performer of magic

Performers of magic all master the art of the seemingly impossible. The audience watches amazed and wonders…: “How is this possible?”. We are astonished about the things we see or are supposed to see, and we forget that somebody is fooling us.

Magic tricks are the perfect art form for the street and the stage. It wasn’t until about 1880 that performers of magic were introduced in the circus ring. Many professionals prefer variety theatres over circuses for their performances. One of the reasons for this inclination is secrecy: a circus ring conceals less than a theatre stage. In the circus the audience is seated around the artist in an almost perfect circle and watches him closely, seeing every move he makes. Therefore, circus shows called for specially adapted acts.

In order to succeed the magician needs to have excellent manual skills. This is the first requirement. Additionally, he must be a master of diversion and he must be able to manipulate his audience. Very often the magician barely needs one second to arouse the interest of the audience for something, and diverting it from what really happens.