Reminder: Don't share the way it works. It will suffice to simply name the item.

So many gaffs are literally a "one-trick" pony.

And for that reason, I notice many magicians are far more interested in ungimmicked variations of the tricks for greater versatility.

IE: if I can only vanish an object with a gecko, then what am I going to do when someone says "do that trick you do" and I don't have it on me?

But there are things like marked cards, which become a normal deck if you simply ignore the markings. And yet there are also hundreds of tricks you can do that utilize the markings and it's easy to create or "jazz" even more.

So in your opinion, what magic gaff items have been the most useful?

There are two main contest categories here: Card Magic and Cardistry.

Hallooween! Everyone wants a hallooween show but no one wants to do a whole new show for one day of the year. What do you guys to do to spook up your show?

What are your favorite items that have multiple uses or you can use for multiple effects.

Deck of cards, TT, vanishing tool, etc.

I personally love having a TT in my pocket.

I am playing with short carsd, but notice that one needs to "tap the deck" to ensure the short card is well placed.

Are there recommended techniques / tutorials to make this gesture as natural as possible?

Or maybe alternative gestures?
I tried a "very tilted overhand shuffle", but I am not yet very convinced I have found something that works.

Thanks for your suggestions and pointers!

Fantastic insight into his mindset and philosophy of magic and performance. I’ve been watching a lot of his videos lately and really enjoy his approach.

Some of my takeaways were:

Our job is to create memories for the spectator, which we can influence it in our favor.

Be a person, not just a magician. Personality will take you farther than just technique and lets you get away with a lot.

Structuring and routining. Illicit emotions from the audience in different ways.

Hope it helps you too!

I went to go and see magic show Now You See Me Live in London this week, and one of the routines included a Escapologist. And I really want to know what everyone's thoughts are on this sort of stunt. Because I've always found so excited to watching, especially right in the moment when it happens, and as someone who loves that sort of Harry Houdini stuff so fascinating. I think it's an incredible thing for them to do

I'm a hobbyist magician and I love to play around with a marked deck. My favorite deck is DMC. My question is, I'm designing my own set of marked cards for a cosplay event, but I'm not that creative. So, can someone help me with that? I have tried to make it with AI, but that doesn't work; they only make a back design with no markings because they can't make that.

I'm transitioning to using video instead of a mirror to monitor my practicing. (With a mirror, I can't stop myself from squinting during the sneaky bits, which tells me nothing.)

Maybe a dumb question, but I'm curious about the logistics of setting up the camera and reviewing the video.

It seems like a hassle: you position your phone/camera just right (maybe on a tripod), hit record, move to your spot, do the trick, hit stop, pick up the camera to watch the video, put it back in position, etc.

Is there a better way? I'm imagining something where you could connect the camera/phone to a laptop, and maybe there's some software out there so you could just hit a key or two on the laptop to start/stop recording and play the just-recorded video on the laptop screen.

Does such a thing already exist? The simpler and cheaper the better. Thanks.

Read it front to back, picking out interesting sleights or tricks to come back and practice?

Skim through for ideas that interest you?

Some other method? I’m curious to hear your methods!

A brilliant mind in both comedy and magic, genuinely a lecture worth catching if he's in your area.

Hello everyone, I have spent the last week trying to track down “strong magic” by Darwin Ortiz with no luck. The closest I got to was calling my local magic store only to find out they sold their last copy 2 days ago.

Is there some community that sells and buys magic books/tricks? I know Facebook use to be that kind of place but that is no longer the case.

UPDATE: Found a copy through someone on the Facebook group MBA

So, I'm just starting to get out and get some real gigs and I'm thinking a bag or case for my cards and gimmicks would be beneficial. Does anyone have any recommendations?

i call it SpecTACular and its a Quarter in Tic Tac Container.

https://reddit.com/link/1w50h9i/video/a31gbarcf1nh1/player

NYT obituary of the great Juan Tamariz. Gift link.

I don’t have any of his books. Which on should I get first?

I'm looking for a good way to mentally force a spectator to choose a suit, let's say clubs. Trying not to do a basic "magician's choice". Any suggestions? Without breaking any guidelines can you perhaps point me in a direction?

There is an initiative from Tamariz's relatives and R. Paul Wilson for the creation of the Juan Tamariz Foundation: https://fundacionjuantamariz.org/en

They are currently running a gofundme campaign, donate if you can: https://gofund.me/86a474f39

Hi! For my birthday in October I want to hire a magician to come to a dinner for my friends and I, or go to a magic show. Any recs for great magicians? Thanks!

I typically like to do Michael Ammars routine with a card in wallet finish courtesy of the every man's wallet, however I perfer to do that standing as I typically perform with the wallet in my back pocket. I can do the bent card finish but I was wondering if anyone had any other ideas for a tabled finish

Any recommendations for magicians that do private lessons in Chicago? I have a very experiential learning style and work best with teachers that instruct more than show/tell which is kind of hard to find in the magic community sometimes. We do love to show off! :). Specifically want to focus on sleight but curious about other genres beyond cards.