4 CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET So you want to be a magician Well you've come to the right place There are many secrets waiting for you inside this book By the time you're finished reading you will be a master of illusion magic Let's begin WHAT IS ILLUSION MAGIC An illusion is something that looks real but isn't Magicians create illusions in lots of different ways Sometimes props are used These may have secret tricks hidden inside Sometimes the magician creates illusions with clever hand movements DID YOU KNOW A magician who performs illusion magic is called an illusionist
Illusion magic has been performed for hundreds of years Big magic shows were performed on stage in front of many people and were popular throughout the 1800s and 1900s The shows used complicated illusions to fool the audiences and make them gasp in surprise All sorts of illusions were performed from making assistants disappear in a box to making objects float in the air This is an old magic show poster for a famous magician named Harry Kellar Today illusion magic is performed on stage on television or even in the streets Some magicians on television such as Dynamo are famous for making it look like they can disappear into thin air or walk on water One of Dynamo’s tricks shows him walking on water 5 The History of Illusion Magic Illusion Magic Today
6 MAGIC LESSON PROPS AND PATTER PROPS As an illusionist your props are very important A magician's props look like normal objects to the audience However they often have a secret As a magician it is your job to keep that secret hidden and act as if real magic is happening Make sure your props are ready before you use them You should practice the tricks on your own before you perform them so you are comfortable and confident You can ask an adult to help you make the props if you want DID YOU KNOW All of the props you will need for this book can be made out of everyday household objects
Acting is an important part of magic What you say and what you do can make the trick a lot more convincing and entertaining Magicians have a special word for the things they say and do It is called patter Magicians practice their patter before they do a trick Sometimes their patter is funny and sometimes it is serious Examples of Patter You can also tap things THREE TIMES with your finger or a magic wand to complete the magic trick You can keep talking and DESCRIBE WHAT IS HAPPENING in the trick even if it is not true For example you might say that one of your props is just a normal object even though you know that it really isn’t Saying magic words such as ABRACADABRA is a fun way to pretend you are casting a spell Patter 7
