Two easy kids magic tricks
Two Little Dicky Birds
This is old and almost forgotten by the present generation elementary magic trick.
But in bygone years it afforded great amusement to children. It is a most simple trick, yet to many at first sight the secret is not always apparent and may often be shown with advantage.
Effect
The two forefingers are extended and a small piece of paper stuck on the end of each. The papers are then made to disappear one at a time by simply raising the fingers, and are made to return again by the same method.
Performing
Moisten two small pieces of paper and stick one on the end of each forefinger. Tap the two forefingers on the table (the rest of the hand being closed) while repeating the patter verse. To make the paper disappear the right forefinger is first raised in the air and quickly enclosed in the hand, the second finger being brought to the table in its place. The spectators regard it as the same finger as before, minus the paper. After both pieces of paper have been made to disappear, they are made to appear again by the same process.
Patter
Two little dicky birds
Sat upon a wall,
One named Peter
The other named Paul.
Fly away Peter (Disappear right hand paper),
Fly away Paul (Disappear left hand piece);
Come back Peter (Right hand piece returns),
Come back Paul (Left hand piece returns).
Windmill
Here is a very simple, yet practical and sporting outdoor toy for children.
Take a piece of paper about four inches square and make four cuts from corners to centre as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.
Now take the corners of Fig 1, lettered A, B, C, and D, and bring them alternately over to the centre, when Fig. 2 will be formed. All that is now required is to fix a pin through the centre point A, of Fig 2 to the top of a short stick, and the windmill is made. If held in an horizontal position while running along the road, the paper windmill will revolve very rapidly causing quite a pretty effect.
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Pocket tricks
Pocket tricks form a separate and a most important class of magic. It would be difficult to overrate the importance to the average magician of a good repertoire of well-rehearsed pocket tricks. They are not out of place in the most ambitious of programmes, and they are absolutely essential for the occasional impromptu entertainment.
At such an entertainment the magician has, as a rule, to perform without any apparatus, and at very close quarters with the spectators. He cannot hope to conceal “fakes” successfully, and must rely on genuine sleight-of-hand. If he is skilful at that, and – just as important – if he knows some new and effective pocket tricks, and can perform them neatly and quickly, he will both amuse and mystify his audience. Also he will score tremendously over the rival magician who can do nothing without the aid of a prepared platform, curtains, apparatus, and so on.
The words in the last paragraph, ‘if he knows some new and effective pocket tricks’, are important. There are many pocket tricks, but very few new and effective ones. Somehow or other inventors do not devote anything like so much attention to this department of magic as they do to the others. The result is that really original pocket tricks are very rare and, consequently, very valuable. Magicians should secure all they can, and should treasure them as among the most important of their magical possessions.
Several ‘star magicians’ owed their first engagement entirely to their skill in performing pocket tricks. They gave a quick exhibition of magic of this sort in the two or three minutes allowed them by the managers or agents in question, and, as the result, were booked for an early appearance in public. If they had had to rely on an apparatus show, they could not have given a satisfactory one in the time, and would not have been booked. From every point of view pocket tricks should be cultivated by magicians. The practice of them is useful, not only on account of the direct results, but because it helps to train the hand and eye for bigger and more difficult tasks. And the performance of them has the very special merit that it shows the public that magicians can do good work right in the midst of their audiences and without any mechanical aid.
How to do magic with cards?
Some of the most valuable and fascinating things to know in magic are the clever ideas and ruses which are used to enable certain effects to be produced. Over the years magicians has carried out a continuous search for little known secrets how to do magic with cards, and in this chapter gives us a such item.
TO SHOW THE TOP CARD
A person who performs magic with cards is naturally expected to be able to handle the pack neatly. This does not mean that the performer should give the impression that he is a skillful manipulator, but that he should appear to be completely at ease with a pack in his hands. In addition to the competent manner in which the usual operations with cards are carried out, other neat actions can be included, which are pleasing to the eye, but which do not look like extravagant flourishes.
On occasions when it is necessary to call attention to the top card of the pack, there is a pretty way of turning the card over to show its value. The appearance is that he causes the card to make one complete revolution, twirling it between his thumb and forefinger, for the face to be seen before the card returns to its original position on the pack. Although the movement of the card is not arrested during the turn, there is sufficient time for its face to be seen.
To perform the turn, hold the pack face down in the dealer’s position in the left hand. With the left thumb, push the top card to the right for the right thumb to go to the extreme edge of the right inner corner. The card is taken by the right hand with the top of the forefinger below and the outer side of the second finger above the corner.
By lifting the card a little, and pushing to the left on the edge of the card with the right thumb, the card turns over in an anti-clockwise direction, so that when it is face up the second finger is on the back and the tip of the thumb on the face. Slip the tip of the first finger to the back, and continue to make the card turn until it is face down again on top of the pack. There should be no cessation of the turning movement – the card slowly makes one complete revolution, coming face down again on top of the pack.
It is an unpretentious and simple item but it adds a touch of artistry.
Top 3 online magic stores
There are a lot of magic stores out there …and I’ve pretty much tried a lot of them.
Some are great, some are pretty bad, and some are just "ok."
A lot of readers ask me what the best online magic store is, so I decided to write this article to let you know my top #3 picks, and also give you a little information on these stores to help you make the best buying decision.
So without further ado, here are my top #3:
#1 – Ellusionist.com
Ellusionist.com is highly recognizable global brand for magic supplies that teaches powerful, impossible street magic tricks through DVD s and downloadable video.
The site has the latest, most bleeding-edge magic products in the industry.
Flagship DVD "How to do Street Magic" has been a best seller DVD since 2001. Ellusionist is affiliated with the biggest names in magic, Criss Angel, David Blaine magic DVD’s have remained the hottest and most desired magic products for the past 8 years.
So if you are looking for a site where you can learn effective magic tricks, the, ellusionist.com is the best place to start. They provide an online training environment for people who want to get high-impact knowledge of effective magic tricks. The site has well organized sections, so that you can easily find what you are looking. Site’s sections include tricks, playing cards, training DVD and accessories. In tricks area you will find card and coin tricks, levitation, manipulation etc.
One thing that I really like is how they show you a demo of most of the magic tricks so you can see if you really like it before you buy it.
You can expect high quality service and support. They have improved international shipping and process your order quickly. That’s right it is faster, better and cheaper!!
Overall Review:
Ellusionist.com offers top quality products for a low price.
Well-organized and nice designed site, very good products descriptions include customers rating and video products preview.
Great customer support.
2 thumbs up!
#2 – magicworld.co.uk
MagicWorld – one of the current leaders of quality magic world-wide.
The site offer a huge collection of magic tricks you can perform from around the world, from small card magic, children’s magic, close-up magic for professionals, to large illusions, sleight of hand effects and learn easy magic tricks very appealing to customers of all ages. Magic World was the first UK online magic shop that specialize in rare magic tricks, escapology, and general magic tricks that nobody else sells.
Overall Review:
Highly recommended! They are always updating with the latest magic tricks.
Ordering is easy, and totally secure. You can order by internet, telephone, fax, or by mail.
#3 – pubtricks.com
Pub Tricks is one of the world’s biggest online digital magic store, offering reasonably priced, instantly downloadable tutorials, meaning no more shipping or waiting.
There are literally hundreds of magic tricks on the site.
Pub Tricks offers free demos of the tricks.
Low prices- all tricks are under $10!
The site have great design and will do everything help you with your order.
The disappointing point is that many of the videos are submitted by amateur magicians who do not perform the trick real well.
Overall Review:
Great place if you are a beginner or if you are looking for some new exclusive tricks.
The site definitely worth checking out.
Until next time.
David Hertz
