Making it Look Real - Magicians

Abracadabra! Presto! Voila! These are just some of the expressions used by magicians. Magicians are artists who do magic tricks or illusions. Magicians also come by different names according to the “tricks” they perform. These include illusionists, escape artists, or prestidigitators. They often perform in front of an audience usually inside a theater where magicians have the advantage of preparing props for the tricks and illusions for their magic shows. However, nowadays street magic is the “in” thing where magicians do magic up-close and without the elaborate props. The evolution and popularity of magic has also found its way into classrooms where magic classes are being given for those who want to learn for fun or profit.

The History of Magical Arts

Magicians have always been present in history since it is considered to be the second oldest profession and its origins can be traced back in 2600 BC. Reference to magicians can also be seen in the Bible when Moses’ brother Aaron threw his cane down before the Pharaoh and changed it into a snake. Then the Pharaoh called his sorcerers (or magicians) to do the same thing using their secret arts. However, magic evolved into a formalized performance when Robert Houdin, the Father of Modern Magic, entertained people with illusions using his own mechanical inventions in the 1840s. Subsequently, the birth of Vaudeville in America during the 1900s paved the way to any magician’s icon, Harry Houdini.

Selling Out Magic

Magic shows became sell outs with performances like sawing a woman in half, escaping from cells and submerged locked boxes, appearance and disappearance of people and things and other acrobatic feats that cannot be done by ordinary people. Eventually, magic shows went its way to Broadway in the 1970s where Doug Henning started out the trend of magic shows centered on illusions. In the late 1970s, Henning was toppled by David Copperfield who dominated the stage and television with his magic shows up to early 2000s. Copperfield is now replaced by other illusionists who brought the magic shows to the streets. The most popular ones include David Blaine and Criss Angel.

With magic brought closer to the eyes and ears of ordinary people, more of us became interested in learning the craft. Some very young magician wannabes even surfaced due to the popularity of magic and fantasy filled fictional books and movies such as Harry Potter. Magic classes are now offered worldwide from simple card tricks to elaborate illusions. These magic classes are given either by a well-experienced magician or by an online tutor.