards. What do you do with it all? Closet? Room? Bin? On the Magicians Talking Magic Podcast, we chatted with a veteran of magic who has over 40 years of professional performance experience as a stage and close-up magician. Full-time magician Peter Mennie shared some important and specific sorting and organizing strategies for magicians. I think you’ll discover many nuggets of wisdom here that will help improve your overall organization. Peter is going to make you think about your own approach and how you should organize your magic life. How to Organize Your Magician Life ➡️ Jump to 51:20 to see how Peter organizes his magic collection and shows props. MAGICIAN LIFESTYLE TIPS & IDEAS 6 Tips & Resources for Sorting & Organizing Your Magic Tricks & Magic Routines Here are Peter Mennie's key sorting takeaways for magicians: Jump to Section: What are the Best Storage Containers? What to do with their magic trick instructions and lecture notes? Keep all your magic in one location Have a Spreadsheet with all your magic effects Store your magic shows in marked locations Let's dive into how to organize your magician life. 1. Store Each Routine with ALL Items Needed Each and every routine in your magic show should be stored along with everything needed. A self-contained storage container or envelope (see below) that's clearly marked and labelled. You (or someone else) should be able to pick up the routine off the shelf, and it contains everything you need inside. 2. What are the Best Storage Containers? Peter has used various storage containers over the years but has recently upgraded all his effects to an affordable see-thru envelope sold on Amazon. These see-thru storage envelopes are durable and come in 18 various sizes for about 20 bucks. A perfect accessory for magicians. 3. What should magicians do with their magic trick instructions and lecture notes? We get new magic tricks all the time, so what do you do with the instructions? Peter recommends downloading all instructions and having them printed and standardized. He first prints and labels the trick in large letters on a half-page card-stock reference card. All new effects and tricks instructions are attached and stored so you can easily find them. 4. Keep all your magic in one location Peter keeps all his shows, books, tricks and magic instructions in one location. All his instructions and books are kept in the "library," and his show props are just a few steps away and stored by the different styles of shows. This will make your life significantly easier in the long run. 5. Have a Spreadsheet with all your magic effects Have a Google Sheet or Excel file that lists all your stored effects and instructions. 6. Store your magic shows in marked/colour-coordinated locations Make it easy for yourself or someone else to grab the items you need for your show. Peter has both the stage show and close-up show storage locations with all routines clearly marked. For additional magician organization and storage ideas, listen to part 2! Conclusion Magicians collect a lot of magic props, instructions, notes and ideas. Staying organized is an essential part of becoming a professional magician. Peter recommends packaging complete routines with all essential items and color-coding items for easy accessibility. Keep all your magic together in one place and enter all your routines and scripts into a spreadsheet or database. What are your magician storage ideas and tips? That's It Be sure to check out Peter Mennie's website, and if you got any value from this article, hit the ❤️ button and share your comments below. Check out other Magician Masterclass articles for professional magicians on topics such as promoting yourself, booking more magic shows, and going virtual.

Here are five rapid-fire Magic Questions with Nicholas Wallace. Nick was recently on the podcast talking about Music & Magic, but we saved five questions for this video! Name your first mentor? First mentor, Brian Michaels. Most watched childhood magic, special or routine? The world's greatest magic. Or many of David Copperfield, I think called Unseen Forces-- which I loved as well. I wore that tape out. What strangest place you've been asked to perform Magic? Funeral. Name of trick or routine that caused the most embarrassment? This isn't the trick, per se, but it's a moment-performing trick, which was most embarrassing, how much time do I have to have? Is this OK? Yup, there's a radio show that's gone now. It was a morning show on the edge in Toronto, and they had a Dean Blundell, do you remember? Yep. I don't remember. There are two other guys I didn't listen to, but I knew the show you're referencing. Yeah, yeah, pretty typical shock jock. I would say Radio Morning Show. They had a talent show like a Gong Show, and the winner was like 50 grand and I was going to university at the time was like, Oh, enter whatever and made the top ten and the top ten had to come on live on the morning and each perform their bit. And I was. So that's the most nervous I've ever, ever, ever been. Was performing live on the first time I'd really been on the radio or any, you know, and they're just so mean, you know, potentially. And they had the ten contestants lined up and they were going to do a quick interview for everyone beforehand. And the guy who they interviewed before me, who was someone who could fart on command so they thought it would be fun to interview his, but rather than him, so they did. And he, you know. Farted his replies, and then it came to me, and I thought there was a joke in there somewhere too about like, you know, right, there's the mike and that's been farted on and now it's coming over to me and I now know, like, don't ever try and be funny when you're nervous. Oh, is that sad? So they came to me and I don't even know what I said. It was just something like, I just want to say, I really appreciate having to go after the fart guy or something. It wasn't funny or clever, and then the host was just like. All right. And then just went on to the next guy, and I just looked like I was a jerk. And I was so afraid of that. Yeah. Yeah. And then I could hear the radio guys like before going to commercial one of them is like, Boy, that David Copperfield guy's a real dick. I was so nervous. It's the only time I was literally scoping out the garbage cans because I thought I was going to puke. That's the only time I've been like that close. If you could invite one dead magician to dinner, who would it be? It's a really good question. one dead magician. Max Malini. I'm going to say, Max Malini. He seems like he'd be a fun dinner guest and I've heard crazy stories about him with chickens. Listen to Nicholas Wallace on episode 149 of the Magicians Talking Magic Podcast! Watch the full episode with Nicholas Wallace on YouTube!

Recently, we chatted with Jared Kopf about his appearance at the FISM North American Championship of Magic. We kept five questions for this video. Watch below: 1. Name your first mentor. Bob White was my first mentor. He taught me. There are so many wonderful things about magic and the Vernon and Charlie Miller style. He comes from that school. I was introduced to so many wonderful people. Steve Freeman, Norman Beck. Chuck Smith, Presley Guitar. And Johnny Thompson. He was my foot in many a door. And magic and getting to meet people. You know, he taught me how to tie a tie-- he was my real mentor. He's like my grandfather. Like my dad. Bob White. There will never be another like him or Johnny or these guys because they come from a different world. So I got very lucky that when I waltzed into the magic store, he existed, and for the first couple of years, he wouldn't even talk to me. And that was very good, too. He was already teaching me lessons before he was teaching me. READ: The FISM World Championship of Magic He made me realize that we can't really ask for someone to teach us. They have to notice that you're capable and earnest. And then they might show you something. So, I learned a lot through that. Being my mentor was more educational than, you know, how to do tilt, double lift or anything like that. 2. Most watch childhood television magic specials or routine? That's tough to say. Let's see, you know, some that come to mind that really blew me away. Of course, David Copperfield was amazing at a particularly early nineties Copperfield because he was so handsome. But he hit his stride in style. It's just his style. Everything about it with the Peter Gabriel music and everything. He was a man after my own heart. I saw him live, too. I saw him fly. Astonishing. Just marvellous. But I think it's the World's Greatest Magic. The very first one that Gary Ouellet's produced. Boy-- the magic world owes him a lot. And they don't know it because I saw Bill Malone and David Williamson. And I mean, just everybody. Go back and watch the first two World's Greatest Magic -- all of them are pretty good, but lordy, those first two are amazing! David Blaine totally changed the game, and I think he's one of the great geniuses-- he's a genius. But those point-the-camera-at-the-magician style specials for a magic nerd. Those were great. Plus, What's the strangest place Jared's been asked to perform a magic trick or magic show? How does Jared Kopf record his ideas? And Jared finishes the statement, "Pineapple on pizza is..." Watch the full video above! Listen to Jared Kopf's full episode of Magicians Talking Magic Podcast You can also watch Jared's full episode on Youtube.

Today on the Magicians Talking Magic Podcast, we chat with International Champion of Magic, Greg Frewin. Greg Frewin is an award-winning magician, animal enthusiast, inventor, builder, and three-dozen other skillsets he has mastered during his life in magic. In this episode, Greg shares stories about competing, appearing on the World's Greatest Magic TV Show, building props, and owning his theatre in Niagara Falls. Watch the full episode below or listen to episode 152 of Magicians Talking Magic on your favourite podcast app. Episode 152 - Greg Frewin Here are the topics covered in this video: Greg serves on the Canadian Association of Magicians board, founded in the 1990s by Joan Caesar. Did Greg have any influence on the organization's founding? Why these organizations are essential for magicians Before discussing competing in magic, Greg takes us back to the beginning and his earliest influences. What influenced Greg Frewin's decision to compete in magic? The timeline of events in Greg's life from the decision to compete through to winning at the FISM World Championship of Magic Why is competition important to the art of magic? What is Greg's process for creating magic? Does he record his ideas? Greg shares his experience filming World's Greatest Magic and working with Gary Ouellet. He also talks about building magic and props-- a few that stand out builds and a big project he's working on. It would be considered a dream come true to have their own theatre-- is it? Greg shares his thoughts. Animals are a big part of Greg's life and performance. He also serves on the board of directors for SPCA in the Niagara Region. Greg shares what he wants magicians to know about working with animals. Watch Five Magic Questions with Greg Frewin In this video, we ask Greg five questions from name of his first mentor to his most watched childhood television magic special. Watch: Greg Frewin is currently ranked as The International Grand Champion of Magic, having won every major award offered within the magic community. He has placed first in numerous magic competitions, including the International Brotherhood of Magicians, the Society of American Magicians, the Canadian Association of Magicians and the Federation Internationale Society of Magique—FISM (International Federation of Magic Societies) is regarded as the Olympics of magic. His winning streak recently culminated with his 2009 win of the Magician of the Year award at the World Magic awards, effectively ranking him as the world's top illusionist. He has also appeared on over 35 television programs, including NBC's World's Greatest Magic, Penn & Teller's: Fool Us, ABC's Champions of Magic and his own three-part CBC special Magic Man: Home for the Holidays. He currently performs sold-out shows at his theatre in Niagara Falls, Ontario, the Greg Frewin Theatre. Learn more about Greg Frewin Theatre and get tickets online visit: https://gregfrewintheatre.com To learn more about the FISM World Championship of Magic click here.

Hold on to your seats as we take you on a thrilling journey through the captivating world of one of magic's most iconic illusions - the Sawing in Half trick! For over a century, this mesmerizing act has left audiences spellbound, questioning the limits of the human body and the nature of reality itself. Table of Contents Introduction Brief History The First Performer The First Person to be Cut in Half The Legal Drama Evolution and Variations of the Trick Conclusion Sawing in Half: A Time-Honored Trick Through the Ages Astonishing audiences for over a century, the Sawing in Half trick remains one of the most iconic illusions in the world of magic. This mesmerizing act has captivated countless spectators, challenging their perceptions of reality and the limits of the human body. The Cut in Half illusion dates back to 1921 when PT Selbit was the first magician to perform "Sawing Through A Woman." We'll share who the first woman was sawn in half and how a legal battle with another magician prevented him from performing his own trick. Since its debut, countless versions and variations have been performed by some of the world's greatest magicians. Here is a variation of the sawing in half illusion by yours truly. Join us on this magical journey and discover how the Sawing in Half trick continues to defy logic, captivate imaginations, and stand the test of time. Brief History of the Sawing a Woman in Half Illusion The first several years after the first public performance is riddled with legal magician drama. But here's an early reference to a sawing illusion worth noting. French magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin described, from his memories, that in 1858, a magician named Torrini performed a sawing illusion in front of Pope Puis VII in 1809. Still, there appears to be no evidence to support this. This claim of Torrini performing this Sawing illusion has been researched by Jim Steinmeyer. Jim is a magician, historian, author and magic inventor behind several famous illusions and magic tricks. He is also the author of Hiding the Elephant: How Magicians Invented the Impossible and many other books. Steinmeyer concluded Torrini likely did not perform this illusion, and Robert-Houdin created the story to play with ideas. The First Performer The magician credited with introducing the Sawing in Half trick is the innovative British illusionist P.T. Selbit. In January 1921, Selbit unveiled his new sawing illusion at the Finsbury Park Empire Theatre in London. The act was an immediate sensation, garnering widespread acclaim and propelling Selbit to fame. The Sawing in Half trick rapidly became a staple in magic shows worldwide, inspiring numerous magicians to incorporate the illusion into their acts. The First Person to be Cut in Half The first assistant to participate in the Sawing in Half illusion was a woman named Jan Glenrose. As Selbit's trusted confidante and stage partner, Glenrose played a crucial role in the trick's success. The assistant's job was to convincingly portray the act of being sawed in half and ensure the seamless execution of the illusion. Barker's skill and commitment to the performance helped to cement the Sawing in Half trick as a classic in the world of magic. "Sawing Through a Women" vs "Sawing in Half" The public was getting bored with the same old same old rabbit tricks, and his historical timing is credited with a lot of the success of the illusion. Selbit's debut illusion shook up the traditional magic norms. The success of the Sawing in Half illusion inevitably led to controversy and rivalry within the magic community. In 1921, an American magician, Horace Goldin, presented his version titled "Sawing A Woman in Half" illusion. It was considered an improvement because the lady's head and feet were seen. In Selbit's version, the box surrounded his assistant entirely. Goldin achieved huge success. He partnered with a theatre firm that promoted six additional tours across the United States with headlining magicians in Goldin's place. They used smart promotional tactics to gain massive publicity and word of mouth. The Difference Between Selbit and Goldin's Sawing Illusion Here is a side-by-side comparison of the two versions of the trick, P.T. Selbit's "Sawing Through a Women" and Horace Goldin's "Sawing a Woman in Half" ► FUN FACT: Promoters would have ambulances parked outside the theatre to sell the risk of serious injury from the Sawing a Woman in Half Illusion. It was a marketing stunt that got a lot of attention. Patenting Magic Tricks: Sawing In Half Ugly Legal Battle In September 1921, Goldin applied for a patent for the "Sawing a Women in Half" illusion. On June 12, 1923, Goldin was awarded the Sawing a Women in Half illusion patent and given an exclusive monopoly for 17 years against other magicians using his methods. Even Selbit was forbidden from performing his own illusion. Selbit attempted to sue Goldin for stealing his idea but failed, and the action was dismissed after it was ruled Goldin's illusion was sufficiently different. Selbit returned home to Britain and later created a wealth of other notable stage illusions, including Girl/Man without a Middle, Through the Eye of a Needle, and The Million Dollar Mystery. Many of these illusions are still performed today. Turns out that patenting your ideas exposes a problem for magicians. You must expose the method to patent an illusion or magic trick. These documents become public records, and Goldin gave up patenting his illusions. He later created an alternative version of the illusion-- but with a very different appearance. Horace Goldin Created a Second Variation of the Illusion Here's a look at Horace Goldin's other version of the saw in half trick that he called "Buzz Saw." The grimacing image of a 3-4 foot circular saw going through a person was shocking. Many stories float around of people passing out in the audience, all hype I can only imagine. Video of Horace Goldin Performing Horace Goldin achieved great success, touring internationally with his Sawing Illusion. He even performed for King Edward VII of Britain on four occasions. This earned him the title "Royal Illusionist." After a show at the Wood Green Theatre in London, Horace Goldin passed away on August 21, 1939. The same stage theatre where magician Chung Ling Soo had been killed performing the Bullet Catch illusion 21 years earlier. He passed away in his sleep. Here is archived footage of Horace Goldin performing in the 1930s. The Evolution of the Sawing-In-Half Illusion Over the years, the Sawing in Half illusion has evolved and taken many forms. Magicians have developed various methods and techniques to perform the trick, each adding their unique spin to the classic act. Some of the most famous variations include the "Thin Model Sawing," the "Buzz Saw," and the "Clearly Impossible" versions of the trick. Despite the numerous iterations of the Sawing in Half illusion, the core concept remains: a person is seemingly cut in half, only to be miraculously restored to their original state. Here are alternatives to the classic illusion. David Copperfield's Death Saw Illusion David Copperfield, one of the most renowned magicians of our time, has taken the Sawing in Half trick to new heights with his breathtaking Death Saw Illusion. This modern adaptation of the classic illusion combines suspense, danger, and Copperfield's signature showmanship to create a truly unforgettable experience. Kevin James - Saws a Man in Half on America's Got Talent Kevin James performs a remarkable unique cutting in half. Conclusions The Sawing in Half trick is a testament to the enduring appeal of magic and the power of human ingenuity. It's a story in magic's history that began with unbelievable drama. From its humble beginnings in a London theatre to its continued prominence on stages worldwide, the Sawing in Half illusion has captivated the hearts and minds of audiences for over a century. As the legacy of this remarkable trick lives on, we can only marvel at the artistry, skill, and imagination that have made the Sawing in Half one of the most unforgettable acts in the history of magic. That's It! If you enjoyed learning about the Sawing in Half illusion history, hit the ♥️ and leave a comment or question below! We recommend you check out these other articles from Magician Masterclass! 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Recently, we had Joshua Jay, magician and author of How Magicians Think, stop by Magicians Talking Magic Podcast to talk about magic and his latest book. We kept these three questions for our rapid-fire interview, MAGIC QUESTIONS! Enjoy Three Questions with Joshua Jay 1. What magic resources have you read or consumed the most? The books of Wonder by Tommy Wonder. I find new things and insights and bits of wisdom every time I go through, and there are all these wonderful classic books, but they have to be read with a big filter toward the modern because if you read Our Magic by Maskelyne and David Devant. There's just a lot that's different from a century ago. It's a lot that's the same, but a lot is different with Tommy Wonder. It just feels like he's talking to me. 2. You're out for dinner and handed a deck of cards. What do you perform? Wrong Card, Right Card immediately followed by Haunted Pack-- If I can. What version of the haunted pack? The only version that I think people should be doing is Steve Valentine's version with the elves. 3. What is one trick that you've always wanted to put in your show but haven't? Lemon orange egg canary, and I may actually be able to fit it in without using any of those props. I have a new thing inside of a thing, inside of a thing, inside of a thing. It's a trick I'm working on. And I hope you guys get to see it when I'm on tour this fall. Listen to Joshua Jay's full episode here Watch Joshua Jay's full episode on Youtube

For many amateur and professional magicians, the pandemic has been the longest break from performing live magic shows with a live audience. Many of us have adapted to perform on the virtual stage via ZOOM. But performing for a live audience is very different from a virtual audience. Now, with the return of live magic shows and the busiest holiday season around the corner, here's a list of important performance advice for magicians who are getting back into the swing of live shows and real audiences. This is a topic we recently chatted about in detail on the Magicians Talking Magic Podcast. 6 Essential Tips for Magicians Returning to Live Magic Shows 1. Timing! How to re-adjust your timing for a live audience. As performers, we rely on unique skill sets to connect, entertain, communicate, and dazzle our audiences. Professional magicians listen to their audience, read the room, and spontaneously react-- all while executing sleights and secret moves. Virtual shows are a completely different beast-- timing is different. For starters, your audience is typically muted, and most of the two-way communication vanishes. Virtual magic shows are still interactive but without searching for volunteers and applause. All of these factors impact your timing. Here are a few other tips for adjusting your timing and getting back into the swing of live magic shows Slow down, soak it in, and enjoy it. Continue writing new jokes and material. If you’ve been doing virtual shows for over a year now - you’ve just been talking to people, not with people. 2. Invest in the routines you already perform Thinking about adding new material? Is now the best time? For your first few live performances, we recommend you stick to the material you already know and are comfortable performing. It takes a lot to “sell” a magic trick - Performing a new magic trick will never be the same as a routine you've been presenting for years. Is the story you’re telling actually good? - Now is a good time to look at these routines in detail. Can you tweak, cut or edit the storytelling? Rewrite the script again - writing out your script is a great way to drill it into your brain! Take the time and re-write your script. Explore the method - can it be simplified or made more devious? 3. Be Prepared: Anything can and will happen Anything can happen on stage. There's lots of variability with live performances, which is part of the enjoyment for many magicians. But some surprises increase stress. Being prepared is the real secret. Returning to the stage, your skills as a magician and entertainer might be a little rusty. This "stage rust" will take a few performances to wear off. Being able to cope, interact and reduce errors all boils down to how prepared you are. Working for a live audience is the reason we all became magicians! Some of the best jokes, lines and moments in our shows have been influenced by our audience. So keep an open mind and be prepared. We all think and imagine how the show will go, but we only have so much control. Successful magicians have to be agile and go with the flow. And that's where preparedness comes into play. Spend at least a full week going over your routines again and bringing them back into muscle memory. You don't want to go onstage and focus entirely on building a strong connection and rapport with your audience. 4. Rehearsal: How to Prepare Before the Show Amateur and professional magicians must rehearse their tricks, but it's also essential to rehearse your full show. Rehearsing the right way can really accelerate your growth in magic and help polish new and old routines quickly. How should magicians rehearse their magic? Here are a few important tips. Write out your script - Writing out your lines and script is essential. This includes writing out your transition lines. Keep your script up-to-date. Have your script easily accessible on your phone-- Having your script gives you a huge advantage to re-read throughout the days leading up to your show. Waiting in a line or queue? Pull out your phone and review your script. Drill that script into your head! Be prepared to trim and chop-- cut as many words as possible and learn to script concisely. Say your lines out loud. They're never the same in your head; you must say these lines aloud and be prepared to edit and change them. As your comfort levels grow, you'll discover new lines and ideas. If you are using music, rehearse with music. Muscle memory and music hits take time but can help keep pacing. Run through your routines with props and without props - this helps make sure you have the routines down solidly and have a full understanding of each routine's timing. Rehearse at different times of day (morning, afternoon and evening) - I always rehearse at different times of the day. I run a new routine first thing in the morning, literally holding my coffee in my hand and pressing play on the music. Then, in the afternoon and late evening. If you find yourself getting anxious or nervous, rehearse! That state of mind resembles how you'll feel on show day. Rehearsing under different emotional states will help accelerate your growth! Muscle memory is essential - You don't want to be on stage worrying about your ability to execute the moves AND work with the audience. Full costume practice-- Practicing your set in full costume is important for pocket and prop management. The whole point is to eliminate surprises that pop up during show day. The best way to do that is to duplicate those situations as much as possible during rehearsal and practice. 5. Showtime! What Magicians Should Do on Show Day Hopefully, all your preparation and hard work will make show day a breeze! I think you'll be surprised at how familiar it feels to return to the stage and a live audience. Here are a few tips to help you do your best on show day! Focus on Rapport with Your Audience - Your rapport with the audience is more important than your magic tricks. The tricks are important, after all, they are coming to see a magic show, but your rapport with the audience takes precedent. It's much easier to dazzle people who like and trust you. New Material Sucks - You can’t fully predict how a routine will land until it’s been performed. When presenting a new routine, take your time and get through the first performance. It will take several shows to work in a new routine and a lifetime to polish that routine! Adding New Material - Where should you add new material to your show? - What's the best place to add new material to your setlist? After you’ve established rapport with your audience. 6. COVID Best Practices for Magicians The pandemic has added a new layer of concern when working with volunteers. Here are a few reminders to consider for your upcoming live magic show Have a mask in your pocket - follow the rules of your region or country and always respect the wishes of your client or audience. Put hand sanitizer and wipes at the front of the stage - your audience and volunteers may or may not use the hand sanitizer, but they recognize you are prepared. Be thoughtful and respectful of audience concerns. Do we think virtual magic shows are here to stay? Absolutely, Yes! We still highly suggest you develop a virtual friendly magic show and offer these services to your website. If you need a little help adding new routines, we have prepared a list of 30+ virtual-friendly magic tricks that professional magicians can easily add to their virtual shows and live-stream events. Get the PDF here.