If you’re browsing this site you probably have a fairly good idea of what the art of magic is, and what performing magic tricks generally entails. So we won’t bore you with history and dictionary definitions. Instead we thought we’d devote this page to taking a look at some of the different genre’s of magic, types of magic tricks we typically see, and some thoughts on these subjects.

Genre’s of Magic Tricks

Just like movies, music and books, magic tricks can be broken up into a range of genre’s. And just like movies, music and books, those genres are very much open to interpretation and they can be mixed and matched to create new and interesting types of magic tricks (for example, comedy and mentalism can be thrown together to create comedy mentialism). Let’s take a look at some of the more common genre’s...

Card Tricks - probably the most famous of all types of magic. The great thing about card tricks is that it’s such an accessible genre of magic. A deck of cards and a good book on card magic can be a very inexpensive way to learn the art of magic. Most card tricks make use of sleight of hand techniques, however there are also a large number of self working card tricks that are very easy to perform and require no skill at all. Some classic card tricks include the Ambitious Card, Twisting the Aces, the Triumph effect, card to impossible location...the list goes on!

Close Up Magic - close-up magic covers all kinds of magic done in close proximity to the audience. Usually this will be at their table in a restaurant, or standing in a small group for walkaround. This may also cover “parlour” style magic for small groups of people. Close Up Magic is usually performed with cards (card tricks are a form of close up magic), coins, and other small everyday objects (pens, keys, finger rings, etc., are commonly used). This is probably the most popular form of commercial magic, that most working magicians will perform regularly.

Mentalism - this genre of magic has become very famous in recent years, popularised by artists such as Derren Brown. Typically they will be mind-reading or psychological effects, that use apparent everyday objects (such as books, pads of paper, envelopes etc.). Mentalism is generally accepted to be a very serious genre of magic, however some artists such as John Archer have managed to combine comedy and mentalism successfully. The ultimate text on this genre of magic is widely regarded to be Corinda’s 13 Steps to Mentalism, however other artists such as Max Maven, Banachek, and Richard Osterlind have all produced respected work.

Children’s Magic - another very commercial form of magic. Children’s magic tricks are typically very simple, large colourful effects designed to be performed in front of groups of children. Typically tricks will include production of silks, transposition of large colourful objects, rope tricks and of course the classic rabbit or live animal production! Children’s magic also often makes use of the “sucker effect” - whereby the children are lead to believe they know how the trick is being done, only for the magician to prove them wrong in the end.

Stage Illusions - large scale illusions are often seen as the most prestigious kind of magic. Probably due to their cost and expense, and to the work that goes into preparing and performing them. Classic illusions include sawing a lady in half, productions and transpositions, zig zag effects, etc. Many critics argue that the problem with illusions is that they have failed to “move with the times” and as such it is a dying art. However artists such as David Copperfield and more recently Kris Angel have pushed the envelope and taken these classic illusions to new heights.