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StumbleUponMost children love seeing magic performed and enjoy trying to pull off a few tricks of their own. It gives them a great feeling of accomplishment, and kids love showing off new skills to family and friends. Since magic is mostly the art of deception, mastering the elements of a trick depends largely on distracting the audience's eyes and minds. To sample a few fun ideas and learn more about doing magic, visit the website of magician Lance Burton (lanceburton.com), who shares some of his tips and secrets. One of his tricks, called Telephone Telepathy, is guaranteed to please even the youngest children. And it needs nothing more than a deck of playing cards, a telephone and a willing accomplice you can call -- a role that Grandma or Grandpa might relish playing.
"This feat of long-distance magic can be easily mastered in a few minutes," Burton says.
Here's a quick overview of the trick. First, the magician should speak with the accomplice -- a.k.a. the wizard -- before the "performance." Next, assemble an audience and ask for a volunteer to choose a playing card -- the nine of hearts is the example Burton uses. Looking closely at the card and asking the volunteer to do the same, announce to the audience that you'll now phone the wizard, who will magically name that card.
When the wizard answers the phone, begin to weave your magic for the audience. Say, "May I please speak with the wizard." As you've previously arranged, the wizard replies by slowly listing the card suits: clubs, hearts, spades, diamonds. When the wizard names the suit of your card -- hearts, in this instance -- interrupt by saying your prearranged response, "Yes." The wizard will know that the card is a heart. Next, the wizard starts listing the cards' values in the same deliberate manner: "Ace, two, three, four, five," and so on. When he gets to the right number -- in this case, nine -- jump in with the code words: "Hello, wizard." This reveals the card's value to him or her. Without missing a beat, the magician should now hand the phone to the cardholder and say, "Would you please ask the wizard to name your card?" And the wizard dramatically replies, "Your card is the nine of hearts!"
If your child is ready for some other card tricks or mind-reading games, consider trying the Rabbit in Hat puppet (Folkmanis, ages 3 and up; $15.00). The rabbit, which is attached to the hat, offers an easy and foolproof way for your young child to entertain an audience. And if your youngster finds performing a bit intimidating -- and some children do -- he or she can have fun pretending the rabbit is the one who's whispering the answers.
The kids may also want to sample the Pocket Pals: Mighty Magic kit (Big Fish, ages 7-12; $6.95). Clear and easy to use, this introductory magic collection includes how-to booklets, stickers and a fun kid-size deck of cards. The "Slick Tricks" booklet suggests tricks that require only simple household objects -- a rope, a rubber band or a banana.
If you have a VCR with a pause button, videos are a great way to learn to perform magic tricks. Marshall Brodien's 12-Trick Video Set (Cadaco, ages 7-12; $14.99) gives a well-paced and simple introduction to a dozen tried-and-true illusions. The illusionist Magic Frank has also produced a series of no-nonsense, no-frills videos good for kids ages 6 and up (magic frank.com; $19.95), which teach and explain card tricks and other magical maneuvers.
If you have some tricks up your own sleeve -- and are ready to introduce your slightly older children to some that truly amaze -- start with a few basic illusions. For ages 8 and up, Wizard's Workshop Mystical Magic Set (Cadaco; $9.99) offers some well-illustrated instructions as well as high-quality props. Young wizards will entertain family and friends as they pour milk into a paper cone and make it disappear.
A key tip: Make sure your child practices enough, especially before performing in front of an audience -- even an audience of one. Though it sounds obvious, the point is to avoid frustrating mess-ups and instead build confidence and enjoyment in getting it right. Here are a few other practice and performance secrets for kids and parents alike:
1. Practice in front of a mirror. This not only helps hone the trick; it allows the magician to see the trick as the members of his audience will.
2. Practice whatever you're going to say during a trick -- the patter, as it's known in the trade -- as much as you practice the trick itself. Good patter will distract the audience just long enough to keep it from guessing how you pull off the magic feats.
3. If a ruse calls for using a scarf, pencil or other common object, borrow it from an audience member. That way the audience won't think you've had time to do anything "wizardly" beforehand.
4. Resist the temptation to tell others how your trick worked. You'll keep people guessing and impress them even more. Plus you'll be upholding a longstanding rule of the magic trade.
5. Never, ever perform the same stunt more than once for the same audience. Doing so makes it too easy for audience members to guess how the trick was done. Finally: Have some fun! Enjoy dazzling your audience, and savor the spellbinding rewards that come with lots of practice.
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