The Evolution of an Illusionist
Jason Bishop demystifies stage illusions, and shows you how to turn them into a specialty.
Voices
Personal essays and reflections from magicians on their lives and journeys.
Voices
Learning From Darwin
Reflections on a long-distance phone call, and the lasting influence of a master magician
Voices
You Found an Audience, But Now What?
Instead of trying to impress them or educate them, try making friends.
Voices
“The Medium is the Message”
"I’ve always wanted to conduct an experiment: Why are these three experiences so different? Wouldn’t they be the same?"
Voices
What’s the Deal With Hack Lines?
Are you the only one who could deliver that line? Avoid hack material by scripting magic that’s unique to your character.
Voices
The Magician vs. The Effect
What is the relationship between the magician and the magic, and who’s responsible for whatever occurs?
Viewpoints
Eclectica: Remembering Albert Goshman
A great magician appears at the perfect moment. Chris Power reflects when he first met the great magic legend.
Viewpoints
A Magician’s Secret Weapon
Maybe we can explore the truth, through the creation an illusion. But how are you telling your audiences that story?
Voices
Be a Magic Detective
Leaving clues for your future self in the tried, test, and true form: the notebook. As Krystyn Lambert says: "For 16-year-old me, keeping notebooks was easy. I was constantly scribbling down ideas, whether it was documenting a move I was working on or the premise of a joke."
Voices
Learning Another Kind of Magic Trick
I figured that Bob had some special new illusion to sell me, or perhaps he knew of some show that was for sale that would make me a star in Las Vegas. He asked for a lot of money, so I really wondered what he had up his sleeve.
Voices
Who Are We Inviting?
Using the real you—complexities and all—are the key to reaching a real audience.
Voices
The Frame Defines What the Audience Sees
If we want to perform a new effect, we don’t need to find a new trick. We can simply frame it differently. A few magicians (including myself) have written about framing before, but I’m going back to basics.