Creating good magic effect:

#1 Change expectations

Ask yourself what the audience’s expectations are at any given moment. What can you do to change those expectations?

-An error occurs through miscommunication

-An error occurs through prop malfunction

#2 Build tension

What can you do to build tension? Is there a way you can make the outcome appear to be in doubt?

-Your quick fix doesn’t work

-Your resolution is incomplete

#3 Resolve the conflict

How can you dramatically resolve the conflict? You can choose to make the resolution appear magical and beyond your control or something you planned.

-T

he spectator finds their card mysteriously in their own pocket.

-You tell the spectator the card is under their seat (you planted it there).


  1. Look closely at what the audience thinks is going to happen and find a way to change that to uncertainty. Avoid confusing them. They should know what the problem is, but not the resolution. As a magician, your job is to create a resolution that is both surprising and magical.

    The most important one is-MISDIRECT.

    Misdirection is the backbone of sleight of hand and magic. Even if an effect doesn't require you to divert the eyes of your audience you can still benefit from controlling their attention to create maximum impact. 

    Big motion covers smaller motions. In other words, routine your effects so that a big motion covers the dirty work that is occuring somewhere else. Be careful not to make large uneccesary actions that look suspicious. The actions should be logical and make sense within the context of the routine

    Start noticing where people focus. After awhile you'll start to learn which actions attract attention and which ones don't. This will become useful when creating your own routines. You'll know exactly what is required to misdirect the attention of your audience during crucial moments.