Welcome to Behind The Magic – How To Have Street Magic.
Street magic is one of the most exciting, entertaining and fun forms of magic. It’s an art form that takes a lot of preparation, practice and skill to master.
In this blog we will be discussing all things street magic related. We will provide you with tips on how to perform street magic, where to get the best supplies and equipment and also some reviews on popular street magicians.
We hope you enjoy the blog and if you have any comments or suggestions please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Welcome to our blog. We are a group of magicians who want to share our stories, tips, tricks and tutorials with other magicians or people interested in learning some magic for themselves.
Today we are going to show you some videos of ourselves doing street magic. We will start by giving you an introduction to the art of street magic and then we will show you some videos.
A bit about street magic…
Street Magic is just like what it sounds like – performing magic on the street. It is often done as a form of entertainment but can also be used as a promotional tool by businesses. Street Magic can be performed anywhere outdoors but is most commonly performed on streets or in busy areas such as parks or shopping centres. The magician usually performs their tricks close up so that small groups of people can watch at once. The magician may use everyday objects such as coins, cards and rubber bands however they may also use more complicated illusions such as fire eating and knife throwing which require more equipment and space.
Street magic is a form of magic done on the streets, in front of a small, impromptu audience. Street magicians perform tricks that are meant to be entertaining to street audiences, who are often unprepared for what they see. Street magic includes close-up magic and even illusions performed on the pavement.
Street Magic: The History
Street magic dates back to ancient times, when people would gather in marketplaces or town squares and watch performers who would entertain them with unusual or impressive acts. These street performers would often perform simple card or coin tricks, or some other kind of “magic” act meant to please crowds and draw attention.
Some of the most famous street magicians were also known for their ability to make things disappear – including famous 19th century magician Harry Houdini. Some performers also used animals in their acts, such as William Robinson, who went by the stage name Chung Ling Soo. Robinson was known for his bird tricks and other exotic animal performances.
Street Magic can be a great experience on both sides of the table. For the magician, it is an opportunity to show off skills in front of an audience that has no idea what is going on and for the spectator, it is a chance to be amazed by something they had no idea was possible.
The key to performing good street magic is the same as any other performance. You need to grab attention and keep it! The only difference is that you have less time to do so than your average stage performance.
In this article I will cover my top 5 tips for performing street magic in order to get the attention of passers-by and keep them interested while you perform your best tricks.
You are about to read the closest thing I have to a magic formula for success. These 7 steps are what you need to know if you want to learn how to perform street magic.
1.Learn the basics
2.Create your own style
3.Perform, Perform, Perform
4.Be yourself
5.Don’t be afraid of failure
6.Be fearless & take risks
7.Believe in yourself
Like many magicians, John Lovick performs his sleight of hand on the streets of New York. To make a living, he finds it’s necessary to move quickly from one trick to the next and keep his audience engaged.
The audience at 34th Street and Broadway on a recent afternoon included three young women who were stopping to watch a few tricks before heading home after work. They laughed as Lovick made a card disappear. But when he reached into his hat and pulled out a long string of red silk that flowed down to the ground, they were clearly impressed.
Lovick says such reactions are what make street magic fun for him. “It’s just great having people walk by, smile, laugh and then walk off with a little something in their mind,” he says. “If I can take their day from bad to good or good to great with just some simple magic tricks, then I’ve done my job.”
The typical street magician performs in crowded public areas such as streets, conventions, and public events. The tricks performed are designed to shock and amaze spectators who are generally unfamiliar with magic.
The audience is often a group of strangers gathered around the magician. Some of these performances are intended to be comical, and many magicians dress in an exaggerated manner to attract attention. For example, the performer may wear a top hat, vest, or wild clothing.
Street magicians often have a repertoire of tricks involving objects such as coins, cards (often marked), balls, rope, rubber bands and other common items that could plausibly be carried on one’s person at all times.
Some performers use their skills in pickpocketing to steal objects from their spectators and then restore them to their pockets. And some use fake vomit, feces or insects made from plastic or wax to shock their audiences into laughter or disgust.