I have had the privilege to attend quite a number of magic performances and I must admit that I am usually thrilled by the events that normally go on. However, apart from just being entertained, it seems the performances have gotten the best of my curiosity. In fact, my curiosity has driven me to all corners including magic trick stores, magician seminars and much more in trying to unearth what really goes on behind the scenes.

I can now afford to share with you a piece of my findings. To start with, it is very hard to come across a magician that will share with you the oath of how they do their tricks. Simply put, I have had it rough. But here are the three keys entailed in every trick:

Sleight of hand

This is the ability or rather the power to manipulate things with the fore limbs without giving the audience the slightest hint that one is doing so. At first, I used to wonder how magicians make tangible objects appear and disappear mysteriously. In the old fashion of doing things, the sleeves formed the hiding place for these objects. However, that became so obvious to spectators and nowadays, smart magicians don’t even turn up for performances with sleeves.

Misdirection

This is where the magician will grab your attention and focus it on something else while they perform their thing. The smart ones will even ask you to look straight into their eyes while in the real sense they are doing something different from what they have made you to believe is happening. Some employ the services of assistants as a form of misdirection while others revert to conversation to achieve the same.

The power of talking and story telling

This is where magic and hypnosis go hand in hand. Talking derails the attention of the spectator to something else as the magician performs their trick. I have realized that great magicians are also great orators.

However, the in-depth details involved in all these three aspects of magic tricks are what still marvels me, but all I know is that it takes a lot confidence as well as practice and patience to master them. And that remains my assignment for another day.

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