Performance

Close Up Magic: 10 Tips To Improve This Skill To The Next Level

Performance, Revealed
hand about to catch four dices

Performing magic takes a lot of skill, and stage presence. It also takes confidence and a whole lot of perseverance. That’s especially true when it comes to close up magic tricks.

When you perform magic for a small crowd gathered around you, there is no room for error. There are no smoke and mirrors that can save you from a spectator who is standing feet from you.

Though a stage might seem intimidating it actually affords you more space. The farther the audience is from you, the easier to deceive and misdirect them.

Magicians who perform close up magic tricks do not have that luxury, and, therefore, they need to have a few extra skills in their arsenal.

What Is Close Up Magic?

Close up magic is also called micro magic, or table magic, and it traditionally involves audience members who are less than 10 feet from the magician. Often the performer is seated at a table, although in contemporary street magic that is not a necessity.

Most close up magic involves card tricks. Card tricks fall under the classification of sleight of hand tricks, they rely on quick moves that go undetected by the audience. Other forms of close up magic involve sleight of hand tricks featuring small objects like coins, dice, or even pens.

10 Tips to Improve Your Close Up Magic Skills 

For you, close up magic is thrilling and invigorating, but there is still so much for you to learn. Perhaps you’re looking to perform more street magic to help make a name for yourself and break into more permanent opportunities.

To wow strangers on the street you’ve got hone your skills. Here are 10 tips for you to improve your up close magic and take it and you to the next level.

1. Practice in a Mirror

Woman looking on a mirror
​Image Via Pexels.com

It’s hard to spot the errors that the audience might see unless you can see them yourself. To accomplish this you need to practice using a mirror when you perform your close up magic.

You’ll get a new perspective on your performance, and make sure that your sleight of hand is undetectable from multiple angles. That’s really helpful when you are performing a new trick.

A mirror can help you make sure that your secrets remain secret from any angle that an audience member may be positioned at.

Practicing in a mirror can also help you determine if a new trick is right for you. If you find that the angles are too tricky to work with, you might have saved yourself some valuable time. It’s better to realize that now than after months of working through a trick.

2. Pay for Information

Magic is not free. That might seem kind of shocking considering all the things that you can find for free on the Internet. You can find music, movies, and books for free. You can find all the information on just about anything for free.

This is true for some aspects of magic, but overwhelmingly, if you want to learn the secret to good magic tricks, you have to pay for them. This might come in the form of buying lessons or purchasing books, or paying for a series of DVD’s. Paying for magic instruction may take many forms, but the results are the same. You end up with magic instruction that is thorough, tested, and complete.

That’s not to say that YouTube can’t provide you with lots of inspiration and tips, but don’t let it be your only source of instruction. If you’re serious about performing magic then you have to be willing to invest in its secrets. If you don’t put the money in, you can’t get the money out.

3. Examine All Finger Positions

Hand black and white
​Image Via pexels.com

In sleight of hand, everything rests on where your hands rest. If your fingers are not in proper position the trick can often be detected. The eyes of the audience are distracted by your error, and your misdirection fails to misdirect.

So your finger positions matter, and identifying and practicing the proper finger positions is everything. It’s important to spend time watching master magicians perform sleight of hand tricks and making note of exactly where their fingers are during the sleight.

Are they gripping the deck between their thumb and ring finger? Or does it rest between their thumb and index finger? What joint of their index finger is touching the cards? The trick is in the tiniest details, and you’ll need to get used to working on your micro magic on a truly micro level.

4. Work on Looking Relaxed

Sleight of hand takes a lot of finger dexterity and so much rides on such small and imperceptible movements of your hands. With all that pressure it’s hard not to look stressed, but the more relaxed you are the, better your tricks will go.

If you tense up then those magic hands of yours tense up too. Card tricks take a very light hand and the best way to make that happen is to stay relaxed as you perform. This is easier said than done in some cases, but it’s worth creating some of your own relaxation methods.

Some performers mediate before they appear in front of an audience. Some performers listen to specific music, or perform a sort of pre-show ritual to calm their nerves. Be sure to take time from all your rigorous practicing to find ways that clam and focus your energy before you perform.

5. Cut Out Any Extraneous Movements

Majician holding a red small ball
​Image Via Pixabay.com

This takes lots of practice, but one way to get your tricks running smoother and less detected is to cut out any extra movements. Every bend of your finger, every flick of your wrist should be done with an express purpose.

This might seem counter-intuitive at first especially when you consider the value of misdirection, but too many movements may end up making your audience suspicious. Remember, your audience is smart. They know about misdirection, and they may try really hard not to be misdirected. If you add an extra flourish, or an extra gesture you sort of automatically tip-off your audience.

Keep your movements direct and simple, and you will keep your audience guessing at every turn.

6. Talk As You Practice

man with glasses looking on the mirror
​Image Via Pexels.com

You are probably pretty used to practicing your close up magic, but how often does your practice just involve the mechanics of the trick? You might not even realize it, but you probably spend a lot of your time practicing silently.

While any practice is good practice, you’ll find your tricks will vastly improve if you work on speaking as you run through your routine. That’s because it mimics a real life scenario better and because you also use verbal cues in your magic.

Sleight of hand falsely implies that your hands do all the work, but the more you practice talking along with your routine, the more you’ll realize how much your patter influences your trick.

The way you speak, the story you tell, and the web you weave with your audience is all a part of the magic. The way you speak and the things you say will draw your audience in just as much as they way you can mysteriously produce the right cards, so don’t leave it as an afterthought.

7. Perfect Tricks Stage by Stage

Majician pulling card from his mouth
​Image Via Pixabay.com

It’s so tempting to jump ahead when you are learning a new trick, but it’s important to break tricks down into manageable stages and perfect each one before you jump to the next.

Each portion of a trick builds on the previous portion, so think of them as rungs on a ladder. You can’t reach the upper rungs without starting at the bottom first. To do this you may have to force yourself to go over a portion of a trick that you think you’ve mastered. Even if you think it’s perfect, it’s worth practicing just one more time.

8. Practice Morning, Noon, and Night

If you want to take your close up magic to the next level there are no elevators to get you there. You have to practice, and practice, and practice. That’s because sleight of hand tricks are not based on gimmicks as some other types of magic are. You’re not performing a nifty science trick that yields a magical result.

Instead, you are creating magic with your skills. Those skills need to be razor sharp, and practice is how that happens. Give yourself a daily goal of how many times you want to perform a specific trick, and then work to make that happen.

And remember that as you practice to change the scenery and the scenario. Don’t just practice in your home, or studio. You’re doing close up magic, and one of the best ways to improve it is to practice in front of an audience.

Practicing in front of other people can be challenging, especially when you are not feeling confident in your skills, but you have to challenge those skills in order to stretch and build those muscles.

Perform magic on subways. Perform magic in the street. Approach people at parties and attempt to wow them with your skills. Sometimes your routine will fall flat. Sometimes you will meet spectators who are neither impressed nor amused, but what can you learn from those people? What can you do better next time to turn those skeptics into believers?

9. Collaborate with Other Magicians

Whether it’s with a mentor, or a group of aspiring magicians much like yourself, it is important to work through magic routines with the help of others. Magicians are a hard group to impress, and they’ll be even harder than a typical audience.

That means that they can provide even better feedback to give you just the last little bit of polish that you need. Once you have practiced, honed, analyzed, and otherwise gotten your routine in tip-top shape, it’s time to enlist the help of some professionals.

Not all magicians may be willing to help you improve your act because they don’t need to strengthen the competition, but you will find that many magicians are in the same boat that you are. Those are the ones who will most likely trade you some help. Or at least they might not mind criticizing you. Both will help you in the long run.

10. Work on Being Dynamic

A boy practicing a card trick
​Image Via Unsplash.com

In close up magic, you are building an intimate little rapport with your audience. You want them to like you. You want them to be captivated by you. These are things that are hard to teach, but they all fall under having a good stage presence. Even though you might not be on a stage, you still need a persona that can put on a good performance.

The best way to achieve this dynamic, charismatic, larger than life level is to come at your audience with as much confidence and energy as possible. You might not always feel like you can learn confidence, but you can certainly practice it.

It comes from being comfortable. It comes from knowing your routine, and having sharp skills. It comes from your love of magic and your enthusiasm to share it with the world.

Take Your Magic to the Streets and Take it Up a Notch

These 10 tips along with your perseverance and love of magic can help take your close up skills to the next level. Before long you will confidently be able to hold a street audience totally captive with your skills, and you just might get a collection of onlookers who want to see what all the commotion is about.

Featured Image by fotografierende from Pexels

Magic for Humans Review: Packed With Humor and Tricks

Card Tricks, Performance

People are fascinated by the concept of magic. The draw created by the smoke and mirrors magicians use is both seductive and entertaining, which is why shows featuring magicians pulling tricks on unsuspecting people are always around. Even Netflix has thrown a hat in the ring with its new Magic for Humans. But is it worth the watch? After all, magicians are not created equally and neither are their shows. In this Magic for Humans review, we will dissect the ins and outs of the show, compare it to other popular magician shows, and decide if Magic for Humans is all it's cracked up to be. Consider this Magic for Humans review your magic password to the world of magic shows. Abracadabra!

Quick Navigation

What Is Magic for Humans?
About the Magician
Where Can We Watch It?
How It Compares
Magic for Humans Review
BeLIEve Review
The Carbonaro Effect Review
Death BY Magic Review
Conclusion

What Is Magic for Humans?

Magic for Humans is part of a new era of magic shows that are part human observation and part 4th wall-breaking commentary on the susceptibility of the human mind. A six-part unscripted series new to Netflix's line-up in 2018, the show is a well-balanced blend of simple science and comedy fit for all ages. Good-natured tricks and grown-up laughs drive the show, which often takes place on the streets of cities and in neutral locations, such as schools, baffling unsuspecting people.

Magic for Humans shows a vital appreciation for comedic timing that takes the whole thing from a set of mild curiosities to a finely tuned exploration of what kind of magic can still command people's attention. Magic for Humans manages to exist in the perfect middle ground between comedy series and street magic. Each installment centers on a different universal theme. Some episodes center on love and companionship, while others highlight guilt as a fundamental driving force for humanity.

About the Magician

You can't have a Magic for Humans review without mentioning the headliner of the show, the magician himself Justin Willman.

Justin Willman leads this unscripted look at people's relationship to magic that's part Nathan Fielder, part Bill Nye. Willman is the perfect magician/comedian hybrid to pull off this kind of show — a prototypical harmony of social commentary and genuine clean comedy. His self-deprecating style lends a certain credibility to his storytelling, making him an unlikely messenger for some of the show's deeper meanings.

Justin Willman aims to wow people as he performs the tricks and illusions in front of them, with no camera tricks to assist him — what the viewers see is the same as what the marks on the show see. It's a particular kind of friendly, not-flashy or over-the-top magic that makes Justin Willman approachable as a magician. His tricks range from simple to incredibly complex, but he doesn't rely on any extra pizazz to bend your mind.

Where Can We Watch It?

In front of a tv with netflix flashed on the screen is a cup of coffee

Photo by John-Mark Smith from Pexels

You are only one Netflix subscription away from watching Magic for Humans. Frankly, while some of the harshest critics are skeptical of Netflix's habit of giving the green light for production of just about any kind of show, skeptics can rest easy with Magic for Humans. Magic for Humans marks Netflix's first foray into producing magic shows. It helps that Netflix has a reputation for allowing creative freedom to their production teams because that leeway is what has made Magic for Humans stand out.

"I'm proud to say that all the illusions in the show were accomplished without any camera tricks, and all of the reactions are 100 percent real," Justin Willman said in a statement to Bustle. "I'm aware that by the very nature of editing a show you're manipulating reality, so we went to great lengths to not cut away during any of the crucial magic moments throughout the series. Hopefully, viewers will appreciate this effort and enjoy a little escape from reality."

Netflix seems to have pleased the viewers since Magic for Humans was renewed for a second season, to debut in 2019.

How It Compares

We picked a few similar shows to see how our Magic for Humans review stands up to a review of its competitors.

  • BeLIEve

  • The Carbonaro Effect

  • Death By Magic

It is the goal of any show to stand up to the test of time, particularly magic shows. Because magic shows rest on the premise of managing to fool humans by taking advantage of human nature, it has always been important that magic shows treat human nature as something universal. There is no nuance in curiosity or the way science has nailed down how good our peripheral vision is — and that means that magic shows have to approach their tricks in such a way that they are pleasantly baffling rather than uncomfortably surprising.

We already know from our Magic for Humans review that Justin Willman has expertly toed that line. But what about his colleagues?

Magic for Humans Review

This is a six-part (so far) magic show grounded in the nature of humanity, led by affable magician Justin Willman.

Believability

In this Magic for Humans review, we've already indicated that we believe both the host and the magic. But let's really drive it home by explicitly saying that the believability of Magic for Humans is proven in the way the no-trick cameras convey genuinely surprising — and funny — results.

Personality

Magician Justin Willman's friendly demeanor and self-deprecating humor make for TV host gold. His personality is unobtrusive, which makes the viewer trust him — and that's a good thing since Magic for Humans has underlying themes that rely on the viewer being led to certain thought-provoking conclusions.

Uniqueness

Magic for Humans is a unique show in the sense that social commentary on the human condition hasn't ever been blended into a magic show before. But other aspects of the show aren't very original — such as playing tricks on random people on the street. Of course, this limitation is largely due to the scope of magic shows, which generally rely on unsuspecting marks who are almost always found in the streets. Pus, Magic for Humans makes up for this in introducing other locations and scenarios that spice up the settings for the tricks.

BeLIEve Review

For many of us watching television in the early aughts, Criss Angel's BeLIEve was our first introduction into magic shows at all — never mind magic shows that made a point of being as mind-bending and shocking as possible. Comparing BeLIEve to the Magic for Humans review is almost like comparing a pit bull to a French bull terrier. Whereas Magic for Humans is conceptually accessible to everyone, BeLIEve has a gross-out reputation hidden behind an over-the-top punk spirit. It's a high-flying, high-strung approach to magic shows — and at its height of popularity, audiences gobbled it up.

Believability

Believability is the entire goal of BeLIEve. For a magician, the whole trick behind performing a successful illusion essentially is to get onlookers to believe a lie — and Criss Angel does that in spades. BeLIEve certainly isn't for the light-hearted viewer, but there is no doubt that viewers are amazed that every stunt and trick is pulled off so flawlessly.

Personality

Headlining magician Criss Angel is, admittedly, a polarizing figure. He curses, he's tattooed, and he's partially nude for almost half of his tricks. Viewers really do either love him or hate him. His style of magic is fast-paced and challenging and leaves you wondering how any of his tricks are even real. Which works for his show, honestly. The brash, daredevil nature of Criss Angel means that watching BeLIEve is kind of like a second-hand adrenalin rush.

Uniqueness 

BeLIEve is undoubtedly unique. What other magic show on the planet features the kind of stomach-churning stunts that put the magician in very real danger at least once an episode? Criss Angel once attached himself to fish hooks and a helicopter to fly through the desert, proving once again that mind really does trump matter. That kind of wildness isn't seen in any other magic show. And another unique aspect is the unusual pattern of the show mostly being filmed during the nighttime. This might be due to the fact that the show is produced in Las Vegas, or because the tone of the show is altogether a little darker than other magic shows. Either way, Criss Angel is a one-of-a-kind magician.

The Carbonaro Effect Review

What do you get when you put together a hidden camera show and a magic show? The Carbonaro Effect. In each half-hour episode, Michael Carbonaro performs baffling tricks on people in everyday situations, all caught on hidden camera. Whether the marks are alone or with friends, everyone is left stunned and delighted, even though they have no idea what they just experienced. Similarly to the comedic tone mentioned in the Magic for Humans review, the Carbonaro Effect has plenty of funny moments.

Believability

Hidden camera shows are usually highly believable, if only by the virtue that the unsuspecting marks have no idea they are being filmed and therefore have no reason to alter their reactions. It's part of what makes reality television so entertaining. But while The Carbonaro Effect certainly is believable in general, there is an underlying feeling of the entire show being about pranks rather than magic.

Personality

Michael Carbonaro is the exact type of friendly everyman magician that can pull off a hidden camera magic show. He's friendly and has a certain charisma that works for his type of simplistic sleight of hand magic. Just like Justin Willman from Magic for Humans, Michael Carbonaro has comedic timing that makes his tricks benevolent rather than mean-spirited.

Uniqueness

While many of Michael Carbonaro's tricks and set-ups are unique by themselves, the repetition of the show being on hidden camera starts to chafe after a while. Maybe Punk'd has ruined our appreciation for the effort that production crews go to in order to make hidden camera television series a reality, or maybe hidden camera doesn't work as well with the medium of magic shows. Either way, the uniqueness of the show is overall a little bland. It's something you might put on for the kids or use a background noise rather than pay 100% attention to.

Death BY Magic Review

Here's the premise of the show: A magician does incredibly dangerous, potentially fatal, death-defying magic tricks. Death BY Magic is being very literal with its titling, as most of the tricks performed by magician Drummond Money-Coutts have killed other magicians in the past. Just as mentioned in the Magic for Humans review, Death BY Magic is produced by Netflix — but is a decidedly darker take on magic shows. The extremism of Death BY Magic is a decided departure from the thoughtfulness of Magic for Humans.

Believability

When you have a magician repeatedly putting his life in danger to perfect tricks that have felled other magicians, how can you do anything except believe that the tricks are real? Death BY Magic is eight episodes of tricks that will have you on the edge of your seat. But skeptics of the show have indicated how doubtful they are that the magician is actually in any real danger. We leave that up to you to decide.

Personality

Drummond Money-Coutts is the British magician who travels to locations around the world to attempt feats that have proved fatal to other magicians. Risking your life for the entertainment of the masses suggests a sort of reckless bravery that reminds seasoned magic show viewers of the defiance of Criss Angel. Drummond has that same boldness, but his is performed with a British accent.

Uniqueness

There is no other magic show like Death BY Magic. Drummond Money-Coutts is really just going around attempting feats that proved fatal to other magicians. He's taking apart what went wrong once before and then executing the trick flawlessly. Among the tricks Drummond Money-Coutts attempts are trying to escape from a car before it floods with water and attempting to get out of a custom-built coffin — successfully, mind you. What other show is doing that?

Conclusion

We can try to blame Houdini for it, but there is a certain glee we feel when our brains are tricked by a combination of misdirected attention and sleight of hand. We enjoy smoke and mirrors. We are enthralled by mind-bending feats of trickery. It's just a simple fact of human nature.

That is why a show like Magic for Humans is so uniquely unifying. Magic for Humans manages to bring the collective human condition to the forefront of a show that is frequently funny as it is thought-provoking. With Justin Willman as the messenger, Magic for Humans has carved a niche of its own amongst the card tricks and devilish stunts of other magic shows.

We give Magic for Humans a full 5 stars! Watch on Netflix now!

Featured Image: Photo by Kaique Rocha from Pexels

The 10 Best Magic Shows in Vegas That Will Shock and Amaze You

Performance
magician demonstrating a trick with his hat

Heading to Vegas? Everyone likes a good magic show, but there are so many to choose from. Before buying your plane tickets to Las Vegas, consider what types of shows and entertainment you want to enjoy. We've put together a diverse, carefully considered list of the best magic shows in vegas to provide a helpful guide you can count on for genuine value. 

Magic shows are typically family-friendly, and many offer superb entertainment that's worth every penny. Whether you are looking for magic shows with an injection of laugh-aloud stand-up comedy or you are into more fantastical- or mystical-themed performances, this list will surely guide you in your pursuit to find the best entertainment while visiting Las Vegas.

Quick Navigation

Product FAQ
How We Reviewed the Top Magic Shows in Vegas
Overall Price Range
​What We Reviewed
Paranormal Mind Reading Magic
Criss Angel Mindfreak
David Goldrake: Imaginarium
Piff the Magic Dragon
The Mac King Comedy Magic Show
Xavier Mortimer's Magical Dream
Adam London's Laughternoon
Penn & Teller
The Mentalist
Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show
The Verdict

Product FAQ

1. ​What Elements Typify the Best Magic Shows in Vegas?

​2. Can Children Attend Las Vegas Magic Shows?

3. How Long Do Magic Shows Last?

4. ​Aren't All Las Vegas Shows Similar?

​How Often Do Magic Shows in Las Vegas Occur?

doing card magic tricks

image source: Pexels

How We Reviewed the Top Magic Shows in Vegas

The following magic shows were reviewed based on the quality of performance, ticket prices, audience age restrictions, use of imagination, and authenticity. We value showmanship and high reviews from audience members, and this helped us rate and review these best magic shows in Vegas. Ultimately, all fans and visitors will have their own perspective and taste in magic shows.

Overall Price Range

Most of the best magic shows in Vegas typically run $$ per individual ticket. The best magic shows in Vegas are high quality and provide loads of entertainment value. Higher-priced shows will typically have more sound and lighting effects, while lower-budget shows will be oriented around audience participation and a stand-up comedy-like routine.

​What We Reviewed

  • Paranormal Mind Reading Magic

  • Criss Angel Mindfreak

  • David Goldrake: Imaginarium

  • Piff the Magic Dragon

  • The Mac King Comedy Magic Show

  • Xavier Mortimer's Magical Dream

  • Adam London's Laughternoon

  • Penn & Teller

  • The Mentalist

  • Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show

Paranormal Mind Reading Magic

Performance Style & Venue

The Paranormal Mind Reading Magic show stars Frederic Da Silva, a self-taught magician who has the "power" to read minds. This show is consistently rated one of the best magic shows in Vegas. If you appreciate the arts of hypnosis and mind reading, prepare to be amazed as Frederick Da Silva reads your mind, calling out details ranging from what's in your pocket to the name of someone special in your life.

 

This show takes place at Bally's in Las Vegas. The production is about seventy minutes long and tickets run about forty dollars. The premise of the show requires audience participation, so be prepared to step on stage if that helps enhance the experience for you. This show is ideal for families and generally OK for kids six years and up. As we write, performances are staged around four in the afternoon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

PROS

  • Highly rated among many reviewers.

  • Fun, family-friendly entertainment

  • Budget-friendly

CONS

  • Requires audience participation

  • Show runs in the afternoon

Where to Learn More


Check Website

Best For:

This show is best for families and couples who are seeking fun, lighthearted entertainment. Attending an afternoon performance is a perfect way to beat the heat and enjoy fun entertainment. Both kids and adults will enjoy this show and talk about it afterward.

Criss Angel Mindfreak

Performance Style & Venue

Many have watched Criss Angel's Mindfreak television show. but the best way to enjoy magic in action is live at the Criss Angel Theatre inside Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. Mindfreak is considered one of the best magic shows in the world; and perhaps one of the best of all time. This show caters to the tastes of older teenagers and adults.

 

Again, from dangerous magic stunts to genuinely mind-bending illusions, this show is one of the most favored magic performances in the world. Shows run twice per night on most evenings, but be aware that tickets sell out fast. Criss Angel is a worldwide celebrity known for his mind-bending illusions that shock and entertain older audiences. This show is a great date-night event or ideal for a night out with a group of friends or colleagues.

PROS

  • One of the most popular live shows in the world, bar none

  • Staged in a comfortable location

  • Multiple evening show times

CONS

  • Tickets sell out fast

  • Tickets are (justifiably) more expensive than many other magic shows in Vegas

  • Not suitable for young children, as audience members must be at least 13 years old to enter

  • Some illusions take on a serious undertone and can cause anxiety for some sensitive audience members

Where to Learn More


Check Website

Best For:

This show is best for date nights, a business outing, or amusement for families with older teens. The performance takes place in the evening. For those who prefer staying out late, this show will work for you.

David Goldrake: Imaginarium

Performance Style & Venue

David Goldrake hosts one of the best magic shows in Vegas. This accomplished, internationally renowned performer is known for speaking seven languages fluently and his excellence in the art of magic. This show includes a variety of tricks and illusions that will leave audience members questioning their reality.

 

Goldrake has won many awards for his showmanship and continues to gain popularity throughout the world. His shows are performed in a variety of locations throughout Vegas, but he tours often throughout the world as well. The show's theme is structured around dreams and fantasy, striking a beautiful balance between aesthetic elements and pure wonder. Imaginarium is a show that includes beautiful imagery and 3-D displays. A typical performance runs around 75 minutes in duration.

PROS

  • Aesthetically pleasing imagery and art

  • Family friendly

CONS

  • This show is not always in Vegas due to Goldrake's intensive touring schedule

  • Tickets sell out fast

Where to Learn More


Check Website

Best For:

This show is best for kids and families or a date night. The show runs for a little more than an hour and is perfect for light and friendly entertainment, breaking up your evening and giving you plenty to talk about.

Piff the Magic Dragon

Performance Style & Venue

Piff the Magic Dragon is a family-friendly entry on our list of the best magic shows in Vegas, and it contains a lot of comedy. The premise of the show is skits and tricks with "Piff," a comedian/magician wearing a dragon costume. The show is also enhanced by Mr. Piffles, a small Chihuahua who is billed as the first chihuahua to perform in a magic show; and yes, Mr. Piffles also wears a dragon costume.

 

Jade Simone, a/k/a "The Girl with the Dragon To-Do List," joins the performance to add more comedy and excitement throughout the show. Performances are staged in a variety of locations, but your best bet is a show at the Flamengo on the strip. Piff the Magic Dragon is, without question, one of the best magic shows in Vegas because of its versatile and unique angle on illusions.

PROS

  • Family friendly

  • Fun costumes worn by performers will appeal to all

  • Comedy-infused magic makes for a super-fun experience

CONS

  • Tickets are priced on the higher end for Vegas shows

  • The show tours often, so it is not always available in Vegas

Where to Learn More


Check Website

Best For:

This show is best for families with kids. The show is also great for young adults or people who want to enjoy a date night.

The Mac King Comedy Magic Show

Performance Style & Venue

The Mac King Comedy Magic show is one of the best magic shows in Vegas because of its high energy performance and comedy. This performance will astonish and entertain audiences of all ages. Mac King has been performing magic since childhood, and he adds his unique flair to veer away from the traditional magic show.

The show generally runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays, early in the afternoon, at Harrah's Showroom at Harrah's Las Vegas. This show is sure to bring smiles and laughs for a variety of audiences.

PROS

  • Family friendly

  • Magic show infused with comedy.

  • Tickets cost less than many other high-value magic shows

CONS

  • Show not available on Mondays or Sundays

  • High-stakes risks and stunts are not part of the fare

Where to Learn More


Check Website

Best For:

This show is ideal for families with young kids. Performances are usually held in the early afternoon, leaving plenty of time for meals and other activities later in the day.

Xavier Mortimer's Magical Dream

Performance Style & Venue

Xavier Mortimer is a magician whose performance roots stem from Cirque du Soleil. He integrates comedy, fantasy, and illusion into one entertaining show, leveraging skills that have won him magic performance awards such as the Gold Star at the L'Eaud'Olle in Europe. They typically hold Xavier Mortimer's Magical Dream at Bally's in Las Vegas. The performance is ideal for families and couples. Xavier Mortimer hosts one of the best magic shows in Vegas.

PROS

  • Perfect for families

  • Held in a comfortable, welcoming location

  • Tickets are affordable

CONS

  • Shows sell out on most peak travel days

Where to Learn More


Check Website

Best For:

Xavier Mortimer's Magical Dream is suitable for all ages and ideal for date nights.

Adam London's Laughternoon

Performance Style & Venue

Adam London's Laughternoon is an easy pick as one of the best magic shows in Vegas because it strikes a great balance between a comedy show and a magic performance. This show is energizing and encourages audience participation. Adam London has entertained a variety of audiences and even earned awards for "The Best Entertainment in Southern Nevada" and "Best Family Friendly Show."

 

Laughternoon is usually staged in the D Las Vegas Showroom on the strip, an ideal location accessible to those who want to stay in the heart of the city. This show is funny, entertaining, and lighthearted, and it leaves most audience members feeling thoroughly entertained.

PROS

  • Enjoyable for families of all ages

  • Tickets are moderately priced

CONS

  • Venue is not as luxurious as some others

  • Children are encouraged to attend, so "adult-only" get-togethers may want to consider another option

Where to Learn More


Check Website

Best For:

This show is best for families with small children or casual dates.

Penn & Teller

Performance Style & Venue

Penn & Teller is one of the most accomplished and well-known magic acts in the world, making their show an easy choice as one of the best magic shows in Vegas. Penn and Teller use superb comedy routines while creating fascinating illusions. This show is rated highly among many audience members and is one of the most popular shows of any variety staged in Vegas.

 

This cohesive team centers the show's premise on revealing how their magic tricks work, but there always seems to be a twist when the best-kept magic secrets come to light. Through the use of comedy, lighthearted humor, and audience engagement, this show earns its spot as one of the best magic shows in Vegas. Typically the performance takes about an hour-and-a-half, and shows run Saturday through Wednesday. Tickets sell out fast!

PROS

  • Great for all ages

  • Rated highly among many audience members

CONS

  • Tickets sell out fast.

  • Age restriction is five years and older, so families with babies or toddlers will need to consider that

Where to Learn More


Check Website

Best For:

This show is best for families with children over the age of five and makes for a fun date night. Try and buy tickets as early as possible to avoid missing out!

The Mentalist

Performance Style & Venue

The Mentalist takes illusion to a whole new level. This show is rated one of the best magic shows in Vegas because of its high-stakes tricks that leave audiences gasping. Some of these tricks may terrify audience members, but keep your eyes open! These tricks will entertain and amaze you.

From stunts as extreme as drilling a hole in his head to building a human postcard, this show embraces originality and imagination. Typically, The Mentalist's show is performed at the Planet Hollywood Theatre and runs just over an hour. This show is ideal for couples or families with teenagers.

PROS

  • High-stakes magic tricks are always a draw

  • Affordable tickets

  • Comfortable venue

CONS

  • Not suitable for young children

  • Tickets sell out fast

  • Some anticipation of "gore" is involved in some illusions

Where to Learn More


Check Website

Best For:

This show features some adult-oriented humor, and it is best for groups composed of adults and more mature teens 

Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show

Performance Style & Venue

The Nathan Burton Comedy show features beautiful showgirls, witty comedy routines, and fascinating illusions. Nathan Burton, a performer featured on E! Entertainment's "The Entertainer" and CBS, uses unusual and funny props along with stories from his personal childhood to create an eccentric and entertaining show.

They typically hold the performance in the Saxe Theater at Planet Hollywood. Ticket prices are relatively cheap for people looking for budget-friendly entertainment. Nathan Burton's Comedy Magic Show is one of the best magic shows in Vegas due to its unique approach and broad appeal.

PROS

  • Budget-friendly tickets

  • Comfortable venue

  • Family friendly, literate and fun performance

CONS

  • Tickets sell out fast, making planning in advance a necessity in most cases

Where to Learn More


Check Website

Best For:

This show is best for families and younger couples looking for budget-friendly, high-value entertainment.

The Verdict

Ultimately, our review team rated Paranormal Mind Reading Magic the finest single performance among the array of the best magic shows in Vegas. The performance is clever, and it features unusual tricks and illusions to entertain audiences. Mind reading is no easy task, and we think Frederick hosts a superb performance that has many audience members questioning how he can pull off his tricks. Through the use of hypnosis and other techniques, Frederick captivates his audiences with mystery leaving them asking "how did he know that?" 

Is he really reading your mind, or should he be working in the FBI? One of the many great things about this show is that it is kid-friendly, and all ages can enjoy it. If you are heading to Vegas, be sure to check out Paranormal Mind Reading Magic and get your fill of magic and enchantment from the many other outstanding entries on our list!

Stage Presence: How To Improve This Quality

Performance
man stage presence in front of the crowd

Performing magic is an act. The best magicians are the ones who can capture the audience’s attention and imagination at every turn. To be a good magician you need to be a good actor, and you need to have a commanding presence.

If good magic was just about performing the illusions, then anyone could do it. If all you had to do was follow some steps and pull a rabbit out of a hat, then you’d have no problem. You’d be famous! But it’s not being able to pull a rabbit out of a hat that counts, it’s the way you pull it out of the hat.

You’ve learned your tricks. You’ve spent time performing them for audiences. You’ve pounded the pavement, and you’re worked really hard, but you’ve reached a bit of a plateau. Major success seems to elude you, and you know the answer lies in improving your stage presence. Your magic is good and your skills are solid, now you need to take everything to the next level.

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5 Steps to Improve Your Stage Presence
1. Put Energy into Practicing
2. Watch Other Great Magicians Perform
3. Become a Master of Misdirection
4. Make Sure You’re Having Fun
5. Record and Watch Your Performances
Improve Your Stage Presence and Boost Your Career

5 Steps To Improve Your Stage Presence

Improving your stage presence will give you the edge that you need to take your act from a sideshow to a main event. It will help get you noticed, and it will give both your career and your ego a little boost. Here are 5 great tips on how to improve your stage presence and start booking those bigger gigs today.

1. Put Energy Into Practicing

man wearing white jacket

Source: (theascent.pub)

Ugh. You might have been hoping for a simpler answer, but the first and best way to improve your stage presence is to practice. You have to practice your magic until it becomes second nature. When you get to the point that you are no longer concentrating on the mechanics of a trick, you can spend more energy on wowing your audience. The more you practice, the more at home you will feel with your routine, and the more at home you feel with the audience.

Any kind of live performance is tough to do, but magic is especially hard because your audience is constantly trying to spot the trick. With theater and music audiences just sit back and enjoy the show, but with magic they often want to outsmart the magician. At every turn you’ll encounter audience members who are using their eagle eyes to spot your mistakes and undo the illusions you create.

That’s pretty nerve-wracking to be up against, but the best way to combat it, is to practice. Your audience can’t spot an error if you don’t make one, and they can’t pick apart your tricks if you move effortlessly from one to the next. They won’t have time to be critical because they’ll be too busy being astounded.

Practice also breeds confidence. Most people are quick to tell you that confidence is the way to improve your stage presence, but how do you get confidence? You get it through practice. Practice and confidence form a nice little circle. The better you are at something the more confident you feel and therefore the better you do. It just goes round and round.

Your practice can take many forms, but make sure that it’s something that constantly challenges you. Practicing at home is important. It’s a great way to memorize key points and keep your routine on track, but magic needs people.

Strangers make for a tough, if not impossible, crowd, so challenge yourself to approach strangers, maybe at a bar or a party, and perform a trick or two. You’ll likely encounter people who really aren’t into magic, and who might even be a bit standoffish. This is exactly the kind of crowd you want. If you can win them over, you get a nice little confidence boost.

2. Watch Other Great Magicians Perform

Man watching Tv

Source: (www.maxpixel.net)

When you’re trying to create your own persona it can be difficult to watch other great magicians perform. Sure, you want to be inspired by them, but you don’t want to simply imitate them.

You want to be your own magician, and so your natural impulse may be to close yourself off from other magicians. But you can in fact seek inspiration without succumbing to influence. You can learn from other magicians and still remain an individual.

So go to performances. Watch magicians live. Watch YouTube videos of magicians. Watch reruns of magic shows on television. Live and breathe magic. Watching other magicians perform will open up a world of possibilities to you.

Keep a notebook and jot down ideas constantly. Watch street magicians perform, and take some mental notes. Observe how they are able to capture the attention of their audience. Listen to the sounds of their voices. Take note of how commanding they appear. Watch how they approach people. Watch how they deal with skeptics, or even hecklers.

All of these things can help you improve your own performance. Inspiration is everywhere, and it can only help you.

3. Become A Master Of Misdirection

guy wearing a blue adidas hoodie while performing with a deck of cards

Source: (pxhere.com)

Mastering misdirection means that you are in control 100% of the time. You control where your audience is looking and what they are paying attention to. Without misdirection your act is less convincing, and you’ll wind up with audience members picking it apart.

Magic works because of misdirection, so it’s worth spending time perfecting it. The better your misdirection, the better your overall act.

Misdirection can take many forms, so you’ll need to find out which ones work best for you. If you’re funny then you might find that humor helps to distract your audience. Or maybe you use the audience members themselves. Interact with your audience. Talk to them. Call attention to them. These interactions will turn the focus away from you and allow you to perform more astounding feats.

4. Make Sure You’re Having Fun

Magician and his partner doing a majic trick

Source: (pixabay.com)

At first glance this sounds more trite than helpful, but think back to all those magicians that you’ve been watching. Though they may come from different backgrounds, practice different tricks, and employ different techniques, what do they all share in common?

They share a love of magic. You can tell they share this love of magic because they have fun performing it. Magic is supposed to be fun. To ensure that it is, you need to bring energy and charisma to the stage every time you perform.

If you’ve been practicing magic for a long time with limited success it can be easy to burnout on the trade. Unfortunately, when this happens, it shows up in your act. Think of when you encounter people out in the world who dislike their jobs. It shows, right? That means if you lose the fun of magic your audience can feel it.

So how do you ensure that you keep magic fun? Humor and energy are always helpful, but when all else fails, considering booking a few shows for kids. When magic seems old to you, try getting a little miniature magical motivation.

When you perform for kids and see the wonder and astonishment at the simplest of tricks, you just might be reminded of all the reasons you love it. You get the chance to experience magic in a way that is fresh, fun, and new, and it’s sure to give your act a little shot in the arm in the process.

5. Record And Watch Your Performances

Person infornt of a video recording

Source: (www.pexels.com)

Watching other magicians perform will give you lots of tips and inspiration, but to truly make improvements in your own act you need to see it for yourself. By recording and analyzing your performance you can give yourself a baseline to work from. You can see where effects fall flat or where the audience seems disengaged.

These are things that you might not catch while you are performing. When you’re on stage, or in front of a crowd, your attention is focused on doing your tricks well. It’s hard to be objectively critical of your performance in the moment, but watching recordings can give you the time and space to explore areas that need to be improved.

You’ll also get to put yourself in the position of an audience member. You see the tricks from a different perspective. Do you command the stage? Are you easy to hear? Do you look confident and in control? Are you smiling the whole time? Are you “on” the entire time? Take notes as you watch and be critical without being harsh. Remember to make note of all the good things that you do too.

Improve Your Stage Presence And Boost Your Career

Improving your stage presence takes lots of time and patience. There is no one method that will amplify your presence, boost your confidence, and transform you from average to extraordinary. To do all of those things you have to put in work, and you have to rely on trial and error. You have to get in front of people and pretend that you are the greatest magician there ever was, and one day, you just might wake up to find that it’s true.

How To Solve A Rubik’s Cube Instantly (As a Magic Trick)

Party Tricks, Penn & Teller, Performance, Revealed, Stage Magic, Tutorial

Solving a Rubik’s cube is no simple task. Solving a Rubik’s cube takes a good deal of patience and effort for most people. Have you ever tried to do it? According to FunTrivia.com, it takes an average of 48 to 100 tries to solve a Rubik’s cube. If done correctly, it can be solved in 17 turns. Knowing how to solve a rubik’s cube and do a few magic tricks can be a fun and impressive skill to show at a party. Some people have combined the two, for jaw-dropping entertainment.

History of the Rubik’s Cube

To completely understand how to solve a Rubik’s cube, you must know about its purpose and construction. In this section, I will provide you with a brief history of the Rubik’s cube. Believe it or not, it was never intended to be a toy. The Rubik’s cube was invented in 1974 by a Hungarian architect, Erno Rubik. What was its intended function? It was meant to serve as a three-dimensional model to explain geometric principles.

After designing this magic cube, he realized he could not solve it. As he moved the colored squares, he said: “It was a code I myself had invented! Yet, I could not read it.” Having nine colored squares on each side, the cube can be arranged in 43 quintillion ways (forty-three followed by eighteen zeros). It took him one month of rearranging the corners of each side to solve the puzzle. Since he was living in Hungary behind the Iron Curtain at that time, it took a few years for the puzzle to reach the market. In 1979, it was shown at the Nuremberg Toy Fair and spotted as a hit. In 1980 and 1981, it won Toy of the Year in the UK. By January 2009, it has sold more than 350 million copies, making it the greatest-selling toy of all time.

How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube

Have you experienced the frustration of holding a Rubik’s cube in your hands and being unable to solve it? Don’t worry too much about it. Whether you want to impress your friends with a fun party trick or close the chapter on that childhood curiosity, this guide will walk you through the simplest way to solve the puzzle.

An important thing to note when it comes to how to solve a Rubik’s cube is that it is not always easy. Sometimes, you may need to spend several hours attempting to solve it. However, if you would rather solve the cube in your hand than be able to solve any that are given to you, there are many informative articles and videos on the internet. The satisfaction of solving it is one of the best feelings. Are you interested?

Here is the first thing you need to know. There is an algorithm associated with how many turns are required to solve the cube. These turns can be represented by letters. The algorithms are combinations of moves that rotate pieces to get them where you want them. The puzzle has six sides (or faces) all of which can be turned individually – whether it be up or down, left or right, or front and back.

The common notation for these is U, D, L, R, F, and B. These faces can be turned in three different directions: U refers to turning the upper face clockwise, U’ is a counter-clockwise turn of the upper face, and U2 refers to half of a turning the upper face either direction. The apostrophe denotes a counterclockwise rotation for any of the notated movements. An advanced notion includes turns of the middle layers, double turns, and rotations. However, these won’t be needed in this guide. Now we will look at step one, the cross.

Step One: The Cross

Alright, here is the first step for how to solve a Rubik’s cube. This step can be confusing to understand at first. To gain a clear picture, you may need to read through and practice it several times. As you may have noticed from playing with the cube, the centerpieces cannot be moved, only rotated. While this may seem frustrating, you can use it to your advantage. Build the cross around the white sticker center. Many online guides start with this as the base, so even if you get confused during the process, you can look up demonstrations with a similar model online.

first step - how to solve a rubik's cube

The first step you need to accomplish is to get the white cross on top of the cube. Don’t worry about matching the centerpieces just yet. For now, focus on getting the white edges to the top layer. Next, flip the edges of the squares so that the white stickers are facing up and form a plus. Hold the cube so that the edges that need to be flipped are facing you. Then, use the algorithm: F, R, D, R, F2. This algorithm flips the edges so that the white parts face upwards. Do this for all of the edges until you have a white cross on top.

white cross on top - how to solve a rubik's cube

Next, you will need to orient your pieces. Look at the edges of the Rubik’s cube. Are none of the pieces matching? Perhaps two pieces are matching or maybe even all of them are. If your piece has all four edges matching the centers, you have solved the cross. If none of the edges are matching, perform a U move and then take another look at the cube. You want to have at least two edges matching. If none of the edges are matching, do another U move. Repeat this algorithm until you have either two or four edges that match the center.

umove - how to solve a rubik's cube

Step 2: The White Corners

Now that you have completed the edges of the white face, all that you have left are the corners. This step is much simpler than the first, as it only requires one algorithm to complete. Take a look at the bottom layer of the puzzle. You want to locate the white, orange, and green corner. Statistically speaking, there is a fifty percent chance you will find this on the bottom of the cube. Follow these steps depending on where you locate the white, orange, and green corner.

Here is What You Should Do if You Find it on the Bottom Layer: If the green, white, and orange corner are on the bottom layer of the puzzle, use the required D move until the cube looks as pictured below. The required algorithm is as follows: R, D, R, D.

whitecorner - how to solve a rubik's cube

Here is What You Should Do if You Find it on the Top:

If the green, white, and orange corners are on the top of the Rubik’s cube, turn the cube to face you until the colors look like this picture below. Then, perform the R, D, R, D algorithm as many times as needed. Repeat this process until you completely solve the top layer. Start with the corners on the bottom, as this might save you a couple of unnecessary turns.

finditonthetop - how to solve a rubik's cube

Middle Layer Edges:

Now, you are on to step three on how to solve a Rubik’s cube. Now that you are finished with all of the white pieces, you are ready to move on to flip your cube so it is all white on the bottom. Look for a piece on the top of the cube that is not yellow. Use a U move so that the color on the edge’s front face matches that of the center. It could go either left or right. Repeat this process for all four of the middle edges.

middlelayeredgesleft - how to solve a rubik's cube

Left

middlelayeredgesright - how to solve a rubik's cube

Right

Step 4 Yellow Cross:

You are now two-thirds of the way through the puzzle. Every piece left to be solved has yellow on it somewhere. Now, we are going to solve the edges of the top layer in two steps. The first of the two steps involves orienting all of the yellow pieces so that they are all facing up. The second step involves moving these pieces around and thus solving the puzzle. Are you ready?

Ignore the corners at first. Look at the edges only. Are they oriented correctly? Here are the possible edge positions that you can have:

yellowcross - how to solve a rubik's cube

Are your edges currently solved in a cross pattern the way that we began this process? If so, you can go on and skip this step. If not, listen carefully. Besides the cross shape, it is possible to have a dot, L-shape, or a line as pictured above. To speed up the process, perform the following algorithm: F, U, R, U’ R’, F’.

Now, you should have an L shape, where the two yellow pieces that are showing are adjacent to one another. Complete the necessary number of U and U’ shapes to achieve this picture. Then, perform the following algorithm: F, R, U, R’, U’, F’. The four edges should now be oriented correctly.

Step 5: Sune and Antisune

Don’t be off-put by the names. Sune and antisune are beloved by many puzzlers due to their simplicity. After you have oriented the edges, there are seven different corner positions available to you. Sune and antisune are two of these which we will discuss in a minute. This is what your Rubik’s cube should look like by step five.

Sune and antisune - how to solve a rubik's cube

How do you get to the spot where you only need to orient one more corner? Follow this algorithm: R, U, R’, U, R, U2, R’. When you get to this desired spot, there are two variations that can occur. They will look something like this:

how to solve a rubik's cube

This is sune and antisune:

Sune and antisune algorithm2 - how to solve a rubik's cube

The yellow front-facing corner can be in two positions. It can face either the front or the right. In the first image above, the yellow is facing the front. This means that you have a sune position. To solve sune, do the aforementioned algorithm one more time to solve the top layer The antisune position occurs when the right-facing corner appears as it does in the second picture illustrated above.

Step 6: Finish the Rubik’s Cube

We are almost there! Hang on. Step six is the last part to solve the cube. While there are twenty-one cases for the top layer, we only need a few algorithms to figure them out and get it all sorted. First, we want to locate the headlights. The term ‘headlights’ refers to two corners that have the same color on one side. There are only two cases without headlights. For the case without headlights, perform the following algorithm from any angle: R’, F, R’, B2, R, F’, R’, B2, R2. At this point, you should have either finished the Rubik’s cube or a pair of headlights on every side of the puzzle.

After you performed the above algorithm in step six, there are five possible positions that your cube can be in now. Perform the necessary amount of U moves to ensure that each corner is in its right place. Do you have a completely solved bar? If so, perform the following algorithm and make sure that the bar is at the back: R, U’, R, U, R, U, R, U’, R’, U’, R2. If your cube is still unsolved, perform the above algorithm one more time, keeping the completed bar at the back of the cube. If you do not have a solved bar, you can perform this algorithm from any angle that you would like to. This will give you a solved bar and then you can do the algorithm one more time in order to complete the puzzle. Congratulations, you have completed the cube!

Magicians and a Sleight of Hand

A few days ago, we were watching Penn and Teller’s hit TV show, Fool Us. On this show, magicians are given the challenge to trick two of the greatest minds in magic, Penn and Teller. A magician named Steven Brundage performed a magic trick using a Rubik’s Cube that blew away the audience and fooled two of the greatest minds in magic. You might be wondering ‘How is a Rubik’s Cube used in magic?’ The classic Rubik’s Cube magic trick is to solve it instantly… faster than humanly possible. The magician literally throws the toy (randomly mixed) into the air and by the time he catches it, it’s solved.

This is what it looks like:

Believe it or not, this is actually one of the simpler magic tricks to accomplish. The action involves the magician first taking a scrambled cube and showing it to the audience. Then, he attempts to solve it before throwing it up in the air. When he catches it, the Rubik’s cube is solved. So how is this trick done? There are actually a few ways to perform this magic trick.

How exactly did he do it? We’ve done our research and there are several common ways that a magician solves a Rubik’s cube instantly. We’ve broken them down in the sections below. Read through each of the possible methods and see if you can identify which one he used. We have to say that we are particularly impressed with Steven Brundage. Even after some heavy duty research, we’re still not exactly sure how he pulled it off. See if you can figure it out.

classic rubiks cube magic trick

As you can see, it’s solved instantly.

Here’s the full performance:

The Classic Rubik’s Cube trick revealed

Here’s the tutorial on how the basic trick works.

How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube with Magic Instantly Explained:

Method 1:

The first one involves using a fake Rubik’s cube. When it is solved, one of the sides appears to be scrambled. This is not possible to do on a normal Rubik’s cube. By carrying out six simple moves on the cube, the cube appears to be completely scrambled. Using this cube, you can show the audience all sides. Then, hold the scrambled side facing the audience and undo the six moves you previously did, pretending to solve it. With a slight sleight of hand, the audience will believe they have seen all of the sides.

Method 2:

The next most common magic trick involves taking a mixed up Rubik’s cube, showing it to the audience, and then putting it inside of a paper bag. After the cube is taken out of the bag, it is solved. How can this be? Popular opinion is that this trick is a gimmick. In every performance with this trick, the paper bag is immediately thrown away without the audience being able to get a second look at it.

Method 3:

This is the most likely speculation for how Brundage could have pulled off the magic trick. In his live performance, he scrambles his own Rubik’s cube while speaking to the crowd, leaving the selected one untouched. Brundage then asks Teller to hold the cube in his hands. When he opens his hands, the cube matches the one that Brundage had scrambled. Brundage performed a set of moves on one cube and then repeats it on the scrambled cube while talking to the audience later on. While this sounds highly plausible, there is one thing wrong with this method. The theory would not work unless Brundage already knew which cube Teller would choose from the two that were scrambled. It is highly likely he had a plan for both cubes but we cannot know for sure.

Now that you know each of the magician’s methods used to solve a Rubik’s cube, let’s go back and watch Steven Brundage perform one more time. As you can see, it’s solved instantly. What an amazing sleight of hand! If you look at it over and over, you can see that he actually makes 4 moves. Did you catch it? Watch carefully. It’s extremely quick.

The Classic Rubik’s Cube trick is revealed:

Here’s the tutorial on how the basic trick works. As you can see, it’s a gimmick cube. That’s the classic way that the trick is done. However, Steven does not use a gimmick cube for his routine. He could perform that trick with any Rubik’s Cube according to his interviews. Steven states that there was no switching going on. That means: There weren’t extra trick cubes hiding behind the table that he was switching around. He states: “With all the being said… Yes, I am extremely good with Rubik’s Cubes.”

The classic Rubik’s Cube technique makes a lot of sense. He does say in his interview that if he were to use trick cubes, every one of his tricks would look identical as they did when he wasn’t. But even as he points out these subtle hints, it’s impossible to tell just how he performed this trick without a gimmick cube. Thanks to PerryThePly, a reader of Rebel Magic for sending in this update! He’s found something that gets us closer to understanding how this trick is done.

Thanks to PerryThePly, a reader of Rebel Magic for sending in this update!

He’s found something that gets us closer to understanding how this trick is done.

See also:

How To Hypnotize Someone (Powerful Techniques)

Easy Magic Tricks You Can Learn Today

How to Do The Double Lift