Tutorial

Fist Squeeze Coin Vanish Trick Tutorial

Coin Tricks, Party Tricks, Revealed, Tutorial

Do you want to learn about easy coin tricks that make you look like you have superhuman strength? Take advantage of this opportunity and add another magic act to your repertoire of tricks. This is a bit more difficult to learn than card tricks and is an excellent example of close-up magic. Those searching for some great magic tricks for kids will be happy to know that the coin vanishing trick is suitable for all ages, little ones included.

You’ve probably seen this coin master hack before. It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book. The magician takes a coin in his fist. Closing his fist, he squeezes hard. After 5-10 seconds, he opens his hands back up and the coin is gone.

What is Coin Magic?

Coin magic involves the manipulation of a coin in front of a single spectator or small audience. Since most coins are small, magic coin tricks fall into the category of close-up magic or table magic. Stage magicians generally do not perform this type of magic. Should they choose to, they will use a large screen projector so that the audience can get a good view of the trick.

As we mentioned earlier, coin magic is more difficult to learn than card magic tricks. It not only requires a great deal of practice but also some serious skill to hone. There are very many different types of coin tricks. Some examples include productions, vanishing, teleportations, penetrations, levitation, and mental magic. In this article, we will focus on one of the best vanishing coin tricks.

Simple effects could be as simple as borrowing a coin, making it vanish, concealing it, and then returning it. More complex acts may involve multiple coins and other objects or props (e.g. a handkerchief, a piece of paper, a glass cup, etc.). The key to most coin magic lies in how small and portable the object is. You will be surprised at what a basic sleight of hand can do. An audience is often amazed by the simplest mystery.

Coin Magic Performances

Some coin magic uses gimmicks (e.g. modified coins or trick coins). While this may sound a bit disappointing to those learning magic, you should know that these objects are not entirely responsible for creating the magical effect. If you would like to purchase one, several prominent manufacturers create gimmick coins. Tango Magic, Sasco, Johnson, and Sterling are a few of these brands.

Keep in mind that performers who rely entirely on special equipment are not as impressive to the audience. While it does take a lot of practice, coin acts are fairly easy magic tricks. Most spectators are more impressed by an effect that depends on sleight of hand and misdirection rather than a set that is entirely made of props. Nonetheless, a person who has learned simple magic tricks can use gimmicks without it being obvious to the audience. Most well-known magicians started by learning simple tricks with a coin and a deck of cards.

So How Does the Coin Vanish?

Most people brush it off as either a gimmick coin of some kind or some really advanced sleight of hand that they probably couldn’t do anyway. When you see how it’s actually done, you’ll see that just about anybody can do this trick. In addition to the video below, we will give you all the tips and tricks on how to perform the coin vanish act. You will be a coin master before you know it!

What You Will Need to Learn Coin Magic Tricks

Yes, the coin vanish is kind of a gimmick trick. You need to do some preparation beforehand in order to pull it off. There are a few ways to do the trick. You can choose to do the coin vanish trick by making it stick to your hand (as explained below) or by hiding the coin between your thumb and index finger. We will explain how to do the trick using both methods, but first, here’s what you’ll need for each method:

For method one, you’ll need:

  1. Chapstick or a regular glue stick
  2. A coin – preferably a quarter

For method two, you literally just need the coin. And that’s it!

How to Do Magic Tricks with a Coin

Here’s How Method One Works

First, you’ll need to apply the chapstick or glue stick to the back of your hand. Choose whichever hand you’re going to pretend to squeeze the coin in. You’ll need to apply quite a bit of it – enough to make a coin stick to it and not fall off. Here’s the big secret: The coin isn’t even in the fist when the magician squeezes on it. He moves it to the back of his fist (which is out of sight from the spectators) and then squeezes it there.

vanishing coin tricks

Watch the video below to see how you get it to the back without being caught by spectators.

Here’s How Method Two Works

Place the quarter in your hand, positioning it so it rests near your middle finger, close to your palm. This is an ideal place to put it because you can easily keep the quarter in place with your thumb in this position. Next, hold out both of your hands to the audience to show the quarter in one hand and the other hand empty. Make sure you are talking to the audience to distract them. Explain that the magic is in your hands, not the quarter.

Now, it is time to make the coin disappear. It will take a lot of practice to make it look smooth and effortless. Bring your empty hand under the hand holding the quarter. Move your empty hand in and act like you are dropping the quarter into it. While the audience thinks that the coin has transferred hands, you will actually keep the quarter in the original hand and hold it in place with your thumb.

As you act like you are changing hands with the quarter, make a loose fist with your empty hand as if you are about to catch the quarter. Move your hands apart from one another after you have ‘transferred’ the quarter. To keep the focus on your hand (which is actually empty), bring it up higher near your face and slip your original hand (holding the quarter) down by your side and put it away.

Show that the quarter has vanished. To show off the vanishing act, there are a number of flourishes that you can do. Tap your knuckles with a magic wand, squeeze your fist tightly, or blow into your hand and then reveal the coin is gone. This is one of the most fun coin tricks for beginners.

Does Anyone Know the Coin Trick Revolution?

A number of performers who learn the coin trick vanish also have an active interest in the coin trick revolution. Have you heard of this magic act before? Practicing this trick will put you well on your way to becoming a good magician. Here’s how to do it:

To start, stand at a slight angle facing the audience with the hand with the coin close to your pocket. You want to make sure that it is unnoticeable.

As you pick up the coin with your fingers covering it, bring the coin between your index finger and thumb. Then, let the coin casually slip into your pocket. Bring your hand up with your index finger and thumb in the same position. Pretend to clutch the make-believe coin in the palm of your hand. Then, open your hands to reveal that the coin has disappeared. You can find a video showing the act here.

When to Perform Coin Magic Tricks

Since the trick utilizes angles (ex. you can see the coin from behind or even side angles), it’s best when you have the full audience directly in front of you. Also, you will want to perform this carefully. It requires an audience with kind manners. You don’t want to do this for your friends and have them smack your hands right after you’re done. If performed right, it looks absolutely amazing. The glue/chapstick is kind of a turn-off for more advanced magicians, but the effect is spectacular.

Practice and Prepare to Wow the Crowd

That’s it – these are the coin magic tricks revealed! There is a great amount of fun to be had in performing tricks with coins or a money note. Due to their size and portability, both of them are a great choice for performing the vanishing object magic tricks. For anyone who wants to learn magic tricks, this is a great place to start. One of the best tips that we can give aspiring magicians is to practice their act a lot before they take it in front of an audience. There are plenty of great online information resources, blogs, informative videos, and books that can help you along your journey. Have patience, take your time, and you will get there.

See also: 

How to Do The Double Lift

Easy Magic Tricks You Can Learn Today

How To Hypnotize Someone (Powerful Techniques)

How To (correctly) Guess Someone’s Age EVERY TIME

Party Tricks, Revealed, Stage Magic, Tutorial

Everyone has tried to guess someone’s age before. But if you’re a magician and you’re in a show, guessing someone’s age incorrectly will discredit your skills in front of your audience. If, however, you memorize this math-based trick, you will actually be able to tell anyone their age. All you need for this age guesser trick is a calculator.

To help people see your calculator, try to get one with big buttons and a big screen. That’s really for their benefit, not yours! You might even decide to show the calculator through a projector screen if you’re performing this in front of a large crowd.

How It Works: Methods to Guess Someone’s Age Correctly

There are many ways you can perform the ‘guess her age’ challenge. The secret is that you are not guessing at all. In this article, we will go over a few methods, including the famous math-based trick. To the participant, it appears that you are performing a magic trick. But all you need to do is memorize these instructions and practice. The math is proven to work every time. Make sure to give clear instructions so you can get their birth month and year (without them realizing, of course).

1. Guess Someone’s Age Using a Selected Number

The first way to perform the age guess magic trick is through deduction with a selected number. You can perform this trick with a friend or stranger. Ask the participant to choose a number between one and ten. Once they have a number in mind, have them announce it. Let’s say they chose the number 7. Pause to tell them that you’re sorry, and you didn’t realize the math might be too hard for them, so you’ll get them a calculator.

Multiply the number they have chosen by two (e.g. 7 x 2 = 14). You can choose to do this math by hand or have a friend use a calculator to do the rest of the trick. Tell them that they must push the equals button on the calculator for every instruction you give.

Second, walk them through selecting their number and multiplying it by two again on the calculator. This is a great opportunity to build some humor into the act. Continue this humor by asking them to get ready for some big math before telling them to add 5 to their current value (14 + 5 = 19).

Then, move into the big math. Ask them to multiply the current number by 50 (19 x 50 = 950). Ask the participant if they have already celebrated their birthday this year. Did their birthday pass already? If so, you will add 1,769 to the prior result (e.g. 950 + 1,769 = 2,719). If not, then add 1,768 to the prior result (e.g. 950 + 1,768 = 2,718).

This number changes yearly, so here is a chart to reference:

2019: +1768 or +1769

2020: +1769 or +1770

2021: +1770 or +1771

2022: +1771 or +1772

After they add this number in, tell them not to say it out loud, but to subtract their birth year. Then, say “That’s it!” They’ll be confused because they will have a three-digit number far too large to be their age. You can act confused as well, and take the calculator from them.

Have them subtract the year they were born from these numbers without you looking (e.g. 2,718 – 1989 = 729). Look at the final answer. The first digit in place will be the original chosen number from the participant. The last two numbers will be the person’s age. So, the participant here would be 29 years old.

Put on a show sharing this information with the audience, and you’ve successfully guessed both their age and the number they chose at the start of the trick without hurting any feelings. At the end of it, people will think you are a mind reader. All it took was some simple math!

2. Guess Someone’s Age Using a Calculator

The second way to perform the age guessing game is by using a calculator. While the participant may need a calculator to perform the first act, this method is quite different. Start by asking the participant to multiply the first digit of their age by five. Let’s say that they are twenty years old (e.g. 2 x 5 = 10). Now, tell them to add three (e.g. 10 + 3 = 13). Have them double the resulting number (e.g. 13 x 2 = 26).

Now, have them add the second digit of their age to the resulting number (e.g. 26 + 0 = 26). Tell them to subtract six. This will be their current age (e.g. 26 – 6 = 20).

3. Guess Someone’s Birth Month and Date with a Calculator

Did you know that you can also use a calculator to deduce someone’s date and month of birth? This is a fun way to take the let’s ‘guess your age’ magic trick up a notch.

Start by entering the number seven in the calculator. Then, have the participant multiply the number seven by their birth month. Let’s say their birth month is May (e.g. 7 x 5 = 35). Remember not to look at the calculator. You don’t want the person (or audience) to think that you are cheating.

Now, subtract one from that number (e.g. 35 – 1 = 34). Multiply the resulting number by thirteen (e.g. 34 x 13 = 442). Have them add the day of their birth (e.g. 442 + 28 = 470) and then add three (470 + 3 = 437). Multiply the new number by eleven (437 x 11 = 5,203). Subtract the month of their birth (5,203 – 5 = 5,198).

Now, subtract the day of their birth (5,198 – 28 = 5,170) and divide by ten (5,170 / 10 = 517). Add eleven (517 + 11 = 528). Divide by 100 (528b / 100 = 5.28). The first digit before the decimal is their birth month (5 = May). The two digits after the decimal point is their birth day (28 = birth day).

Have you Heard About the Artificial Intelligence Age Guesser?

Nowadays, the sophistication of technology is moving at a surprisingly rapid rate. You may have heard that a few years ago, Amazon and Microsoft both released an artificial intelligence picture age guesser. You choose to either upload a picture of yourself or take a selfie. The device scans your photo and through face detection, assesses your age. We wondered how accurate the age guesser is. So naturally, we had to try it out for ourselves.

After reading multiple reviews and experimenting with the software ourselves, we did not find it to be accurate. The software will make different estimates for your age based upon nuances like your facial expression and the angle from which the photo was taken. For magicians, we would stick with the math-based age guesser tricks to accurately gauge someone’s age. Don’t try to take a shortcut and use image software first.

Brush Up on Your Math Skills and Memorize these Formulas

We get that math is not everyone’s strong suit. That is why we are so excited to share these formulas. All you need to do is practice and use a standard calculator to perform this age guessing trick accurately. Make sure to memorize the formulas before you try it out on a stranger or perform in front of a small audience. With repetition and dedication, you are on your way to becoming a good magician.

Watch it in action!

Watch the same magic trick you learned above, and see how it works on you!

Mind Power: A Magician’s Ultimate Guide To Mastering Mind Tricks

Tutorial

For the budding magician, developing your skills to a high level of competency is paramount to becoming one of the best in your field.

Wowing onlookers with a knowledge of tricks and abilities is one thing - but learning how to develop an all-around knowledge of magical arts is entirely different.

Below, you can find our entire guide to mind power, something that will significantly enhance your magic.

A History of Mind Power

how mind power works in two people's brains

The more popular idea of what Mentalism is came together sometime in the latter mid-point of the 19th century, about a decade after the Spiritualist movement was popularized in America.

Magicians began looking at ways of cashing in on this specific trend.

From this point on, we can see evidence of the earliest magic shows. They were probably replicating what hustlers had been already performing on the streets, and then decided to sell it as a show.

There were two kinds of characters that emerged at this point.

The first of these two were either single individuals, or a couple that made their living as show people, and provided a night of mind-bending, wondrous feats.

Some of them would incorporate Message Bearing style acts, in which the main act, or their onstage partner would channel answers to questions posed by audience members. This was done in a fashion very similar to what we have seen by many present-day psychics on television – think personalities such as John Edward and Sylvia Brown.

There were also other popular demonstrations using a variety of other impressive feats, with acts employing Clairvoyance, Telepathy, Hypnotism, and trickery involving Master Mind style acts (mnemonic mind, human calculator, lie detector, and so forth).

Alternatively, other acts demonstrated performances using similar methods, but centered on less of a showy approach. These acts catered more to the ‘Shut Eye’ side of the spectrum, as well as the Lecture Circuit. The Lecture Circuit was a type of performance in which demonstrations were carried out with an emphasis on creating an air of authenticity.

The latter of these two styles is still an extremely popular mode of operation, apparent in the business savvy of the late Robert Nelson as well as others of the same generation.

However, it must be noted that not every Lecturer into magic took on this perspective – many of them moving towards the route of Research and Psychology into human behavior instead.

Abilities, Traits & Schools of Thought

a photo of a school in sepia mode

As we go deeper into our analysis of mind power, it would be wrong to forget just how much Mentalism has in common with real Psychic Development.

For those not in the know, maturing these skills hinges on the ability to improve one’s awareness and recall constantly.

Aside from this progression, a commonly-known aspect of development is gaining the required knowledge about the psychic forum - a dedication to learning what the different psychic abilities are, as well as having an understanding of the more analytical perspectives, including NeuroLinguistics and the nuances of Body Language.

Mind power is dependent upon believability, and the ways in which our claims can be validated.

The most useful method of validation comes from our integration of already existing information. This is the kind of information can be found via Google or other convenient means, and therefore is a prime candidate for our audiences to search for either before or during a live show.

Those that choose to take the more analytical road (such as NLP) truly owe it themselves, their craft and their audience to have a comprehensive idea of what they’re talking about.

This is because access to such insights is far too easy to get a hold of these days. Secondly, we are living in a time where the public is more educated than ever before in the course of human history.

Schools of Thought

As we said earlier, there are two main schools of thought to consider when it concerns mind power.

The older version of this discipline is actually an art form wherein the performer toes the line between theatre and making use of an angle that framed them as being an imposter.

However, the primary difference here is that they were not hustling individuals and taking them for all that they’re worth – as a conman would have

There are several gurus that thrive off of people's worship. Using instances such as someone’s watch stopping, for example, can be the impetus for our demonstration of our latent abilities (i.e. ‘our psychic power caused it’).  

Whenever we perform, we act out everything as being authentic, instilling our practices with our own sense of wonder and belief, while bringing audiences into the fold in an immersive fashion. This enables them to feel closer to us, becoming a part of the encounter – thus investing themselves in our act.

The majority of Old School magicians still carry out Private Readings and Home PSI Parties.

Contrary to the belief of many, however, it is not because they can’t get work within the realms of showbiz, but more -  a case of preference. This can span a multitude of different reasons, ranging from having beliefs or ideals misaligned with commercial magic, to not wanting to participate in the chaotic world of show business (not to mention the politics involved).

The brand-new School of Mentalism may be seen as two completely different things.

On one hand, there are showmen that display a distinctive feeling of savvy, providing high-energy performances mainly composed of Mental Magic due to its wide-ranging appeal.

Of course, proponents of this style are very much business-minded, bringing fun, enjoyable, and beguiling action front and center. Its other advantage is that it's a system folks feel safe with.

Alternatively, we have the more novel acts that spawned out of the late 1990's tidal wave started by those such as David Blaine. Looking at what he and his contemporaries actually bought to the art, we can see that it is comprised of a significant amount of Bizarre Magick, meshed together with conventional magic and a touch of Mentalism.

Derren Brown is a lot more focused on the Mentalism side, while Blaine has integrated facets of literal yogi plus shamanic rites as a part of his persona, which results in an expression of mysticism that ties in particularly well to New Age ideology.

Criss Angel’s developed a character more comparable to the rock-n-roll bad boy, often considered a safe expression of cultural taboos – prime for promotors striving to find a hook that grabs the public's interest.

Criss already had the foundations of that hook, he simply needed the pros to help him round it out and exploit it.

Abilities

This is very much the question many ask about mind power on many forums. It’s quite apparent (and unsurprising) that this art has found so many willing to take up its disciplines.

  • Cold Reading

magician doing cold reading

This technique is a necessity. As mentioned before, the thing the public desires the most is the magician taking time to speak about them.

Despite what many assume, the idea of Reading People differs substantially when done on stage as a part of a Q&A or back and forth interaction compared to a one-on-one encounter.

The 3 foundation books that we suggest you purchase learn cold reading are, conveniently, all by the same author. These are: Cold Reading for Magicians, Psychometry from A-Z, and You Are a Rainbow - all by Richard Webster.

Another notable practitioner of Cold Reading is Herb Dewey, whose material deals with Private Reading methods, however, his approach is more suitable for intermediate to advance learners.

The same goes with the majority of Gene Nelson's and Ron Martin's work. Those interested in improving their tableside reading skills should purchase The Tarot Reader's Notebook (by Martin) and The Palm Readers Notebook.

Both of these are full of practical viewpoints, however, the Tarot Reader's Notebook will give you insight into how old school mentalism works when considering Readings. It’s often considered one of the most important pieces of work associated with this skill set and the old method of doing things.

  • Muscle Reading/Ideomotor Skills

book titled "Psychological Thought Reading"

These are largely ignored by a lot of people looking to develop their skills, despite them being among the most adaptable and powerful abilities available to us.

Practitioners looking to get into this should invest in Psychophysiological Thought Reading by Banachek, and Telepathy by Erik Jan Hanussen.

It’s also advised to do some footwork regarding the use of Pendulums and Dowsing strategies, Table Tipping and dealing with Séance type devices such as the Planchette or the OUIJA board. Many of these items are actually tied to Ideomotor activity as well as subconscious impulse.

While Derren Brown is often acknowledged as the very first entertainer to make use of Muscle Reading, it’s highly likely that this method has a significantly longer history, given instances about it being used in legend.

While skeptics make an effort to negate its validity, Dowsing is still a constant in civilian and military engineering operations, and boasts a range of useful applications, such as the detection of land mines.

Magic legend Channing Pollock is believed to have located large quantities of Oil for petroleum tycoon J.P. Getty by means of dowsing. This was achieved using only a map and a pendulum.

  • Mnemonics

a man whispering to a woman's ear

For many, there has long been a problem with this particular method of work. Developing a strong sense of recall is very important.

Useful texts to study in this are The Memory Book by Harry Loraine & Jerry Lucas, a book still cited as among the leading methods for memory improvement.

Various Types of Reading

a person's brain in neon colors

There are certain observational skill sets, like lip reading and sound reading that are useful for the modern mentalist. When it comes to delving into the nuances of real Lip Reading, The Eyes Can Listen Too has a number of useful strategies.

Unfortunately, skills for instance like sound & pencil reading are going to require a great deal of observation.

The strategy is formulated in very much the exact same way a lot of people use to learn Muscle Reading. Setting up experiments in order to practice this skill is great way to do so; the act in question will often hinge on making sure you have a suitable out - an alternate approach which can be employed in the event you end up uncertain.

Your aim however, is to guess based on stimuli around you, based off of sight or sound, coupled with what your gut tells you.

We highlight the idea of trusting your gut feeling, because when we think things over too much, we are likely to complicate the situation by being rational to a fault - when in fact, impulse is much more precise in this particular type of situation.

Don’t worry if you don’t quite hit your mark either – this is completely fine, and you are merely experimenting to find out what exactly is possible.

You are often able to rebound by reframing the parameters of the experiment and making use of your contingency strategy.

Whilst this might seem strange, adhering to our own methods and habits of thinking is probably the quickest way of weakening both of these abilities.

If you break down Mentalism like you may do any other trick, you can't quite apply the appropriate amount of critical thought necessary to discerning ‘what is,’ and ‘what isn’t.’ We can become affixed to the concept instead of the effect it has.

  • Suggestion/Hypnosis

a cartoon of a man doing hypnosis

This wasn’t one of the musts on the conventional list of rudimentary techniques - but seeing as many early year Mentalists have employed these skills - having a basic understanding of them seems appropriate.

  • Forces

a person's hands with stars

This is actually a rather large and in-depth area of study - there are a plethora of strategies one can include when setting up a scenario.

The great thing about Forcing Techniques and knowing many of them is that they allow you a considerable set of benefits when asked to perform a demonstration; you are obligated to try something out.

As for Forces, it’s ideal to a minimum of six strong, changeable variations to hand (however playing card forces don't count in this instance – they are simply far too easy; step from the deck and work with alternative arrangements).

When looking for great resources on this topic, check out Annemann's 202 Strategies of Forcing, in addition to the earlier mentioned Banachek material.

Ultimate Mind Power Guide

As you can see, there are a huge amount of techniques that are to be adapted for the modern Mentalist. Learning these in full is without a doubt the best way to develop skills in the magical arena and become the best magician one can hope to be.

The resources listed within this article are provided to create a detailed network of learning materials that can bring even a complete novice into the fold with relative ease.

Following this article, going forwards and taking action is something of great importance, and is undermined greatly, despite its obvious advantages in the face of progress.

Learning constantly, is, of course, paramount - but enacting any newly gathered information is just as important, as without appropriate action, education holds no weight.

Spotlight: The Magic of Daniel Madison

Learn Magic, Tutorial

Born in England, Daniel Madison is a world-famous illusionist who won his fame through his sleight of hand mastery.

This talent also awarded him president status of the underground magician crew; Magic is Dead, based in the UK.

Daniel Madison: Pros & Cons

PROS

  • High-quality and entertaining videos
  • Incredible learning tools
  • Affordable price

CONS

  • Not for beginners
  • Most tricks requires intermediate skills to perform

Daniel has shown his technique on Penn & Teller: Fool us as well as online platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. You can watch the video from Penn and Teller here.

Before he got into magic, he was banned from casinos for card counting to cheat at blackjack, leaving only backroom poker games for his skills and attention. He was hired later on as an employee to help catch other card counters for casinos.

After six months as a card cheater, his sleight of hand technique was exposed, resulting in a hospital visit and ending his poker cheating life for once and for all.

After the magic circle rejected his debut lecture notes, Daniel decided to hold a private lecture in 2005 at a convention for an invite-only audience.

It was the success Daniel needed to launch him into the underground world of the industry as a well-recognized artist.

Early Years of Daniel Madison

Daniel has had a rough past, but one that has sent him towards his successful career in magic.

A card cheat influenced Daniel at an early age who introduced him to various sleights and con-techniques.

He spent years developing a range of deceptions from memory training to sleight of hand. Once he took his skills to the casinos, he was quickly caught from casinos and they banned him for life. This led him to play backroom poker games where he was able to make a living for a short while.

Soon after, he was exposed to cheating a game through specific techniques which, as mentioned earlier, landed him in a hospital and a wheelchair for six months.

Through his recovery in his wheelchair, he said that magic found him, leaving the rest to history.

He has been performing since 2001 when he had his first magical performance which helped him decide to continue with magic.

Facts About Daniel Madison

What makes Daniel Madison special?

Well, besides his hard past and fight to the top of the magician industry, his way of looking at the magician community and what it means, truly makes him stand out from the crowd.

How do we mean?

Here’s a list of interesting facts we’ve sniffed out to give you a better idea of who Daniel Madison is:

  • His favorite effect to perform is RIP or anything that includes a vanishing deck, while his favorite effect to watch is Smoke by Derren Brown. As he says, it’s, “Magic at its finest.”
  • Despite this being his favorite trick, his favorite performer to watch is David Blaine due to his showmanship. As Daniel Madison says, he takes simple ideas in magic and inflates them with character, which made the effects seem amazing and real. David truly has a way of freaking people out.
  • Daniel believes that magic is an art form, and what he thinks is wrong with the magic industry today is a magician’s desire to fool people into thinking that it’s not. Instead, Daniel believes that some magicians are more interested in getting props and effects from magic stores. However, it takes more than performing a specific impact to call yourself an artist.
  • Daniel believes that magic would have a better name for itself if magicians had more respect for the art of magic.

Daniel epitomizes the “underground magician” with a modern twist. He’s a fighter and a believer of genuine growth in the illusionist community.

David Madison’s Tricks and Packages

So you admire David Madison’s style and abilities, his incredible sleight of hand techniques and mathematical mind.

Good news: he has some educational and entertaining material for you.

If you check the forward-thinking and modern magician hub, Theory 11, you’ll find tons of downloadable material to learn from.

It includes some of David Madison’s favorite personalized tricks that have given him his fame and status in the magic world.

Which one is your favorite?

Glitch

In the midst of flicking a playing card it magically and automatically changes.

GLITCH serves as a mesmerizing new color change trick that was inspired by Dave Buck, Dan Buck, and Ed Marlo.

It is the type of practical color change you can learn and use in every performance you have.

Learn every part of this sleight of hand card trick, down to every detail to perfect it. This how-to video contains 10 minutes of high definition, comprehensive instruction from one of the most talented magicians in the business.

Check out the tutorial here.

Blind

This trick starts off with two different colored decks. You as the magician ask a spectator to choose whatever card they like and put it on top of the pack of cards. As soon as they do, you do the same.

Somehow, both cards match.

The spectator’s free choice leads the audience and spectator to one conclusion: true magic.

BLIND has a modern twist to an age-old card plot with absolutely impossible conditions:

No doubles, no duplicates, no explanation.

You can learn the whole effect today, on top of extra tips and the psychology that enables this trick to work perfectly.

This is all explained in detail for 10 minutes on high definition video.

Just you, Daniel and some awesome tricks.

Breach

In this trick, any playing card is chosen and placed on top of the deck, face up.

The deck is put beneath a glass tabletop or surface and is penetrating up through the glass visually.

Suddenly, it melts back through the glass table again.

BREACH is an amazing card visual that occurs with little cover, using any glass surface you want. This is magic at its finest.

Learn about the details, subtleties, nuances, and variations in just over five minutes. Smooth, detailed and high definition.

Crunk

In this specialized trick, any playing card is selected freely, then put back into the deck after the individual remembers it.

The magician produces two aces together.

While holding the edges of the two ace cards, the magician pulls them out slowly to reveal the aces have caught a playing card: the original selection.

By watching almost 10 minutes of high definition instructions, you’ll be able to learn this amazing card trick with all the details and nuances.

Check it out here!

In Flight

This card trick is fast and fairly simple for a pop-out flourish.

Any card is selected and gets thrown into the air, lands into your hand in one slick motion. You can learn this definite crowd pleaser in three minutes of high definition instruction. It covers everything you need to know in a concise and digestible manner.

Check out the video here.

Asybil

This is a classic trick turned modern and a signature card performance by Daniel Madison.

By cutting a regular deck of cards into many packets, you immediately produce any four of a kind.

If you have a basic understanding of cardistry, you can learn an amazing production right now.

ASYBIL is Daniel Madison’s version of Sybil Cut, a classic flourish.

You need to know a basic understanding of the cut to learn this production.

Learn everything you need to know about this cut in only five minutes of high-quality training by one of the most sought-after magicians of our time.

Rebel

It is a new cardistry sequence used to begin a flourish you’ve already mastered. It can also be used as the basis for a while new creation of your own.

Daniel Madison displays a unique skill that will amaze any crowd or audience.

In only five minutes, you can learn all the details and tricks involved in this flourish through precise expert training in high-definition video.

Dangerous 2-Disc Set

This is a two-disc set that trains viewers to master the work of the underground magician and cardist, Daniel Madison.

Volume 1, Mystique is all about Daniel’s magic, while Volume 2, Motion, includes his signature creations in cardistry.

The magic in this training video is direct and visual, and the instruction is comprehensive and high-quality.

Each trick is presented in great detail with vocal instruction paired with on-screen text, many camera angles and other tips from Daniel himself.

You’ll learn the psychology of the magic, hand positioning and everything you need to know to make the tricks your own.

In MYSTIQUE: Volume 1 you’ll find 11 practical magic tricks that you can try in any situation — totally independent of location and props.

After watching this DVD, you’ll be able to learn Daniel Madison’s tricks such as:

  • Aces
  • Bad Influence
  • Angle Zero
  • Color
  • Catch
  • Heritage 
  • Lapse and many more 

It also includes more shots filmed in the UK.

In MOTION: Volume 2, you’ll find 21 cardistry moves that will gain attention and admiration from any crowd or situation.

Through these lessons, you’ll be able to learn variously specialized flourishes such as

  • Sleepless
  • Downfall
  • 4sybil
  • Aries
  • Lethal
  • Lethal X
  • Mayhem and many more

All cardistry moves are taught in Daniel’s classic style. Check it out here.

Cardistry By Daniel Madison

Cardistry is where Daniel Madison thrives.

When he has a deck of cards in his hands, incredible things happen.

This collection is comprised of 13 of the amazing tricks Daniel Madison achieves, his journey and his skills on camera for you to watch, be amazed by and learn from.

Check out prices, purchasing methods and the list of cardistry tricks you’ll learn through this collection at The Ellusionist.

Daniel Madison Product Pricing 

For the quality of material Daniel Madison provides through the technical and professional videoing support of Theory 11, these prices are very fair.

Remember, Daniel is giving you an all-access peek into his tricks and methods — the very aspects that give him his fame and admiration.

As Theory 11 knows well, Daniel Madison has a special and unique flare to his magic performances and tricks. These prices not only help him continue to do what he does best but are bite-sized educational pieces for you to learn from and start developing your unique style.

The most expensive product is the Dangerous 2-Disc Set

Learn from a pro. Gain confidence and educate yourself on new techniques for a super affordable price.

Our Rating

Price

Customer Rating

$$$

What We Think and Public Perception

While Theory 11 products haven’t been rated yet, Cardistry by Daniel Madison has been reviewed 40 times with an average rating of 4 ¼ stars.

The majority of customers say that it’s an incredible learning tool, especially considering the price, while the only downfall is that the buyer’s level in cardistry needs to be fairly high, to begin with, to gain valuable insight from this lesson.

If you’re looking for a cardistry performance that amazes for a low price and high definition video, we believe that Daniel Madison is your guy.

As an underground magician and illusionist, he brings a unique and attractive flare to the table, a kind of style that you can emulate and mold into your own, without making any outlandish financial investments.

6 Rubber Band Tricks That Your Audience Will Love

Party Tricks, Tutorial

 

a different colors of rubber band and different sizes

Need some simple rubber band tricks to add to your magic act? There is a lot to research and learn, so we have narrowed it down to five different choices for you.

Rubber bands are a fantastic, easy, elastic tool to use in your act. These bands are extremely thin and flexible, making them perfect for practice and impressing your audience. They are also a great type of trick for parties and small events where you don’t want to bring bigger and more complicated props.

These tricks are all relatively simple, but all have the potential to really wow your audience. We will also go over step-by-step instructions for perfecting them, so you will have no issues pulling them off when the time comes.

The Rubber Band Through the Thumb Trick

For this first trick, you will simply need one rubber band. It is recommended that you use a brightly colored one so that the effect is more obvious for your audience. Yellow, red, blue and green will be the easiest ones to see.

To get into the correct position, place the rubber band around your right thumb and then place the middle and ring fingers of your left hand through the other end of the rubber band. Now swing your middle finger around and grab the top part of the rubber band and pull down, then twist your left hand to make a cross on the band and place your thumb down and pull. This creates a slip knot under your thumb which will be easy to hide.

Practice these few steps slowly many times to get the hang of it, and after some time, it will be much easier to do the trick quickly and efficiently. It will take some effort to perfect this, but once you do, it will look like the rubber band has gone around your thumb twice. The end result looks great and will leave your audience in awe.

Once you have perfected the previous steps, you will be able to slowly pull the rubber band to make the knot slip – this will make it look like the rubber band has gone directly through your thumb. Here’s a video that gives you a fantastic visual.

# Preview Product
1 Magic Makers 50 Magic Tricks with Rubber Bands & Magic Ring Magic Makers 50 Magic Tricks with Rubber Bands & Magic Ring Buy on Amazon
2 Rubber Band Magic Tricks, The Complete Course, Fully Demonstrated and... Rubber Band Magic Tricks, The Complete Course, Fully Demonstrated and... Buy on Amazon
3 Joe Rindfleisch's Rainbow Rubber Bands (Rainbow Pack) by Joe... Joe Rindfleisch's Rainbow Rubber Bands (Rainbow Pack) by Joe... Buy on Amazon
4 Folding Bite Out Coin Magic Trick Replacement Rubber Bands for... Folding Bite Out Coin Magic Trick Replacement Rubber Bands for... Buy on Amazon
5 Folding Bite Out Coin Magic Trick Replacement Rubber Bands for... Folding Bite Out Coin Magic Trick Replacement Rubber Bands for... Buy on Amazon

The Jumping Rubber Band Trick

This is one of the most famous and well-known tricks you can attempt. Your audience will really enjoy this trick.

To begin, you will need any rubber band. Then hold your hands in front of you and wrap one band around your pinky and ring finger, letting it rest at the base of your fingers. With your other hand, stretch the elastic band and insert the tips of your pinky, ring finger, middle finger, and pointer finger into the loop.

Keep them inside the loop against the palm of your hand in a position that allows the band to be held by all four fingers, but in two different ways. The pinky and ring finger will hold in near the tips and your middle finger and pointer finger hold the band by inserting it into the loop. Once you have done this, you should be able to easily open or straighten your fingers, which will automatically make the band jump onto your middle and pointer fingers.

Practice definitely makes perfect with this trick. Keep attempting it until you can do it easily.

The Advanced Jumping Rubber Band Trick

woman making a ring using rubber band in different colors.

Image: CC0 Creative Commons, stux, via Pixabay

This is a variation of the last trick we looked at, but it is a little more intricate and can be confusing while you learn it. Once you have practiced it many times, you will be able to do it quickly, making it look really neat for your viewers.

This trick will require two different rubber bands of two different colors. Just like the first step of the last trick, you will hold your hands out in front of you with the backs facing your audience. Then you will insert the first band onto your pinky and ring finger until it reaches the base of the two of them.

With the second band, make a loop around the tip of your pinky finger and twist it back and forth to loop it around the tips of your fingers. Keep making loops like this until all of the four fingers are encased in the band. By the end of this step, you should have the second band looped around the tips of all four fingers and the first band in the same position at the base of your ring and pinky finger.

At this point, you should put your thumb in the loop and close your wrist in order to put the first rubber band on your middle and pointer finger. This allows you to switch the first band from the first position to the second, even when the second rubber band is encased around four of your fingers.

This one will take a lot of practice, but once you master it, the trick will become a crowd favorite.

The Rising Ring Rubber Band Tricks

holding colorful rubber bands

Image: CC0 Creative Commons, congerdesign, via Pixabay

The Rising Ring rubber band trick is fairly simple to master and wow your spectators with.

First, thread the ring you are using onto a broken rubber band. As you hold onto the band, allow a large length of the band to accumulate in the hand that the ring is sliding away from.

Once you have the ring and the rubber band in place, pull the band tight and rotate it at a slight incline. Make sure that the ring is resting on the lower part of the band, pull it taut and very slowly release the extra band that is in your left hand. The rubber band will come out slowly and carry the ring with it, creating the illusion that the ring is rising. The band is, in reality, the part that is moving.

This will take a lot of practice to master, but once you have it down, you will be able to do it in your sleep. One tip that will make it easier to pull off the illusion is standing a little further away than you normally would from your audience so that they do not see the rubber band slowly moving. This forces them to focus on the ring, making the trick more real to them.

Card Reveal with Rubber Band Trick

This trick while requires a deck of cards in addition to a medium rubber band. Put the rubber band around your wrist until it is needed later in the process. For this trick, it is better to use a nice thick band, as it is helpful for the illusion.

Fan out the deck of cards and ask a member of your audience to randomly choose a playing card from the deck. Once they have chosen one, ask them to place it on the deck of cards and then shuffle them.

At this point, you will remove the rubber band from your wrist and wrap it around the deck of cards. Then remove the bottom card and place it on top of the deck. Turn the cards over and place the top card back into the deck. After this, you will cut the cards with the rubber band still around them, twist one section completely, and place it back into the deck with a snap.

Then completely release the deck and allow the rubber band to spin the deck – this will allow the spectator’s card to be thrown back to them.

Vanishing Rubber Band Tricks

For this particular trick, you are going to want a variety of different rubber bands on your wrist.

You will take one of them and give it a twist. Then you will pinch between your hands so it looks like you have a rubber band between your fingers. Basically, it goes around the wrist, and it vanishes when you let go of it.

This trick is simple but will have a great effect on your audience. You are basically taking a rubber band off your wrist, letting it go, and letting those watching believe that it has disappeared. Want a visual of this trick? Here’s a great video example.

Getting Started

Now that you have all the tricks that you need to dazzle your audience, it’s time to start adding these tricks to your magic act. Sprinkling the different rubber band tricks throughout your show is a great way to break up the regular tricks you have already been performing, and it gives the audience something short and fun to observe between longer and more complicated tricks.

These are also great ones to try at parties or among a small group of friends, as they mostly don’t require any props besides a few rubber bands. People of all ages and even small children will love to watch you perform these simple tricks.

If you have attempted these tricks, which ones do you like the most? Which ones do you find that the audience enjoys the most?