What's the difference between a professional and amateur magician? You may be tempted to say it's a difference of skill level, but that's not always the case. Amateur comes from the French for "lover of." It's meant to denote someone who is passionate about their art, regardless of where their paycheck comes from. But to a professional magician, the stakes are a little higher. If they're going to perform something, they need to make sure it's dazzling enough to ensure that they can make rent that month. And for amateurs, knowing that the trick they're performing has been tested in gig after gig means that it will surely amaze their friends and family. That's why, for amateurs and pros alike, we cannot recommend anything higher than
The Commercial Magic of J.C. Wagner by Mike Maxwell.
After being out of print for over a decade, Murphy's Magic is proud to bring this timeless collection of magic to a brand new generation of magicians.
Across a sprawling 122 pages, you'll learn 37 of J.C. Wagner's road-tested, audience-wowing effects. These are broken down into six categories: Commerical Stunners, Four Ace Routines, Coin Magic, J.C on Estimation, Packet Magic, and Card Magic. If there's a style of magic you like performing, J.C. Wagner probably perfected it in his lifetime.
Here's a sample of the effects that you'll learn:
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Entertainment Tacks: A spectator signs a card that's lost in the deck. You wrap the deck in rubber bands and a borrowed bill. The whole deck is thrown at the ceiling. 51 cards fall down, but their signed card and the banknote are stuck to the ceiling!
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Super Closer: Magically find the four aces in a shuffled deck. Then the four kings. Finally, you reveal that the deck has separated itself into four piles, each exclusively containing one suit.
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Card Under The Drink: A card is selected and lost in the deck. You spread the cards across the table, revealing that a single card has been turned face up. It's not your spectator's card, though. Instead, you inform them that you couldn't find it in the deck because it's beneath their drink! Do yourself a favor at watch J.C.'s performance of this on YouTube.
You don't have to make your money with magic to be a magician, but if you read this book, it's a much more attainable career goal.
