Magic Dictionary

If you are confused on some of the magic terms used by magicians here is a glossary of magical terms used by magicians worldwide.

 

APPARATUS – all equipment used in the performance, from the largest cabinet to the small of magic gimmicks

 

CLOSE UP MAGIC – tricks performed very close to the spectators, usually with small objects such as playing cards and coins

 

DIVINATION – Discovering the whereabouts of hidden objects, or the names of chosen cards, colours etc

 

DOWNSTAGE – Towards the front of the stage, near the audience

 

EFFECT – Another word for a trick. What the audience appear to see, as distinct from what really happens

 

EXPERIMENT – Often used to describe s mind reading trick, or an effect of a scientific nature

 

FAKE – A imitation of the real object.

 

FORCE – Making a spectator choose a specific card, number, or object without them suspecting that they did not have a free choice in the first place

 

FOULAND – A large square of silk or similar material

 

GIMMICK – A special secret gadget not usually visual to the audience, that enables you to perform a particular trick. To “gimmick” something means to prepare an object in some secret fashion

 

ILLUSION – A large-scale trick done with assistants or animals

 

LEGERDEMAN – A French word meaning sleight of hand

 

LEVITATION – Making an object or person float in the air with no apparent means of support

 

LOAD -  A hidden supply of items, ready for production from a box etc. “Loading” is secretly hiding the load in it’s place, eg hiding a pack of cards inside your jacket

 

MAGICIAN – This is a person who performs tricks or illusions and has the ability to deceive others using his skills and props. Other words for a magician are illusionist, conjurer, wizard, sorcerer and prestidigitator

 

MANIPULATION – The art of using just your hands to create magic. It can include the vanish and appearance of objects such as coins, cards and balls.

 

MICRO-MAGIC – A continental term for close up magic

 

MISDIRECTION – The art of distracting the audience’s attention away from one area while you are doing something sneaky in another area.

 

PALMING – Keeping something secretly concealed in your hand.

 

PATTER – What the magician says while performing. It can be serious or amusing, and is often used as misdirection

 

PENETRATION – Making one object seem to pass through another

 

PLANT – To hide something in a room that will be used later in a trick. A secret confederate in the audience

 

PLOT – The story or routine of a trick

 

PREDICTION – A written or verbal announcement of something that will happen in the future

 

PRODUCTION – Making things appear from thin air or from “apparently” empty containers

 

PROPS – Any apparatus or items used by a magician. You should never touch or interfere with props belonging to other performers

 

ROUTINE -  The order of events during a trick, or the sequence of tricks performed in the whole act

 

SERVANTE – A secret pocket or shelf behind a table or chair used to vanish objects

 

SET-UP – The arrangement of props before the show

 

SHELL – A hollow imitation of a solid object such as a billard ball or block of wood, usually made to fit over the real object

 

SILK – A hankerchief or foulard made from fine silk

 

SLEIGHT-OF-HAND -  Magic done by manipulating objects using only the hands

 

SWITCH – Secretly exchanging one item for another without the audience seeing this happening

 

UPSTAGE – Towards the back of the stage away from the audience

 

WINGS – The sides of the stage, where you wait just before you go on for your big entrance and where you exit at the end of your performance. Props can also be stored in the wings

 

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