It's been a good few years since I've practiced any close up stuff, my pass is kinda rusty etc. What're some good routines I should pick back up for the kiddos? ACR is a given. some nice stuff with shapeshifter change... but beyond that, what really will work for them? is two card monte on the table?

Thanks in advanced.

Excuse me for asking here but it might be the only place I might find an answer. We are, after all, addicted to the Faro Shuffle.

There is a living museum out there that shows people the game of Faro and I noticed they didn’t have a Faro Box. At the very least I’d like to look into them and possibly purchase to donate to the museum.

I will also take any building plans someone might know of to make my own. Not like I’m a woodworker, but maybe I could fart out something that looks and acts the part.

Help me Faro-Box Kenobi, you’re my only hope.

I’m finally getting to read Jay’s “How Magicians Think” and am fascinated by all the research he’s done! I had, at one point in my life, started my Master’s in Psychology and have always wanted to see what magic and psychology together would look like in studies/experiments. Does anybody know where I could find these? Is there a journal where they were published?

Thanks!

I am looking for a pen (ballpoint pen or Sharpie) for a trick whose ink disappears completely after a few minutes. Unfortunately, I can only find products with very mixed reviews. Does anyone have any personal experience of where I can find such a pen?

Recently, I've been looking at some new cups for my cups and balls routine. I've noticed that the "normal" style of cups that seems to be prevalent these days is referred to as Paul Fox style cups. I was wondering what the names of other styles of cups were. I've tried to google around but without much success. Are there any good resources or places to look for this type of information?

I am a hobbyist trying to get better. One routine involves shuffling a stacked deck. I’m doing the simplest false shuffle I can (I don’t know what it’s called, but it is essentially cutting the deck over and over again, disguised as an overhand shuffle). But every once in a while I still will fumble a card or one might drop out or go out of place, ruining my stack.

Any advice? What do you do when you have messed up the order of a stack?

Edit: for context, I’m doing a deck matching effect (Trojan Deck) where I’m highlighting the whole order of the deck, not just a single card

I used to do a lot of product searches on google to get results at the Magic Cafe, but it no longer works. Instead, if I search "themagiccafe.com vanishing card case" I get results for Penguin or other sites selling items. If I search using the proper Google syntax (site:themagiccafe.com SEARCH TERM), it doesn't work either. For example: "Your search - site:themagiccafe.com vanishing - did not match any documents." I doubt there are zero hits at the Magic Cafe with the word "vanishing". Please help!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Magic/comments/1gxcv46/secret_santa_2024_sign_up_on_elfster_by_november/

I'm an enthusiast that likes easy to use gimmicks, props and tricks to impress my nephew. The Okito box is a good example of this. Once you learn the trick, it's pretty easy to perform at a basic level and will impress people unfamiliar with the trick pretty easily as well.

I also have a bag full of cheap novelty tricks and gimmicks that are fun to use. I'm looking for some more very basic or simple props that have easy to learn tricks attached to them. The Okito box is definitely my favorite of the bunch which is why I led with it as an example. Do you have any other tricks like this that spring to mind? Which are your favorites?

Watch Wednesday

Post inspiring magic videos! Whether it's clips from magic shows, other big names, or no names doing their thing, we want to see great magic performances.

Please name the performer, the general effect AND Link the Video!

Examples:

David Blaine - Card Trick

Lance Burton's Dove Act

It seems like the major online retailers are pulling out all the stops for Black Friday this year, starting promotions early and offering all kinds of incentives for purchases this year. What are you buying, or planning to buy, this year? Are there any amazing deals you've spotted that you think others should know about?

I’m looking for a colour changing knives set that goes on my keychain and is a good edc as a knife (possibly like a Swiss Army knife) and as a magic trick, I’ve considered TCC chroma and David regal’s but they don’t sell it for me, any other recommendations?

My 5 year old daughter loves magic. She’s always making up little magic tricks on her own (albeit not very fooling lol). I remember when I was a little kid getting a magic set was the highlight of my Christmas one year. What are some good tricks or sets to purchase for someone young? I appreciate any help, thanks in advance!

My late father in law. He preformed at the magic castle and was a member. I want to find this artist that drew him. I've looked on Instagram and Facebook with no luck. Anyone can help id appreciate it. Thank you

After years is trying to get this trick I was finally able to find it and afford it at the same time. This is a total bucket list trick for me. So now I'm wondering what's your favorite Tenyo Trick?

Here’s mine as a hobbyist, I’m a card magician but carrying cards seems weird so I usually don’t, I’ve got some apps on my phone notably devios by mark lemon, then fraud credit card, shrapnel, some rubber bands and a half dollar sized coin in my wallet, a ring flight, Swiss key and Leo’s coin on my keys and I wear a ring so that. I’m planning to switch shrapnel with Nicholas Lawrence’s psyclip, any other recommendations? And what are y’all’s edc I’m curious

Does anyone have a recommendation for a trick or routine that involves a hand puppet? I have a little rabbit in a hat hand puppet that I'd love to incorporate but don't have anything currently that it would suit

What do people do when you have a child go crazy with a sharpie and they scribble all over a card and it goes on your close up pad? Aside from beating them to death, obviously! Washing machine safe (cold wash)? Or is this asking for trouble! Am still at the gig, so haven't even had chance to give it a wipe yer, might try some vanish carpet cleaner when I'm home.

SIGN UP ENDS November 27

HOW TO JOIN:

1. To participate, follow THIS LINK and create an account.
2. PM - u/TheClouse with your Real Name AND reddit username (will be kept confidential).
3. MAKE A WISHLIST - If you don't, then you'll be removed from the draw (this weeds out bots)
4. Check your email regularly for emails from ELFSTER.com regarding this gift exchange. If you don't respond and I cannot contact you, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE LIST. This was the main issue last year. So don't sign up with a junk email account you never check and check your spam folder.

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The basics for those not familiar:

Concept: You buy a present for a random person you are paired up with. That person buys a present for their random match... etc. You most likely won't be shopping for the same person that is shopping for you, but EVERYONE WILL GET A PRESENT.

Example: A buys for B, B buys for C, C buys for A.

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RULES:

1. Everyone interested should sign up by November 27. (NAMES WILL BE DRAWN Nov 29-ish... with additional time to vet participants)
2. Everyone needs to ship their gift to arrive by Dec 20.
3. On Elfster you can make a "wishlist". Do that to give hints to your Santa.
4. Gift minimum value should be around $30 USD (but can go as high as you want to spend on a person).
5. New items and collectible items only. Don't use this as a reason to send a used/broken raven to a person.
6. International shipping can be figured in to cost (we will attempt to pair up regions so you're shipping close by).
7. No alcohol. (it's the default unimaginative boring gift and not very magical). If it's a specific magic related alcohol "like David Copperfield's spiced rum" then that's okay.
8. The entire world is welcome! We had 20 different countries last year represented!

If you sign up, you HAVE to buy a gift for your person. (otherwise you'll get a gift and someone else won't and that's both sad and despicable).

If you want to participate but have any concerns please PM me and I'll help address them. Some were worried about money, shipping, etc. Just let me know and we can discuss.

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Additional rules / consequences:

If you sign up and don't participate (so receive a gift, but not send one out) you will be banned from r/magic. (if you need to opt-out before the drawing just do so or contact me.) This is only to prevent people from betraying the community trust. You are a great bunch of people and I do not expect this to actually be a problem.

New accounts (anything made today or after) will not be allowed to participate (PM me if you're a lurker and want to join the community for this event... we can discuss). Ideally you will have already helped establish the r/magic community.

I will contact you before the drawing through Elfster for your reddit username so we can do a quick cross reference. This information will be kept confidential. Your privacy and anonymity is a primary concern.

If you miss the deadline, get removed for not following these rules, or are disciplined for not sending a gift then you have brought that on yourself. I don't anticipate anyone doing this, but be warned.

Hey folks,

I’m all booked for the Blackpool Magic Convention! I’ve never been to Blackpool before, as a matter of fact I’ve never done anything like this before pertaining to magic.

After I bought the convention and flight tickets (From US), fear has set in. I’m a hobbyist now at the age of 38, but back in the day, about 18 years ago, I was working as a pro (making a living off of restaurant gigs) for about a 2 years.

I’m freaked out now because I don’t know anyone who is going, and I’m probably the oldest guy there. Maybe I should have started off with something on a much smaller scale? IDK.

What do you folks think? Cancel it?

Are there any plans for doing an r/Magic Secret Santa this year?

I'm an amateur magician (more of a collector/ appreciator of magic) and my favorite purchase so far is the chest of nostradamus by Viking magic. I love items with thoughtful thinking and creative method. I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations of Viking / Collectors workshop or similar quality magic items that they have not been disappointed with? I was looking at the Delphis chest, but hard to find much about it. Any thoughts or recs would be much appreciated!

Hey guys, I'm looking for a close-up magic square routine, if possible impromptu. Do you guys have any recommendations? Thanks

Watch Wednesday

Post inspiring magic videos! Whether it's clips from magic shows, other big names, or no names doing their thing, we want to see great magic performances.

Please name the performer, the general effect AND Link the Video!

Examples:

David Blaine - Card Trick

Lance Burton's Dove Act

The Band Lemon Bird asked me to do some magic for their music video. Here's what I came up with:

https://youtu.be/eASbDG1wt4U?si=kFPo1okPOr885D-E

When my playing cards get too worn out for everyday use, I tried to get as much out of them at the end by practicing any destructive sleights like torn and restored, signed cards or mercury folds.

Morning folks. I’m looking for recommendations on great routines and concepts utilizing faro shuffles.

I’ve never really given much attention to faros - kind of a nemesis move for me - until I learned Darwin’s Hard Target. That thing is so cool and after returning to the faro for the millionth time I’ve finally gotten it to be reliable.

The concept Darwin uses he credits to Simon Aronson and his book Try the Impossible so I’m thinking I’ll pick that up. Would appreciate any recommendations you guys have on where to find great work with faros. Thanks ya’ll

Edit - really appreciate all the suggestions. Had a nice Sunday afternoon watching football and learning some new routines.